cerebrate

The world is full of problems: poverty, wars, diseases, global warming and traffic jams just to name a few. In our pursuit for a Utopia, we are always looking for ways to solve them all. But this it seems, is just impossible. And so we would resolve to at least make the world a better place, by reducing the number of problems that currently plague us all. But which problems do we need to seriously look at and try to solve if not minimize? Lomborg argues that by using economic calculations and analysis, it is actually possible for us to identify the problems that need to be given priorities.

In his book How to Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place, he admitted at the outset, that ranking of problems based on its severity is indeed “unpleasant.” Nonetheless, he argues that it is necessary, so that money may be spent effectively, improving the most number of human lives and not spent on a problem that is merely popular. He argues that one such popular problem is climate change.

He argues that the threat of climate change is actually minimal and affects only a few. This problem has thus been given too much of our attention and energy (no pun intended) and he seems to suggest that this is injustice to the many people who are facing other immediate and high-impact problems. He argues instead, that the problems that need to be solved first are HIV/AIDS, Malnutrition and hunger and Trade liberalization, in that order. The list goes beyond these three and throughout the book, Lomborg makes a cost and benefit analysis of solving each of these problems. Now herein lies Lomborg’s flawed arguments.

Lomborg’s main flaw is in his assumption that each problem may be isolated and analyzed individually. This however, is not the case. The world’s problems are complexly interconnected with one another and they all occur within specific cultural and ideological frameworks. For example, the problem of depleted water sources in India by Coca Cola shows how flawed policies give rise to environmental injustice and exacerbate poverty. We cannot just therefore attempt to solve the problem by merely giving new water sources to these population. The problem of AIDS too, cannot be isolated on its own. Significantly, it is linked with political concerns regardless whether the solution is either treatment or prevention. The former concerns patent rights of medicine and healthcare technologies. Only the rich would end up being able to afford effective treatment where the prices are set by pharmaceutical corporations. The latter is of political concerns – not all political actors are willing to endorse the free distribution of condoms because such endorsement would also mean the endorsement of casual sex. And this could tarnish their political image. There might also be movements against such free distribution of condoms by religious groups as well, especially in countries where its population are highly religious.

On another note, we only need to look at the wars going on in the Gulf region. Here we can see how political, economical, environmental and health issues are all part of one huge mess. The depleted Uranium being used by American military, for example, have toxicated the environment and there is just no way of detoxicating the region. This inevitably leads to polluted natural resources, birth defects and adverse health conditions not just for existing generation, but also the future. Isolating health issues on its own by just providing healthcare infrastructures are just not enough. They have to go together with solutions that addresses environmental problems (e.g polluted agricultural land and water sources) as well as poverty issues.

On another point, the problems listed by Lomborg are problems that concern only the human population. He did however listed climate change, albeit the last (and least significant) on his list of problems. But he has failed to see that climate change affects not just the human population, but the entire world’s ecosystem. Plants and animals all included. And he has not in fact, factored these non-human beings into his arguments. Sure, we all want to make the world a better place. But for who? For ourselves alone? This is simply human-centric and such mentality is what have caused this world to be in the mess it is in right now.

In sum, Lomborg have failed to realize that problems do not occur in isolation. Some of these problems are connected with one another and that political and cultural factors play a huge factor. I would think that Lomborg’s failure to understand this complexity is from his lack of understanding on why the various problems exist in the first place. In any case, I have to say that I am not arguing against solving problems individually or locally. In fact that is what we should do – to act locally and also to think globally, so that we may understand how global forces have given rise to cultural and political specific problems. It is only then can we come up with effective solutions that are not merely of temporary good. Merely pumping money into a problem will not make it go away.

To Lomborg’s credit, his ideas and arguments are based on the noble idea of making the world a better place by solving the most dire problems first. The world however, is not the sum of its parts.

I have the following books that I’d like to make available for loan to anyone in Singapore.
Contact me with the book title and we’ll discuss the best arrangement for the loan. I only have one copy of each book, so priority will be given to those who makes the earlier request.

Non-Fiction

1. Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser

2. Freedom Next Time – John Pilger

3. Saladin and the fall of the kingdom of Jerusalem – Stanley Lane Poole

4. Ibn Khaldun, his life and works – Mohammad Abdullah Enan

5. Islam and Secularism – Muhammad Al Naquib al-Attas

6. Muhammad, Prophet of our time – Karen Armstrong

7. The Great Transformation, The beginning of our religious traditions – Karen Armstrong

8. The Bible – Karen Armstrong

Islam

1. Muslim Saints and Mystics – Farid al-Din Attar; translated by A.J Arberry

2. Losing My Religion – Jeffrey Lang

3. Struggling to Surrender – Jeffrey Lang

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Feel free to ask me for a description of any of the above book.

“The Messenger – The Meanings of the Life of Muhammad” by Tariq Ramadan is aimed at drawing the meanings behind the Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w) actions. The focus therefore constantly shifts between the Prophet’s actions and the meanings of it. And at the end, the book conclusively brings the reader’s attention of the Prophet’s characters of love and sympathy towards others (among others).

Suggested by Khairul, the book is a great read, but I would not recommend it to anyone who is not familiar with Islam’s progress in its early stages. The reason for this is that the book is neither a historical nor a biographical attempt as Tariq pointed out. The constant shift between the description of the Prophet’s actions and the meaning behind it may actually confuse the reader who lacks knowledge of Islam’s early history. Nonetheless, it is an excellent book for what it is intended for.

In sum, I think the book is excellent for anyone who already has a basic idea of Islam’s history but is looking for the extra lessons that we may apply especially on a personal level, based on the meanings behind the Prophet’s (s.a.w) choice of actions. I’d end of by quoting something from the final chapter of the book.

“…throughout his life he kept listening to women, children, men, slaves, rich and poor, as well as outcasts. He listened to, welcomed and comforted them. An elect among the inhabitants of this earth, he concealed neither his fragility nor his doubts; in fact, God had, very early on, made him doubt himself so that he should never henceforth doubt his own need for Him, and shown him the reality of his failings so that he should seek His perfect Grace and remain indulgent toward his fellow human beings. He was a model not only through his qualities but also through his doubts, his wounds, and occasionally, as we have seen, his errors of judgment, which either Revelation or his Companions would point out.

However, absolutely everything in his life was an instrument of renewal and transformation, from the slightest detail to the greatest events. The Muslim faithful, believers of any faith, and all who study Muhammad’s life regardless of personal religious belief can derive teachings from this, thus reaching toward the essence of the message and the light of faith.”

(edited October 27, 2008)

Most biographies I’ve read about Muhammad (s.a.w) are often accompanied with biased exaggerations. It was therefore refreshing to have read Karen Armstrong’s “Muhammad”. It did not have similar overtones but yet, one cannot leave the book without being amazed at the Prophet’s (s.a.w) life.

Karen’s objective was to reflect the life story of Muhammad in the context of his overall vision for Arabia (his vision or mission was to establish a society where there are no injustice). And in light of this, she therefore, did not address the specificities that had no relation to Muhammad’s big project. Unfortunately, many have failed to see Karen’s objective and accused her for bieng biased because she ignored details about violent behaviours of the Muslims during the Prophet’s leadership and she has also ignored the violent references to Jihad found in the Qur’an. Obviously though, these criticisms are flatly ignorant of Karen’s aims. In any case, Karen had also left out numerous other references that could have painted Muhammad in a much more beautiful picture. If anything, Karen seem to argue that Muhammad lacked leadership capabilities. He had a vision, but he had no blueprint to show to his followers and was therefore not able to lead effectively.

A bias biography? Obviously not.

Anyway, enough of countering Karen’s critics. Now it’s time to hear Karen’s own criticism of contemporary Muslims in light of Prophet Muhammad’s (s.a.w) life.

Karen pointed out the religious schism in Islam is not surprising. The reason for this is because the early followers came to embrace Islam and followed Muhammad for very different reasons and they all had different political ideals. After Muhammad’s death, many went their own ways. And indeed, the first caliph – Abu Bakr, spent his entire caliphate period trying to abolish religious schism. He managed to maintain order and retain unity. But that was all he could do – maintain order. After his departure, things started to get chaotic as the next three caliphs were murdered for political reasons. Up till this day, this schism has not ended.

Karen implicitly argued that Muslims have failed to grasp Muhammad’s vision and thus, are not able to continue his mission – to end injustice to the world. Instead, what we have today is even greater injustice as Islam gets abused for political ends by Muslims and inevitably, the non-Muslims too.

The following was originally published last year for my school’s Current Affairs Club magazine called ‘VOICE’.

At the point of writing this article, it’s noon. My stomach is now grumbling, begging for my hands to throw a couple of cheeseburgers in to my mouth. Alas, I cannot do that. It is Ramadan, and as a Muslim, I am obliged to fast. That means among others, no eating or drinking, for about thirteen hours, from dawn to dusk.

Gladly enough, I know my stoamaching is a temporary affair. In a few hours, I will dine in with my family and have a sizeable meal. My stomach will be filled and the grumblings will stop.

But across the globe, not all those who are hungry are willing. They are deprived of food, shelter and healthcare. They live on the edge. Any small shortcomings such as flu can cost them their lives. Today, many of them can be found in Darfur.

One of the largest countries in Africa, Sudan can be divided into three regions. The North housing the Arab government, the South populated by Christians and Animists, and the West, Darfur is home to African Muslims.

2005 saw the agreement of a permanent ceasefire between the Government and southeren rebels, who opposed a nationwide Islamic law. Over twenty years of fighting finally ended. However, conflicts between the government and the African Muslims in Darfur continue to worsen since it started in 2003.

African Union (AU) peacekeepers were deployed in 2004 to help stabilise the region and protect civilians from Arab militias also known as the Janjaweed. However, the mission has been proven to be difficult.

Running out of resources, it has been proposed that the peackeeping mission be taken over by the UN. The proposal however, has been fiercely rejected by the Sudan government.

Today, the Janjaweed and other rebel groups have caused the deaths of over 200,000 people and more than 2 million displaced. NGOs such as UNICEF will not stay long in some areas, as fighting has been intensified recently, making the aiding suicidal. When that happens, tens of thousands of people will most likely die of starvation.

The next time I venture into the canteens of NTU, I know I am most fortunate to be able to choose the meals that I want. To be concerned about the tastiness of the meal is indeed a blessing.

More news and background stories of Sudan & Darfur:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/default.stm
http://www.genocideintervention.net/educate/darfur/news

“Why McDonald’s Fries Taste So Good” is a good read, and is actually featured in “The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2002″.

No, it’s not the salt. And it’s definitely not the sauce.

Here’s something from the initial paragraphs:

The taste of a french fry is largely determined by the cooking oil. For decades McDonald’s cooked its french fries in a mixture of about seven percent cottonseed oil and 93 percent beef tallow. The mixture gave the fries their unique flavor — and more saturated beef fat per ounce than a McDonald’s hamburger.

In 1990, amid a barrage of criticism over the amount of cholesterol in its fries, McDonald’s switched to pure vegetable oil. This presented the company with a challenge: how to make fries that subtly taste like beef without cooking them in beef tallow.

A look at the ingredients in McDonald’s french fries suggests how the problem was solved. Toward the end of the list is a seemingly innocuous yet oddly mysterious phrase: “natural flavor.” That ingredient helps to explain not only why the fries taste so good but also why most fast food — indeed, most of the food Americans eat today — tastes the way it does.

Open your refrigerator, your freezer, your kitchen cupboards, and look at the labels on your food. You’ll find “natural flavor” or “artificial flavor” in just about every list of ingredients.

So, exactly what is this “artificial flavor”?
What do perfumes,shampoos and furniture polish have in common?
What do perfumes, shampoos and furniture polish have anything to do with McDonald’s Fries anyway?

To find out more, get the full flavour!

It is well known that Islam’s golden age was a time where the sciences flourished.
But how was this possible and what are the factors that led to the eventual downfall of science within the Islamic empire?
As the title suggests, this article offers an interesting perspective that give answers to these questions.

The article is written by Dennis Overbye and was featured in “The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2002″.
New York Times has now made it a ‘freeware’.
So, go on, read the full article.

Excerpts:

…Muslims created a society that in the Middle Ages was the scientific center of the world. The Arabic language was synonymous with learning and science for 500 hundred years, a golden age that can count among its credits the precursors to modern universities, algebra, the names of the stars and even the notion of science as an empirical inquiry.

”Nothing in Europe could hold a candle to what was going on in the Islamic world until about 1600,” said Dr. Jamil Ragep, a professor of the history of science at the University of Oklahoma.

—–

Educational guidelines once issued by the Institute for Policy Studies in Pakistan, for example, included the recommendation that physical effects not be related to causes.

For example, it was not Islamic to say that combining hydrogen and oxygen makes water. ”You were supposed to say,” Dr. Hoodbhoy recounted, ”that when you bring hydrogen and oxygen together then by the will of Allah water was created.”

Poverty did not exist out of thin air,
but from political injustices; a man exploiting another man.

In the Agrarian Justice, Thomas Paine talked about the fact that poverty is the product of human actions. It is not a natural thing. In the Author’s English Preface, he said,
“It is wrong to say that God made rich and poor; He made only male and female, and He gave them the whole earth for their inheritance.”

200 years have passed since Thomas Paine’s Agrarian Justice. And yet, such inbalance distribution of natural resources still exist. And we are not talking about oil, gold or diamond. But basic biological needs – water and agricultural food.

Just take a look at what’s happening in Palestine:

“One and a half million people depending on the good will of the system that holds them under siege, depending on the diligence and hard work of the truck drivers and the Major’s cheerful few who stand with their clip boards all day sweating in the hot dusty desert while in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Gaza City and Ramallah, Cairo and Riyadh, Brussels and Washington the powerful deliberate and plot, self styled Olympian gods toying with the fate of mere mortals.”- Oxfam’s Gaza Blog: On the road again

Thirsty? Step inside a store. Grab a can of drink and pay at the counter. How long should this seemingly simple task take?
Apprently, sometimes it’s more than 10 minutes for me. Not because of long queues, but trying to decide what I want to drink.

Coke? Root Beer? Lemon Tea? Lime or green tea? How about coffee?
Nescafe? Pokka? What flavour? Mocha? Original? Latte?
Packet drinks? How about plain mineral water?

In contrast, when I’m at a vending machine, where my choice of drink is limited to eight or ten, it typically takes me no more than ten seconds to decide.

Having choices is essential to the idea of freedom. Too much choice however, can be detrimental. Time and effort are wasted in trying to decide what we want. In the book “The Paradox of Choice”, Barry Schwartz also talks about other consequences of having too much choice like having higher expectations.

For instance, in my “What drink to get” scenario:
I may end up trying a new flavoured drink that’s bitter.
Then I feel like crap. Why?
Because among all those countless drinks, I expect at least one of them to have a ‘heavenly’ taste. And that is my target.
But it seems my choice drink was not one of them. It was bitter, not heavenly.
I was wrong. Who likes being wrong?
Thus, I feel crap – unhappy, unsatisfied.

In contrast, when I have limited choice, whatever drink I get, though I may regret it, it won’t be as painful. Because I didn’t have much choice. I won’t expect any of them to have a heavenly taste.

In all, “The Paradox of Choice” is one that acknowledges the necessity for choices.
But choice itself should not be the goal that people should strive for.

——

I didn’t find the book a must-buy. But it is worth reading. Anyway, here’s Schwartz presenting his arguments:
(Duration: 20:22)

Original source: here.