Freedom of religion and the press

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Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE Sin Chew Daily

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has placed Malaysia on Tier 2, a watch list with countries like Afghanistan, Cuba, Indonesia, Laos, Russia and Turkey, for its limitation on freedom of religion. It is only one level down from Tier 1 listing countries of particular concern, like Myanmar, China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Sudan. It has tarnished the country's image labelling itself with religious harmony, a country advocating moderation and multi-religions. Meanwhile, the country's press freedom index has also plunged to a historic low of 147 out of 180 countries in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index. It has too, harmed the country's image.

Although Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, it is stated in the Federal Constitution that Malaysia is a secular country and different religions have existed harmoniously over the more than half a century in mutual tolerance and respect. However, some events involving religions in recent years, including banning non-Muslims from using the word "Allah", conversion controversy, the contradictory rulings between Islamic and civil courts over conversion, seizure of Malay-language Bibles, banning non-Islam religious books in a Pahang hotel and the recent clamour over the implementation of hudud, have actually damaged the country's image as a moderate, multi-religious country.

Religious problems in Malaysia is getting worse and the key lies on politicians' move of politicising the issues. They have not only undermined religious harmony but at the same time, damaged national unity. The arrests of a dozen of suspects allegedly linked to terrorism in recent days showed that religious extremists have been hiding in the country and it should be a result of negligence towards religious extremism. In a multiracial and multi-religious country, religion is a sensitive issue. If the people are not able to mutually respect each other's religion with an open mind , it will bring a great danger to the country.

Meanwhile, it is a shame for Malaysia to have fallen to a historical low in the latest World Press Freedom Index and even behind Myanmar, which was ranked 145. Myanmar was known for its military coercion and poor freedom of the press due to suppression. It had always been ranked among the bottom places by the Reporters Without Border (RSF). However, it started to reform three years ago and its press freedom index has greatly improved. Malaysia was also ranked behind other Southeast Asia countries, including Brunei (117), Thailand (130), Indonesia (130) and Cambodia (132), showing that when others are moving forward, we have not only been stagnant, but in fact, are moving backward. The continuously plunging rankings are difficult for the government to justify.

The deteriorating freedom of religion and the press is the consequence of our backsliding policies, while politicising religious issues has not only damaged national unity, but also affected the country's economic development. Our officials might keep ignoring the USCIRF's report but the US government assesses Malaysia's religions freedom and the bilateral relations based on it. It is also used as a reference for making investment in the country. In addition, the restrictions on freedom of the media mean that the media are still not able to fully play the role of overseeing the government. It is indeed an irony to the government's transformation plans or efforts promoting social reform. In short, as long as the freedom of religion and the press continuous to be restricted, the dream of turning Malaysia into an advance country will forever remain a mirage.

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Freedom of religion and the press

Freedom DAy shows rightful path South Africa's future

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News Staff

The China Post

Publication Date : 05-05-2014

The 20th Freedom Day was celebrated recently with great enthusiasm by South Africans who paid tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives to gain freedom. April 27 marked the inauguration of the country's first democratically elected president at the Union Buildings in Pretoria in 1994. On that auspicious occasion, now called Freedom Day, former President Nelson Mandela famously stated: Never, never again will this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another.

Today, Freedom Day represents peace, unity and the restoration of human dignity for all South Africans. It is also a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless countrymen and a chance to ensure that no one will ever take their hard-won freedom for granted.

Even though the current generation is living a better life today, they have to remember that it took their elders 350 years to get rid of apartheid. The legacy of the country's former system of racial segregation may still be around, but South Africans have already seen a lot of improvements over the last two decades. The generation born after 1994 goes to the universities they like, they don't have to apply for a Town Pass (documents used to control the movement of Africans under apartheid), they can get any job if they are qualified, they can say whatever they want to say and they vote to elect their government.

South Africa is indeed a country that is better off since its first democratic elections. The republic located in the southernmost part of Africa has risen from the ashes of apartheid and now stands proud on the world stage. More importantly, South Africans have not allowed their divided past to shape their future. Together they have built a new society on the values of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

With the recent passing of former President Mandela, the 20th anniversary celebrations have another special meaning in both South Africa and around the world: an international celebration of freedom. Mandela was a legend; one of the very few people worldwide who were able to forgive those who sinned against him. Yet, the grassroots movements in Europe and the United States succeeded in pressuring their governments into imposing economic and cultural sanctions on Pretoria starting in the late 1970s. These sanctions took nearly 10 years to seriously impact the South African economy that was also suffering from the burden of its military commitment in occupying Namibia.

After the U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act in 1986, many large multinational companies then withdrew from the country and the combined effects of the end of the Cold War, internal unrest and international condemnation led to some dramatic changes beginning in 1989.

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Freedom DAy shows rightful path South Africa's future

UN cites press freedom as critical to reaching development goals

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New York, May 3 : The United Nations is marking World Press Freedom Day on Saturday with an appeal to all States, societies and individuals to actively defend press freedom as a fundamental right and as a critical contribution to achieving and sustaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This call was made in a joint message by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Irina Bokova, Director-General of UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), who said UN bodies are already working together and with other partners under UNESCO's leadership to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers around the world.

Their message goes on to stress that this year, the international community has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to prepare a long-term agenda for sustainable development to succeed the MDGs when they end in 2015.

"Successfully implementing that agenda will require that all populations enjoy the fundamental rights of freedom of opinion and expression, the officials said, underscoring that those rights are essential to democracy, transparency, accountability and the rule of law. "They are vital for human dignity, social progress and inclusive development."

World Press Freedom Day, which was designated as May 3rd in 1993 by the UN General Assembly, is being marked in about 100 countries and UNESCO is holding an international conference entitled "Media Freedom For a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda" from 5 to 6 May in Paris.

Also marking the Day, 31 specialists from the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system called on all Governments to promote and protect the rights to freedom of expression and information, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association and public participation.

Protection of these fundamental freedoms is essential for full realization of all human rights for all and for the achievement of related development goals. "States must develop more inclusive political processes and allow the media to play a key role in guaranteeing the right of everyone...to freely access information and engage in meaningful development related discourse."

The experts, known as Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, comprise the Organization's largest body of independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.

"Without free media to advocate for and monitor the implementation of the new set of post-2015 targets, there can be no real development for all marginalized, vulnerable or discriminated against. Not now, not ever," declared the experts.

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UN cites press freedom as critical to reaching development goals

Fertility guru's IVF warning: Rich could pay to have brighter babies, says Lord Winston

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Fertility expert Robert Winston warns against breakthroughs in treatments New IVF technology could see 'gene manipulation' of foetuses in future Lord Winston says breakthroughs have created a 'toxic' climate

By Mario Ledwith and Fiona Macrae

Published: 17:35 EST, 4 May 2014 | Updated: 18:55 EST, 4 May 2014

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Breakthroughs in IVF could threaten our humanity by prompting parents to demand designer babies, Robert Winston has warned.

The fertility pioneer said that he feared a time when the rich could alter the appearance and ability of children by tinkering with their genes.

And he claimed a toxic climate had been created by the desperation of childless couples and the pace of scientific developments in the booming IVF industry.

Warning: British fertility expert Professor Lord Winston warns that recent breakthroughs in IVF treatment technology could encourage gene manipulation of foetuses

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Fertility guru's IVF warning: Rich could pay to have brighter babies, says Lord Winston

Caribbean? Maldives? No, it's Britain's hidden beaches

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Incredible images show the beauty of the UK's hard-to-reach and secluded coastlines Some of the unspoilt beaches can only be reached by water, or at low tide Writer Daniel Start has spent a decade researching the spots and has written a book about them

By Sam Webb

Published: 07:27 EST, 4 May 2014 | Updated: 12:16 EST, 4 May 2014

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With their stunning white sands and crystal clear turqoise waters you could be forgiven for thinking these beaches are on an idyllic tropical paradise.

But amazingly each of these incredible seaside landscapes is in Britain - and they're among the country's best kept secrets.

The hidden locations of 400 hard-to-find and hard-to-reach beaches have been revealed in a new book by travel writer Daniel Start.

He has spent 10 years researching stretches of unspoilt sand along Britain's rugged coastline, which at 20,000 miles including its islands is among the longest in the world.

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Caribbean? Maldives? No, it's Britain's hidden beaches

Astronomy: The Big Bang (7 of 30) Cosmic Background Radiation and Earth’s Motion – Video

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Astronomy: The Big Bang (7 of 30) Cosmic Background Radiation and Earth #39;s Motion
Visit http://ilectureonline.com for more math and science lectures! In this video I will explain the cosmic background radiation and the blue- and red-shift.

By: Michel van Biezen

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Astronomy: The Big Bang (7 of 30) Cosmic Background Radiation and Earth's Motion - Video

Astrophysics Formulas and Astronomy Formulas

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Welcome to Astrophysics Formulas. Here you will find astrophysics formulas and astronomy formulas presented in a way that is more than just a bunch of equations. The idea is to provide practical forms as far as possible. Forms that are directly useful and that foster developing intuition for the nature of the relations represented by the equations, and for the underlying physics. Choose Astrophysics Formulas from the menu or this link, or use the search box in the right-hand sidebar.

List of Astrophysics Formulas

Use the button or link above to access a free pdf download containing an extended summary of astrophysics formulas which we hope will be a useful off-line quick reference (even though the pdf has more than 50 pages). The website entries have more detail and more explanation than the entries in the pdf file, but currently the pdf file is ahead of the website entries in the number of entries. Please check back soon for updates. If you sign up to the mailing list in the right-hand sidebar you will be informed when substantial new material has been added to the site.

Tip on unit conversions: Google is pretty clever and typing even some of the most obscure unit conversion questions into a Google search box will give you something sensible. However, there are some particular things that are not handled very well and these will be handled in astrophysics formulas (for example, keV to Kelvin, meV to kg, etc.).

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Astrophysics Formulas and Astronomy Formulas