Jackie Miao » Uncategorized

Dear KK Twestival: You’ve come a long way, baby

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:03:49 +0000

Guest post by @munyin

It was around this time last year when I first mentioned to Jackie that there was this thing called Twestival. After assuring her it wasn’t some online web cam ChatRoulette orgy within 140 characters, I was very pleased to hear her say that she’d take it on.

We discussed some of the options KK and Twestival had going for them. I recall convincing her that she could just go out for dinner with as many people as she could muster, and then do a small whip round to contribute a few ringgit to Twestival’s bottom line. And that was that really. I arrived in KK that one night knowing that I’d given a worthwhile cause to a very safe pair of hands. Jackie and a few of her closest mates would get together and raise a bit of awareness for charity and Twitter. I didn’t think much else of it, just happy that a friend wanted to do something that I believed was good.

The next thing I know, I’m wandering around KK’s city centre trying to find her dad’s restaurant. It’s hot, and I’m totally parched. I could really do with a sit down. But that’s beside the point. After rounding the corner by the Mercedes Benz garage, I wander further along and find the place. It’s empty now, and I see Jackie’s piling a few files around the counter and have just been assured that there was a meeting here about KK Twestival. Curious, I thought, as I was under the impression the event would be a small gathering, nothing more than wining and dining with some pals. Now there’s a full organising committee! Just what was going on?

To my utter disbelief, I’m now told the exact plans for the evening. I’m blown away. How had this happened? Why was it happening? Had I missed my shuttle bus? So many questions! And totally unexpected answers! It turned out that Jackie’s sleepy town had decided to open its arms and embrace Twestival! How lovely! The passion and generosity demonstrated was surreal, I don’t think either myself or Jackie really thought how big it could be. But it was, and although we failed miserably to connect HK and KK together on the night, I was kept updated on the night’s success. Auctions, laughs, donations and awareness… breath taking!

So now the 2nd KK Twestival is upon us. From its humble beginnings, I feel a surge of pride just thinking about how great it will be this time around. It’s a massive credit to Jackie, who’s positive attitude towards it has rubbed off onto the rest of the team. Seriously, I’m gutted that I could not make it over. Although I nor CNNGo are officially affiliated or involved in Twestival this year, I am still supporting the initiatives! The way its taken off has given me a warm fuzzy feeling, and I know that the team this year will do a great job of it again.

And all I did was tell Jackie. KK, I leave the rest to you, and look forward to watching you grow even more.

‘Power to the People’ Beach Party

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:52:14 +0000

For 3 years, the people of Sabah were campaigning against a planned coal-fired plant that could have destroyed part of the earth’s marine heritage in Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Green Surf tirelessly rallied on with their cause for a coal-free Sabah, which the global media covered extensively.

In spite of an unlikely outcome in the people’s favor, the state government announced in February that the planned coal-fired plant has been scrapped! To celebrate this victory, Green Surf will be throwing a “Power to the People” party at Tanjung Aru Beach on April 1st, 2011. Here’s the flyer (click to enlarge):-

I hope to see you there. Here’s to a coal-free future for Sabah!

On Hitz.fm talking about KK Twestival 2011

admin — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:20:53 +0000

This is the talkset extraction courtesy of Hitz.fm, our Official Media Partner for KK Twestival 2011. Here are the soundclips of my appearance on Hitz.fm with DJ Cassie and DJ Rica yesterday. It aired between 11am – 12pm, Tuesday, 15th March 2011.

Jackie Talks about KK Twestival at Hitz-KK with DJ Cassie & Rica – 1st Talkset by kktwestival

Jackie Talks about KK Twestival at Hitz-KK with DJ Cassie & Rica – 2nd Talkset by kktwestival

Jackie Talks about KK Twestival at Hitz-KK with DJ Cassie & Rica – 3rd Talkset by kktwestival

Jackie Talks about KK Twestival at Hitz-KK with DJ Cassie & Rica – 4th Talkset by kktwestival

Read about it from Cassie’s blog on the Hitz.fm website!

Why a Coal-fired Plant in Sabah Is a Bad, Bad Idea

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:00:31 +0000

This morning, I’d like to share a video with you.

It’s about a coal-fired plant that TNB-SESB are planning to build on the East Coast of Sabah, overlooking the Coral Triangle, which is home to 75% of marine wildlife species known to science, and half of the last remaining 30 Sumatran rhinoceros in the world Borneo.

According to Nadira Ilana of Green Surf, the Prime Minister “Mr. Najib went to Minado, Indonesia last May for the Coral Triangle summit, where he pledged to protect it but this coal plant will contradict his promise to the world as well as his pledge at the Copenhagen Environmental Summit to reduce Malaysia’s carbon emissions by 40% by 2025.”

The proposed coal-fired plant site is at Kg Sinakut, Lahad Datu, a village that borders the Coral Triangle, an area where the WWF has rated as a globally outstanding marine eco-region. It is also just a mere 17km away from the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, where hippos rhinos, elephants and other endangered species of wildlife call home.

My question to all Sabahans today is, do you want to pay for energy that sacrifices our wildlife and environment? What about a coal plant that will cause your children to have breathing problems, subsequently developing asthma and potentially, emphysema and lung cancer? TNB says that the coal will be clean, but this is their coal plant in Perak.

WHAT IS IT WORTH?

Our eco-heritage that took millions of years to forge is under threat. The world’s last few outstanding regions for marine wildlife and endangered animals are under threat. The potential 8 billion eco-tourism industry that Sabahans depend on for a livelihood is under threat. Why? So that two corporations can make a lot of money from Sabahans. Money we won’t have if we lose our source of income from tourism, but that’s besides the point.

YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

SEND A POSTCARD TO THE PM
If you don’t want this madness to happen, please tell our leaders that Sabah does not want a coal plant by sending him a postcard.

SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION

Sign this petition too, telling the Prime Minister Najib Razak that coal is not the answer, that clean renewable energy that has longer-term profitability prospects should be explored and discussed with the ‘rakyat’ in an open and transparent manner.

If you would like to help protect Sabah’s wildlife and environment, you can find out at the Green Surf Website, where Sabahans, international NGOs, and all concerned citizens of Malaysia and the world unite for a Greener Sabah.

You can also learn more from the people who work passionately to show you why you should care about what is happening to Sabah.

Don’t wait till it’s too late. Act now, we invite the world to read and send this letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

SAY NO TO COAL! Ask for clean, renewable energy!

Chilling in Chilly Melbourne

admin — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:13:33 +0000

I’m in Melbourne at the moment, enjoying a bit of coldish weather at the moment. Ranked 3rd by the Economist in 2010 as one of the Most Livable Cities in the World, I have been stuffing my face with a smorgasbord of yummilicious food. Everything is massive over here and the best way to describe how I perceive and feel about Melbourne is that it feels like a modern version of the land of Canaan.

THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY
By massive I mean that while I am always on the hunt for XL sizes in Asia, I’m being forced to accept the fact that I’m merely a small dumpling over here. It really challenged the negative views I had about being bigger than most of my Asian counterparts, especially when I confusingly find my buttocks fill into an S size pair of running pants perfectly.

Melbourne isn’t the kind of city that excites like Hong Kong or New York but it is charming in its own way. It’s a contradiction of laid back attitudes and the facilities of a fast-paced city; really bizarre that the pace and infrastructure seem as compatible as a monkeywrench and a rose petal but a novel experience nonetheless!

Melbourne’s town planning is the best I’ve ever seen thus far. Beautiful private and public landscapes, public transportation is great and there is an abundance of parks and cycling paths. What a total dream come true for people who love an active life!

Pretty busy on holiday. I’ll try to blog as often as possible during my trip, but definitely will share more stuff with you guys when I get back in two weeks…

Jazz Nite at Cube this Saturday

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:00:56 +0000

Miss Honeybee who runs Cube Restaurant and an executive sponsor for KK Twestival has a melodic event tonight. For RM100, you get to have finger food, a free flow of wine and watch Hito Band perform some tasty jazz music in an exquisite setting. Did I say FREE FLOW of WINE? Yes I did! See you there!

Project Alpha Season 2

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:00:57 +0000

Niki Cheong, Lead Organizer for Twestival KL and Regional Coordinator for Twestival Asia has an awesome post up about Project Alpha, a show about Malaysia’s top bloggers. Check out the Official Trailer for Season 2.

KK Twestival 2010: Angelina & Roger Pt. 2, Change the World

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:10:26 +0000

Two and a half weeks ago, I was nudged by a friend in Hong Kong to get involved in Twestival. Out on a whim, I decided to enter KK as a participant in hope of throwing a small tweet-up party with a few friends on 25th March 2010. My goal was to raise awareness for Concern Worldwide’s cause for education and get a few friends to contribute. Instead 100 over people came and gave in ways big and small. Here are some of the moments captured forever on film…

Here’s part two, Change the World!

KK Will Join the World for Twestival on 25th March 2010

admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:10:28 +0000

This year’s Twestival Global aims to lend a hand to Concern Worldwide to help some of the 72 million kids who are not enrolled in school to have classrooms, books, uniforms and teachers in some of the poorest places on earth.

Last week, at the cue of a friend in Hong Kong I signed up Kota Kinabalu as a participant in Twestival Global 2010. What was intended as a solo-effort to throw a small tweet-up party to raise awareness for a good cause has turned into a team of 30 volunteers to make this event larger than what was intended. Below is a shot from our volunteer briefing from yesterday (Saturday afternoon).

Volunteer briefing at Stone Bridge Galley

In two weeks my role has gone from benefit party-thrower to leading a band of amazing people whose dedication to help change lives has touched, inspired and motivated me to do much more. Please come and support us on Thursday 25th March 2010 by coming to our benefit party. 100% of the proceeds from our event will go to charity! Visit http://kotakinabalu.twestival.com for more information.

MNS ‘Run for a Greener Sabah’ Happening Tomorrow

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:27:06 +0000

What’s the coolest thing happening this weekend?

The Malaysian Nature Society – Sabah has organized a free “Run for a Greener Sabah” event on 13th March 2010 (Saturday morning), which will be held at Taman Tun Fuad Stephen Bukit Padang, Kota Kinabalu. All nature-loving run-bunnies are advised to wear green tshirts for this 4km run! Below are the details…

Come and run for a Greener Sabah! For more information, visit http://www.mns.com.my