| Price-Tagging Nature? Outrageous! |
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| What Prof
Quah proposes is simply outrageous! Land plots in commerce may have price tags but woes begone to those who think that Nature has a price tag too. And his suggesting that Chek Jawa is too ‘ad hoc in guiding future decisions’ is deadpan irrationality. Anything that is first and defining in occurrence is a possible benchmark. What make Prof Quah think we should follow him to the opposite direction? Not only is the nerve of reasoning negative, it is also nothing new at all. It is invocating the same old ways of our present economy that is destroying the fabric we call Nature – the very same life-sustaining fabric for human beings, DAH! It is precisely this same old problem we are grabbling to resolve. So, in the end, Prof Quah has really nothing to offer except to say, ‘let’s just carry on what we are doing’. And I may add to his line of thought – ‘…. and die!’ Increasingly, people across the world are beginning to realize that the source of our redemption lies in our most primitive cultures that advocate 'living with Nature'. This is particularly true in eastern philosophy. There is a lot of enlightenment to be found. Prof Quah should look here, not the West for answers (since he is on this side of the globe). However, if he is still inclined towards the West, why, he should look to the American Indians for inspiration, not half-baked new economic models. The nature of the auction that he advocates is as questionable and controversial as the ‘representative sample of the stake-holding segment’ that he is advancing. Who is he going to ask? Well, don’t ask it in my name. The future of our children cannot be decided this way. As to Prof Peter Ng’s reported statement, I am a wee-bit confused. But alas, should I be surprised at all by now? Isn’t he part of the team that has pitched for the conversion of the 30ha plot of Mandai forest into a spa? Well, in all eventuality, I think Prof Quah and Prof Ng should make great bedfellows indeed. Find out what the true value of a forest is at: Forest Science Crapped in Singapore & read other comments in Nature Over Man Blog. Joe Lai 25 Jan 2008 |