FOOD CRISIS: IS THE ANSWER MORE TECHNOLOGY, MORE FREE TRADE? Burma's numbers don't lie

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I came across some startling numbers in Newsweek while taking my usual lrt train to work in downtown KL. "By the Numbers" is my favourite section in the magazine because it makes you double back and think again. This time it's about Burma and food.

Since the media broke stories about the food crisis and rising food prices, I've been trying to get my head around this new global life threatening issue. Food shortage due to climate change and biofuel taking away land for food crops are among the things that have been blamed. And the solutions - I've read that we need another green revolution, we need more genetic modified seeds, we need to modernise and corporatise agriculture, and we need more free trade.

But are those the answers? Or are they the very reasons why we're facing the food crisis now.

These numbers from a very "backward" country confirms my suspicion about the mis-conceptions and mis-information about the global food crisis.

By the Numbers (reprint from Newsweek May 25 - June 2)

Burma is a land of agricultural bounty - its rice yield ranks as one
of the highest in Southeast Asia. This richness has cushioned the
ruling junta from the food riots that are starting to plague
neighbouring states.

206 - number of kilograms of rice per person per year consumed in
Burma, the highest in the region.

3.8 - number of tons per hectare of Burma's rice yield - 44 percent
higher than that of neighboring Thailand.

2,912 - average number of daily calories consumed by Burma's citizens,
the highest in Southeast Asia

6% - of Burma's people who are malnourished, as opposed to 20 % of
Thais and 19 % of Vietnamese.

Now for those of you who have little idea about the wealth disparity of these South East Asian nations, here are their GDPs per capita.

Burma USD 1,800
Thailand USD 9,200
Malaysia USD 12,200
Indonesia USD 3,900
Philipines USD 5,000

Thailand's GDP per capita is more than FOUR times that of Burma, and Malaysia's is almost SEVEN times that of Burma. If you walk in downtown Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, and then in Rangoon, you'd think that you've been transported 50 years back. Yet there are more malnourished people in Thailand than Burma.

I am amazed that whatever we think about the Burmese, as being oppressed and starved by their fat military rulers, they are amazingly self-sufficient. Left to their own devices, left to their antiquated agricultural tools and their traditional way of farming, Burma's rice yield per hectar is 44% higher than Thailand, which has an export oriented agriculture and has embraced all kinds of new technologies, modern chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

That leads me to ask: Is modern farming depleting the richness of soil and thus, reducing the capacity of land to produce? Is the corporatisation of food decreasing food sustainability and food security?

I want you to read Vandana Shiva's interview with ALTER net. She is a world-renowned environmental activist, physicist, and authour of 300 papers in leading scientific and technical journals. Here she explains how corporation-friendly economic schemes got us into this mess in the first place.


Vandana Shiva: Why We Face Both Food and Water Crises

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The Boxing Ring

I've been publishing all the comments that come to the Chinese school debate - weather it is pro or against without fear or favour.

This is what I found:

1) I am very,very moderate. Sickeningly so. So I can be a referee, but I'm pretty sure the wrestlers on opposite side of the ring will accuse me of favouritism. And very soon they will both turn against me.

So here goes:

On one side of the ring is the pro-national school "extremist" who says - BAN CHINESE SCHOOLS! You are Malaysian, not Chinese ok, try going back to China and see if you're accepted!-- and this coming from a young Chinese student.

On the other side of the ring are the pro-Chinese school "extremist" who seem to think that any talk that is not supporting Chinese school whole-heartedly is against it. Some of them are also prone to call me Banana, American, no-culture, no roots dsb.

This is my analysis:

The way some Chinese "extremist" feel about Chinese schools is almost similar to the way people would protect their religion and places of worship. It's sacred. It's like the institution of their identity and survival. In a way, it's true. They feel they really have to protect their identity and survival in a threatening environment that they do not feel any sense of belonging.

Many Chinese, even after the 4th and 5th generation here, (longer than a lot of Malays here) still feel besieged. And that feeling of being besieged feeds on itself. It starts from seeing that Malays get certain government privileges that you don't get by virtue of your descent. And we see certain politicians still calling us a pendatang, and say that if we "challenge" them, the keris will be bathed with a certain group's blood.

Inspite of that, we all stand up and sing Negaraku, pay taxes, makan belacan, durian and drink teh tarik. And to try to placade our sense of justice, they bombard us with Malaysia Truly Asia propoganda - everybody different colour but happy happy under one banner. This hypocrisy is truly an insult to all of us who know fully well that some people are more equal than others. It's really painful. And when you feel like giving up and moving to another country, which is a really really painful decision, you felt a glimmer of hope just watching one of Yasmin Ahmad's petronas ads....I'm sure by now you should know about Tan Hong Ming and his beau Umi Qazrina. If not click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rHRgCiS22o. Damn it Yasmin.

So, in a way, I can understand that feeling of not-belonging and trying to protect their survival and identity. But I also think it is getting out of hand. Even though many Chinese have already made it, they still feel threatened. I liken it to the Zionist state of Israel, because of the historical injustice against Jews, they keep feeling threatened even when they are threatening others. Their defense becomes an offense to many people.

I observe that about a lot of Malaysian Chinese, even when they are discriminating others, they still feel justified. And many Malays do feel very discriminated and looked down upon in companies where the majority are Chinese.

These people look down on other races, and they dont know how to give and take with other races becasue they think they are superior. It's in their eyes, and in their body language and I hate that. I observe it better than other Chinese because I can blend and I look neither Chinese nor Malay.

But as a Chinese (3/4) myself, I want to call on Chinese to stop feeling fearful, and stop being so cocooned. Come out and engaged, and change that oppressive system. Becasue you are not the only one who feel discriminated and oppressed. Many Malays and many Indians feel that too. By coming out to engage is to move beyond your comfort zone and change that system so that there is more space for all of us to feel a sense of belonging. I think to keep on defending your right to send all your kids to Chinese schools, so that they wont have a chance to engage with others is only defending the status quo. Becasue when you do that, you are allowing national schools to become Malay schools. you are denying Malays of having the opportunity to mix with Chinese kids, and allowing fear and prejudice to breed. And you will also breed another generation of Chinese fearful or too proud to engage with others.

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." - Arundhati Roy

Chinese school non-arguments

I see now, why Chinese school debate is "sensitive," It's actually not sensitive, it's just that people don't understand what the other side is saying.

Four people wrote back to me. Three lambasted me for

1) wanting to ban Chinese schools
2) being an American and have no roots
3) accusing me of not honouring Chinese culture and history.

The other one asked for evidence that national schools are being Islamised.

First of all, I never agree to the banning of Chinese schools.

Secondly, I value culture and history and learning of civilisations. And if you don't think national schools do enough of that, than push to have electives so that our children have choices. And if you still don't think that is enough, than send them to Chinese schools.

The people who are pro-Chinese schools say that it is not just language but Chinese culture that is important, Chinese history, Chinese civilisation... etc.

I truly support your right to study Chinese culture and history. But no one has addressed my biggest concern.

IS IT HEALTY THAT OUR KIDS STUDY AND GROW UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF MONOCULTURE, WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT WE LIVE IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY?

And why are national schools so unattractive? Why are we paying tax money to support an institution that is not attractive to a majority of Chinese? Shouldn't we do something about it? Shouldn't we be a part of nation buidling and make sure that it represents our needs too? Afterall we are citizens of this country.

I think if someone had addressed my primary concern, we would actually get somewhere. Like how about Chinese schools try to increase their percentage of non-Chinese to make sure that kids of different ethnicities mingle?

And, let's really advocate for a better kind of national education that can cater to the needs of different ethnicities. Let's find a common shared goal.

WHERE IS THE CARROT?

CHINESE SCHOOLS AND NATIONAL INTERGRATION

I DO NOT agree that ethnic based schools – Chinese, Tamils, or Islamic schools – should be banned. Each ethnic groups have a RIGHT to set up schools and make sure that their kids learn their mother tongue or religion, but the government should make it more ATTRACTIVE for parents of ALL ethnicities to send their kids to national schools. Now, HOW?


I’m trying to get my head around Chinese school education and building a cohesive Malaysian society. I am a national schooler and whenever I try to discuss with my friend who is from a Chinese ed school, we would surely hit a brick wall.

Even though she is my best friend, I cannot stand it when she says that Chinese schools are superior and Chinese kids have a right to study their language, culture etc. Yes, but you are also a Malaysian, not a China Chinese. Yes, you have your ethnic rights, but how can you justify having kids just growing up and mixing just with their own ethnic kind in a multicultural country?

When I was growing up, I think some 30% of Malaysian Chinese parents send their kids to Chinese schools. Now, did I read from somewhere, it is 90%? Shocking! It’s a real recipe for disaster in building a young multicultural nation. I blame the government and Chinese chauvinist for allowing that to happen. The government has really failed in nationalizing schools and making them a preferred place for education from all ethnicities.

How could it have happened?

I believe the situation is as it is now because of racial politics played by the BN all these years. In order for the BN to govern without problems, each racist party is supposed to take care of their own race, so they are left to their own devices to feed into race chauvinistic sentiments. One of the outcomes - instead of developing national schools to fit the needs of Malaysians, it has allowed communal schools to thrive and develop.

But listen to the parents. Parents who send their kids to Chinese schools complain that national schools are becoming so Islamic. And the quality of education has gone down. They also want their kids to learn Mandarin, not just because of Chinese chauvinism, but I believe it is because China is coming up as a superpower, and they think it is practical to have your kids know the language to compete in the global world.


WHAT TO DO?

I do not agree that ethnic based schools – Chinese, Tamils, or Islamic schools – should be banned. Each ethnic groups do have a right to set up schools and make sure that their kids learn their mother tongue or religion, but the government should make it more ATTRACTIVE for parents of ALL ethnicities to send their kids to national schools. Don’t use the stick, because, yes, it is their rights, but use the CARROT method.

1) Stop making national schools more Islamic. National schools are for all Malaysians to get an education and mix freely with students of all background. Stop playing on racial and religious sentiments.

2) Improve the standard of education. Pay teachers more money so it is attractive to good, capable people. Take lessons from other countries that have good teachers and good systems. Allow more openness and play to education. Respect kids point of views, allow that flourishing of young minds to think and create.

3) If Mandarin is a priority, then make Mandarin important. We’re talking about practicalities, not chauvinism. Even non-Chinese realize this, and many Malays are actually sending their kids to Chinese schools so they can be fluent in Mandarin. English is important, it’s a global lingua franca and we recognize that. But China is really becoming important, maybe we should have a Mandarin subject in its own right. Not just 2 hours a week. Offer it as a choice but with more seriousness. Goes the same for Tamil and Kadazan, Iban language. It’s not impossible for a student to learn many languages, in fact it is good for us.

I don’t think those are difficult things to do. Why can’t we do it as a nation? We have not been doing that because instead of thinking of ourselves as Malaysians, we think only of our own ethnic survival. And that, I believe is fed by the racist, racialist government that has continued the same divide and rule method of the British colonialist.

BTW, this is a good site for discussion based on one parent’s dilemma of whether to send her/his Xin Yin to SK(J) Cina or national school.

EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA
http://educationmalaysia.blogspot.com/2005/06/national-vs-chinese-school-i.html

and Tony Pua is also thinking of his 3 year old
http://tonypua.blogspot.com/2008/01/racial-integration-starts-in-schools.html

WHY A RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT IS SO IMPORTANT

For all the fight corruption rhetoric that Pak Lah has been saying but little done, he could have done it and won admiration from people by repealing the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and enacting the Right to Information Act (RTI) or Freedom of Information. No amount of fighting corruption can be successful when there is an OSA to protect files and documents from the glare of public scrutiny.

With a Right to Information, anyone, not just journalist but any man on the street, can go into a government office and ask to see the account books of how government and local authotirities are spending our hard earned taxes. It is a formidable tool of empowerment for the rakyat, to participate in democracy and help ensure good governance and citizenship.

When things don't tally, anyone can bring the authorities to court to explain the discrepancies. That is the power of the right to information. You don't need to have a centralised body, more bureaucracy and more (corruptable) officers to investigate corruption. The public can do it, with an efficient police force and a clean justice system.

The Selangor MB has got it right। In the first week of his new administration, he said that he will find ways to block the OSA and implement a Right to Information Act. This is good business, good politics and good governance. Indeed, such a refreshing departure from the old BN ways of doing everything behind close doors.

India enacted the RTI in 2005 and it has been used by its citizens to safeguard what is due to them. In one case, they exposed a scam involving food grain officers who had siphoned 87% of wheat and rice meant for the poor. By demanding to see the account books, ordinary peasants brought the culprits to court by invoking the RTI.

Read how this man, empowered common people to use the RTI to safeguard their rights. He won the Magsaysay Award for this silent revolution taking place in India.
।indiatogether.org/2006/aug/ivw-arvind.htm">http://www।indiatogether.org/2006/aug/ivw-arvind.htm

07 August 2006 - An IIT graduate and a former bureaucrat with the Indian Revenue Service, Arvind Kejriwal has created a silent social revolution in the Right To Information (RTI) movement in the country through his organization, 'Parivartan'. Propelling common people to invoke the Act, he streamlined the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Delhi where information obtained under the RTI revealed that the shopkeepers and food grain officers siphoned off 87 percent of wheat and 94 percent of rice meant for the poor. He used Gandhiji's favourite weapon of Satyagraha in cases where the government departments hesitated to appoint Public Information Officers (PIOs) or where they refused to adopt transparency, as required by the RTI Act. He has been guiding hundreds of faceless citizens to use the RTI for their right to have proper public utility services, since they are the taxpayers to whom the local and state governments are duty-bound to provide the information.

His passion and dedication to this movement in India have been aptly recognized with this year's Ramon Magsaysay award for Emergent Leadership, recently bestowed upon him. In an exclusive interview to India Together, Kejriwal gives an insight into the RTI movement in India, and worries that this formidable tool of empowerment might slip out of the hands of citizens if amendments proposed by Manmohan Singh's government are enacted. Vinita Deshmukh spoke with him.....