Charity begins in China

The Sun's News Without Borders on October 1st, 2010 had this ....

BEIJING:

Bill gates and Warren Buffet received some "very generous" gifts during a dinner in Beijing with a small group of ultra-rich Chinese to promote charity, saying yesterday that the event had exceeded expectations. But neither man, two of the world's riches people and keen philanthropists themselves, would give any details, explaining it was up to the people themselves to talk about any donations that may have been made or talked about.

"I don't think it's appropriate to talk about any particular individual. There were some gifts that were very generous," Microsoft founder Gates tell the news conference. "As you know there are some people who've come out publicly and talked about (how) they're going to do quite substantial philanthropy," he added saying that two thirds of the people they invited had showed up, or some 50 people.

"We were very impressed. The people we were with last night had ideas about things they wanted to do. They saw the charitable sector at an early stage and were asking about what lesson there might be from the United States," said Gates.

Buffet and Gates are urging American billionaires to give away at least half their wealth during their lifetimes or upon their death by signing the Giving Pledge, which far has 40 members.

Their dinner sparked intense media interest in China, and speculation the two would walk away empty-handed. But they published an open letter ahead of their visit saying they did not intend to force anyone to give up their wealth, writhing that all they wanted to do was share their experiences and listed to Chinese views.

"We did not pressure anyone obviously in China, and we never had intention to," said Buffet, the world's third-richest man and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. "No one was asked in any way, indirectly or directly to sign up to anything last night. Bill and I will not be calling anybody. What happens in China will depend on how the Chinese people feel about a project of this sort," he added.

The only rich Chinese person they confirmed had attended was movie star Jet Li, whose One Foundation is a partner of the Chinese Red Cross. - Reuters.


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Earlier on September 27, 2010 also in the Sun : Koon's RM30m to go to other causes ...

Philanthropist Koon Yew Yin whose offer to donate RM30 million to UTAR to build hostels at its Kampar campus in Perak was not taken up, has decided to donate the money to other charitable causes, the Chinese Press reported.

He said it had been more than a year since the offer was first made,and since UTAR had no intention to take it up, he would donate the RM30 million, or even more, to other organisations which need the money, including schools, universities, old folk's homes and orphanages.

The founder of three leading development companies - IJM Corporation Bhd, Gamuda Bhd and Mudajaya Group Bhd - held a press conference in Petaling Jaya on Friday to clarify some accusations made against him over the donation offer. He said the claim by UTAR's board of trustees and councils that he wanted to exercise full control over his money was not true.

asked if he would consider extending his offer to UTAR again, he said: "Are you joking?"

Not as easy

Planning to change a routine is easier said than done. It takes such an effort that most of the time action never sees the light of day. Just as the saying goes " You plan to fail,when you fail to plan.

Doing something new ...

Today implement something new for self and the family.

Wake up for sahur, 2nd day of "puasa enam hari syawal".

Get the kids for subuh, and effective immediately for Schooling Day, 6am and 6.30am for non schooling day wake up time.

Simple plan to act and insyallah it shall create a better living for all.

being positive ...

Have you heard of the Positive Negative Syndrome (+- synd).

Well you gonna hear of this quite often here, because it happen to us always be it we ourselves or others around us. But before we go into it, people gets to be negative much more easier, rather than being positive. In fact it sometimes looks like or sounds like so ridiculous.

At Tesco, a few days back as I looking at a badminton racket, I said to another person who were also looking at one, "time to beat Lin Dan", as that was the day that we lost to China in the Thomas Cup 2010 semi-finals. This is what he said "Jangan harap lah bang" (don't hope for it).

Why does that kind of statement arises. Is it because we really think so, or we were so dissappointed, or we think we are as good as the rest.

As much as we would like to be in total positive thinking attitude, we just need to accept that due to certain reasons beyond our control, no matter how positive you are you can never do it. So what we should do is identify what we can really be the best at and ... DO OUR BEST.

Lets try to identify certain situation with regards to the statement below :-

I am sick - I am not well vs I am healthy - I don't feel so good.

Don't drive fast - Drive slow - Drive carefully.

Lets give it a thought for now.

Ideafactory ... revisited

Its been awhile since I took time to write on this issue. Happening around, be it personal, family, the country and or the world takes the best of the thought process and therefore time and again, other things seems to get the priority.

You are what you let yourself believe, and somehow that is always through. A friend of mind, Hj Ramli Wali likes to say this, "What ever you say or do, you always gets the original, as others around you gets the photocopy".

My beloved wife always remind me of this whenever I get into being upset with certain issues that makes me angry and "the not so nice words and face mimics follow through". She ought to know and has all the right to make that comments considering that she is the one who has to listen to it. Yesterday, Lia was not in a good mood due to a situation that upsets her very much, and being her fathers daughter, it shows on her face, and action and it definately is not pleasing, so I told her that in our family, only me can get angry, and the rest must always smile and be happy. Such and attitude ... eh.

Well, as human as much as I try, taking the easier way out ... we are only human.

Anyway back to the ideafactory, what can we churn out today ? Somethoughts that can get things moving for us specifically, but worthwhile for other as well. Well ... lets us SMILE today and everyday onwards, as they say Smile is free.

until then ... be happy its your choice.

Understanding

Another email from one of my dear Brother, lets enjoy this nice story :-



Burnt Biscuit

Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. That evening, mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of dad.

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I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed. All dad did was reach for his biscuit, smiled at mom and asked me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and ate every bite.

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When I got up from the table, I remember hearing mom apologize to dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: Honey, I love burned biscuits.

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Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!" You know, life is full of imperfect things.....and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others' faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. Because in the end, you are the master of your own life, to be happy or unhappy, to be positive or negative.

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We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship. Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own.

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So please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burnt one will do just fine...

Just a little kindness ...

Got this email from my Brother and I liked it, here I am sharing ...

An Excellent Read

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I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

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After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

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By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

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There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

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'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

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She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'.

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'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

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'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.

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'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

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I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

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'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

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For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

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As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'

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We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

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Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

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I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

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'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.

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'Nothing,' I said

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'You have to make a living,' she answered.

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'There are other passengers,' I responded.

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Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

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'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

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I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

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I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

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On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

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We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

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But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

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PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Step by Step ...

Saying this is the easiest part. As the saying goes,

"A journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step".

A Chinese proverb, if I am not mistaken. Well that sure was the easiest part. Now lets put the normal action plan, i.e DUIT. If you heard this orally, it sounds like DO IT, and some how NIKE has coined it as their catch phrase "Just Do it"

Whatever you do, you shall always stars with a DOA (prayers) and than USAHA (action), not once but continuously and consistently, which means ISTIQAMAH and finally TAWAKKAL (have faith).

If and on if, or better still or the best statement should be WHEN you as a person does the process, you shall reap what you sow. Now what actually you want so badly that you will take the first step of the journey since 11th November 1961 ? More than 48 years ago as the earth circle the sun.

What, Why, When, Who, Where & HOW ???