Dragon year roars !

May this Water Dragon roar?

WHY NOT? By WONG SAI WAN

Much is pinned on 2012, and as we enter the Year of the Dragon, let it also turn out to be a watershed.



THE dragon is both feared and revered not only by the Chinese but also by almost every ancient civilisation. Fables tell of the wisdom and beauty, as well as the evil and tyranny, of the majestic mythical beast.

The Europeans – whether the Anglo-Saxons of middle Europe or the Vikings of the North – have their favourite tales of the dragon.

The English-educated among us will remember the fable of St George, who rescued a fair maiden from being sacrificed to a mean and ferocious fire-breathing beast.

The Vikings believed that the dragons fought with their gods, and very often won such battles. The ancient Scandinavians hero-worshipped these creatures, and even named and designed famed war boats after them.

The ancient Greeks and Egyptians shared the Vikings’ belief that the dragons fought constantly with the gods, and their battles were responsible for earthquakes, floods and all sorts of disasters that we blame today on nature.

 

Festive colours: Workers decorating a dragon-shaped sculpture in preparation for a dragon dance for the upcoming Chinese New Year in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China. — Reuters

Basically, in the ancient west, dragons were always portrayed as baddies, if not evil itself. Even these days, Hollywood movies would, more often than not, portray the mythical flying and fire-breathing beast as a destructive force.

However, in the east, the dragons were the good guys – often seen as divine beings or blessings from the gods. Regardless of the myth being of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, Bhutanese or Korean origin (all these cultures share the same lunar calendar), the dragon is always a symbol of wisdom, wealth and power.



To the ancient Chinese, not all dragons are created equal because, historically, the winged serpent was the symbol of the Emperor of China. In the Zhou Dynasty, the five-clawed dragon symbolised the Son of Heaven (Emperor), the four-clawed the nobles and the three-clawed the ministers.

This changed in the later Qin Dynasty. The five-clawed dragon became exclusive to the Emperor. Everyone else was free to use the various other claw combinations.

{China hasn't issued a stamp with this ferocious a dragon since 1878 (Photo Xinhua)} >>

On Monday, January 23^rd-2012 the new moon in Aquarius heralds in the Chinese New Year. The year of the Water Dragon begins and the year of the Metal Rabbit ends.

Even in Malaysia, we have our own dragon legends, with the one supposedly in Tasik Chini being the most famous. The Chini Naga fought off the Sri Kemboja Naga, forcing it to flee north to where Cambodia is today.

Many people living in Tasik Chini still talk about the monster that lives in the lake which at one stage was drying up due to logging at its tributary rivers. However, the lake is now flourishing again and is a popular local tourist spot, especially for anglers.

The animal sign for this lunar year is the dragon whose element is water. The last Year of the Water Dragon was between Jan 27, 1952 and Feb 13, 1953.

Yes, just like 12 years ago when the dragon last visited us, there will be a rush “to make dragon babies” because people born under this sign are deemed to be very lucky in life.

Among famous dragon personalities are actors Christopher Reeves, Patrick Swayze, David Hasselhoff and Liam Neeson, and author Amy Tan.

In Malaysia, among those born 60 years ago – and thus also water dragons – are PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, tycoon and Berjaya boss Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah.

A water dragon may sound harmless enough but that depends on which astrologer, feng shui master or seer one speaks to.

Some see it as the most thinking of all dragons because the person born under this sign is serene, calm and unhurried – just like water. He or she is also very persuasive and can wear down anyone with charm and diplomacy.

However, other readers of the stars call the water dragon the tsunami dragon because water is the only element that can destroy the other four elements – wood, fire, metal and earth.

They expect those born this year to be able to sweep away all those standing in their way, just like a tsunami.

Personally, I hope that the 2012 dragon will bring about definite decisions to the many questions that have been thrown up in the past few years.

For one thing, I hope that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will call a general election soon and that Malaysians respond by making a firm decision on what they want.

Another thing that needs thorough cleaning is the world’s economy. There has been so much uncertainty in the world’s economy because there doesn’t seem to be an end to financial crashes – first in the United States, then in Europe.

Ratings by rating houses are supposed to indicate for sure what the value of various financial instruments is. Instead, these rating houses’ downgrading of various European Union states’ credit ratings as well as the rescue package has only caused further uncertainty.

Rating houses, just like hedge funds, need to be fried by the dragon.

Hopefully, the Dragon Year will bring about a total collapse of the world’s economic system so that we can replace it with one that actually works. It’s time to wipe the slate clean.

It is time for the water dragon to roar and show its colours.

Executive editor Wong Sai Wan wishes everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai, and may the dragon year be a blessed one.

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You addicted to Facebook ?

Hooked on Facebook

By P. ARUNA aruna@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: If you prefer to interact on Facebook rather than have a normal conversation, you could be suffering from a psychological disorder, an expert warned.

Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur neuro-psychologist Dr Nivashinie Mohan said that Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) continues to go undetected because most addicts do not realise or want to admit that they have a problem.

With Malaysians spending more hours and having the most number of friends on Facebook, many had become addicted to it, she said.



“A lot of people do not see it as a real problem because they don't think it is as harmful as addiction to tobacco or drugs.

“But it is a problem that needs to be treated like any other addiction that prevents you from going on with your daily activities,” she said, adding that the disorder could cause anxiety and depression.

The disorder term FAD was coined by American psychologists to describe the addiction to Facebook.

Dr Nivashinie said that Facebook addicts had difficulty carrying on a normal conversation with people as they preferred to “poke”, “like” or comment on what their friends posted on the website.

She said the addicts felt the need to be connected to their Facebook friends all the time.

“They fear that they may miss out on something important if they don't constantly check the website,” she added.

On average, Dr Nivashinie said people spent about an hour each day on the website.

“But if you are cancelling plans with friends and family so you can spend the time on Facebook, it is a clear sign that you are addicted,” she said.

She added that addicts usually lost interest in school or were not productive at work because they were constantly on the website.

Stressing that the problem could be very serious, she said: “Sometimes these addicts don't even enjoy logging on to Facebook. They just feel they have to.

“Some people even break into cold sweat at the thought of not going on Facebook for a day or two. And they feel depressed when nobody communicates with them or responds to something they posted on the website.”

To overcome the disorder, she said addicts must first acknowledge that they have a problem.

“It may not be possible for them to quit Facebook immediately or completely,” Dr Nivashinie said. “They can begin by reducing and limiting the hours they spend on the website daily.”



Disconnected from real life

By WONG PEK MEI pekmei@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Social networking can be addictive and stunt personal interaction, say experts.

People frequent websites like Facebook due to easy access via mobile devices, but “such convenience is distracting people from having real social interaction with another human being”, said psychologist and counsellor Adnan Omar.

“For example, a couple missed an opportunity to have true interaction with each other by going out for dinner, only to be surfing the Net or checking e-mail on their mobile devices,” he told The Star recently.

It was reported on Jan 10 that a nationwide study showed that Malaysian mobile web users on average spend 20% of their time on social media like Facebook and Twitter, 18% on music or videos, 17% on playing games, 14% on searches for general information and 13% on e-mail.

Clueless condition: Many Malaysians may not be aware that they have Facebook Addiction Disorder.

 

Adnan was concerned that society might lose its ability to connect with the people within.
“We may know people in Russia but we do not know our own neighbours although they are just one wall away,” he said.

“If you're spending more than 25 hours per week social networking for other than work or academic reasons, you're addicted to it. It does not help that the Internet is readily available and you don't have to turn it off.”

Adnan said addicts had the urge to check their phone constantly and felt “empty deep inside” if they did not do so.

“When people post their pictures and updates, they are waiting for compliments to make them feel fulfilled. The other reason is that they need to kill time and would feel useless or uncomfortable if they do not do anything.

“Technology creates activities but not necessarily productivity although it makes us feel that way,” Adnan said.

Psychologist Dr Goh Chee Leong said the phone has become an important companion for “in between” times like when a person is waiting for someone.

The dean of HELP University College's Behavioural Sciences Faculty said people who often network generally have an active social life although “there are extreme cases”.

Facebook takes over mind and body

PETALING JAYA: Facebook addict Lim said her life now revolves around the social networking website.

Lim, who is in her 50s, admitted to a psychologist that she no longer had normal conversations with her family as most of her free time was spent in front of the computer.

She said she was addicted to Facebook games “Farmville” and “Baking Life” and would plan her daily activities around the website.

Lim said she would start her virtual “crop planting” or “baking” in the morning before work to make sure that it was completed in time for her to resume the game during lunch break.

“I have not had a good night's sleep in a long time as I can't log off until the wee hours of the morning,” she said.

Another addict, who wanted to be known only as Satish, said he logged on to Facebook every half hour.
“If I can't go on Facebook for some reason, I feel uneasy and can't concentrate on my work,” said the 30-year-old engineer.

His addiction became worse after he bought a smartphone.

Bosses face problem with workers wasting time on FB

PETALING JAYA: Employers are increasingly faced with the problem of employees wasting their time on Facebook and other social networking websites during office hours.

“Many companies have blocked their employees from accessing Facebook in the office, but this measure is not always effective as many of them can still access the website on their smartphones,” said Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan.

Although most employers wanted to stop employees from chatting or playing games online, he noted that companies in fields such as entertainment and media needed to access the social websites to keep up with the latest trends and news.

How the problem of time-wasting on websites was handled depended on “the nature of business” of the companies concerned, said Shamsuddin.

He added that young people might not be interested in working for companies which were too strict and did not allow them to log on to Facebook.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong said that Facebook users were “inviting trouble” if they constantly updated their status with information on their whereabouts and what they were doing.

“There are young girls who even update their status to say that they are going to take a bath,” he said.

He added that 14 female Facebook users had reported to the department that they were cheated and blackmailed last year.

World Bank warning of another global recession; Mier: Worse to come!

Image via Wikipedia

(Shanghai Daily)
 

THE World Bank is warning developing countries to prepare for the "real" risk that an escalation in the eurozone debt crisis could tip the world into a slump on a par with the global downturn in 2008/09.

In a report sharply cutting its world economic growth expectations, the World Bank said Europe was probably already in recession. If the debt crisis deepened, global economic forecasts would be significantly lower.

"The sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone appears to be contained," Justin Lin, chief economist for the World Bank, said in Beijing yesterday. "However, the risk of a global freezing-up of the markets as well as a global crisis similar to what happened in September 2008 is real."

The World Bank predicted world economic growth of 2.5 percent in 2012 and 3.1 percent in 2013, well below the 3.6 percent growth for each year projected in June.



"We think it is now important to think through not only slower growth but sharp deteriorations, as a prudent measure," said Hans Timmer, the bank's director of development prospects.

The report said if the eurozone debt crisis escalates, global growth would be about 4 percentage points lower. It forecast that high-income economies would expand just 1.4 percent in 2012 as the eurozone shrinks 0.3 percent, sharp revisions from growth forecasts last June of 2.7 percent and 1.8 percent respectively.

It cut its forecast for growth in developing economies to 5.4 percent for 2012 from its previous forecast of 6.2 percent.

It saw a slight pick up in growth in developing economies in 2013 to 6 percent. But the report said threats to growth were rising.

It cited failure so far to resolve high debts and deficits in Japan and the United States and slow growth in other high-income countries.

On top of that, political tensions in the Middle East and North Africa could disrupt oil supplies and add another blow to global prospects.

China's growth - forecast in the report at 8.4 percent - could help bolster imports and gives it "big fiscal space" to respond to changing conditions, Lin said.

But the World Bank report added: "No country and no region will escape the consequences of a serious downturn." 

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Mier: Worse to come

By LEONG HUNG YEE  hungyee@thestar.com.my

Eurozone crisis, slower China growth likely to hurt economy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) expects gross domestic product (GDP) for 2011 to be 4.9% but to decelerate to 3.7% in 2012.

MIER executive director Dr Za-kariah Abdul Rashid said this year would not be as bad as 2008 or 2009 but might not be as good as 2011, pulled down by the eurozone crisis as well as slower growth in China's economy.

He said if the eurozone crisis turned worse, the country's economy might be affected and the GDP could reach the 2008/2009 level.

“There's some avenue if the Government wants to spur the economy by spending on development. It will depend on the private sector whether our economy turns out to be strong this year,” Zakariah said at a briefing to present Malaysia's economic outlook.

Zakariah: ‘The private sector has done a lot for the economy.’

“However, the private sector has done a lot for the economy. We can't expect much more from the private sector.”

He said MIER had previously forecast 2011 GDP growth to be 4.6% but revised it upwards after looking at the latest numbers and the crisis in the eurozone.

“Growth in the last quarter of 2011 is expected to be much lower on account of external developments. The latest monthly economic indicators are already suggesting that,” MIER said in a report.

It added that economic growth would likely get “bumpier” in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, Zakariah said that there was “room for 25 to 50 basis-point downward revision” in the overnight policy rate (OPR). However, he said the revision would depend on the situation and had to be done vigilantly.

Based on MIER's Business Conditions Index (BCI), the business sentiment had worsened from the second quarter of last year. The BCI fell to 96.6 in the fourth quarter of 2011, the first time it had dipped below the 100 threshold since the fourth quarter of 2010.

“It usually shows a contraction mode when the index sinks below 100. The BCI had been dropping since the second quarter of 2011,” Zakariah said.

Sales, local and foreign orders, as well as capacity utilisation were significantly lower in the fourth quarter of 2011, with companies expecting to scale back production over the next three months as inventory builds up.

Concurrently, consumer sentiment also fell to a two-year low of 106.3 on the Consumer Sentiments Index as household incomes lost momentum, and finances and job became a growing concern.

Zakariah said the index pointed out that consumers were also holding on to purchasing big tickets items as spending plans took a backseat.

Separately, Zakariah said it would be better for the Government to call for general elections early as uncertainty over the nation's political future would hurt the economy.

He said private investors were currently holding back investments on concerns that government policies could change due to the political climate here.

“If you ask me as an economist, I would rather see the problem solved once and for all. The earlier they settle the political matters, the better, we can focus on the economy.

“Right now everything is still hanging. People are postponing because of the elections. So if they settle it once and for all and immediately, it would be better,” Zakariah said.