STOP BREEDING, PLEASE!
A tadpole in the world’s largest pond is destined to be overworked, I guess (I do consider going home at 8 pm unusually early!). But when I’m in my philosophical mood, when all the big fish are minding their own business, I sometimes think about the world beyond this cold office, beyond optimizing hydrocarbon production and running reservoir simulations..
And in times like that, what do I see? Indonesian politics drama, Zimbabwe’s super-inflation, Chindia’s soaring industrial growth, Pope’s silly moves, US embarking on -what could be- a recession. And those old stories: global warming, ethnic wars, deforestation, malnutrition, third world countries, climate change, endangered species..
Homo sapiens is indeed the fittest to survive on earth, don’t you think? We survive in spite of all the trials bestowed on us, and we relentlessly enjoy surviving. Cut the trees down- build a condo. Shoot the foxes and wear a pretty fur coat. Breed and breed and breed. Drive and fly and explore the five continents just as we wish- without a care that progress comes with a price.
It all comes down to this: old, poor Mother Earth could no longer support our population growth and frivolous habit of wanting instant gratification. Progress does come with a price- and a high one, too.
So I sit enjoying my rare musing moments, and like a world leader I scribble three options for mankind to respond to this global issue:
1. Find another earth
This is probably what NASA is doing.. but I’m not too sure.
2. Be environment-friendly, be green, be far-sightedEasier said than done, especially with runaway population growth in third world countries, where the immediate needs are of decent food instead of decent education.
This leaves us the third option to act on first, which is:3. Stop breeding
Yes sir. For the short-term action, if you want to improve the quality of our life as a whole, I’d recommend mankind to minimize breeding. I’m not against our biological functions—I think it’s pretty understandable that having sex doesn’t mean having another baby every 10-month or so.
Now you have your eyebrow raised. Fine. I’ve always had this idea of enforcing regulations on whom are permitted to have babies and whom restricted—and I’m open to discussion. See if we start from the same ground here.
To procreate is of course our basic instinct, just as survival is. But it takes a lot more than just lust and instinct to raise and educate your kids. Every child is born with unlimited potentials, and more or less it’s up to you to shape them into environment-friendly, green, far-sighted people- or into good-for-nothing, ruthless, reckless creatures.
Let’s just humbly admit that some people are not up to bringing up little kids: drugsters, the mentally imbalanced, the very uneducated, he very poor ones. You see people deteriorating their dignities in the struggle to keep on living just because they have lived. It might not be their chief faults, but you can’t help trying to avoid reoccurrence if you can manage it, right? So what’s wrong with the idea of restricting them to have kids that they’d just ruin as well in the end? On the opposite, if you’re mentally, culturally and financially ready to enlarge your family, please do. Only bear in mind that having kids is a lifelong job- you make a contract with God and the consequence will tail you forever.
Again and again I ask myself if I’m being unfair, if I’m violating human rights by saying that some people don’t seem to be eligible to have kids—but I think I am practicing the basic concept of free justice: that you have to meet the required standard and prove that you are competent before you get the opportunity to perform something- including having kids. What the standard is, and how to implement it, I leave it to the REAL authority on mankind issues. The government. Or probably you.
I’m just a tadpole in a capitalistic system, and really, I don’t have much time to muse around. But even within these four walls, I have a dream of a better future for mankind: a loving family living happily close to the nature-- living in such a way that they don’t have to deny Humanity. That's what it means to be God’s perfect creation.
Labels: green stuff
100 QUIRKS
1. I used to leave out my surname “Nur”-- coz I didn’t like the sound of it. 2. My vanity includes 20 shades of lipstick colours, 8 different fragrances and 17 pairs of footwear. 3. But I don’t wear make-up and I stick to my old pair of 20,000-rups wedges most obstinately. 4. I hum when I’m self-conscious. 5. I was in a stud choir once—a soprano. 6. Words are my passion. I have this yen to be a writer. 7. Greek mythology fascinates me. 8. The three blokes I drool over: John Mayer, Jakob Dylan, and Jamie Aditya. 9. Open air exhilarates me. 10. What I consider greatest achievements: standing on top of Mt. Sindoro, Lawu & Merbabu. 11. I scootered around the island when backpacking in Bali with Pristi last year. 12. I am not humble –tried and failed to be. 13. My favourite book of all time is “Immortality” by Milan Kundera. 14. I don’t take things seriously, save for good books and recitals. 15. I speak a little Japanese and Korean— used to write in Hiragana and Han-gul, too. 16. I don’t eat chicken wings. Nor ducks. 17. I’m still using my 5-yr-old mobile. It doesn’t have colours. 18. Vests, not jackets. 19. I used to write poetries. 20. I was an MTV addict. 21. My idea of a pet is a virtual one. 22. I’m good at Sudoku and Othello. 23. But in general, I’m not much into games. 24. I cannot spell “bureaucracy” without consulting a dictionary. 25. The nearest to perfection in women would be Alicia Keys. 26. I love the smell of cinnamon and sandalwood, lily and lavender. 27. I’m a very direct person. 28. I don’t like dolls. They’re cute alright—but utterly useless. 29. But I do long to have a black cat doll. Will name it “Dem”, after “Demon”. 30. I can’t swim. My pretty swimsuit remains forever dry. 31. I fell madly in love with Tay Hanson when he was 14. 32. Most of my clothes are black/green/pink. 33. I’m a clumsy dancer who keeps on cha-cha-cha-ing despite the obvious lack of talent. 34. My research back in uni was about process optimization of chitosan membrane production. Novel technology—or so they said. 35. I crave yoghurt, corn and all kind of fruits. 36. I’m half-sanguine, half-choleric. Very un-phlegmatic. 37. My wish list includes learning Latin. And reading Newton’s Principia. And learning to play a fiddle. 38. I’m a reservoir engineer in a “Fortune’s Big Five” company. 39. I’ve been wearing jilbab (headscarf) since my freshman year. 40. My true interests are of ideas and philosophy. 41. The longest time I’ve spent chatting online was 6 hours straight. With a forlorn Indonesian guy in U.S. 42. Gael Ulrich was the only chemical engineer (so far) who could write textbooks in a fun way. 43. My favourite music piece currently is “La Caccia” by Antonio Vivaldi (4Seasons – Autumn – 3rd movement). 44. I walk fast. I mean, FAST. 45. I’m prejudiced against strikingly beautiful people. They are either brainless or bitchy. 46. Astronauts were my heroes. Cosmos remains my fascination. 47. I adore the wits of Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain and George Bernard Shaw. 48. I don’t have internet access in my office. 49. I melt when exposed to a suave British accent talking about sophisticated, cultured matters. 50. Pursuing a master degree is in my 5-yr plan list. 51. My costliest worldly possession is a dark grey, fur-lined French Connection winter coat the company paid for. 52. My nails are exceptionally beautiful. 53. At the age of 11, I did not know the meaning of the word “yesterday”. I did know “yes” and “day”, though. 54. I collect freebies from hotels I’ve stayed in. Toiletries, stationery, teabags—you name it. 55. I was in the Girl Scout ‘till 17. Learnt Morse codes, mapping, encrypted languages and all. 56. I have three brothers and no sister. 57. If I were an animal, I’d be a bird. 58. Like a helpless romantic, I instantly fall for Austen’s Mr. Darcy. 59. I want to die young. 60. Groovy words like “proletarian”, “helter-skelter” and “plebby” take my fancy. 61. My average bowling score is 105. 62. I am starting a campaign to drop plastic bags. 63. I can’t sleep before I read something. Anything. 64. Nothing beats a cup of hot Earl Grey. Not even Starbucks. 65. Self-sufficiency is my forte. 66. I like rains only when I’m indoor—warm and dry. 67. But I do like drizzles. 68. I’m not good at taking rejections. Never was. 69. My delight is in hot showers and cosy bath-tubs. 70. I don’t watch telly. I don’t own one. 71. My hair is straight, waist-long and claret-coloured—constantly braided into a bun under the headscarf. 72. I did not go to kindergarten. 73. My mum is a housewife. 74. During my uni years, I worked part-time as an Indonesian language teacher for foreigners. 75. I don’t read chicklits. In fact, I detest them. 76. I want to be able to cut and make my own dresses. 77. I procrastinate scheduling an appointment with a dental surgeon. 78. I hate my passport photo. I look horrendous there. 79. My mobile is kept silent all day. I leave it in my drawer during meetings. 80. It takes me a couple of seconds to tell right from left. 81. I think there’s a fair chance of my remaining single ‘till ripe age—and I’m OK with it. 82. My secret desire is study social science at Columbia Uni. 83. I could be an exasperating perfectionist at times. 84. I don’t understand chaos theory. Did not finish the book. 85. First received a love letter when 10. First (and only) sent one when 18, I guess. Stupid crush. 86. I’m not much into texting. Except when waiting for boarding. 87. I’m sweet-toothed. Sweets are in my pockets. 88. My heart goes soft for BBC Drama Series. 89. I was there when earthquake hit Jogja in 2006. 90. First time abroad, I went to Melbourne. 91. I normally eat once a day. Lunch. 92. I cry when I’m sleepy. I mean tears just come trickling down. 93. I must see Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve Concert before I die. 94. When I’m rich, I will build a small school. Free education and a REALLY good library. 95. What I quote most frequently: “The most important thing in this world is not so much where you are as in what direction you are going”, by Goethe. 96. I tend to get entangled with married men— simply because they are mature, sensible, gentile and don’t ask for commitments. 97. I’m in the lookout for Jewel’s old poetry book “A Night without Armor”. 98. One of my fondest memories was when my crush drove me home at 3 in the morning. Those frivolous days. 99. Blueberry ice cream, please! 100. I thought I was narcissistic enough to list my 100 quirks without difficulties. The fact showed otherwise.
Labels: personal
To procreate is of course our basic instinct, just as survival is. But it takes a lot more than just lust and instinct to raise and educate your kids. Every child is born with unlimited potentials, and more or less it’s up to you to shape them into environment-friendly, green, far-sighted people- or into good-for-nothing, ruthless, reckless creatures. 
