Island Chic’s Babble

Maldivian government has officially announced that Maldives will be open to international bidders to search for petroleum within the Maldivian territory. According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, two international companies have sent requests to the government seeking permission to explore Maldives in search of petroleum; one among them is a well known petroleum company.

Due to the recent discovery of petroleum in the neighboring countries, India and Sri Lanka, foreign companies has been enthusiastic about the possibility of discovering oil in the Maldives.

If discovered, this could be a much needed step for the Maldives to move towards economic diversification and be less dependent on the highly vulnerable tourism sector for its bread and butter. However before the excitement takes its course, there are a few things we must be highly concerned about.

As tourism contributes to more than one third of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, any adverse effects which may result from the heavy drilling and exploration processes should be carefully studied, before it’s carried out. As the Maldives has little except its beautiful beaches and clear waters, safeguarding our tourism industry must be highly prioritized before we get carried away with the mere possibility that Maldives has petroleum.

At the same time, any disturbance to the vulnerable balance in ecosystems which our fisherman rely on will prove to be disastrous to our economy as well as to our people, considering the fact that fish and sea food is the major part of Maldivian household diet.

For these reasons, I hope that the relevant authorities will not be blind sighted by the overwhelming possibility of future prosperity, so as to compromise on our present livelihood.

The much awaited Google Chrome now arrives with a bang! Thousands on enthusiastic google fans downloading every second!

Indulge your self! Download Google Chrome!

Recent growth trend of the Japanese economy hasn’t been all rosy and neither is the political climate for the governing Liberal Democratic Party. However, the unanticipated resignation of the Japanese Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda was not something the LDP expected.

Japan has had negative economic growth for quite some time, especially due to the recent hike in oil prices and the ever increasing food prices. An $18-billion stimulus package was introduced recently, which was dismissed by most market analysts as ineffectual.

With excessive control from the opposition parties over Japan’s upper house and pressing for an election, Fukuda has been unable to influence major legislation and for this reason, many see Japan as a country facing a vacuum in political leadership today.

The combination of economic downturn together with the political drift of the governing Liberal Democratic Party was shown by an apparent plummeting approval rate in the last month which went to below 30% in most polls.

Perhaps, the political frustration and the worsening economy is to be blamed. However, Fukuda blames what he saw as an obstructionist opposition party for his departure, but he offered no clear explanation for his timing.

News about Dell trying to trademark the term “cloud computing” has been going around ever since it was mentioned in a document on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web site.

Apparently, Dell is trying to grab control of the term “cloud computing” which may just define technology infrastructure for years to come.

According to USPTO website, Dell’s application has reached the Notice of Allowance phase, where a company receives “a written notification from the USPTO that a specific mark has survived the opposition period … and has consequently been allowed for registration.” The opposition period gives other parties a chance to object to an application. However, this does not guarantee the registration of the trademark.

The term cloud computing, which has emerged in the last few years, refers to “a computing environment where data and services reside in scalable datacenters accessible over the Internet”. The demand for such environments is being driven by the growth of technologies such as social networking, streaming media, and mobile devices.

Looking at the current trends, if Dell manages to get the patent, it may very well rule the technology infrastructure for the next decade!

Before I started my job in Beijing, I went home for a few days to spend quality time with friends and family. I was lucky to have most of my friends in Male’ at the time and I spent most of my time with friends of all ages, going for coffees, shopping or just simply hanging out.

One thing that I noticed during my short stay was the level of frustration, which was so evident in the way everyone spoke. It doesn’t take a long time for one to notice, how fed up and absolutely de-motivated the Maldivian youth is. Almost everyone complains…nonstop!

We complain about the ever increasing crime rate, violence, drug abuse and social unrest. We grumble about the inefficiencies of the government, misuse of funds, favoritism, abuse and corruption. We also whine about the rising prices, housing problems, traffic, congestion and several other issues now so embedded in the system. We complain about “the system”. Now I ask, who really is “the system” that we so continuously whine about?

Almost all of us have responsible jobs in the government, private sector or run our own businesses. If not, we are either students or housewives and mothers who support the pillars of the society. Don’t we all in some way contribute to “the system?” How did the system get so frustrating? When did all this happen? Why did we do nothing about it? Why do we still sit and complain instead of trying to change something?

When I ask why we don’t do our bit to bring about change, many of us seem to think that it is the responsibility of the political activists, government opposition or political bodies… I beg to differ. I think it is the small changes that add up to bring about a significant change into the system, that we are all a part of.

Why do we never expose the big bosses at office who favors the pretty secretary? Why do we never speak of the projects that were handed out to any company we wanted, based on mere personal preference? Why do we take two-three hours for lunch while citizens waiting for all sorts of urgent matters waited at the reception in long queues? Why do we sit in the office and chat about Prison Break for hours while our work sits on a table? Why do we never report the neighbor who’s always high on an unknown powder? Why do we complain about the traffic and still own two cars on an island smaller than 2 square kilometers?

Do we really do our bit to change the system? Do we contribute in any way to improve the? Or do we leave it to the “involved” parties and sit at home complaining continuously to anyone who’d care to listen? Have we really made an effort to bring about change? It is time to step up and do something in your own little way, to improve the system that represents no one else but us! If not now, when? And if not you, who?

China’s economic growth patterns in recent years have been nothing less than remarkable. Mainly as a result of economic reforms in the last 30 years or so, China has stepped up its game by a few notches higher than the big boys already in the game.

The United Kingdom took more than 40 years to improve its living standard by 50 percent, as a result of the industrial revolution. Living standards in China on the other hand is rising at 100-fold or 10,000 percent, at its current growth level.

Between 1978 and 2007, China’s real GDP grew annually at an average of 9.8 percent, increasing more than 13 times in real terms, while per capita GDP rose from 381 yuan to 15,973 yuan.

Budget revenue grew at an average annual rate of 13.45 percent, from 113.226 billion yuan to 5.13 trillion yuan, an increase of more than 700 percent after adjusting for inflation. Over the same period, United States’ federal revenue only doubled in real terms.

In addition to this, enrollment in primary schools, number of students who pursue higher education, life expectancy, health and poverty reduction indicators show, incredibly positive results in the recent few decades.

China’s remarkable success in hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a symbol of its economic progress which amazed the millions of people who witnessed it. Not only the performances, but also the level of organization and hospitality were commendable by anyone’s standards.

In spite of the fact that China still has a long way to go, in order to get itself on the list of advanced economies like the United States, Japan and Australia etc, China has truly shown to the world that it is the new emerging giant, who will eventually climb to the top of the ladder!

This is an emotional week for me and hence it will be reflected in my posts. My sincere apologies.

I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dee’s brother and it really doesn’t help being so far away from the one person that matters to me most, at this difficult period of his life. But I really want him to know that I am here for him…

This shocking event has made me realise a few things and put my life in perspective. I have lived away from my family since I was 11 years old and been on the move ever since. Wherever I go, I have made really great friends that I will cherish for as long as I’m alive. Yet I live in a world of constant good-byes.

Over the years, I have become accustomed to the painful process of leaving the people I love and being really far away from them. There are always new friends to be made, whether it is in Male’, Hyderabad, New Delhi or Singapore…So it shouldn’t matter so much?

The answer is yes, it does matter a lot. I do make friends very easily but there are always the special few who shine brighter among the rest. I guess that’s why we always find our way back to each other, however long it takes between our reunions. Yet, in the pre-occupied career driven world, I often forget to let them know how special a part they play in my life. They have replaced the love of the family that I miss and they have become my family. Hence, I really want to let all my friends know that they are special to me.

My dear friends, I love you guys and I hope that whatever happens in our lives along the way, we will always keep finding each other in the future…

My family, my greatest strength and the one thing I value most in life…I love you all and what I do with my life, is all about you.

Dee, I don’t have the words to really express what I want to say to you… But the last six years of my life has been my best and it was all because of you. We have really come a long way and been through so much together. I hope you know that I am with you today. I love you baby.

I have been mulling over the idea of a blog for a long time, but never really found the time to do it….and today, on one of the saddest days of my life, I choose to start the blog to mark the memory of a tragic loss of a dear friend and brother.

My boyfriend’s kid brother Kiyashan (Keyz), though I have never met him in person was a friend but more of a little brother. He was the most full of shit personality I know and he has never failed to make me smile even on my most depressing days…

I have quite an online presence and am on MSN almost 24 hours a day. As soon as I sign in, the first thing that pops up on my screen is “Ola Chica, how’s my brother’s better half?” Our conversations could range from his domestic quarrels, the new parts he got for his car, his work or his girl troubles but they usually end on his lyrical creations. I can’t count the number of times he has forced me to sit and read his songs and rhymes and give him constructive comments on them. And no, he will not be cool with “This is great!” I must elaborate! Then I must also listen to the newly composed dance or techno mix of DJ KeyZ. He says it’s in my best interest to be his friend, since he is on the brink of becoming famous. He even promised me an autographed copy of his first album

And now…I sit here today with such grief that I cannot express it with words. I have never met him in person and yet, it breaks my heart to know that he’s left us. I can’t even begin to express how deeply I feel for his family. There is truly no consolation in anything I can say or do…I just wish they would find a way to get through this extremely painful tragedy. May God give strength to his family.

Keyz, My friend that I was never fortunate enough to meet…I hope you are looking down at us today from wherever you are. I hope you know that you are terribly missed. You will be loved by everyone whose lives you have touched in your own special way…I will miss our long chats online…I will miss talking shit with you…I will miss listening to your funny stories…your songs…your music…

Rest in peace dear boy. You will always be alive in our hearts. May God bless you.

I dedicate the song below to you…you made me listen to the song on a day you were really down. You said the song really says what you felt…and today it shows how we all feel… Why do all good things come to an end?

“All Good Things (Come To An End)” – Nelly Furtado

Honestly what will become of me
don’t like reality
It’s way too clear to me
But really life is dandy
We are what we don’t see
Missed everything daydreaming

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to an end?

Traveling I only stop at exits
Wondering if I’ll stay
Young and restless
Living this way I stress less
I want to pull away when the dream dies
The pain sets it and I don’t cry
I only feel gravity and I wonder why

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to an end?

Well the dogs were whistling a new tune
Barking at the new moon
Hoping it would come soon so that they could
Dogs were whistling a new tune
Barking at the new moon
Hoping it would come soon so that they could
Die die die die die

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to an end?

Well the dogs were barking at a new moon
Whistling a new tune
Hoping it would come soon
And the sun was wondering if it should stay away for a day ’til the feeling went away
And the sky was falling on the clouds were dropping and
the rain forgot how to bring salvation
the dogs were barking at the new moon
Whistling a new tune
Hoping it would come soon so that they could die.