Saturday, January 31, 2009

Last day of January ...

Every year .. I take note how January ended for me because it is normally a good indication on how I would fare for the remaining of the year. The last three years (2006 until 2008) were very accurate especially 2008 when it started out great the first three weeks of January and with some confusion by the final week of January.

January 2009 is so far the worst for me. So does that mean 2009 is going to be a really bad year for me? Hmm .. I am not sure but I cannot seem to get a hold of myself lately. I am no longer in control of my life. Situation around me seems to be dictating my judgment and also my sanity. My dreams are becoming more vivid and more often on a similar theme. Worse, my health seems to be spiralling out of control. To add salt to the wound, I currently doing my Master's programme right now.

Can my mind and physical being continue to take the beatings should January represents the whole of 2009? I am so lost ... spiritually and emotionally.

'When I look to the right, I find nothing is right and when I look to the left, there is nothing left'. That's how I feel right now. By the way, I am quoting this from some guy who gave a speech at the Techniker Ball in Graz yesterday. Will quote his name if I can get hold of it.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

  1. There is simply no proper words right now (hence why this post does not have a title) to describe the horror I see and hear on daily news on the 'ugly reality' of Israel's atrocities on the Palestinians people. I sit here in front of my computer thousands of miles away from all those horrifying and deafening explosions with a heavy heart and guilt for not doing much to lessen the pain of the Palestinian people. I try to stay strong and pray that all this will end soon but deep inside I know this is futile as long as Israel is occupying part of Palestine, peace will remain fragile.
  2. I choked back tears while watching on the news a Palestinian man kissing his one and half year old son who died when their house was bombed by Israeli's jet. That boy was probably the same age as my little boy and I could not imagine how I would hold myself together if such horrendous thing were to happen to me. The camera later showed the same man sitting on the stairs at the hospital burying his face in his hands, and the newscaster told that his wife and all his children (including the toddler) perished during one of many Israeli airstrike. It is indeed a very sad end to 2008 and a horrifying beginning to 2009.
  3. Ya Allah, please protect and save the Palestinian people in Gaza from the heavy-handed attack from Israel and please open my heart and enlighten me once again and please give me the strength and will power to return to your divine path. Forgive me for not doing more.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

LAC - Part 2

As mentioned in my previous post, I would like to share the gist of my proposed LAC project due mid June this year.

I intend to initiate an Environmental Awareness Program for elementary school students near where I live. The challenge is to work with the school's faculties to make the program interesting enough for elementary school students. Not easy ...

Anyway, the objective of the program is to raise the level of awareness amongst Grade 1 and Grade 2 students at LISA Jr. on sustainability activities to safeguard the environment.


Priority Issue (Environmental Challenge)

Many of the environmental issues we are facing today are due to direct or indirect human actions (or lack of actions) as there are growing scientific evidence that we are living unsustainably at an exponential rate that nature cannot replenish itself accordingly. Solutions, such as reducing wastage particularly on energy, food and water; promoting the concept of recycling and reusing to reduce amount of rubbish; and instilling ‘ownership’ to free access resources such as nearby forest and river are kept clean can be handled appropriately through education and awareness program that are easy for elementary school students to comprehend and even be executed in their daily routines.

A famous Malay proverb “If you want to bend a bamboo tree, start with its shoots”, indicates that if we want to instill good habits, we need to start with the young. Hence, I consider making a suitable and yet fun programs that teach on the right sustainable living values and environmental ownership to elementary students will make a great start to promote sustainable living and greater care for the environment.

Planned Activities
  • Discussion with class teachers on how and when to collaborate on this program. This will include planning actual sessions of the program in their classrooms and probably visit to the park alongside the river during spring time to point out species around the area and also the importance of keeping the area clean.
  • Prepare program that will include mainly graphical (including animation) representation to inform students on nature or environment around their school and city where they live in. There is also an intent to encourage the students to draw / sketch and talk about their experience (particularly on the plants and animals they see and also describe the air that they are breathing) when/if they go on holiday either to the mountain areas for skiing or to the beach during their Easter holidays
  • Prepare print-out brochure on waste management (recycling and reusing) that the students can share with their parents and siblings based on drawings that the students will draw in school. This is to encourage students to know the importance to separate trash into different categories. There will also be programs that will include graphical (including animation, if possible) representation on the importance to separate trash according to different categories and the concept of recycling and reusing in order to reduce amount of trash in the landfill area.
  • Prepare program that will include mainly graphical (including animation) representation to inform students on importance to reduce wastage (energy, food & water) at school and at their homes. One of the possible materials to be used is the videos from http://www.animalssavetheplanet.com/ (Please refer to one of my previous posts) Need to get approval from site owner before using their material. Search for online program or educational game on sustainability and environment for elementary school students. Promote this to be included in the school’s computer education syllabus.

I would, therefore, appreciate comments from all of you especially those with school going children around ages 6 - 9 years of age. You can leave comments in the blog or you could send a message to me at isam.dallee@gmail.com

Thank you in advance.

Monday, January 5, 2009

LAC - Learn, Apply & Communicate

2008 has been a very interesting year for me. I have had many highs and lows throughout the year. One of the many significant achievements I had that year was my admission into graduate school to do Environmental Management & Policy. I am currently doing in part time and through distant learning with Lund University until summer 2009.

Up until end of last month, I have completed the Introduction and Environmental Science & Sustainable Development blocks rather well considering that I have to balance my work and study assignments accordingly. Starting from next week onwards, I have to start on the Business Fundamentals block. Scary!

Anyway, one of the assignment that I have to complete by June 2009 is the LAC project assignment. I have an idea on what my assignment will be about and I think I have an idea how to execute it. I need a place where I can bounce some ideas around and see if they make sense, and I think this blog could be the place to do it. I hope I can get some constructive feedback from one or two of my blog readers. :-)

More detail information on my assignment will provided in the following blog.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Procrastination

I keep telling myself that I should at least write on my blog once a week minimum. Hah! Once a month already seems like an uphill struggle for me.

I have lots of things that I want to write about butI can't seem to find the time and when I do find the time, I procrastinate.

Will write tonight, maybe!