Kanji for the year 2008 : 『変』

For further informaton, check the Wikipedia.

In Japan, they started using a 漢字, 【Kanji】 (which means Chinese character)

to represent the whole year from 1995.

For this year, the keyword is “change” as in the frequent changing of the Japanese Prime Ministers (Abe to Fukuda to Aso), Mr. Obama winning the American Presidency elections spreading the word ‘change’ globally and also the obvious and serious economical and ecological changes around the world. The word “変” is read as “hen” (for the Chinese reading 音読み) and “kawari” (for the Japanese reading 訓読み). It mainly means change but it also means weird. There were many changes in this year and of course, a very weird year indeed as well. Anyway, we all are hoping for better changes in the world, no matter where we are. What will year 2009 have in store for us ? Let’s get surprised. Hopefully, surprised in a good way.

Historic win, indeed !

Obama proved that “change” can happen.

It’s official that the 44th President of the United States of America will be Barack Obama, backed up by his vice, Joe Biden. Obama is no more longer a Senator Barack Obama, he’s now the Mr. President Barack Obama. It’s amazing to witness the win of what once regarded impossible, of course, but also to see how much attention the world is giving to this long lingering election which had finally come to an end. Nothing will change overnight but it is definitely a start of a new world. Obama has the voice, the resilient voice to utter out the messages that were growing in him. Now, I guess the eyes of the world are going to be diverged to see how he’s going to lead the weakening country and also on how he’s going to face all of the many unsolved major problems in the world. At least, I think I can believe that he would be a President who won’t simply start a war for any reasons (18 out of 43 past presidents were not involved in any wars, just see who the rest were and they make the majority). Congratulations, USA, I do believe you’ve made the right choice. May peace really be with us.

Listen to what a girl has to say

“Amazing girl ! Say it, girl ! Go girl, let them know !” That is exactly how I felt when I was watching this amazing speech on YouTube. This legendary amazing speech was made by Severn Suzuki, just only 12 years old at that time, at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro in 1992. I wonder what took me so long to actually come to know about this video but I am glad I did see this. Each word she uttered truly reflects what we should know about our world up to even today. The following are details on what she is right now.

She is currently an environmental activist, speaker, television host and author.
Born to writer Tara Elizabeth Cullis and Canadian geneticist and environmental
activist David Suzuki, Cullis-Suzuki received a B.Sc. in Ecology and Evolutionary
Biology from Yale University in 2002. She has spoken around the world about
environmental issues, urging listeners to define their values, act with the future
in mind, and take individual responsibility.

In 1992, at the age of 12, Cullis-Suzuki raised money with members of ECO,
the Environmental Childrens Organization (a group she founded) to attend this
very Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro. Along with group members Michelle Quigg,
Vanessa Suttie, and Morgan Geisler, Severn presented environmental issues from
a youth perspective at the Summit, where she received a standing ovation for
a speech to the delegates. The group also addressed delegates at the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

A pleasant e-mail from home

Dearest Son,

Congratulations!
You’ve successfully qualified for GE two years training programme!
So, this is a great change and you dare to make change happen!
So, praise the Lord, trust in Him always!

Love and best regards,
Mummy and Daddy.

My simple reply

Thanks Mom and Dad.
The change.
Not going to be easy,
but my heart yearns for it !

Love,
Andrew

Dad’s Reply

Yearning is what your desire longing for.
When changes take place, face it & deal with it.
With God’s grace in every area of your life,
then you will continue to change defeat to victory by faith.
Great joy and success follows.
Then, you change your life ahead.

Dad.

I continued by saying

Bitter defeats, I’ve tasted some.
Unbearable challenges, I’ve survived them all.
The road is long and many more are yet to be seen.
But, I will always remember to count my blessings
and continue on this very journey of mine boldly.
So, what I seek upon you two dearest souls is
to be there when I heed for your words of wisdom.

Your son,
Andrew