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World Heart Day 2009:Care for Your Heart:

Admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:00:46 +0000

World Heart Day is globally held on the last Sunday of September each year to inform people about cardiovascular diseases, which are the biggest cause of death worldwide. The event also aims to promote preventative measures that reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This Year Theme’s:”Work with heart”Three mantras 4 a healthy heart:Positive Thought,Healthy Food,Adequate Exercise.

Picture:World Health Federation

What do people do?

Many people around the world unite with governments and non-government organizations celebrate and promote World Heart Day each year. Activities include fun runs, public talks, concerts, and sporting events. The World Heart Federation organizes awareness events in more than 100 countries. They include:

Health checks.
Organized walks, runs and fitness sessions.
Public talks.
Stage shows.
Scientific forums.
Exhibitions.
Concerts.
Carnivals.
Sports tournaments.

These activities are done in partnership with organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), which is the UN’s directing and coordinating authority for health.

Public life

World Heart Day is a global observance but it is not a public holiday.

Background

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death worldwide and this is projected to remain so, according to WHO. About 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30 percent of all global deaths. Risk factors that may lead to heart disease and stroke include:

Raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels.
Smoking.
Inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables.
Overweight.
Obesity.
Physical inactivity.

World Heart Day was created to inform people around the globe that heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death. Together with organizations such as WHO, the World Heart Federation spreads the news that at least 80 percent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors – which are tobacco, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity – are controlled. World Heart Day started in 1999 and is held on the last Sunday of September every year.

“Your heart is your health.”

តើប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាម្នាក់ជំពាក់បំណុលបរទេសចំនួនប៉ុន្មាន?

Admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:35:41 +0000

បទសម្ភាសន៍ទាក់ទងនឹងបញ្ហាកម្ពុជាជំពាក់ប្រាក់បរទេស

ដោយ គឹមពៅ

2009-08-07

កន្លងមកមានសេចក្តីរាយការណ៍ថា ប្រទេសកម្ពុជាជំពាក់ប្រាក់បរទេសរាប់ពាន់លានដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។

RFA File Photo អ្នក តំណាង រាស្ត្រ របស់ គណបក្ស សមរង្ស៊ី លោក សុន ឆ័យ

ខាងក្រោមនេះគឺជាកិច្ចសម្ភាសន៍រវាង អ្នកស្រី គឹមពៅ និង លោក សុន ឆ័យ អ្នកតំណាងរាស្ត្រមណ្ឌលភ្នំពេញ ៖

គឹមពៅ ៖ ខ្ញុំទទួលបានដំណឹងថា ឯកឧត្ដមទើបនឹងបានទទួលនូវឯកសារមួយស្ដីអំពីកម្ពុជា ដែលជំពាក់បំណុលគេ។ តើមកដល់ពេលនេះឯកឧត្ដមអាចឲ្យដឹងថា កម្ពុជាយើងជំពាក់បំណុលគេប៉ុន្មានទៅហើយ ហើយជាពិសេសយើងជំពាក់ប្រទេសណាខ្លះ?

សុន ឆ័យ ៖ យើងបានទទួលលិខិតផ្លូវការ លិខិតនេះផ្ញើមករដ្ឋសភាតាំងតែពីខែ ធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ ២០០៨។ ក្នុងរបាយការណ៍គឺមានការបញ្ជាក់ពីការជំពាក់លុយបរទេស គឺមានចំនួន ២.៦៩៣លានដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។ ហើយបើយើងគិតមកដល់ពេលនេះ គិតតាមតួលេខដែលប៉ាន់ស្មាន ថាប្រហែលជា ៣ពាន់ លាន(ដុល្លារ) ហើយ ដែលយើងជំពាក់បរទេស។ ហើយទឹកប្រាក់នេះ គឺជាទឹកប្រាក់មួយដែលខ្ញុំមានការព្រួយបារម្ភ ថាអាចនឹងផ្ដល់ស្ថានភាពមួយដែលខាងផ្នែកស្ថានប័នហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ អន្តរជាតិ គេប្រហែលជាបន្តិចទៀត គេឈប់ឲ្យយើងខ្ចីទៀតហើយ ពីព្រោះវាដល់កម្រិតមួយដែលគេមិនជឿជាក់ថាយើងនឹងអាចសងគេបាន។

គឹមពៅ ៖ ខ្ញុំចង់ជម្រាបសួរឯកឧត្ដមបន្តទៀត អំពីរឿងដែលយើងខ្ចីបុលគេ មកទល់ថ្ងៃហ្នឹងមានចំនួនដល់តែជាង ៣ពាន់លាន(ដុល្លារ) បើប្រៀបធៀបទៅនឹងការអភិវឌ្ឍនៅក្នុងស្រុកហ្នឹងវាសមរម្យទេ?

សុន ឆ័យ ៖ យើងឃើញថាមានអំពើពុករលួយទៅលើប្រាក់ដែលយើងខ្ចីនេះ ព្រោះប្រាក់ខ្ចីហើយនិងប្រាក់ដែលយើងទទួលអំណោយវាមានលក្ខណៈខុស គ្នា។ អំណោយដែលគេមិនទារយកវិញនោះ គឺគេមានក្រុមតាមមើលគុណភាពពេលខ្លះដែរ ដូចជាការសង់ស្ពានជ្រោយចង្វា។ ឯលុយកម្ចី គឺដោយសារយើងជាអ្នកខ្ចី ហើយយើងយកមកធ្វើការសាងសង់ដោយខ្លួនយើង យើងឃើញថាមិនមានគុណភាពទេ។ ហើយគុណភាពផ្លូវបើយើងប្រៀបធៀបនឹងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ដែលគេធ្វើមានតម្លៃប្រហាក់ប្រហែលគ្នា ផ្លូវគេអាចមានការធានាយ៉ាងតិចណាស់ក៏ ៣០ឆ្នាំដែរក្នុងការប្រើប្រាស់។

ប្រទេសយើង ផ្លូវខ្លះគឺមានអាយុបាន ២ឆ្នាំ ខ្លះស្ទើរតែមួយឆ្នាំឃើញខ្ទេចខ្ទីអស់ ហើយជាបញ្ហាដែលយើងថាបន្តិចទៀត ខ្ញុំបានជម្រាបខាងដើម គេលែងឲ្យយើងខ្ចី ហើយយើងអស់មានលទ្ធភាពខ្ចី គឺយើងនៅតែអត់មានផ្លូវប្រើប្រាស់ លុយក៏យើងជំពាក់គេថែមទៀត។ ឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៧ គេថាបើរដ្ឋាភិបាលចង់បានលុយ ឬខ្ចីលុយគេ សភាទាមទារថាឲ្យធ្វើគម្រោងឲ្យសភាមើល តើសង់អីពិតប្រាកដ? តើត្រឹមត្រូវឬទេ? ប៉ុន្តែក្រោយឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៧ មក រដ្ឋាភិបាលថាពិបាកណាស់ទម្រាំបានសិទ្ធិពីសភា ម៉្លោះហើយសុំឲ្យជាកញ្ចប់ ហើយកញ្ចប់នេះធ្វើឲ្យរដ្ឋាភិបាលអត់ត្រូវការសួរសភាទេ គឺលោកត្រូវបែងចែកខ្ចីគេអីទាក់ទងយកទៅសម្បើមណាស់។

គឹមពៅ ៖ ឯកឧត្ដម តើប្រាក់កម្ចីទាំងអស់ហ្នឹង តើយើងចាំបាច់ត្រូវតែសងគេ ឬ ទេ?

សុន ឆ័យ ៖ យើងត្រូវតែសងគេ។ យើងឃើញហើយប្រទេសទាំងឡាយដែលគេធ្លាប់ឲ្យលុយយើងខ្ចីពីដើមមក ក្រោយមកនៅពេលដែលយើងជួបប្រទះនូវសង្រ្គាម ការប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍អីហ្នឹង មានប្រទេសខ្លះគេអនុគ្រោះឲ្យយើង ដោយសារថាយើងមានបញ្ហាហ្នឹង។ ឯប្រទេសខ្លះគេមាននយោបាយគេតឹងរ៉ឹងណាស់ មាន យូកូស្លាវី ថ្ងៃមុនគាត់មកទារត្រង់ៗតែម្ដង។ ហើយខ្ញុំមិនជឿថា ចាប់ពីឆ្នាំ ១៩៩៣ មក លុយដែលជំពាក់គេប្រហែលគេមិនអនុញ្ញាតឲ្យយើងទៅងាយស្រួលទេ ដោយសារយើងមានធនធានធម្មជាតិដែលគេសម្លឹងឃើញ។ យើងឃើញហើយការឲ្យលុយខ្ចី កម្រិតនៃការឲ្យលុយខ្ចី សព្វថ្ងៃវាលើសកម្រិតដែលយើងអាចមានលទ្ធភាពសងហើយ បើប្រៀបធៀបទៅនឹងប្រាក់ផលិតផលសរុបក្នុងស្រុក ដែលភាសាកាត់ថា ផ.ស.ស ឬភាសាអង់គ្លេសថា GDP នោះ។

គឹមពៅ ៖ សូមជម្រាបសួរឯកឧត្ដមថា តើនរណាទទួលខុសត្រូវក្នុងរឿងសងគេត្រឡប់ទៅវិញហ្នឹង?

សុន ឆ័យ ៖ រឿងហ្នឹងជាបន្ទុករបស់ពលរដ្ឋ។ រដ្ឋាភិបាលអាចផ្លាស់ប្ដូរបាន ដូចយើងឃើញហើយ លុយដែលរុស្ស៊ីទារយើងហ្នឹង ខ្ចីតាំងពីរបបមុនម្ល៉េះ មិនត្រឹមតែរដ្ឋាភិបាលទេ និយាយពីរបបទៅទៀត។ នេះជាការបង្ហាញថានរណាសង? មិនមែនរដ្ឋាភិបាលលើកមុននោះសងឯណា ពលរដ្ឋហ្នឹងហើយដែលជាអ្នកសង។ ដូច្នេះបានជាខ្ញុំបែងចែកទៅពលរដ្ឋហ្នឹង ខ្ញុំថា ៣០០ដុល្លារសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ក្នុងម្នាក់ដែលជំពាក់គេ ហ្នឹងត្រូវដឹង ហើយសូមឲ្យយើងដែលទាំងរដ្ឋាភិបាល ទាំងពលរដ្ឋហ្នឹង គឺថាត្រូវចូលរួមគ្នាពិនិត្យ។

គឹមពៅ ៖ ជុំវិញប្រាក់បំណុលដែលកម្ពុជា ជំពាក់គេច្រើន តើឯកឧត្ដមក្នុងនាមជាតំណាងរាស្រ្ដមួយរូបហ្នឹង គ្រោងនឹងមានផែនការអ្វីទេ?

សុន ឆ័យ ៖ ដូចបានជម្រាបបន្តិចមុនថា ខ្ញុំនឹងធ្វើលិខិតអញ្ជើញឧបនាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី រដ្ឋមន្រ្តីក្រសួងសេដ្ឋកិច្ច និងហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ មកឆ្លើយបំភ្លឺនៅរដ្ឋសភា។ ទី១ គឺឲ្យគាត់បញ្ជាក់មក តើរដ្ឋាភិបាលនៅមានគម្រោងខ្ចីបុលគេប៉ុន្មានទៀតទៅអនាគតហ្នឹង? ដើម្បីឲ្យយើងត្រៀមខ្លួនផង។ តើយើងម្នាក់ៗ ដូចខ្ញុំបានជម្រាបហ្នឹង ឥឡូវម្នាក់ៗ ទាំងខ្ញុំ ទាំងពលរដ្ឋនៅស្រែចម្ការដែលមិនដែលឃើញលុយដុល្លារសោះហ្នឹង ជំពាក់គេជាង ៣០០(ដុល្លារ)ម្នាក់ហើយ។ ឥឡូវយើងចង់ដឹងថា ប្រុងត្រៀមប៉ុន្មានទៀត? ហើយយើងនឹងទៅជាអ្នកជំពាក់គេហ្នឹងប៉ុន្មាន? ហើយចង់បញ្ជាក់លទ្ធភាពរបស់យើងផង ក្នុងការប្រមូលធនធាន ហើយកាត់បន្ថយការរំពឹងតែទៅលើជំនួយ ការខ្ចីបុល តើយើងអាចមានវិធានការអីទេ? ដូច្នេះបានជាថាចៀសវាងកុំឲ្យប្រទេសជាតិយើងធ្លាក់ទៅក្នុងភក់ ជ្រាំដ៏លំបាកទៅអនាគត។

ហើយកូនចៅយើងត្រូវសងបំណុលគេមិនចេះចប់ហ្នឹង ការយល់របស់ខ្ញុំ ថាត្រូវតែពង្រឹងវិស័យការពារ ប្រឆាំងនឹងអំពើពុករលួយឲ្យបានឆាប់ ហើយធ្វើយ៉ាងម៉េចឲ្យគម្រោងនៃលុយកាក់ដែលយើងអាចនៅខ្ចីគេបាន ឬក៏លុយកាក់ដែលយើងយកទៅកសាងសមិទ្ធផលហ្នឹង ធ្វើម៉េចឲ្យមានគុណភាព ធានាសេចក្ដីត្រូវការរបស់ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋយើងឲ្យបានត្រឹមត្រូវ ទុកឱកាសឲ្យអ្នកដឹកនាំក្រោយគេមានលទ្ធភាពទៅខ្ចីបុលមកប្រើប្រាស់ ផង៕

http://www.rfa.org/khmer/interview/cambodia-foreign-debt-08072009055913.html

Slumdog Millionaire

Admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:37:37 +0000

Life of a Ph.D student is really challenging but interesting. I just had a chance to browse Youtube and I found a song from the movie “Slimgdog Millionaire”. It really a nice song and the movie is also great. Have u seen it yet?

This is another song by Chris Brown, “Forever”. I somehow find some common melodies of these songs.

Beware of fake eggs

Admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:38:35 +0000

by Jeremy Goldkorn, December 28, 2004

Xinhua has a report about artificial eggs that were apparently sold by a street vendor in Handan, Hebei Province. The report says that the man who took the eggs home found that the eggs’ yolk and white were all mixed up, and di not have any flavor. After inspection by “relevant departments” it was found that the dodgy eggs’ shells were made from calcium carbonate while the fake yolks were made from a mixture of gelatine, starch and other chemicals.

The Xinhua report in Chinese here, with a photo of the fake egg.

Original post: http://www.danwei.org/internet/beware_of_fake_eggs.php

CAMBOSASTRA

Admin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:07:20 +0000

Pls visit our new website

http://www.cambosastra.org/

The Fear of Lightening Strikes

Admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:23:10 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Lightening is one of the fearful natural phenomenon. During this last decade, the fear of lightening strikes is a big concern for many people in concluding Cambodians. Last year, more than 100 people were killed and injured. Life is so fragile and the mother nature seems to be so cruel to mankind.

Why is there lightening strike? What are the causes of the strikes? And how to prevent ourselves from it?

Last week, I sent an email to the Radio Free Asia Khmer Service to request if they can invite an expert on the Lightening Strike to talk a bit more so that the people will be alerted and understood more about this natural phenomena. Luckily, The RFA CAll In Show this Friday 10th July 2009, will discuss about Lightening Strike. If you have any questions, please contact RFA via khmer@rfa.org

There is also a similar case of lightening strikes in Thailand. The following is the report from the Nation.

Officials raise fear of lightning strikes

By: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN and AMORNRAT MAHITTHIROOK

Published: 9/07/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Experts are warning people how to avoid lightning strikes, which have increased to 100,000 occurrences a month.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) says at least 1.3 million lightning strikes occurred nationwide last year, up from 1.2 million the year before, or more than 100,000 strikes a month on average.

About 100 people are hit by lightning each year, and 30 of them die.

In one lightning strike at Suvarnabhumi airport recently, several ground staff were injured while loading luggage on to a plane.

Most lightning strikes occur in the South, followed by the Northeast and eastern provinces, particularly Chanthaburi and Trat, Egat said.

Prawit Leesatapornwongsa, director of the Telecommunications Customer Protection Institute, said people should avoid trees, and stay low when lightning strikes, especially if in an open field.

Boonrat Apicharttrison, a 56-year-old journalist, survived a lightning strike during a trip to Cambodia three years ago.

“It came so fast,” Boonrat said. “I didn’t know what happened to me. I spent one day in a Cambodian hospital and another two months in Chulalongkorn Hospital.”

She was left with burns around her neck, but fortunately no brain injury. She believed the lightning was drawn to her by a metal necklace she was wearing.

But Komson Petcharaks, from the High-Voltage Research Laboratory at Chulalongkorn University, said contrary to popular belief, wearing metal or even talking on a mobile phone during a storm would not attract lightning strikes. The lower part of a cloud has negative ions, which try to connect with positive ions on the ground.

“People can be injured from strikes themselves, or strikes which hit the ground then run from the ground to people,” Mr Komson said.

Most people were injured not from lightning strikes directly, but from objects close to them which conduct electricity.

Risk areas include open fields (45%), trees (23%) and water sources (13%).

Lightning also causes problems for power transmission grids, which can affect energy security.

“About 32% of power transmission line errors are caused by lightning,” said Kitti Petchsanthad, Egat’s transmission line technology unit chief.

Egat has 11 lightning detection systems nationwide to help protect the grid, though sometimes they are not enough.

The 1st Anniversary of the Preah Vihear Temple’s Inscription: 07 July 2008-2009

Admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:15:35 +0000

Fist Picture: Courtesy of Sambath

Who Owns the Preah Vihear Temple?

Admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:05:16 +0000

Courtesy of Sacrava

Quote of the Day

Admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:52:11 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

រៀនពីអតីតកាល, រស់នៅនាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន, សង្ឃឹមសំរាប់អនាគត។

ចំនុចសំខាន់គឺកុំឈប់សួរចង់ចេះចង់ដឹង។

ការចង់ចេះចង់ដឹងមានហេតុផលផ្ទាល់ខ្លួនរបស់វាសំរាប់អត្ថិភាព។

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

The important thing is not to stop questioning.

Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

- Albert Einstein, scientist

Unbelievable Latest Iphone 3G S

Admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:20:56 +0000

By: Kent German
Published on: 06/08/2009

Editor’s note: This First Take includes only the features that will be unique to the iPhone 3G S. I’ve revisited iPhone OS 3.0 in a separate post.

iPhone fans got what they were waiting for June 8 when the third-generation model of Apple’s popular handset made its debut during the WWDC 2009 keynote. The iPhone 3G S, which will hit stores June 19, promises a faster iPhone with an extended battery life, more memory, and improved features. It looks exactly the same as the previous model, but both the 16GB ($199) and new 32GB ($299) models will come in white and black versions.

Though the jump from the iPhone 3G to the 3G S isn’t quite as big as the jump from the first- to second-generation models, this latest handset still adds enough new features to make it a compelling upgrade for some users. And when you add in all the new features that will come with the iPhone OS 3.0 (available June 17), we finally get an iPhone that can run thousands of snazzy applications and do something as basic as send a multimedia message.

Yet, we still have some concerns. A faster AT&T 3G network isn’t going to happen overnight, and some features, like tethering and the aforementioned multimedia messaging, won’t happen right away. We also came away from the keynote without any mention of call quality, which, as any iPhone owner can tell you, remains far from perfect. But most importantly, the iPhone 3G S’s price will vary widely depending on your eligibility. If you can get it at the lowest prices, it’s worth your while. But if you’re not yet eligible for a discounted upgrade, we suggest that you wait.

iPhone 3G S

(Credit: Apple)

Speed
Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, promised that iPhone 3G S (the “S” stand for speed) will be faster in a number of ways. Not only will a new processor enable it to load apps faster, but it will also utilize an upgraded AT&T 3G network for speedier Web browsing. We expected both of these improvements, so we’re not surprised that they are the new model’s prime selling points. I’ll start with the processor.

Schiller didn’t provide any hard metrics on the new processor, but he said that the 3G S would open applications two times faster than the previous two iPhones. Honestly, this isn’t something that we’ve been pining for–we would much prefer to get Palm Pre-style multitasking–but we’ll welcome it just the same. We’ll have to wait for a review model to see how much faster the 3G S is.

On the other hand, we’ve eagerly been awaiting zippier 3G speeds, so we’re glad to hear that they’re on their way. Here, too, Schiller was short on specifics outside of mentioning AT&T’s forthcoming HSPA network upgrade to 7.2Mbps. That is an important qualifier considering that AT&T won’t start rolling out the faster network until later this year. What’s more, full deployment is scheduled for 2011. Though we expect that urban areas will be first, coverage will vary widely for the next year, at least. As such, we don’t predict any miracles soon.

You can trim video clips right on the iPhone.

(Credit: Apple)

Battery life
Though battery life on the first iPhone was mostly satisfactory, the iPhone 3G sucks up juice rapidly. Indeed, you’re lucky if your handset lasts longer than a day of heavy use. Luckily, the iPhone 3G S offers some hope. Schiller rattled off statistics that certainly sound promising. It should offer 9 hours of Wi-Fi battery life, 10 hours on video playback, 30 hours on audio playback, 12 hours 2G talk time, and 5 hours 3G talk time. Like with the processor, we’ll have to wait for our review unit to see if these ratings hold up, but we like what we’re hearing so far.

Camera
Up until now, the iPhone’s camera has been good, but far from great. Though picture quality is decent, camera editing features on the first two iPhones are nonexistent. The minimalist shooters bothered us so much that we began to worry if Apple was leading a new trend of “dumbing down” cell phone cameras.

The iPhone 3G S, however, has helped put some of those fears to rest. Apple boosted the camera’s resolution to 3 megapixels and it added an autofocus feature. In the future, you’ll also get settings for white balance, exposure, low-light sensitivity, and a macro mode for close-up photos. The autofocus feature appeared to work well during the keynote so we’re looking forward to testing it ourselves.

Use voice vontrol to make calls and play songs.

(Credit: Apple)

Video recording
When we last asked about video recording at the OS 3.0 announcementin March, Apple wouldn’t comment on whether it would come to the iPhone. So we have to admit that we weren’t expecting it to happen anytime soon. But thanks to its improved camera, the iPhone 3G S will offer the ability to record VGA clips at 30 frames per second. It also promises a nifty editing feature that will let you trim clips to your liking. And once you’re done, you can upload them to YouTube with just a couple of clicks. Again, it looked good onstage so we’re excited to check it out.

Voice Control
We’ve long berated Apple for not including voice dialing on the iPhone. So when we heard that it would be on the iPhone 3G S, our initial reaction was a cynical “it’s about time.” Yet, our hearts softened just the slightest bit when we saw that the new Voice Control feature will go far beyond just voice dialing and commands.

Sure, you’ll be able to dial a contact using your voice, but you’ll also be able to activate the iPod player by asking for a particular music track or artist. What’s more, you can use Voice Control to identify a song by name and you can ask to play related tracks (as they’re associated in the iTunes Genius feature). Seeing those additional features almost makes us forgive Apple for taking so long to add something as basic as voice dialing, but not quite.

Find your way with the digital compass.

Compass
We were a little skeptical when we heard that the new iPhone might offer a digital compass. Yet, Schiller confirmed that the rumors were true. Like any other compass it will automatically point to north, but it also will integrate with Google Maps to point you in the right direction. A nice touch, to be sure.

What didn’t we get?
Fortunately, this list is getting shorter with each incarnation of the iPhone. Though OS 3.0 adds many notable missing features like multimedia messaging, turn-by-turn directions and stereo Bluetooth, there are a few capabilities still lacking. Flash support for the Safari browser, app folders for the home screen and USB mass storage are just a few. And hey, though we know that we’ll never get it, we’ll throw in a user-replaceable battery too.

So should you buy it?
Like we said earlier, the iPhone 3G S offers some notable feature improvements, but it doesn’t offer quite the same leap that the iPhone 3G offered over the first-generation model. If you don’t own an iPhone yet, and you’ve been waiting around to see what happens, now is the time to go for it. The same goes for iPhone Classic owners who never made the jump to the iPhone 3G.

But, if you’re a current iPhone 3G owner, the answer isn’t so clear. If you’re eligible to upgrade at the cheaper prices ($199 or $299), then we suggest doing so, as long as you remember that a new two-year contract is required. If you own an iPhone 3G, but are not eligible for the upgrade yet, then we recommend waiting. As much as the iPhone 3G S brings, it’s not worth the extra $200 that both the 16GB and 32GB models will cost you. In the meantime, you will get the new OS 3.0 features when they’re released for the iPhone 3G on June 17. But not only that, you’ll have extra money to spend on apps.

English for Study in Australia

Admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:00:42 +0000

ភាសាអង់គ្លេសសម្រាប់ការសិក្សានៅប្រទេសអូស្រ្តាលី

កម្រងមេរៀនសិក្សាភាសាអង់គ្លេសទាំង២៦មេរៀននេះ នឹងជួយលោកអ្នករៀបចំខ្លួនដើម្បីទៅសិក្សា និងរស់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលី។ លោកអ្នកនឹងយល់ដឹងនូវចំណុចសំខាន់ៗនៃវប្បធម៌ និងដំណើរជីវិតសិក្សាក្នុងប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលី ព្រមទាំងការប្រើប្រាស់ភាសា នៅពេលលោកអ្នកតាមដានស្តាប់សាច់រឿងរបស់និស្សិតអន្តរជាតិដែលកំពុង សិក្សាក្នុងប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលី។

ឌុចថ្លែងរំឭកពីសង្រ្គាមរវាងវៀតណាមនិងខ្មែរក្រហម

Admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:53:56 +0000

ដោយ ហ៊ុយ វណ្ណៈ

2009-06-01

ថ្មីៗ នេះអតីតសមាជិកខ្មែរក្រហមម្នាក់បាននិយាយថា មនុស្សដែលស្លាប់ច្រើនក្នុងរបបខ្មែរក្រហម គឺបណ្តាលមកពីទំនាស់ស្លាប់រស់រវាង ប៉ុល ពត និងមេដឹកនាំវៀតណាម។

អតីត មេគុកទួលស្លែងនៃរបបខ្មែរក្រហម កាំង ហ្កិចអ៊ាវ ហៅ ឌុច (រូបកណ្ដាល) បង្ហាញខ្លួននៅក្នុងសវនាការនៃអង្គជំនុំជម្រះវិសាមញ្ញក្នុងតុលាការ កម្ពុជា នាថ្ងៃទី១៧ កុម្ភៈ ២០០៩។

AFP Photo

សមាជិកខ្មែរក្រហមម្នាក់បានថ្លែងថា ការអនុវត្តមហិច្ឆតាដ៏ធំមួយរបស់ហូជីមិញ ដែលប៉ុនប៉ងបញ្ចូលកម្ពុជា ទៅក្នុងអ្វីដែលហៅថាប្រទេសសហព័ន្ធឥណ្ឌូចិន គឺត្រូវ ប៉ុល ពត ជំទាស់ជាដាច់ខាត ហើយការប្រឆាំងគំនិតរបស់ហូជីមិញ នោះហើយ ដែលបណ្តាលឲ្យកើតមានសង្គ្រាមរវាងកម្ពុជា-វៀតណាម នៅអំឡុងឆ្នាំ១៩៧៨ និងនាំឲ្យមនុស្សស្លាប់ជាច្រើននាក់នៅគ្រានោះ។

នៅក្នុងសវនាការនាសប្តាហ៍នេះ អតីតមេគុកទួលស្លែង កាំង ហ្កេកអ៊ាវ ហៅ ឌុច បានបំភ្លឺថា មហិច្ឆតារបស់មេដឹកនាំបដិវត្តន៍វៀតណាម ហូជីមិញ ក្នុងការបង្កើតប្រទេសសហព័ន្ធឥណ្ឌូចិន ស្ថិតនៅក្រោមការដឹកនាំត្រួតត្រាដោយវៀតណាម នោះ ក៏ត្រូវបានយកទៅអនុវត្តដោយអ្នកដឹកនាំវៀតណាម ជំនាន់ក្រោយបន្តបន្ទាប់ទៀតដែរ ដូចជា ឡេ យន់ និង ផាំ វ៉ាន់ដុង ជាដើម។

ឌុច បានបំភ្លឺដូច្នេះ ៖ «ហូជីមិញ គាត់លើកទ្រឹស្ដីថា បុព្វហេតុតែមួយគឺតស៊ូវ៉ៃបារាំង ដូច្នេះត្រូវតែមានបក្សតែមួយដឹកនាំ គឺបក្សកុម្មុយនីស្ដឥណ្ឌូចិន។ បក្សតែមួយ កងទ័ពតែមួយ រដ្ឋាភិបាលតែមួយ ប្រទេសតែមួយ គឺសហព័ន្ធឥណ្ឌូចិន។ នេះហើយជាប្រភពនៃទំនាស់ស្លាប់រស់រ៉ាំរ៉ៃរវាង ឡេ យន់ និង ប៉ុល ពត។ សូមបញ្ជាក់ថា ឡេ យន់ គឺជាអគ្គលេខាធិការបក្សពលករវៀតណាម ដល់ក្រោយមកគេប្រែឈ្មោះជាបក្សកុម្មុយនីស្ដវៀតណាម»។

ឌុច ថ្លែងបន្តថា ឡេ យន់ ព្យាយាមឲ្យ ប៉ុល ពត ធ្វើតាមគំនិតនោះ ប៉ុន្តែ ប៉ុល ពត ប្រឹងជម្នះដើម្បីចង់បានឯករាជ្យពីកុម្មុយនីស្តវៀតណាម ទាំងទ្រឹស្តីមនោគមន៍វិជ្ជានិងអធិបតេយ្យជាតិ ៖ «ទំនាស់រវាង ឡេ យន់ ហើយនិង ប៉ុល ពត ជាទំនាស់ស្លាប់រស់ គឺទំនាស់រ៉ាំរ៉ៃ។ តាំងពីឆ្នាំ ១៩៥៤ មក ឡេ យន់ គាត់នៅតែតាំងខ្លួនគាត់ជាបិតានៃឥណ្ឌូចិន ដដែលហ្នឹង មាន ហ្សឺណែវ ក៏ដោយ ឡេ យន់ ហ្នឹងឲ្យ ប៉ុល ពត គោរពតាមខ្លួន»។

ឌុច ថ្លែងទៀតថា វៀតណាម មានវិធីសាស្ត្របីយ៉ាងក្នុងការជំរុញឲ្យ ប៉ុល ពត ធ្វើតាមគំនិតខ្លួន ហើយរឿងនេះ លោក ផាំ វ៉ាន់ដុង ជានាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រីសាធារណរដ្ឋសង្គមនិយមវៀតណាម ក៏ចាំច្បាស់ផងដែរ។ ការថ្លែងរបស់ ឌុច ក៏ស្របគ្នានឹងការបកស្រាយរបស់លោក ណាយ៉ាន ចាន់ដា (Nayan Chanda) ជាអតីតអ្នកឆ្លើយឆ្លងព័ត៌មានឲ្យទស្សនាវដ្ដី Far Eastern Economic Review និងជាអ្នកជំនាញមកបំភ្លឺក្នុងសាលាក្តីខ្មែរក្រហមនោះដែរ។

ឌុច បានថ្លែងថា ៖ «ផាំ វ៉ាន់ដុង និយាយមាន៣។ គោលគំនិតទី១ ជំហានដំបូង បក្សកុម្មុយនីស្ដវៀតណាម គឺ ឡេ យន់ គេចង់អប់រំ ប៉ុល ពត ឲ្យងាកទៅតាមគេ បើសិនជាគេធ្វើមិនបានទេ គេឲ្យខ្មែរជាសមាជិកបក្សកុម្មុយនីស្តកម្ពុជា នេះ ទម្លាក់ ប៉ុល ពត។ ទី៣ បើសិនជាធ្វើមិនកើតតទៅទៀត គេនឹងវ៉ៃពីក្រៅ»។

អរិភាពរវាងមេដឹកនាំប្រទេសកម្ពុជា នាគ្រានោះ គឺ ប៉ុល ពត និងមេដឹកនាំវៀតណាម ឡេ យន់ បានបណ្តាលឲ្យសង្គ្រាមផ្ទុះឡើងជាបន្តបន្ទាប់ គឺចាប់តាំងពីថ្ងៃទី ១៧ មេសា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៧ មក។

នៅក្នុងសុន្ទរកថាមួយក្នុងឆ្នាំ១៩៧៨ ប៉ុល ពត ថ្លែង ថា ៖ “យើង បានប្រយុទ្ធយ៉ាងសាហាវជាមួយវៀតណាម ដោយបង្ខំឲ្យវាចេញពីទឹកដីរបស់យើងនៅថ្ងៃទី ៦ ខែមករា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៨។ យើងសម្លាប់និងធ្វើឲ្យរបួសទ័ពវៀតណាម ២ម៉ឺន៩ពាន់នាក់ និងប្រយុទ្ធជាមួយទ័ពវៀតណាម ៥កងពលទៀត”។

ក្រោយមកទៀតកងទ័ពវៀតណាម បានវាយប្រហារមកលើកម្ពុជា ជាលើកទី២ ដើម្បីគ្រប់គ្រងទឹកដីកម្ពុជា នៅខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៨ ដដែលនោះ។ ប៉ុល ពត ថ្លែង ថា ៖ “វៀតណាម បានត្រៀមកងទ័ពចំនួន ១១កងពល”។ ប៉ុន្តែវៀតណាមមិនទទួលបានជ័យជម្នះលើកម្ពុជា នៅគ្រានោះទេ។

ប៉ុល ពត បានរំឭកដល់កម្មាភិបាលនិងកងទ័ពរបស់ខ្លួននៅគ្រានោះ ដូចអ្វីដែល ឌុច ថ្លែងនៅក្នុងសវនាការដែរថា ៖ “ការ វាយប្រហារដែលមានលក្ខណៈជាប្រព័ន្ធនិងការឈ្លានពាននោះ គឺក្នុងបំណងយុត្តិសាស្ត្រដាក់កម្ពុជា ឲ្យស្ថិតនៅក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់វៀតណាម ក្នុងអ្វីដែលហៅថា សហព័ន្ធឥណ្ឌូចិន”។

នៅថ្ងៃទី ៣១ ខែធ្នូ ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៨ ប៉ុល ពត បានប្រកាសធ្វើសង្គ្រាមជាមួយវៀតណាម។ អ្នកស្រាវជ្រាវម្នាក់បានថ្លែងថា ការសម្រេចចិត្តធ្វើសង្គ្រាមនេះ គឺដោយសារតែ ប៉ុល ពត សង្ឃឹមលើប្រទេសចិនប្រជាមានិត ហើយកាលណោះ ចិន បានផ្តល់សម្ភារៈសឹកនិងយន្តហោះមកឲ្យខ្មែរក្រហមនោះផង។ អ្នកជំនាញការចិន ក៏បានជួយ ប៉ុល ពត កសាងព្រលានយន្តហោះមួយក្នុងខេត្តកំពង់ឆ្នាំង ផងដែរ។

នៅក្នុងសុន្ទរកថាដដែលនោះ ប៉ុល ពត ក៏បានថ្លែងទៀតថា ៖ “បើសិន ជាយើងអាចប្រើមនុស្សម្នាក់ច្បាំងទល់នឹងមនុស្ស ៣០នាក់ យើងប្រាកដជាអាចយកឈ្នះបាន បើទោះបីជាការប្រយុទ្ធនេះ ប្រើរយៈពេល ៧០០ឆ្នាំ ឬច្រើនឆ្នាំជាងនេះក៏ដោយ។ ប្រជាជនយើងមួយចំនួនអាចប្រយុទ្ធម្នាក់ទល់នឹង ២០នាក់ ម្នាក់ទល់នឹង ៥០នាក់ ឬក៏ម្នាក់ទល់នឹង ១០០នាក់បាន”។

ប៉ុល ពត បានលើកទឹកចិត្តទៀតថា ៖ “ដូច្នេះយើងត្រូវតែអានពី ប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រនិងមានការទុកចិត្តលើខ្លួនឯងទាំងស្រុង ហើយយើងមិនត្រូវជឿលើការភូតកុហក និងការយល់ច្រឡំរបស់អ្នកដទៃដែលឆ្ងល់ថា យើងមានប្រជាជនតែ ៨លាននាក់នឹងអាចធ្វើឲ្យវៀតណាម ដែលមាន ៥០លាននាក់ចាញ់យ៉ាងដូចម្តេចនោះឡើយ?”។

យោងតាម ឌុច នៅពេលដែល ប៉ុល ពត ខឹងវៀតណាម នោះ ប៉ុល ពត បែរជាសម្លាប់ខ្មែរជាច្រើននាក់ទៅវិញ ៖ «ប៉ុល ពត ហើយនិង ឡេ យន់ គេទាស់គ្នាជាបុគ្គលគេពីរនាក់ ម្នាក់ៗមានបក្សរៀងខ្លួន មានកងទ័ពរៀងខ្លួន ដូច្នេះវាអន្តរាយ វាហូរឈាមមនុស្ស រាស្រ្ដតូចតាច»។

សង្គ្រាមរវាងកុម្មុយនីស្តវៀតណាមនិងកុម្មុយនីស្តខ្មែរក្រហម ត្រូវលោក ណាយ៉ាន ចាន់ថា ដែលជាអ្នកនិពន្ធសៀវភៅប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រផងដែរ ចាត់ទុកថា វាជាជម្លោះរវាងបងប្អូនឯងដែលជាកុម្មុយនីស្តដូចគ្នានោះ។

ប៉ុន្តែ ឌុច ក៏ជំទាស់ចំពោះចំណុចនេះ ៖ «យើងខ្ញុំហើយនិងវៀតណាម មិនដែលមានទឹកដីរួមគ្នាទេ សូមបញ្ជាក់!»។

ទោះបីជាយ៉ាងណាក៏ដោយ ការព្យាយាមរបស់ ប៉ុល ពត ដើម្បីឯករាជ្យពីវៀតណាម គឺមិនអាចទៅរួចទេនៅគ្រានោះ។ របបខ្មែរក្រហមដែលដឹកនាំដោយ ប៉ុល ពត បានបរាជ័យទាំងស្រុងនៅខែមករា ឆ្នាំ១៩៧៩ ហើយកងទ័ពវៀតណាម និងអ្នកជំនាញការវៀតណាម បានបន្តស្ថិតនៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា រហូតដល់ឆ្នាំ១៩៨៩ ទើបដកទៅវិញ។

គេមិនដឹងថា កាលពី ៣០ឆ្នាំមុន ឌុច បានគិតដូចម្តេចចំពោះគំនិតដឹកនាំរបស់ ប៉ុល ពត នោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែពេលនេះ ឌុច បានថ្កោលទោស ប៉ុល ពត ៖ «ប៉ុល ពត ប្រើពាក្យថា ចង់ឈ្នះយួន ត្រូវបក្សស្អាត កងទ័ពស្អាត ប្រជាជនស្អាត។ ខ្ញុំនិយាយនេះមិនមែនអះអាងថា ប៉ុល ពត ស្នេហាជាតិដ៏មហាអស្ចារ្យទេ ប៉ុល ពត ជាឧក្រិដ្ឋករ បិតាឧក្រិដ្ឋករធំបំផុតរបស់កម្ពុជា ក្នុងនេះខ្មែរជាង ១លាននាក់ស្លាប់ដោយសារស្នាដៃ ប៉ុល ពត។ ក្នុងនេះ ស.២១ បាតដៃខ្ញុំប្រឡាក់ឈាមមនុស្ស ១២.៣៨០នាក់យ៉ាងតិច»។

អតីតអ្នកកាសែតម្នាក់ ហើយបច្ចុប្បន្នជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រីព័ត៌មាន គឺលោក ខៀវ កាញារីទ្ធ ថ្លែងដែរថា វិនាសកម្មរបស់កម្ពុជា នៅគ្រានោះ ដោយសារតែកំហុសផ្នែកនយោបាយនិងការសម្រេចចិត្តរបស់ ប៉ុល ពត។

ប៉ុល ពត បានស្លាប់តាំងពីឆ្នាំ១៩៩៨ ។ ពេលនេះនៅសល់តែសហការីនិងអ្នកដើរតាម ប៉ុល ពត ប៉ុណ្ណោះ ដែលត្រូវដាក់ឲ្យទទួលទោសចំពោះកំហុសទាំងនោះ ក្នុងនោះមាន ឌុច និងមេដឹកនាំខ្មែរក្រហមដទៃទៀត ដូចជា ខៀវ សំផន, នួន ជា, អៀង សារី និង អៀង ធីរីទ្ធ។ ចំណែកឯវៀតណាម ក៏បានផ្តល់ឯកសារជាភស្តុតាងក្នុងការជំនុំជម្រះក្តីក្រុមមេខ្មែរ ក្រហមទាំងនោះផងដែរ៕

NZ, Australia to get Win7 first

Admin — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 05:11:13 +0000

By Renai LeMay on 05 June 2009

The first retail sales of Windows 7 will take place in New Zealand and Australia on 22 October, Microsoft confirmed this week.

(Credit: Renai LeMay/ZDNet.com.au )

Windows 7 will hit first New Zealand, then Australia, due to the countries’ placement with respect to the International Date Line. Microsoft announced last week that its new operating system would hit retail shelves and start showing up on new PCs from 22 October this year.

“Our understanding at this time is that the availability of Windows 7 will ‘follow the sun’ on Thursday October 22,” a Microsoft spokesperson said late yesterday. “As such, we’re excited that the first retail sales globally of Windows 7 will take place in New Zealand and Australia as we cross the dateline ahead of other markets.”

ZDNet.com.au has been informed by many early adopters that they have had positive experiences with Windows 7 after testing it on their home PCs in preparation for upgrading to the platform from Vista or XP installations.

Microsoft Australia could not confirm at this stage what upgrade programs would be available to locals. However, globally Microsoft has confirmed, without giving details, that it plans to offer some sort of “technology guarantee” giving those who buy Vista machines close to the Windows 7 launch a free or discounted copy of the new operating system.

As with past similar programs, details on pricing will be up to individual computer makers, although Microsoft did say the upgrade program will apply to Vista Home Premium and higher-priced editions (meaning not Windows Vista Basic).

The tech guarantee program is not beginning immediately, but Microsoft did raise the possibility it will offer some sort of lower-cost upgrade to those who are already using Windows Vista.

CNET News.com’s Ina Fried contributed to this article.

World Environment Day 2009

Admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:55:10 +0000

ទិវាបរិស្ថានពិភពលោក២០០៩

ពាក្យស្លោកនៃទិវាបរិស្ថានពិភពលោកនៅឆ្មាំនេះគឺ៖

“ភពផែនដីរបស់អ្នកត្រូវការអ្នក”។

Easily Green Your Daily Routine

This year’s theme for World Environment Day (WED) is Your Planet Needs You! UNite to Combat Climate Change. But too often we are presented with environmental problems without being given the tools to act. WED is about taking action to be a part of the solution. And the Daily do something Tips are a great start.

We can all do our part to protect the planet by using less and acting more. Going green is not as difficult as you might think. Here we walk you through 30 easy ways to green your daily routine, from the moment you hit snooze on your solar-powered alarm clock to the point when you crawl into your eco-washed, organic cotton sheets.

Make your WED commitment today. But don’t stop at today and don’t stop here. Try to incorporate all of these into your life as a matter of routine. Get others to do so the same. And get involved!

IN GENERAL:

Plant a tree! Help achieve UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign target of planting seven billion trees – one for every person on the planet – by the end of this year! Three billion are planted. Five billion are pledged. On every continent in the world trees can be planted in June, so start your efforts on WED.
Find needy homes or charitable organizations for things that you no longer need or want rather than throwing it away.

DAILY ROUTINE:

AT HOME…

It would seem to go without saying, but many of us forget that we can save water in simple ways like not letting the tap run while shaving, washing your face, or brushing your teeth.
Insulating your water heater will help save valuable energy, and you can go the extra mile by installing showerheads with a low flow in your bathrooms for bathing purposes to help save water. You can also put a timer on your heaters to save power.
Using an electric razor or hand razor with replaceable blades instead of disposable razors goes a long way to cutting back on waste. And plant a tree.
Use towels for drying your face and hands instead of tissues that are used and thrown away. Also, hang your towels to dry so that they can be reused several times. You are after all clean when you use them!
Juice or yoghurt lovers can do their bit by buying juice in concentrates and yoghurt in reusable containers instead of single serving packages.
Many of us like to leaf through the paper as we munch on breakfast, but consider reading the dailies in communal spaces like the office or coffee shops. However, if you prefer to have your own copy, make sure you recycle!
When packing your lunch, opt for reusable containers for food storage instead of wrapping the food with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
As you leave the house, don’t forget to switch off all the lights and appliances at the wall unit (if you have this feature) and unplug chargers as they continue to consume even if they are not charging; saving energy helps reduce air pollution.

GETTING TO WORK:

Don’t go anywhere without your cloth bag so you can just say no to plastic whenever you shop.
Radical as it may seem, in today’s “the easier the better” society, the easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is by avoiding driving altogether. Power down and Instead try biking, walking, carpooling, public transport or an occasional telecommute.
If you have no other choice than to drive to work, look for the most fuel- efficient car model for your next purchase and keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure.

If you’re one of the lucky few blessed with clear stretches of road on your way to work, use cruise control, as it saves fuel and also helps you maintain a constant speed.
If you’re among the majority of drivers who spend their mornings stuck in traffic, consider turning your engine off if you will be idling for long periods of time. And plant a tree.
For those who suffer from road rage, remember that aggressive driving lowers your mileage, so if you want to save on fuel and save the planet while you’re at it, accelerate gradually– something to keep that in mind the next time that bad driver cuts you off! Just count to 10 and say the planet needs me!

AT WORK:

Do you have a morning hot drink routine? Using a washable mug is an environmentally-friendly alternative to non-biodegradable styrofoam or plastic cups.
Leave a cup and reusable bottle for water at work to eliminate buying drinks, which get served in plastic cups, or bottled water. 80% of plastic bottles are recyclable but only 20% are actually recycled.
When you need a pad for lists and messages, turn over an old document and write on the back of that instead.
If there isn’t an office recycling system, start one yourself! Recycling our trash actually contributes to reducing global warming emissions. And it is estimated that 75% of what is thrown in the trash could actually be recycled, though currently only 25% is.
When you must have a paper copy, make sure you default your printer option to use both sides. This is an easy tree-saver!
Most computer accessories like ink cartridges and CDs and DVDs are made of materials that could be reused. Computer cords and speakers are fairly standardized, meaning they can be used for a variety of computer models and makes.
Lower your office’s carbon footprint by seeing computers, monitors, printers, copiers, speakers and other business equipment to their energy saving feature and turning them off at the end of the day. And plant a tree!
Turning off all unnecessary lights, especially in unused offices and conference rooms is an easy way to save energy.
If you’re in search of something to personalize your workspace, look no further than the humble houseplant. Houseplants are good for the environment because they remove quantities of pollutants present in the air.

AFTER A LONG DAY:

In the summer/warmer months, consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air-conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home. While you’re at it, in winter, lower your thermostat and put on a jumper. In summer, increase it and wear lighter clothes, you will also save money!
Don’t place lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat as it senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air-conditioner to run longer than necessary.
When cooking dinner, match the size of the pan to the size of the heating element to lower energy wastage.
When you are feeling at your laziest, don’t throw clean clothes in the hamper to avoid hanging them up! Wear jeans more than once…
When you wash, use only eco-friendly products in your home. It’s best for you and the environment! And did we mention plant a tree!

Source: UNEP

Electronic Choun Nath Khmer Dictionary 2nd Version

Admin — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:53:49 +0000

វចនានុក្រមខ្មែរអេឡិចត្រូនិកសកបរិវត្តន៍ទី២

ដោនឡូតពីខេមបូសាស្រ្ត (Download) 3 MB (WinRAR)

ប្រសិនបើកុំព្យូទ័របស់អ្នកមិនមានWinRAR Download Win RAR (1.7MB)

កាលពីថ្ងៃអង្គារ ទី២ខែមិថុនាឆ្នាំ២០០៨ វិទ្យាស្ថានពុទ្ធសាសនបណ្ឌិត្យដែលនៅ ក្រោមការគ្រប់គ្រងរបស់ក្រសួងធម្មការ និងកិច្ចការសាសនា នៅក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា បានបើកសម្ពោធចេញឲ្យមានការប្រើប្រាស់នូវ វចនានុក្រម ខ្មែរអេឡិចត្រូនិក សកបរិវត្តន៍ (កំណែ)ទី២។

ការបើកសម្ពោធវចនានុក្រមខ្មែរអេឡិចត្រូនិកកំណែទី២នេះគឺដើម្បីជា់ប្រយោជន៍ ដល់សាធារណៈជនមានភាពងាយស្រួលក្នុងការប្រើប្រាស់ ស្រាវជាវ និងស្វែងយល់ ពីអក្សរសាស្ត្រខ្មែរ ឲ្យបានកាន់តែប្រសើរឡើង។

កម្មវិធីវចនានុក្រមខ្មែរអេឡិចត្រូនិកនេះ អាចប្រើបានជាមួយកុំព្យូទ័រដែលដំណើរការដោយកម្មវិធី Window XP និង Window Vista តែប៉ុណ្ណោះ ។

ថ្ងៃល្អរបស់នាយក្រឹនៈ២៨ឧសភាចូលរោងការ

Admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:21:54 +0000

អបអរសាទរនាយក្រឹន!

តារាកំប្លែងដែលមានមាឌល្អិតតែមានវាសនាខ្ពស់គឺនាយក្រឹននឹងក្លាយជាកូនកំលោះក្នុងការរៀបអាពាហ៍ពិពាហ៍ជាមួយកូនក្រមុំដ៏ស្រស់ស្អាតនៅក្រុងព្រះសីហនុនៅថ្ងៃទី២៨ ឧសភាខាងមុខ។ សូមអានបន្ថែម

Mental Illness Treatment of Buddhism

Admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:49:13 +0000

Download

With gratitude and courtesy of Ven. Dr. Hok Savann

More books….

Protect your Gmail Account

Admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:11:17 +0000

Dear Friends,

I am not sure whether some of you are aware of Gmail Scam Warning Code:VX@G99AAJ. There is email in circulation asking for your gmail account details. And I heard that many of our friends’ emails have been hacked since they were not aware of such a dangerous scam.

Today, I received the email claiming to be from the Gmail team. VERIFY YOUR FREE G MAI L ACCOUNT NOW !!! asks for my Gmail ID My Password, my date of birth and country or territory where I live.

The email claims that if I don’t send these details that my Gmail account will be closed in Seven days. Below is the text from the email copied and pasted, as is, with no editing.

Here is the email:

…………………………

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Gmail Team <pwveriify@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, May 17, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Subject: Email Warning Code:VX2G99AAJ
To:

Dear Account Owner,

Dear Account User,

This Email is from Gmail Customer Care and we are sending it to every Gmail Email Accounts Owner for safety. we are having congestion due to the anonymous registration of Gmail accounts so we are shutting down some Gmail accounts and your account was among those to be deleted. We are sending this email to you so that you can verify and let us know if you still want to use this account. If you are still interested please confirm your account by filling the space below.Your User name, password, date of birth and your country information would be needed to verify your account.

Due to the congestion in all Gmail users and removal of all unused Gmail Accounts, Gmail would be shutting down all unused Accounts, You will have to confirm your E-mail by filling out your Login Information below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.

* User name: ……………………….

* Password: …………………………..

* Date of Birth: ……………………….

* Country Or Territory: ………………..

Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or her account within Seven days of receiving this warning will lose his or her account permanently.

Thank you for using Gmail !

The Gmail Team

G MAI L BETA

…………………………………………………..

In fact, this is a scam. The real giveaway that this is someone trying to steal your gmail account is the fact that you can only answer the questions by replying to this email, if Gmail wanted to check an account was active they would send an email which when opened would automatically inform them that your account was being used. And why would Gmail revert to using garish lettering in the logo?

Therefore, to protect your Gmail account, do not reply to this email if you receive it.

Do Not Give out Your Personal Details

If someone managed to get hold of your Gmail account, they could also get hold of your other personal details, like passwords, private messages, personal mail and any other details that you may have stored in there.

NEVER SEND YOUR PASSWORD TO ANYONE, OR ANY OTHER PERSONAL DETAILS, IT COULD COST YOU A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK.

The Girl Who Silenced The World For 6 Minutes

Admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:20:47 +0000

Daughter of famed Canadian scientist, David Suzuki, Severn Cullis-Suzuki developed a deep connection to nature at an early age.. She has been camping and hiking all her life for the sake of environment. When she was 9 she started the Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO), a small group of children. This is her inspring speech at at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as the Rio Summit, Earth Summit in 1992.

Please read her another article on:

The Young Can’t Wait

TIME Magazine, Posted Sunday, August 18, 2002; 7:31 a.m. EST

When you are little, it’s not hard to believe you can change the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed the delegates at the Rio Earth Summit. “I am only a child,” I told them. “Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environmental answers, what a wonderful place this would be. In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do? You grownups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words.”

I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the delegates even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur action. Now, a decade from Rio, after I’ve sat through many more conferences, I’m not sure what has been accomplished. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual’s voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.

Sure, I’ve seen some improvements since Rio. In my home city of Vancouver, most people put out their recycling boxes. The organic grocery and café on Fourth Avenue is flourishing. Bikes are popular, and there are a few gas-electric hybrid cars gliding around. But as this new century begins, my twentysomething generation is becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural world. We buy our drinking water in bottles. We eat genetically modified organisms. We drive the biggest cars ever. At the same time, we are a generation aware of the world—of poverty and social imbalance, the loss of biodiversity, climate change and the consequences of globalization—but many of us feel we have inherited problems too great to do anything about.

When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I’m learning that as we have to make choices—education, career, lifestyle—life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are learning a shortsighted way of looking at the future, focusing on four-year government terms and quarterly business reports. We are taught that economic growth is progress, but we aren’t taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for our future when we were 12 was idealistic and naive.


	We are not cleaning up our own mess or facing up to the price of our lifestyles

Today I’m no longer a child, but I’m worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. In Johannesburg the delegates will discuss the adoption and implementation of documents by governments. Yes, important stuff. But they did that at Rio. What this meeting must really be about is responsibility—not only government responsibility but personal responsibility. We are not cleaning up our own mess. We are not facing up to the price of our lifestyles. In Canada we know we are wiping out the salmon of the West Coast, just as we wiped out cod from the East Coast, but we continue overfishing. We keep driving our SUVs in the city, even though we are starting to feel the effects of climate change—a direct result of burning too much fossil fuel.

Real environmental change depends on us. We can’t wait for our leaders. We have to focus on what our own responsibilities are and how we can make the change happen.

Before graduating from college last spring I worked with the Yale Student Environmental Coalition to draft a pledge for young people to sign. Called the Recognition of Responsibility, the pledge is a commitment from our generation to be accountable and a challenge to our elders to help us achieve this goal and to lead by example. It includes a list of ways to live more sustainably—simple but fundamental things like reducing household garbage, consuming less, not relying on cars so much, eating locally grown food, carrying a reusable cup and, most important, getting out into nature. (For the full text, go to www.skyfishproject.org.) Three friends and I will take the Recognition of Responsibility to Johannesburg, where we will meet with South African students and then present the pledge to the World Summit as a demonstration of personal commitment.

But in the 10 years since Rio, I have learned that addressing our leaders is not enough. As Gandhi said many years ago, “We must become the change we want to see.” I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make sustainable choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of change.

Source: TIME Magazine

Birthday Wishes from my Sister

Admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:07:22 +0000

HELLO…. HELLO …..HELLO ….HELLO HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU !
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU !
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU !
HAPPY BIRTH DAY HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU !
HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU !

DEAR BROTHER, TO DAY IS 05 MAY IT IS SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HAPPY BIRTH DAY TO YOU AND WISHES YOU:

HEALTHY

MONEY

HAPPY

LOVELY

LUCKY

SMILES

SWEETLY

UN LONELY

AND ALL THE

BEST TO YOU …

MUCH LOVE AND MISS

FROM YOUR SISTER,

DARA

@ Thanks lovely sister for

your well wishes.

Compassion and the Individual

Admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:14:26 +0000

មេត្តាធម៌ និង បុគ្គល

Tenzin Gyatso; The Fourteenth Dalai Lama

The purpose of life

ONE GREAT QUESTION underlies our experience, whether we think about it consciously or not: What is the purpose of life? I have considered this question and would like to share my thoughts in the hope that they may be of direct, practical benefit to those who read them.

I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. From the moment of birth, every human being wants happiness and does not want suffering. Neither social conditioning nor education nor ideology affect this. From the very core of our being, we simply desire contentment. I don’t know whether the universe, with its countless galaxies, stars and planets, has a deeper meaning or not, but at the very least, it is clear that we humans who live on this earth face the task of making a happy life for ourselves. Therefore, it is important to discover what will bring about the greatest degree of happiness.

How to achieve happiness

For a start, it is possible to divide every kind of happiness and suffering into two main categories: mental and physical. Of the two, it is the mind that exerts the greatest influence on most of us. Unless we are either gravely ill or deprived of basic necessities, our physical condition plays a secondary role in life. If the body is content, we virtually ignore it. The mind, however, registers every event, no matter how small. Hence we should devote our most serious efforts to bringing about mental peace.

From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life.

As long as we live in this world we are bound to encounter problems. If, at such times, we lose hope and become discouraged, we diminish our ability to face difficulties. If, on the other hand, we remember that it is not just ourselves but every one who has to undergo suffering, this more realistic perspective will increase our determination and capacity to overcome troubles. Indeed, with this attitude, each new obstacle can be seen as yet another valuable opportunity to improve our mind!

Thus we can strive gradually to become more compassionate, that is we can develop both genuine sympathy for others’ suffering and the will to help remove their pain. As a result, our own serenity and inner strength will increase.

Our need for love

Ultimately, the reason why love and compassion bring the greatest happiness is simply that our nature cherishes them above all else. The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence. It results from the profound interdependence we all share with one another. However capable and skillful an individual may be, left alone, he or she will not survive. However vigorous and independent one may feel during the most prosperous periods of life, when one is sick or very young or very old, one must depend on the support of others.

Inter-dependence, of course, is a fundamental law of nature. Not only higher forms of life but also many of the smallest insects are social beings who, without any religion, law or education, survive by mutual cooperation based on an innate recognition of their interconnectedness. The most subtle level of material phenomena is also governed by interdependence. All phenomena from the planet we inhabit to the oceans, clouds, forests and flowers that surround us, arise in dependence upon subtle patterns of energy. Without their proper interaction, they dissolve and decay.

It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others.

We have to consider what we human beings really are. We are not like machine-made objects. If we are merely mechanical entities, then machines themselves could alleviate all of our sufferings and fulfill our needs.

However, since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. Instead, we should consider our origins and nature to discover what we require.

Leaving aside the complex question of the creation and evolution of our universe, we can at least agree that each of us is the product of our own parents. In general, our conception took place not just in the context of sexual desire but from our parentsï¿½ decision to have a child. Such decisions are founded on responsibility and altruism ï¿½ the parentsï¿½ compassionate commitment to care of their child until it is able to take care of itself. Thus, from the very moment of our conception, our parentsï¿½ love is directly in our creation.

Moreover, we are completely dependent upon our mothersï¿½ care from the earliest stages of our growth. According to some scientists, a pregnant womanï¿½s mental state, be it calm or agitated, has a direct physical effect on her unborn child.

The expression of love is also very important at the time of birth. Since the very first thing we do is suck milk from our mothersï¿½ breast, we naturally feel close to her, and she must feel love for us in order to feed us properly; if she feels anger or resentment her milk may not flow freely.

Then there is the critical period of brain development from the time of birth up to at least the age of three or four, during which time loving physical contact is the single most important factor for the normal growth of the child. If the child is not held, hugged, cuddled, or loved, its development will be impaired and its brain will not mature properly.

Since a child cannot survive without the care of others, love is its most important nourishment. The happiness of childhood, the allaying of the childï¿½s many fears and the healthy development of its self-confidence all depend directly upon love.

Nowadays, many children grow up in unhappy homes. If they do not receive proper affection, in later life they will rarely love their parents and, not infrequently, will find it hard to love others. This is very sad.

As children grow older and enter school, their need for support must be met by their teachers. If a teacher not only imparts academic education but also assumes responsibility for preparing students for life, his or her pupils will feel trust and respect and what has been taught will leave an indelible impression on their minds. On the other hand, subjects taught by a teacher who does not show true concern for his or her studentsï¿½ overall well-being will be regarded as temporary and not retained for long.

Similarly, if one is sick and being treated in hospital by a doctor who evinces a warm human feeling, one feels at ease and the doctorsï¿½ desire to give the best possible care is itself curative, irrespective of the degree of his or her technical skill. On the other hand, if oneï¿½s doctor lacks human feeling and displays an unfriendly expression, impatience or casual disregard, one will feel anxious, even if he or she is the most highly qualified doctor and the disease has been correctly diagnosed and the right medication prescribed. Inevitably, patientsï¿½ feelings make a difference to the quality and completeness of their recovery.

Even when we engage in ordinary conversation in everyday life, if someone speaks with human feeling we enjoy listening, and respond accordingly; the whole conversation becomes interesting, however unimportant the topic may be. On the other hand, if a person speaks coldly or harshly, we feel uneasy and wish for a quick end to the interaction. From the least to the most important event, the affection and respect of others are vital for our happiness.

Recently I met a group of scientists in America who said that the rate of mental illness in their country was quite high-around twelve percent of the population. It became clear during our discussion that the main cause of depression was not a lack of material necessities but a deprivation of the affection of the others.

So, as you can see from everything I have written so far, one thing seems clear to me: whether or not we are consciously aware of it, from the day we are born, the need for human affection is in our very blood. Even if the affection comes from an animal or someone we would normally consider an enemy, both children and adults will naturally gravitate towards it.

I believe that no one is born free from the need for love. And this demonstrates that, although some modern schools of thought seek to do so, human beings cannot be defined as solely physical. No material object, however beautiful or valuable, can make us feel loved, because our deeper identity and true character lie in the subjective nature of the mind.

Developing compassion

Some of my friends have told me that, while love and compassion are marvelous and good, they are not really very relevant. Our world, they say, is not a place where such beliefs have much influence or power. They claim that anger and hatred are so much a part of human nature that humanity will always be dominated by them. I do not agree.

We humans have existed in our present form for about a hundred-thousand years. I believe that if during this time the human mind had been primarily controlled by anger and hatred, our overall population would have decreased. But today, despite all our wars, we find that the human population is greater than ever. This clearly indicates to me that love and compassion predominate in the world. And this is why unpleasant events are ï¿½newsï¿½; compassionate activities are so much part of daily life that they are taken for granted and, therefore, largely ignored.

So far I have been discussing mainly the mental benefits of compassion, but it contributes to good physical health as well, According to my personal experience, mental stability and physical well-being are directly related. Without question, anger and agitation make us more susceptible to illness. On the other hand, if the mind is tranquil and occupied with positive thoughts, the body will not easily fall prey to disease.

But of course it is also true that we all have an innate self-centeredness that inhibits our love for others. So, since we desire the true happiness that is brought about by only a calm mind, and since such peace of mind is brought about by only a compassionate attitude, how can we develop this? Obviously, it is not enough for us simply to think about how nice compassion is! We need to make a concerted effort to develop it; we must use all the events of our daily life to transform our thoughts and behavior.

First of all, we must be clear about what we mean by compassion. Many forms of compassionate feeling are mixed with desire and attachment. For instance, the love parents feel of their child is often strongly associated with their own emotional needs, so it is not fully compassionate. Again, in marriage, the love between husband and wife – particularly at the beginning, when each partner still may not know the otherï¿½s deeper character very well – depends more on attachment than genuine love. Our desire can be so strong that the person to whom we are attached appears to be good, when in fact he or she is very negative. In addition, we have a tendency to exaggerate small positive qualities. Thus when one partnerï¿½s attitude changes, the other partner is often disappointed and his or her attitude changes too. This is an indication that love has been motivated more by personal need than by genuine care for the other individual.

True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively.

Of course, developing this kind of compassion is not at all easy! As a start, let us consider the following facts:

Whether people are beautiful and friendly or unattractive and disruptive, ultimately they are human beings, just like oneself. Like oneself, they want happiness and do not want suffering. Furthermore, their right to overcome suffering and be happy is equal to oneï¿½s own. Now, when you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them. Through accustoming your mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems. Nor is this wish selective; it applies equally to all. As long as they are human beings experiencing pleasure and pain just as you do, there is no logical basis to discriminate between them or to alter your concern for them if they behave negatively.

Let me emphasize that it is within your power, given patience and time, to develop this kind of compassion. Of course, our self-centeredness, our distinctive attachment to the feeling of an independent, self-existent ï¿½Iï¿½, works fundamentally to inhibit our compassion. Indeed, true compassion can be experienced only when this type of self- grasping is eliminated. But this does not mean that we cannot start and make progress now.

How can we start

We should begin by removing the greatest hindrances to compassion: anger and hatred. As we all know, these are extremely powerful emotions and they can overwhelm our entire mind. Nevertheless, they can be controlled. If, however, they are not, these negative emotions will plague us – with no extra effort on their part! – and impede our quest for the happiness of a loving mind.

So as a start, it is useful to investigate whether or not anger is of value. Sometimes, when we are discouraged by a difficult situation, anger does seem helpful, appearing to bring with it more energy, confidence and determination.

Here, though, we must examine our mental state carefully. While itis true that anger brings extra energy, if we explore the nature of this energy, we discover that it is blind: we cannot be sure whether its result will be positive or negative. This is because anger eclipses the best part of our brain: its rationality. So the energy of anger is almost always unreliable. It can cause an immense amount of destructive, unfortunate behavior. Moreover, if anger increases to the extreme, one becomes like a mad person, acting in ways that are as damaging to oneself as they are to others.

It is possible, however, to develop an equally forceful but far more controlled energy with which to handle difficult situations.

This controlled energy comes not only from a compassionate attitude, but also from reason and patience. These are the most powerful antidotes to anger. Unfortunately, many people misjudge these qualities as signs of weakness. I believe the opposite to be true: that they are the true signs of inner strength. Compassion is by nature gentle, peaceful and soft, but it is very powerful. It is those who easily lose their patience who are insecure and unstable. Thus, to me, the arousal of anger is a direct sign of weakness.

So, when a problem first arises, try to remain humble and maintain a sincere attitude and be concerned that the outcome is fair. Of course, others may try to take advantage of you, and if your remaining detached only encourages unjust aggression, adopt a strong stand, This, however, should be done with compassion, and if it is necessary to express your views and take strong countermeasures, do so without anger or ill-intent.

You should realize that even though your opponents appear to be harming you, in the end, their destructive activity will damage only themselves. In order to check your own selfish impulse to retaliate, you should recall your desire to practice compassion and assume responsibility for helping prevent the other person from suffering the consequences of his or her acts.

Thus, because the measures you employ have been calmly chosen, they will be more effective, more accurate and more forceful. Retaliation based on the blind energy of anger seldom hits the target.

Friends and enemies

I must emphasize again that merely thinking that compassion and reason and patience are good will not be enough to develop them. We must wait for difficulties to arise and then attempt to practice them.

And who creates such opportunities? Not our friends, of course, but our enemies. They are the ones who give us the most trouble, So if we truly wish to learn, we should consider enemies to be our best teacher!

For a person who cherishes compassion and love, the practice of tolerance is essential, and for that, an enemy is indispensable. So we should feel grateful to our enemies, for it is they who can best help us develop a tranquil mind! Also, itis often the case in both personal and public life, that with a change in circumstances, enemies become friends.

So anger and hatred are always harmful, and unless we train our minds and work to reduce their negative force, they will continue to disturb us and disrupt our attempts to develop a calm mind. Anger and hatred are our real enemies. These are the forces we most need to confront and defeat, not the temporary ï¿½enemiesï¿½ who appear intermittently throughout life.

Of course, it is natural and right that we all want friends. I often joke that if you really want to be selfish, you should be very altruistic! You should take good care of others, be concerned for their welfare, help them, serve them, make more friends, make more smiles, The result? When you yourself need help, you find plenty of helpers! If, on the other hand, you neglect the happiness of others, in the long term you will be the loser. And is friendship produced through quarrels and anger, jealousy and intense competitiveness? I do not think so. Only affection brings us genuine close friends.

In todayï¿½s materialistic society, if you have money and power, you seem to have many friends. But they are not friends of yours; they are the friends of your money and power. When you lose your wealth and influence, you will find it very difficult to track these people down.

The trouble is that when things in the world go well for us, we become confident that we can manage by ourselves and feel we do not need friends, but as our status and health decline, we quickly realize how wrong we were. That is the moment when we learn who is really helpful and who is completely useless. So to prepare for that moment, to make genuine friends who will help us when the need arises, we ourselves must cultivate altruism!

Though sometimes people laugh when I say it, I myself always want more friends. I love smiles. Because of this I have the problem of knowing how to make more friends and how to get more smiles, in particular, genuine smiles. For there are many kinds of smile, such as sarcastic, artificial or diplomatic smiles. Many smiles produce no feeling of satisfaction, and sometimes they can even create suspicion or fear, canï¿½t they? But a genuine smile really gives us a feeling of freshness and is, I believe, unique to human beings. If these are the smiles we want, then we ourselves must create the reasons for them to appear.

Compassion and the world

In conclusion, I would like briefly to expand my thoughts beyond the topic of this short piece and make a wider point: individual happiness can contribute in a profound and effective way to the overall improvement of our entire human community.

Because we all share an identical need for love, it is possible to feel that anybody we meet, in whatever circumstances, is a brother or sister. No matter how new the face or how different the dress and behavior, there is no significant division between us and other people. It is foolish to dwell on external differences, because our basic natures are the same.

Ultimately, humanity is one and this small planet is our only home, If we are to protect this home of ours, each of us needs to experience a vivid sense of universal altruism. It is only this feeling that can remove the self-centered motives that cause people to deceive and misuse one another.

If you have a sincere and open heart, you naturally feel self- worth and confidence, and there is no need to be fearful of others.

I believe that at every level of society – familial, tribal, national and international – the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities.

I try to treat whoever I meet as an old friend. This gives me a genuine feeling of happiness. It is the practice of compassion.

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

Admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:54:14 +0000

*The Selection Round for 2009 ADS Scholarships is now open.

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) is the Australian Government scholarship program administered by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). ADS provides opportunities to people from many developing countries to study in Australia . The purpose of the scholarships is for people to gain knowledge and skills that will contribute to the long-term development of their country.

The scholarships are available to those employed in government and non-government sectors to study at Masters or Postgraduate Diploma level in Australia.

For the details please visit IDP Office-Phnom Penh or ADS Home page

Change your focus, Change your life

Admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:32:00 +0000

ផ្លាស់ប្តូរការផ្តោតអារម្មណ៍ ផ្លាស់ប្តូរជីវិតរបស់អ្នក

Article by Anthony

Sarah was a gifted dancer. From the age of three, her world revolved around ballet and she wanted nothing more from life than to dance each and every day.

As she grew older Sarah received numerous ballet awards and when she was fourteen she was awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the National College of the Arts.

Sarah continued to work hard at her dancing. Her teachers recognized both her talent and her work ethic and encouraged her to audition for the Australian Ballet.

Three days before her audition, Sarah was involved in a car accident and broke her ankle. While the hospital classified this as a ‘minor injury’, for Sarah it was a life changing incident. Although her ankle healed, she found that she no longer had the extension required to be an elite dancer. In the blink of an eye her life long dream of dancing with the Australian Ballet was over.

Sarah became very depressed and all she could think about was how unfair life was. For two long and miserable years Sarah was lost in a personal world of anger and disappointment.

Sarah learned a lesson that changed her life forever. The lesson she learned was this:

Sarah realized that by spending all her time thinking about what she could no longer do she had been making herself miserable.

With a new outlook on life, Sarah made a change and began focusing instead on what she could do. While she could no longer be a professional ballerina, she was still a talented dancer.

Sarah began to persue contemporary, jazz, and swing dancing and to her delight she discovered that her years of classical training meant that she picked things up very quickly. She also discovered a passion for teaching and over time, Sarah’s life was once again filled with the joy of music and dancing.

Today I’d like to encourage you to turn your focus away from the things you can’t do and instead focus on the things you can do. When you make this transition, like Sarah you’ll discover whole new worlds of opportunity and experience waiting for you to explore.

Until next time,

Dare to Dream!

Khmer New Year Celebration in Canberra, Australia

Admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:29:25 +0000

ពិធីបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរនៅវត្តខេមរារង្សី ទីក្រុងកង់បេរ៉ា ប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលី

ថ្ងៃទី១១ ខែមេសា ឆ្នាំ២០០៩

ពិធីរាប់បាត្រនាពេលព្រឹកនៅវត្តខេមរារង្សី

Chanroeun, my wife-Sophea, Khim, Phalla, Sodina, Niron, Keara

Heng, His wife, Amanda, Piseth, Ly

រូបភាពផ្សេងទៀត

វីដេអូដទៃទៀត

ពិធីជប់លៀងនាពេលរាត្រី

Thanks Bong Darin for the beautiful videos and Sodina & Phalla for the photos.

Khemararangsi Temple website: http://khemararangsi.org/

Keep Yourself Safe from the Swine Influenza

Admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:26:54 +0000

Some more pictures

April 26, 2009 12:45 ET

Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below.

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
State	# of laboratory confirmed cases
California	7 cases
Kansas	2 cases
New York City	8 cases
Ohio	1 case
Texas	2 cases
TOTAL COUNT	20 cases
International Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection See: World Health Organization
As of April 26, 2009 9:00 AM ET

Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the infection and whether additional people have been infected with swine influenza viruses.

CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate this investigation.

Laboratory testing has found the swine influenza A (H1N1) virus susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir and has issued interim guidance for the use of these drugs to treat and prevent infection with swine influenza viruses. CDC also has prepared interim guidance on how to care for people who are sick and interim guidance on the use of face masks in a community setting where spread of this swine flu virus has been detected. This is a rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide new information as it becomes available.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Questions & Answers

Swine Influenza and You

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands — with soap and warm water — that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

source: CDC

23rd April: World Book and Copyright Day

Admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:58:56 +0000

By creating links between people from different eras and distinct backgrounds, books contribute to the consolidation of a world community. As vectors of free speech, they further the cause of human rights. Celebrated on 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day calls for strengthening the perennial inter-fertilization of ideas that books bring about in the interest of human dignity.

23 April, World Book and Copyright Day: Dissemination and Preservation of Knowledge
The Founding Resolution: Official Text and Principles
World Book Capital: Engaging in an intercultural flow of ideas
Beirut, 2009 World Book Capital: An enduring “Printing Press in the Arab World “
Preventing Piracy : Protecting author’s rights
UNESCO Chairs in Intellectual Property Rights: Networking for knowledge transfer on copyrights

Source: UNESCO Bangkok

Happy Khmer New Year!

Admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:05:30 +0000

A Great Thing about Gmail: Inserting images

Admin — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 07:45:17 +0000

I have been waiting for this tool for long time. Thanks to Gmail team who have worked hard to develop this service. If you are a gmail user, well it’s about time. You no longer have to use workarounds to put images into your messages or attach images when you really want to inline them. Just turn on “Inserting images” from the Labs tab under Settings, and you’ll see a new toolbar icon like this:

Make sure you’re in rich formatting mode, or it won’t show up. Click the little image icon, and you can insert images in two ways: by uploading image files from your computer or providing image URLs.

Keep in mind that Gmail doesn’t show URL-based images in messages by default to protect you from spammers, so if you’re sending mail to other Gmail users, they’ll still have to click “Display images below” or “Always display images from …” to see images you embed.

ISLAM AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:56:29 +0000

Asghar Ali Engineer

(Islam and modern age, April, 2009)

A few days ago I was invited to speak in a Prophet Day’s function. There were other speakers as well. As usual the speakers before me indulged in rhetoric ‘Islam is the solution’ and also said the world economy has failed and slowed down as it is based on gambling and interest. Another person said Islam declared human rights 14 hundred years ago whereas UNO declared it only sixty years ago. Yet another speaker said Islam has given equal rights to women and made it obligatory for them to seek education. Also it was emphasized that Islam is religion of peace.

All this provoked me to say all this is true and I can add much more to it but have we ever seriously reflected why Islamic world is in such turmoil today. Why Muslims have totally failed to adopt these teachings in practice. I said if one caste a critical glance at Islamic world today one finds exactly opposite of what Qur’an teaches. If Qur’an lays great emphasis on knowledge, Islamic world from Indonesia to Algeria has more illiterates than any other community.

If Qur’an gives equal status to men and women Muslim women in most of the Islamic countries are most suppressed lot and whole world thinks Islam deprives women of their rights. If Islam is religion of peace why Islamic world is in such turmoil and is dogged with ‘jihadi’ movements? If Islam upholds human dignity and human rights why is it that there is hardly any Islamic country which respects human rights? The human rights activists find themselves in jails in these countries.

I also said we try to compensate for our failure in all these respects through rhetoric. Only those resort to empty rhetoric who have nothing concrete to show. Our ‘Ulama have brought us up on such empty rhetoric. Time and again we hear ‘Islam is the solution of all problems’. Let alone solution these worthy beings are not aware of what are the problems of the modern world.

Unless we go beyond such rhetoric and critically examine what is wrong with Muslim world we will continue with such rhetoric without improving our condition. And if criticized for our failures we will come out with our pet conspiracy theory or blame the media for projecting adverse image of Islam and Muslims. We have fallen in such a love with these pet theories that we refuse to see reality. We love rhetoric and hate reality.

We are adept at sectarian polemics and spend all our skills in proving followers of others sects ‘kafirs’ and only people of our own sect as naji (i.e. who will achieve liberation). We keep on reproducing medieval commentaries of Qur’an without ever trying to understand the divine text in our own times. We consider it a sin to revisit Qur’an and realize its great potential for our guidance in modern context. We quote more from medieval commentaries on Qur’an than from the divine text itself.

Also, we are most intolerant lot and suppress any new point of view. Our ‘Ulama have convinced us that any new thinking is a sin and amounts to innovation (bid’ah). And for our theologians only solution of all problems is to be regular with our prayers and we are doomed today, not because of our ignorance and refusal to understand modern world but because we have neglected five time prayers.

This is the quality of our thinking about our problems. Not that one should not pray but to hide behind it and neglect real problems is to fool ourselves. And when we talk of a’mal (actions or deeds) we refer only to prayers and some other ritualistic actions. We have totally forgotten real meaning and significance of prayer. We are more than happy with symbolism as any concrete action requires totally different mindset.

It is unfortunate that our ‘ulama are educated in totally medieval atmosphere. We are even resisting any change in the madrasa syllabus which was evolved centuries ago. Our ‘ulama are totally differently oriented and are incapable of understanding complexities of modern world with its highly complex modern problems. I have always maintained that our commitments should be to Qur’an, not to its understanding by the ‘ulama and jurists in the past.

But unfortunately we are more committed to how Tabari or Zamakhshari or Imam Razi understood it than to the Qur’an itself. In all our religious arguments we quote from these and other medieval commentaries and rejected any other argument based on Qur’an itself or on fresh understanding of the Qur’an. And if we cannot make a point with the help of Qur’an, our last resort is hadith, however controversial or contradictory to Qur’an it may be.

If any revolution in the Muslim world has to begin, it has to begin from our madrasa system. It has to be thoroughly overhauled so as to give them training in modern subjects. And modern subjects should not mean only social sciences but also natural sciences besides theological training. Tafsir literature (commentaries) should be taught only as history and they should be encouraged to develop new understanding of the Qur’an.

The whole theological training today is not only confined to medieval subjects but even ma’qulat (rational sciences are confined to Greek sciences based on Plato, Socrates etc. What an irony! The world of sciences has gone far beyond Greek period and our madrasas still consider it as the last word. All this either may be taught either as a history (so that they may understand evolution of modern sciences) or must be scrapped all together.

I think our madrasas of higher levels like Darul Ulum Deoband should be converted into modern universities so that the modern syllabus taught in other universities could be taught there while of course, retaining theological courses. In these some theologians should also be able to do their doctorate in either social or natural sciences. One may argue then why not join other secular universities for doing doctorate and why have these madrasas?

Yes, it is true other secular universities are available for the purpose but if these doctoral courses are integrated with theological sciences, it will create new intellectual capacities in our theologians and their medieval thinking will be reoriented and it will result in totally different intellectual products. And it will not be some thing new. We have very rich heritage in this respect which was lost completely when decline began and final blow was dealt by colonial rule.

All great philosophers and scientists that Islamic world produced like Ibn Sina (Avisina) or Ibn Rushd (Averos) and several others were also theologians in their own right. It was because of this tradition that then educational authorities began to teach ma’qulat (rational sciences) in the madrasas. However this tradition unfortunately stagnated and Greek sciences are taught even today.

All we have to do is to integrate new social as well as natural sciences with the theological courses. Today the madrasa graduates can either become teachers in madrasas or become imams in the mosque. And then they continue to teach in the same old ways they have learnt or continue to lead prayers including tarawih prayers. I have seen in many Islamic institutions thousands of children committing Qur’an to memory several hours of the day. It hardly serves any useful purpose. That time could have been utilized for imparting useful knowledge.

I am aware of some of the madrasas, especially in Kerala and also other parts of India, where some madrasas have switched over to teaching of modern sciences also. But they are far and few in between and moreover we have to take entire Muslim world to produce any worthwhile impact. In Qur’an the word ‘ilm (knowledge) is not restricted only to theological knowledge but knowledge about the whole universe.

Unfortunately our ‘ulama have restricted this knowledge to Dini ‘ulum (theological sciences) only. Now of course attitudes are changing gradually but until recent past everything except Dini Ulum was even considered false. One will still find resistance to change and insistence on continuity. There is hardly rich intellectual debate as to what is worth continuing and what needs to be changed.

There is nothing wrong to emphasize healthy traditions based on principles and values but tradition per se should not have any sanctity. Unfortunately we always give centrality to tradition over change. Rationality is, at best, of marginal value. In modern society reason plays central role while in traditional society it is tradition, which is accorded centrality. Change is possible only if reason acquires centrality.

Islamic world is too much obsessed with centrality of tradition to think afresh. Our madrasas and institutions of Islamic education are, as Herbert Marcuse, a noted American philosopher of last century would have put it, centres of acknowledgement rather than of knowledge. Or they are centers of recognition rather than centers of cognition. In such centers no new knowledge can be produced only acknowledged traditions can continue. These centers cannot become centers of intellectual excellence but centers of traditional knowledge.

Such centers cannot bring about any qualitative change in the Muslim world. We urgently need new intellectual culture for this. And to create this new intellectual culture we need thorough political changes as well. For new intellectual culture we need freedom of thought and action. It is true the Qur’an stands for freedom of faith and conscience but with some exceptions there are no basic freedoms in any Islamic country.

In most of the Islamic countries political class, while swearing by the Qur’an and shari’ah, has never allowed fundamental Qur’anic values to be practiced. Like five pillars of Islam, there are five Qur’anic values i.e. Truth (Haq), Justice (‘adl), benevolence (ihsan), Compassion (Rahmah) and Wisdom (Hikmah) and these are Allah’s names also. Alloah is Haq, ‘Adil, Muhsin, Rahman and Wise.

If like five pillars of Islam these values are practiced, the Islamic world would be leading other countries of the world in ethical and moral values and also achieve, by rigorous practice of these values what others have not. But the political class, while talking of Islam and Islamization, adopts, very shrewdly, a selective approach so that it enjoys all its privileges and political power and at the same time earn merit of Islamizing the society.

It is obvious that it is political class which controls education system and decides what is to be taught and what is not to be. The whole education system creates conforming culture merely acknowledging what is taught as ‘true’. The system imparts selective information, never holistic knowledge. Such a system can never produce creative and free mind to constantly critically evaluate and bring about qualitative change in society.

Thus a political revolution is needed before any revolutionary changes in education system can be brought in Islamic world. But chances of such revolution seem very bleak. The western powers also need a compliant political class in most of the Muslim countries. In fact, these powers need such a compliant class and they do everything to support such a class in the Muslim world.

‘The oil revolution of seventies of last century coupled with globalization has converted entire middle east into a vast lucrative market for Japanese and western goods (though a current melt down has somewhat adverse effect) and promoted unabashed consumerism in the Arab world. People are engaged more in competing for consumer goods that any moral and qualitative change in society.

Such a society finds traditional and ritualized religion quite harmless and political class finds it quite convenient to promote such a religion. Thus total lack of freedom, decline in values, and promotion of competitive consumer culture makes society quietly accept domination by political authoritarianism on one hand, and religion reduced to an opium pill, on the other.

Though this appears to be a very bleak scenario those intellectuals who believe in ushering in qualitative change in the society based on freedom, human dignity, equality and the five values mentioned above, will have to pave way for this change peacefully and with total dedication. Then question arises what is to be done in these circumstances?

We have to have an action program. Though it is difficult to evolve such a program without thorough discussion but an outline for a discussion could be presented here. I would like to propose following measures for those interested in value-based qualitative change in Muslim societies and countries:

1) Modern intellectuals must learn and master Arabic language (for non-Arab countries and societies) and read and re-read Qur’an along with traditional commentaries and reflect in new understanding in keeping with our situation and our problems. The old commentaries, it would be seen were very much influenced by the then prevailing conditions and socio-economic problems. It is not necessary that there would be complete agreement among all modern commentators.

In medieval ages too, there was no such consensus. It would be more in keeping with intellectual freedom to arrive at different meanings though there may be a consensus about the methodology of understanding Qur’an. These new commentators of course should be well versed in modern social or natural sciences.

2) All such commentaries should be situated within the framework of five values of Qur’an above referred to as these happen to be most modern values too. Also, those ahadith (traditions) would not be taken into account which are in direct contradiction of the Qur’an and Qur’anic values as traditional tafasir (commentaries) are full of references to such traditions even if these traditions distorted Qu’ranic values.

3) There is great need to improve situation of women’s rights in Islamic world and for that we also need women perspectives for understanding Qur’an, especially those verses which pertain to marriage, divorce and women’s rights. So far Qur’an has been mainly interpreted by men though during the Prophet’s time and during subsequent period lasting for few years only, there was glorious tradition of women ‘ulama, women narrators of ahadith and women commentators of Qur’an. There is great need to revive that tradition, not in mechanical sense but with new perspectives gained during last one hundred years or so.

4) Along with women ‘alimat (scholars) there is need to go beyond patriarchal values and patriarchal culture as Qur’an, while making few concessions to patriarchy in those days, tried to go beyond patriarchal values and usher in new culture based on human dignity and according fully human dignity to women. However, soon women were subordinated once again as men were hardly prepared to accept gender equality and slowly even made Qur’anic interpretation as their sole preserve. In those overwhelming patriarchal values women hardly could assert themselves and also began to interiorize Qur’anic understanding as developed by men commentators.

5) This is possible only if we promote the Qur’anic concept of women as free agents and decision makers in their own rights. This would also need especial emphasis on female education. Though the Prophet (PBUH) made education obligatory on Muslim women (muslimatin) in ensuing feudal culture women were required to mind domestic role and serve their husbands and bring up children and no need was felt for education for this domestic role. This feudal culture has to totally change and women should acquire both secular and religious knowledge as much as men do reviving the true spirit of Islam.

6) There is great need to usher in culture of human rights in Islamic world and Muslim societies. Though Qur’an contains all provisions of declaration of human rights charter, by UNO, Islamic countries present stark contrast and human rights record of Muslim countries is among the worst in the world today. It brings worldwide criticism and creates an impression that Islam has no respect for human rights. It is only modern intellectuals armed with Qur’anic values and Qur’anic respect for human dignity can actively promote such culture.

7) Also, we have to change our outlook to other religions, often denouncing them as false and claiming superiority for ourselves. We should not only accept pluralism but actively promote it through dialogue and mutual understanding and harmonious co-existence. Though Islamic world does not have bad record in this respect but religious minorities do not enjoy equal political rights. We have to accept notion of citizenship which did not exist in the medieval world and hence we have different juristic pronouncements in this respect.

Also, we should actively promote science and technology as we are too dependent on western countries for modern technology. Our record in this respect is poorest in the world. In modern times we cannot boast of single revolutionary invention. Most of the Muslim countries are nothing but bazaar and are capable of even producing a single modern gadget. Without excellence in science and modern technology Islamic world will remain mere beggars. Most of the oil revenues are deposited in US banks and not even one percent is spent on research in these fields. Minimum 2 and half to 3 per cent of GNP should be spent on research in these fields. Institutions of excellence should be set up.

9) Also, Islamic world today is torn with violence and some countries are notorious for what has come to be known as ‘jihadi culture’. We must go back to the real Qur’anic meaning of jihad AS DEFINED BY THE Prophet (PBUH) and seen to be active promoters of peace and culture of dialogue in the world. We must understand root causes of violence in Islamic world and do every thing possible to remove these causes. If peace is central to Islam what are Muslims doing to promote it? Why Islam is being associated with ‘jihadi culture’, instead of culture of peace? We must seriously debate this question and take active steps to fight this ‘jihadi culture’.

These are some of the suggestions to at least pave the way for new qualitative changes in the Islamic world. It would be really most challenging task for anyone to undertake. But there is no other way either. These steps, if taken, will not only bring us out of the rut we have fallen in, it would release tremendous energy in the Islamic world for construction of new world order. Today we are mere prisoners of our own age-old traditions and unable to contribute richly, which otherwise we could.

——————————————

Institute of Islamic Studies,

Mumbai.

E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in

Earth Hour 2009

Admin — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:47:23 +0000

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is an annual international event created by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund), held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Based on an idea successfully executed in Thailand in 2005,it was pioneered by WWF Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald in 2007,and achieved worldwide participation in 2008.

Earth Hour will next take place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm, local time.

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

C*H*A*N*R*O*E*U*N

World Heart Day 2009:Care for Your Heart:

What do people do?

Public life

Background

“Your heart is your health.”

តើ​ប្រជាជន​កម្ពុជា​ម្នាក់​ជំពាក់​បំណុល​បរទេស​ចំនួន​ប៉ុន្មាន?

បទ​សម្ភាសន៍​ទាក់ទង​នឹង​បញ្ហា​កម្ពុជា​ជំពាក់​​ប្រាក់​​បរទេស

Slumdog Millionaire

Beware of fake eggs

CAMBOSASTRA

Pls visit our new website

http://www.cambosastra.org/

The Fear of Lightening Strikes

Officials raise fear of lightning strikes

The 1st Anniversary of the Preah Vihear Temple’s Inscription: 07 July 2008-2009

Who Owns the Preah Vihear Temple?

Quote of the Day

Unbelievable Latest Iphone 3G S

English for Study in Australia

ភាសាអង់គ្លេសសម្រាប់ការសិក្សានៅប្រទេសអូស្រ្តាលី

មេរៀនទី១ ៖ ការធ្វើដំណើរទៅដល់គោលដៅ

មេរៀនទី២ ៖ សួស្តី និងស្វាគមន៍

មេរៀនទី ៣ ៖ សម្រួលអារម្មណ៍និងរៀបចំខ្លួនឲ្យដូចជាការឋិតនៅក្នុងផ្ទះខ្លួនឯងផ្ទាល់

មេរៀនទី៤៖ សូមរៀបចំឥរិយាបថរបស់លោកអ្នក

មេរៀនទី៥ ៖ ការតម្រង់ទិសចូលមហាវិទ្យាល័យ

មេរៀនទី៦ ៖ ការសន្ទនានៅហាងកាហ្វេ

មេរៀនទី៧៖ តើយើងអាចនិយាយគ្នាបន្តិចបានទេ?

មេរៀនទី៨ ៖ ការចងមិត្តភាពជាមួយពលរដ្ឋអូស្ត្រាលី

មេរៀនទី៩ ៖ នៅក្នុងថ្នាក់រៀន

មេរៀនទី១០ ៖ ខ្ញុំត្រូវការការងារ!

មេរៀនទី១១ ៖ ខ្ញុំបានការងារធ្វើហើយ!

មេរៀនទី១២ ៖ ការធ្វើដំណើរពីកន្លែងមួយទៅមួយ

មេរៀនទី១៣ ៖ ការធ្វើកិច្ចការសាលារួមគ្នា

មេរៀនទី១៤ ៖ ការជួបជុំគ្នាអាំងសាច់ទទួលទានកំសាន្តតាមបែបអូស្ដ្រាលី

មេរៀនទី១៥ ៖ ការជួបជាមួយអ្នកពិគ្រោះយោបល់

មេរៀនទី១៦៖ នៅជុំវិញសាខាសាកលវិទ្យាល័យ

មេរៀនទី១៧៖ ការបញ្ចេញទស្សនៈផ្ទាល់ខ្លួន

មេរៀនទី១៨៖ ការធ្វើដំណើរកម្សាន្តទៅកាន់ឆ្នេរសមុទ្រ

មេរៀនទី១៩ ៖ ការធ្វើបទបង្ហាញនៅក្នុងថ្នាក់រៀន

មេរៀនទី២០៖ ខ្ញុំត្រូវការពេលថែមទៀត

មេរៀនទី២១ ៖ ការសុំជំនួយ

មេរៀនទី២២ ៖ ពេលប្រឡង

មេរៀនទី២៣ ៖ ការសុំបន្តពេលទិដ្ឋាការ

មេរៀនទី២៤ ៖ ការទទួលសញ្ញាបត្រ

មេរៀនទី២៥ ៖ អំណរសាទរ

មេរៀនទី២៦ ៖ ជម្រាបលាមួយរយៈសិន

ឌុច​ថ្លែង​រំឭក​​ពី​​សង្រ្គាម​​រវាង​​វៀតណាម​​និង​​ខ្មែរ​​ក្រហម

ដោយ ហ៊ុយ វណ្ណៈ

2009-06-01

NZ, Australia to get Win7 first

By Renai LeMay on 05 June 2009

World Environment Day 2009

ទិវាបរិស្ថានពិភពលោក​២០០៩

“ភពផែនដីរបស់អ្នកត្រូវការអ្នក”។

Easily Green Your Daily Routine

​

Electronic Choun Nath Khmer Dictionary 2nd Version

វ​ច​នា​នុ​ក្រ​មខ្មែ​រ​អេ​ឡិ​ច​ត្រូនិ​ក​សកបរិវត្តន៍ទី​២

ថ្ងៃល្អរបស់នាយក្រឹនៈ​២៨​ឧសភាចូលរោងការ

Mental Illness Treatment of Buddhism

Protect your Gmail Account

Do Not Give out Your Personal Details

The Girl Who Silenced The World For 6 Minutes

Birthday Wishes from my Sister

Compassion and the Individual

មេត្តាធម៌ និង​​ បុគ្គល

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

Change your focus, Change your life

ផ្លាស់ប្តូរការផ្តោតអារម្មណ៍ ផ្លាស់ប្តូរជីវិតរបស់អ្នក

Khmer New Year Celebration in Canberra, Australia

ពិធីបុណ្យចូលឆ្នាំខ្មែរនៅវត្តខេមរារង្សី ទីក្រុងកង់បេរ៉ា ប្រទេសអូស្ត្រាលី

Keep Yourself Safe from the Swine Influenza

Swine Influenza and You

23rd April: World Book and Copyright Day

Happy Khmer New Year!

A Great Thing about Gmail: Inserting images

ISLAM AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES

Earth Hour 2009

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

CHANROEUN

តើប្រជាជនកម្ពុជាម្នាក់ជំពាក់បំណុលបរទេសចំនួនប៉ុន្មាន?

បទសម្ភាសន៍ទាក់ទងនឹងបញ្ហាកម្ពុជាជំពាក់ប្រាក់បរទេស

ឌុចថ្លែងរំឭកពីសង្រ្គាមរវាងវៀតណាមនិងខ្មែរក្រហម

ទិវាបរិស្ថានពិភពលោក២០០៩

វចនានុក្រមខ្មែរអេឡិចត្រូនិកសកបរិវត្តន៍ទី២

ថ្ងៃល្អរបស់នាយក្រឹនៈ២៨ឧសភាចូលរោងការ

មេត្តាធម៌ និង បុគ្គល