Green Walk Day 8

My country makes me gut-wrenching. There is no science fiction, we'd been long alerted by the devastating pollution rare earth refineries brought to us, Papan- Bukit Merah, Baotou, China; tragedies of leadership betrayal. Malaysia environment NGOs have been struggling to stop the project, Nov 13, 2012, the Malaysia High Court once again revoked the appeal and granted green light to Lynas Corporation for operation.

Look at the approval of Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP), it blemished a beautiful place i called home. Imagine how many beautiful mangrove forest had put down for the refinery of a 140 football fields. How many magical flora, fauna will lose their habitats?

How long are we going to suffer under the governing bodies that lack in social responsibilities? 

Is the life of Malaysian rather insignificant to the Malaysia Government? The "Elites" pay no regard, despite the protests, they welcome Lynas with 12 years tax exemption, approved the use of Cyanide in gold mining, building massive petro-chemical plant and giving lands for another massive dam.

the Government responded toward these environmental cries had turned to be childish and ignorant. I was devastated and heart broken, the way my Government treated this matter like a gag, a matter that could burden the fate of our future generation, a matter that could blot out the rich abundance nature.

Himpunan Hijau: Green walk is deem as a movement towards the celebration of human spirit, in expressing our constitutional rights as rightful citizen of a nation moving forward onto the ideal of an inclusive nation that is founded on justice, fairness and peace.

Today, Nov 21, 2012 onto their Day 9 Green Walk, from Bentong to Bentong Hot Spring (18km).
Sharing some of yesterday's Green Walk Day 8 pictures, from Karak to Bentong (22km)

Green Walk Day 1
Green Walk Day 3
Green Walk Day 5 and 6
Green Walk Day 8

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[interview] after receiving his architecture degree, he went to Canada to further study in Environmental Science, which was strongly opposed by his father. He insisted and worked in Canada for 15 years before returning to Kuala Lumpur to his father's request. He was then worked as an architect and built several buildings. He could not stand the life in Kuala Lumpur and decided to go back Sabah, runs a Palm Tree Plantation and Organic Farming. Settled for 5 years and has been leading a campaign against the construction of coal electric plants.

He led several Himpunan Hijau Campaigns to Stop Lynas! And had inspired the Ascetic 300km Green Walk, he is dubbed as modern days "Green Warrior".

 Wong Tack receiving medical treatment before 8th day Green Walk

 Sami Sifu Kong Li (空理法师) meditate for inner strength. 

 Our fellow friend, Zamri in the middle, one of the full 300km ascetics

 Approximately 200 participants gathered at the temple, giving their support.

 P.Y.T. powered by Mighty Mouse!

Green Walk had inspired lot of mothers to stand up for their children, heart warming family walk!

 Karak-Bentong undoubtedly one of the most dangerous Green Walk route ever, as participants will be walking on the Karak Highway, one of the highest accident prone highways. Participants crossing junction on the Karak Highway.

 Passed-by car cheering for the participants, a lot of thumbs up that day!

 Crossing on a tight squeeze at Karak Highway, barely room for the participants to stay on the safer white line.

 "Sir, what you need is a double protection. Please take this extra straw hat!"

 Police officers safeguarding the green participants on the Karak Highway.

 "Invest in Pahang, we make it easier for you." APPROVED!
Now, you know why so many plants in Pahang?

 Lady with the colorful handkerchief on head

For 12 long years, he is always on my left, ventures through many adventurous "fights".
Yang Amat Bokehlicious- Cslee



We are no longer living incumbent on current governing parties; Malaysian citizens had stretched out onto political maturity. We might be a third world country but we are not imbeciles. Our children shall not be living under the risk of radiation. Please listen! I beg you my Government; it's our health you're playing at stake.
 
Regards,
JW.  

Green Walk Day 5 & Day 6

"if you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is." -Charles Bukowski- 

Green Walk had marked their half journey accomplishment during the crossing of Temerloh Bridge on Day 5 (17.11.2012). Day 6, marched on from Mentakab to Lanchang. Today, onto their 7th Day of asceticism, a 22km walk from Lanchang to Karak; i am ashamed for not being able to join, and i rest on alternate days, i am ashamed of no promising numbers of young adults my age participate or help the walk; i am ashamed that i'd left the ascetic responsibility to uncles, aunties of 50 year-old to 72 year-old walking 300km, fighting for our rights, our future.

Check also Green Walk Day 1, Green Walk Day 3

Along the way, Green Walk received a lot of supports from the kind hearted. There are medical doctors traveled all the way from KL and Kuantan putting their medical license at stake. One particular Chinese Medical Doctor, Yong attended Kg. Awah middle of the night. "i don't no money, no car, no house, what left of me is medical knowledge." he said.

There are restaurants being warned off offering foods to Green Walk participants, risking their operation license, they went all the way, giving shelter, foods, drinks and then they "green walked". There are people donating coconuts, ice-creams, socks, chicken essence......

to be able to inspire does keep the morale high.

Green Route

One of the beautiful handcrafts of the Murum's Penan, Rattan backpack.

She tried to balance herself on the morning stretch but she kept falling, look how amused Aunty Mei is!

Sami Sifu warming up for another day of long stretch, Kg Awah to Mentakab. 26km.

It isn't easy for the participants to walk through 110km for the past 4 days, Himpunan Hijau Wong Tack pulled his hamstring on yesterday 30km stretch, he keeps his chin up and laugh. 

The Penan's favorite snack, Betel Nut! (Pinang)

The 9 year-old Gabrielle and Evelyn, although they didn't manage to finish the walk but they keep cheering for everyone!

the profound numerous prizes and awards winner, Film Director Tan Chui Mui came all the way from Beijing to join Green Walk, pass on her support to Change!

The Green Walk ascetic participants, risking their life crossing borders on federal road. For the one single reason, Change!

Change! for the freedom of clean air, freedom from pollution, freedom to fight for their rights

The Penan's Photographer.

Getting ready to cross Temerloh bridge, which also commemorating the half journey of ascetic Green Walk.

Green walk participants are thrill with their half journey accomplishment!

Green Walk receiving more and more support on each crossing borders, we were offered foods, drinks, coconut, fruits and ice-cream! Undoubtedly, a tremendous morale boost for them.

It rains again when the participants nearing 2km to Mentakab town, but it didn't stop them go marching in!

This gentlemen from Seremban has been hula-hooping for the whole journey from Kg. Awah to Mentakab, and the rain didn't stop him at all!

"Like the spring rains water the earth, drench with soaking joy of life, embrace its nourishing roots. -空理法师-


Didn't manage to walk on Day 6, from Mentakab to Lanchang, but manage to stop by and cheer for them. 
Picnic with the Penan.

Ban Cyanide! Green Walk Day 6, Mentakab to Lanchang, 22km, 33.8°C

Green Walk Day 6, Mentakab to Lanchang, 22km, 33.8°C! No sweat for the Pretty Young Thing in superman pants! 

Green Walk Day 6, Mentakab to Lanchang, 22km, 33.8°C
"if the adults decided not to fight for this war, we have to stand up for ourselves, it is our future at stake afterall."

Take nothing but to instill Stand Up Speak Up ideology, leave nothing but the footprint to inspire every crossing borders. Green Walking people!


“Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to.” 
-Mitch Albom-

Regards,
JW

Green Walk Day 3

300 kilometers of Green Walk, 77 km completed on Day 3 (15.11.2012), today, Day 4 (16.11.2012) Green Walkers will march on another 29 km from Maran to Kg Awah. Just in case you want to join them, here's a route map for your reference, do check out the organizer page OR the event group page for more details. 

The best way to inspire more people, might not be the media, there is nothing more powerful than one step at a time of a mighty ascetic, it relies on a human-to-human transmission to diffuse out the message, and also down-hearten, inspiring people along the way. An ascetic carries out by a group of people from 3 year-old to 72 year-old, it records the footsteps of the people who do not give up easily.

300km Green Walk, 14 days, one mission! Stop Lynas!

Every step of every street along the way, my experience is deeply colored by many transient of factors- the weather, the time of days and nights, the people around me, of all walks of life regardless of races, religions and languages. 

Let me tell you a story of mine, I was on my way driving from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan to join the Day 1 Green Walk on Tuesday (13.11.2012), on the Monday (12.11.2012) evening itself, my car went out of control, it hit the road divider, spun out of control. Without colliding any pass-by cars, it miraculously stop at the road shoulder. There must be a reason i escaped the near-death experience. Green Walk could be one of those, to embrace the pain of life, to stand ground fight for our rights, to inspire, more people to support green walk- to stop lynas.  

near-death experience.

If you're unable to participate in the Green Walk from Kuantan to Parliament, do show up in Green Shirt at Dataran Merdeka on 25th November 2012 to give them support! They need the support from every single voice of yours, let them know you care! 

The court had decided to reject another appeal made by Kuantan residents for an interim injunction on temporary operating license given to Lynas (LAMP). I know at this point, many had stop believing, BUT you can't give up hope just because it's hopeless. You gotta hope even more, and cover your ears and go bla bla bla!!! (Phillip J. Fry) There are still groups of people that will not give up easily, and they are makeshift of 40 to 75 year-old aunties and uncles! They are merely ordinary people safeguarding a place they called "home".

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Himpunan Hijau Chairperson, Wong Tack performing "Oppa Sabah Style" to cheer up the group, look how excited our fellow Murum's Penan friend on the right!

Loong, safeguarding the green walkers from pass-by vehicles, his voice to lead them to the parliament.

Stop Lynas, the 7 year-old said.
 
Youngest green walker of the day, a 3 year-old Desmond, enjoying his bliss.
 Okay, fine! i make up the name Desmond! 

Murum's Penan! One of the full time participants for 300km ascetic, Damn the Dams! 

"in this glorious day of Muharram, i am grateful to be able to walk from Sri Jaya to Maran over 18km."
"Dalam Hari Awal Muharram yang mulia ini, saya bersyukur kerana dapat menghabiskan perjalanan dari Sri Jaya ke Maran sepanjang 18km."
 
Today, your're a man, young Johnny, frolicking with a Stop Lynas flag. 
Okay! another make up name!

"in this glorious day of Muharram, i am grateful to be able to walk from Sri Jaya to Maran over 18km."
"Dalam Hari Awal Muharram yang mulia ini, saya bersyukur kerana dapat menghabiskan perjalanan dari Sri Jaya ke Maran sepanjang 18km."

Heavy downpour when Green Walkers approaching Sri Jaya- Maran 12km, Abang Osman offers shelter, foods and drinks from the rain.

Guiding the Green Walkers to shelter.

"Rain or Shine, we're in this together!" 

i'd like to dwell on a story of a bright young man in the middle, he is Lee Chean Chung, KEADILAN Pahang State Committee and Indera Mahkota Division Acting Chief. KEADILAN AJK MPN Pahang dan Pemangku Ketua Cabang Indera Mahkota. 人民公正党彭亨州州委与英迪拉马哥打区部代主席. i was humbled by his presence, he is always the last one to destination, not because he's lazy or what not, he was busying collecting plastic bottles, rubbish along the way.

March on 71 year-old Aunty Mei!

193km to Kuala Lumpur? Green Walkers nailed it!

"We will fight Lynas until even the last man standing ..........."- Wong Tack

"i will walk even it hurts." -from a green walker

Despite having a swollen foot, lady on the left continue her walk to Maran. Lets salute to her. Our friend from Baram.

Godspeed green walkers! Godspeed! 


We are no longer living incumbent on current governing parties; Malaysian citizens had stretched out onto political maturity. We might be a third world country but we are not imbeciles. Our children shall not be living under the risk of radiation. Please listen! I beg you my Government; it's our health you're playing at stake.
 

Regards,
JW.  

Green Walk


the 71 year-old Aunty Mei, one of the Green Walkers for the whole journey.   


Green Walk initiated by Himpunan Hijau chairperson, Wong Tack, for the cause of presenting memorandum in protest against Lynas Advanced Material Plant (LAMP) in Gebeng, Kuantan. He who lead the green walk, officially embark yesterday, 13th November 2012 to 26th November 2012. For about 30 Green Walkers will carry on the journey, covering 300 km in 14 days, crossing 12 villages.

"i hope my humble action will evoke the highest spirit and build the strongest bond among the ordinary citizens of this land. It is my aspiration that when the time comes and the situation requires, we must be ready to stand at the front-line and give our all to safeguard our homeland and protect our children from harm." -Wong Tack-

If you're unable to participate in the Green Walk from Kuantan to Parliament, do show up in Green Shirt at Dataran Merdeka on 25th November 2012 to give them support!


 
Sim and his family, came all the way from Pengerang, supporting the Green Walk. 

 Wong Chin Huat- a Malaysia political scientist, an university lecturer, a political activist, also a columnist. 

a farmer+barefooter, wanting to bring out environmental concern.

"i support the green movement, because the Buddha which created this clean territory, a country must be clean, including green, thus i came out to support this movement." to defy the lost in translation, here's what he originally said in Chinese.
“我支持绿化运动,因为在佛法里面其实也是要创造这种清净的国土,就是一个国家必须清净,包括绿化,所以就出来支持这个运动”。-空理法师-
 
Don't turn Kuantan town into the shadow of cancer, i want to grow up healthily! 

 
Another businessman+barefooter, "Go Green, Go Barefoot" he said.

 
4 representative from the Runner club.

  
Lone ranger from bike racing club. Also, safe guarding the Green Walkers to destination.

the children wanting a healthier, cleaner, better future.

56 year-old Loong, took a 2 weeks leave from work, "just living is not enough! it also have sunshine, clean air, and freedom!"

the BERSIH Commandments

Children frolicking under the greeting sun, how many days left before the inevitably joy and delight deprive? 

Stop Lynas! Save Malaysia! 


we make the world we live in and shape our own environment.

Keep your barefoot on the ground, let your heart soar high! never surrender your chill of environment.

Why? that we have to fight the government to save the environment?

the Murum's Penan, "Stop the Dam in Baram!"

Damn the Dam! 

“The people will never retreat a single-step nor tolerate stagnancy. We will continue to push forward. Our second wave of people’s actions shall kick-off immediately!” said Wong Tack, chairperson of Himpunan Hijau.

Philip Jau, Chairman of Baram Protection Action Committee (BPAC), "when i meditate, the strength comes to me." he said. 
We were displaced from our ancestral lands as a result of ventures such as the exploitation of natural resources. Denial of our right to control our own development based on their own values, needs and priorities, a lack of - or very poor - political representation and a lack of access to social services. The human rights of our peoples who have endured centuries of exploitation and marginalization. And we are forcibly removed from our lands without prior consent! 

DOA, Prayer, and Chant before the beginning of "war". 

"i'm a farmer all my life, i am literally illiterate, but the one thing i know best, is walk, barefooted!"

Save the Sarawak River! Damn the Dam!

"We'd been friends for life, we don't want our children to cope with the fear, worry and depression, some mess we'd left behind."

Aunty Mei, leading the charge.

Approximately 400 participants join the first day morning green walk from Mosque to Sri Mariammam Temple.

"Uncle, where are your friends? Why aren't they supporting the Green Walk? We are in Standard 1, we come in team!" 2 little boys asked.

Murum's Penan, chanting outside Sri Mariammam Temple, while the rest of the Green Walkers getting their blessing. 

 
Blessed in light.

Ritual ceremony coconut burst.
  
  Little kiddo discussing something about grass.

Long, endless straight road barefoot under a bright, hot sun

You see, Government doesn't create wealth, the only job Government need to do is to respect their stakeholders, us, the citizens.

What holding you back when people from 5 y.o. to 72 y.o. also participate the Green Walk? 

Stop Lynas!

29 green walkers (excluding the media team), carry on completing the 300km walk to Parliament. 

5 year old boy rest for watermelon and drink, he carried on at least 18km until the heavy downpour and his dad has to pursue him to stop.

 
71 year old Aunty Mei has to put a halt to her mission for time being due to hamstring. She'll rest and carry on tomorrow. 
  
 
Aunty Mei enjoying Kung-Fu massage from Wong Tack.

...our culture's frenzied and mindless assault on the last shreds of nature may not be the wisest course... We're melting the ice caps, ripping up the rainforest, and vacuuming the oceans of everything that wriggles - George Meyer

Regards,
JW 

Walking in the rain!

Rain makes everything better! Fallacy of generalization but that at least for me, i had a secret crush on rain since i was young, i love walking in the rain! Playing football in the rain! Sipping coffee in the rain! Okay, you get the point. I know most people don't usually celebrate rain, especially photographers. You can bitch or moan about it, but why haven't you embrace the rain? Shoot in the rain! It full of surprises!

Photographing in the rain is not easy, and here's some tips that probably won't help you but me: 
1. Get a weather-seal-magnesium-alloy-made camera and shut up!
2. Keep your hood up and walk on.
3. Let your lens and camera get wet, it's okay, wipe it instantly and let those dry-cabinets do their job.
4. Enjoy the gloomy-dreary light.
5. Think in monochrome!
6. Stop chimping and keep your eyes open on interesting subjects.

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How splendid we have something in such plentiful supply falling from the sky? Mizzle, drizzle, cats and dogs! Trust me! There's no reason to stop walking just because monsoon has arrived. Walking in the rain! Bold and survive!


Regards,
JW.