Financial News of the Day

Monthly archives for March, 2009

Singapore and the Nanyang School of Painting

Mar30
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

Artist Chen Chong Swee was born in China and moved to Singapore after having finished his studies at the Fine Art Academy. He is one four artists who were based in Singapore for much of their lives and together created the Nanyang school of painting. The four of them had taken a trip to Bali the year before and were inspired by the country; so much so that the result was a new approach to subjects and their perspectives in painting. They painted on the streets and in the best Singapore hotels, finding fresh views for their work. This resulted in a combined approach to their painting. Each of the artists had been educated in traditional styles of painting and wanted something more in their own approach. Their Modern perspective combined Eastern and Western philosophies. Today, they are still highly esteemed and their work has a lasting impact on art students in Singapore. In 1994 Sotheby’s held an auction and the proceeds were intended to provide scholarships for young artists. It is fitting that of the works sold, Swee’s paintings were sold in the highest number. He was a teacher and believed in the education of new artists. His works provide inspiration as well as financial assistance to the new generation.

Throughout his life, Swee taught and created his own work. He was respected for his talent as an artist as well as for his personal character. His approach to teaching and to his work was thoughtful and philosophical. In his art he intended to make the meaning of it accessible to the viewer. This tied him to traditional thought and differed from the Modernist tendency to alienate an audience. Swee believed this was contrary to the purpose of art and thought the intent of an artist was to communicate with their audience. To him, art should be understood. He believed artists and writers were creating not only for themselves but that the meaning of art was to give an understanding to the people. He wanted the audience to know what he was trying to say. As with the other founders of the Nanyang school, art had a spiritual significance and should be shared with the world.

Posted in Arts & Culture - Tagged , ,

International Humitarian Aid Conference

Mar28
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

The sixth annual Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference (DIHAD) is scheduled for April 7 – 9, 2009 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. DIHAD 2009 will focus on “Empowering Communities: From Disaster to Development.”

DIHAD focuses on both humanitarian aid and encouraging development. It also addresses community emergency preparedness across the globe. Since many developing countries lack basic communication and technology infrastructure, the conference tends to zero in on those issues as well. The conference receives the full support of both the UAE Red Crescent Society and the United Nations.

Over 300 companies from around the world are expected to participate in the conference, which is the largest humanitarian event in the Middle East. Companies will represent a wide range of sectors and industries, from government and charitable organizations to healthcare providers, medical equipment suppliers, engineering and environmental solutions, adn emergency services as well as manufacturers, distributors, and technology providers. Nearly twenty countries will be involved in the conference.

Dubai‘s rapid development into a major tourist, sports, and event destination has positioned it as the jewel of the Middle East. In addition to state-of-the art conference facilities, the city has improved its infrastructure and transportation and is home to a wide-range of modern accommdations (it’s very easy to find a modern Dubai UAE hotel), restaurants, and other businesses needed to support events of this scope.

Posted in Home & Garden, News, Society, World - Tagged , , , , ,

Don’t Feed the Baboons

Mar26
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

Tourists eager for a photo with Cape Town‘s signature baboons will soon face fines or even jail time if they are caught offering food to the wild animals.

Earlier this week officials of the city issued a statement that deliberate baiting of baboons would result in fines of up to 1,500 rand or $150 US dollars. Alternate sentences would involve a six-month jail term. While the warning it mostly directed toward tour operators, tourists who take it upon themselves to feed the baboons would also be liable.

The problems stem from tour operators (and the occasional tourist) who use food to lure the baboons to provide photo-opportunities. The result is that the monkeys have become more and more aggressive in seeking out food. Some have been known to snatch bags from tourists and in a recent case, several baboons jumped into a car to get more food after several American tourists got out to take pictures.

Cape Town is one of the more popular tourist destinations in South Africa. The city has a number of Cape Town five star hotels as well as budget hostels, theme hotels, and guest houses that fill up during the city’s busy season. The baboons are a protected species that make perfect souvenier photos. However, when the animals get too aggressive, park rangers are forced to kill the animals.

The city is planning a “baboon summit” to investigate other ways to deal with the problem. Cape Town is home to an estimated 350 Chacma baboons.

Posted in Environment, Travel - Tagged , , , , ,

The Red Hawks of New York City

Mar21
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

Pale Male, a red hawk was first noted in Central Park in 1991. Since then he has become a beloved part of New York City and has become an integral part of bird lovers’ springtime activities sitting in wait of the hatching eggs of Pale Male’s offspring. The nests watched very intently via binoculars, are on top of an upscale fifth avenue apartment complex. The hawk was driven from the Central Park trees almost 20 years ago by crows, however, his nesting spot is now protected by the housing cooperative. Pale Male met a companion one year after settling into the city, and in 1992 the pair became the chatter of bird watchers all over the world. Three of their offspring hatched that year with two of the birds of prey still calling Central Park their home to this day.

A few years later, his mate died, and Pale Male settled in with a new mate named Blue.

It is believed that Blue lived for about 8 years, and it is assumed she died after her disappearance in 2001. From the windows of the magnificent city of New York, many people were in attendance as eleven new chicks were hatched and grew to adulthood in the park. In 2004, the spikes meant to deter pigeons from nesting were removed from the buildings ledges. This caused quite a stir among bird lovers everywhere as these spikes securely supported the hawk’s nest. The National Audubon Society recommended an initiative to re-install the supports providing the structure necessary to hold the nests securely to the side of the high rise. And while the hawks continue to nest in their re-secured nest, no new eggs have hatched since the original nest supports were removed. The pair of hawks still maintain a strong audience however, waiting hopefully in Central Park and in the New York Airport hotel of New York City to catch a glimpse of hopefully perhaps some new offspring.

Posted in Environment, Travel - Tagged , ,

KL to Observe Earth Hour

Mar17
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

The Kuala Lumpur Tower has announced that it will participate in the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) “Earth Hour” on March 28th. Earth Hour is designed to be a symbolic expression by the public of their concerns over global warming. The event, which began in Sydney, Australia two years ago, has received the full support of the “Tower of Hope” program in KL.

The CEO of Menara Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad, stated that the program “is committed to raising awareness on climate change and being the first monument in Malaysia to participate in this cause. He went on to invite other skyscrapers and large hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to join in this worldwide event.

After 2.2 million businesses and homes in Sydney turned off their lights for one hour in March 2007, the Earth Hour movement exploded. It’s estimated that 50 million people turned off the lights in their homes during last year’s observation. World landmarks also participated — the Sydney Opera House, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum in Rome all went dark for one hour.

The WWF has reported that some of the world’s tallest buildings will participate in 2009. Taiwan’s Taipei 101 tower and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai have committed to this year’s event. There is hope that the Petronas Twin Towers in KL will also observe the dark hour. (They are the tallest twin towers in the world and once held the record for the world’s 1st and 2nd tallest buildings.)

WWF Malaysia has identified ten buildings in Malaysia that it would like to have participate in Earth Hour. Their website offers the public a chance to vote whether they want to see the Towers and other buildings, such as the Istana Bukit Serene palace, participate.

At this time, 930 cities have officially pledged to participate in Earth Hour 2009. That covers 80 countries and 25 time zones. The goal is to reach one billion participants. Earth Hour begins on Saturday, March 28th at 8:30 p.m. on the Chatham Islands off New Zealand.

Posted in Environment - Tagged , , , , ,

Beauty and Character

Mar14
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

The islands off the coast of Spain are known world wide. All have mild and temperate climates and pristine beaches. Throughout history many travelers have passed through the waters of the Mediterranean and stood on these coasts, and more recently the world of tourism have brought many strangers to the towns on these islands. The locals here consider no one a stranger though. The locals have the reputation of welcoming all with open arms, and should one step into a town here, one would be a stranger no more. The best Balearic hotels treat travelers as family, and what a better and more substantial way to visit, than to really get to know those in your care. The islands are similar in their tranquility, lush farmlands and history, rich folklore and history, the beaches and the forests, but like children from the same family, they have similarities and differences. The personality, while still inherently Spanish, changes from island to island. While Ibiza is the wild child, known to throw late-nite parties, Cabrera and Formentera are quiet and poetic in nature. Mallorca is the environmental sound community. While all the islands are known to protect what is theirs, the city of La Palma became the first to use energy saving light bulbs in all the traffic signals and throughout the rest of the city.

The islands have been occupied by many different cultures, from the Romans to the Greeks to the Carthaginians to the Byzantines. This, while dramatic and terrifying throughout history, is part of the reason why these islands and their occupants are so hospitable currently. Monuments and architectural structures still stand today as a testament to all that has occurred here over the years. And all the islands have sites which draw archaeologists the world over to these shores. Many dating back to prehistoric times. And in more current history, the struggles between the inhabitants and French, British and their own mainland of Spain, has given this area of the Mediterranean quite a bit of character. And what is better than beauty, with character to back it up, all the while creating a region so much the more beautiful for the life that has been lived and is continued to be lived here. And as follows with beauty and character, the islands have become rich with art, music, and food. Throughout the year there are many festivals honoring historical battles or traditional beliefs. Lively celebrations of history, the good and the bad. For it all plays a part in the whole and the now.

Posted in Arts & Culture, Society, Travel, World - Tagged , ,

Destination: New York City

Mar13
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Tracy

Anyone planning a trip to New York City knows that it is an exciting and crowded city. Filled with historic landmarks, stunning architecture, fabulous museums, incredible food, and some of the best shopping in the world, it is obvious why the city is the top tourist destination in the United States Visitors return time and time again and never see all that the city has to offer.

Landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Rockefeller Center are usually crowded. But there are plenty of other things to see and do in this bustling city. Stroll through Central Park, window shop on Fifth Avenue, watch the crowds in Times Square or the businessmen on Wall Street. Take in a Broadway show, dine in one of the city’s world class restaurants or enjoy a hot dog from one of the thousands of street vendors. Stay in one of the classy 4 star hotels New York or find a quiet bed & breakfast in a historic NY brownstone.

Divided into five boroughs, New York is a city of neighborhoods. There are ethnically-defined areas like Chinatown, Little Italy, and Harlem and the bohemian Greenwich Village. Although most people associate New York with the many attractions of Manhattan, the other boroughs have their own character and attractions.The Bronx is home to the Yankees and the Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn boasts Coney Island, and Queens hosts the US Open tennis tournament as well as the being the proud home of the Mets. Staten island is an oasis of parks and forest land.

Due to its importance as a financial and business capital for the world, many of the travelers to the city are business men and women from all over the globe. In addition to Wall Street, New York is home to corporate headquarters and offices for most of the world’s largest companies. It houses the heads of all the major US television networks. It’s also where you’ll find the New York Stock Exchange and major world banks. Of course, business travelers will find themselves enjoying the entertainment, food, and great shopping alongside leisure tourists.

Whether in NYC for business, pleasure or even diplomacy (NY is home of the UN’s world headquarters), there is never a shortage of things to do, people to watch, or great food to eat.

Posted in Travel - Tagged , , , , ,