Change the world ...

Driving to the office today, the words printed on the T-shirt of a motorcyclist in front of me caught my attention -- "Change The World".
Instantaneously, the question "How?" popped up in my mind.
Yes, how can he or me or we change the world.
I related about this later in the afternoon at the start of my talk on "The Role of the Media in Public Diplomacy" at the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations.
Public diplomacy has been widely seen as the transparent means by which a country communicates with publics in other countries aimed at informing and influencing audiences overseas to promote its national interest and advancing its foreign policy goals. The task is primarily handled by the Foreign Ministry.
At its best, journalism or the media can build bridges to change the world by promoting understanding between nations.
Journalists can no longer afford to just tell who, what, when and how as these essential fact-gathering tasks are increasingly redistributed among a growing number of online users who represent new voices that are being heard loud and wide.
Today journalists are the moderators of global conversation in which they provide context, nuance, commentary and enhanced understanding of events.

A friendly advice from Down Under...

A school-mate from our VI days, who’ve made it big Down Under, gave me a friendly advice on how to become financially-sound in life.
“Don’t worry about the money, somehow it’ll find you,” he told me as we chatted on Facebook.
With only $200 in his pocket when he set foot in Australia years ago, Derek now owns several properties including a beautiful home in Melbourne which he ‘humbly’ displayed on his FB.
“You’ve got to do it because you’re passionate about it, not because you want to make $3 million in 2 years.
“You’ve got to believe in your work too.
So whenever I take on a project, I always live in it, I eat, sleep, drink and do nothing but become the object of what I’m trying to do,” he said.

VI becomes national heritage site ...

After being known as Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Victoria, the school was today accorded national heritage status and reverts to its old name of Victoria Institution (VI).
"The world already knows its name as Victoria Institution so it is my pleasure to announce that its name, beginning today, will remain as Victoria Institution," said Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Speaking at a ceremony to declare the school's national heritage status, Shafie said the school was chosen as it met the criteria of the National Heritage Act 2005.
Shafie, an alumnus of the school, said VI played a role in the country's history when it was used as the administrative headquarters by the invading Japanese army during the Second World War.
The school was also the first English secondary school in the country that had produced important personalities from Sultans, leaders, ministers, corporate figures, politicians to sports luminaries and professionals.
He said the school was the first in Southeast Asia to have cadet corps and a school band.
Shafie called for the school's heritage to be conserved as each characteristic "be it a wall, a window, balcony, roof, tower or its field has its own story."
Founded by Sultan Abdul Samad, William Hood Treacher, Loke Yew, Thamboosamy Pillai and Yap Kwan Seng on Aug 14, 1893, Victoria Institution has steadfastly maintained a record of academic excellence and produced many leaders and luminaries.
VI ParentTeachers Association (PTA) chairman Raja Amir Shah Raja Abdul Aziz said now that the school had been bestowed national heritage status, with its illustrious name restored, a strategic plan needed to be formulated to chart the school's future direction.
"After the heritage do and getting back the VI name, all of us the PTA, old boys, the teachers and community should make VI the best in everything,” he said.

"I love my healthy active childhood"...

4 February is World Cancer Day and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is launching "I love my healthy active childhood" campaign for this year.

UICC says the prevalence of overweight and obesity is rising dramatically among adults and children around the world.
According to the World Health Organization, 1 billion adults are overweight, and at least 300 million of these are clinically obese.
The International Obesity Taskforce estimates that one out of every ten school-age children is overweight. Of these, around 30-45 million children, that is 2-3% of children aged 5-17, are obese.
Being overweight or obese has been shown to increase the risk of cancer among adults.
World Cancer Day 2009 marks the start of a year-long campaign, where UICC will work with parents, teachers and decision-makers around the world to encourage kids to eat a healthy diet, be physically active and maintain a healthy body weight.

Silver Jubilee Sultan of Perak ...

Today marks the Silver Jubilee of the Reign of Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak.

Be Yet Wiser …

Ex-students of Victoria Institution would recall the phrase “Be Yet Wiser”. It was the school motto. My thoughts were taken back to those words of wisdom after reading this e-mail from a friend:

“We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism. Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations. Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health. They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.
Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older. This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

* Hard work: All hard work brings a profit but mere talk leads only to poverty.

* Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

* Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income. [ At least make your Investments get you second earning ]

* Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.

* Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; Spend what is left after saving.

* Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

* Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

* Auditing: Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.

* Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet. [Have an alternate plan ready]

* Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I'm certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health.
Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.”

I've learned...

My friend Satya Prakash emailed me the following quotes.
They were written by Andy Rooney, a man who has the gift of saying so much with so few words.

Enjoy.......
I've learned....That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned....That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned.....That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
I've learned....That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned.....That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on windy nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned.. That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned.... That when you harbour bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my mother that I love her one more time before she passed away.
I've learned..... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

Man, doctor and bee...

A man comes running to the doctor shouting and screaming in pain.
"Please doctor, you've got to help me. I've been stung by a bee."
DOCTOR: "Don't worry; I'll put some cream on it."
MAN: "You will never find that bee. It must be miles away by now."
DOCTOR: "No, you don't understand! I'll put some cream on the place
you were stung."
MAN: "Oh! It happened in the garden where I was sitting under a tree."'
DOCTOR (in anger): "No, no, you IDIOT! I mean on which part of your
body did that bee sting."
MAN (still screaming in pain): "On my finger! The bee stung me on my
finger and it really hurts."
DOCTOR : "Ok.Which one?"
MAN (innocently): "How would I know? All bees look the same to me."

'Diwaniya' helps promote Malaysia among Kuwaitis...

More Kuwaitis are visiting Malaysia because of the good words from relatives who have been to the country for holidays, says Malaysian ambassador to Kuwait Ashaary Sani.
Last year, the number of Kuwaitis visiting Malaysia shot up to 17,000.
Most travelled in families with some staying up to a month, he said.

"The regular family get-together among Kuwaitis called 'diwaniya' where the men talk among themselves has helped to encourage the people here to visit Malaysia," he told Malaysian reporters who are in Kuwait City to cover the just-ended Arab Economic Summit.
The good facilities in Malaysia, the weather and the favourable currency exchange (one Kuwaiti Dinar could hit about RM13), were among the pull factors, he said.
"Although the impact has been positive, there is still room for improvement," said Ashaary.
Saying most Kuwaitis know about Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, he suggested more tourism promotion be made to attract Kuwaitis to states like Sabah and Sarawak as well as those in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
"Of course, we should continue to provide good service and hospitality," he said.
He said bilateral relations between Malaysia and Kuwait were solid with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan making an official visit here last November.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was also in Kuwait last year as well as the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah who came in October last year to promote Malaysia as an International Islamic Financial Centre.
Ashaary said some 160 Malaysians are living in Kuwait, mostly professionals working in the telecommunications and financial sectors and their families.
A Malaysian heart surgeon and an anesthetist are also working in Kuwait.
On the two-day Arab Economic Summit which ended yesterday, Ashaary said it was a good effort to solidify economic cooperation and integration among the Arab countries.

Saudi Arabia donates US$1 billion for Gaza...

Saudi's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz announced in Kuwait City today the contribution of US$1 billion for the reconstruction of Gaza, which is devastated after three weeks of Israeli relentless bombardment.

Speaking at the first-ever Arab Economic Summit, the Saudi monarch said that no matter how vital economic issues were, they could not equate life and dignity.
"In the past few days, we have witnessed images that are so repulsive, bloody and painful, massacres committed in full view of the world by criminal hoodlums whose hearts know no mercy," he said.
While granting the donation for the Gaza reconstruction fund proposed by the summit, King Abdullah said he realised that "one drop of Palestinian blood is dearer than all riches of the earth".
The Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who chaired the two-day summit, had earlier led the barrage of condemnation by the Arab leaders against Israeli aggression on Gaza.
He said Kuwait would donate US$34 million to enable UN Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) honour the urgent needs of the Palestinian people, and would also contribute to international efforts of the donor countries.
He described the Israeli invasion as a "war crime and a crime against humanity".

More than 1,300 Palestinians were killed and 5,300 injured while some 4,000 residential buildings were reduced to rubble after Israel launched the attacks on Dec 27.
Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire Sunday followed later by Hamas, which gave the regime a week to pull out its troops from the impoverished strip.
The Israeli war machine had also bombarded UN facilities in the besieged Gaza Strip, derailing the work of the UN staff in the strip.
Speaking after the Kuwaiti leader, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad called on the Arab states to adopt the term "terrorism entity" to describe the Jewish state.
Al-Assad, who is the current chairman of the Arab round, said although the ceasefire had been secured, this was in no way an indication of the end of violence as the Israeli forces remained in Gaza.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said his country showed clear and strong support for the Gaza Strip since the first day of Israeli aggression on it.
He said Israel should put in mind that achieving peace in the Middle East was an urgent need and that the regime should consider the Arab peace initiative more seriously.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, called on Palestinian factions to overcome their differences and meet under Egyptian sponsorship.
He said the Palestinians were invited to meet in Egypt to reach an agreement after hours of discussion.
"If the bloodshed in Gaza is not enough for us to agree, then when will the time come?" asked Abbas.
He said should an agreement be reached, what was needed then was a unity government that worked to end Israeli violence, lift the siege on Gaza and open its crossings and hold elections.

Ceasefire boost for Arab Economic Summit...

As Kuwait prepares to host a first-ever regional economic summit, Israel's decision to cease its offensive on Gaza may provide a boost for the meeting to seriously focus on economic and social development issues besetting the Arab world.
Described as the first-of-a-kind, the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit which opens Monday is seen as a platform to pave the way for future and growing cooperation between governments and the private sector.
The two-day summit, called by Kuwait two years ago, had garnered the involvement of experts from various economic sectors.
It is taking place at a time when the Arab world is reported to have suffered some USD2.5 trillion within four months due to the global financial meltdown.
Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and acting Oil Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah said the summit would address daily concerns of Arab citizens like poverty, hunger, health, education, railway network and electricity linkage.
At a forum held yesterday as a prelude to the summit, Arab government and business leaders agreed that economic and social development could be achieved with greater cooperation between governments and civilian sectors.
They stressed the importance of the involvement of the people in the Arab world's development, not only as a tool for success, but also as steps towards a stronger democracy.
The summit is expected to produce key resolutions dealing with the development of education, improving health care, fighting unemployment and poverty.
It was also expected to establish the custom union and linking the Arab countries' networks of roads and railways, as well as food and water security.
The Israeli aggression on Gaza which had drawn international concern would still be high on the agenda.
The leaders will address the situation in Gaza, which has seen a slight progress with Israel embarking on a unilateral ceasefire after declaring victory in its three-week offensive that has cost 1,200 Palestinian lives.
But despite the ceasefire, Israeli troops would remain in Gaza for the time being with orders to return fire if attacked.
Officials said the Arab leaders will be discussing two draft resolutions which include showing support for the Palestinian people through establishing a fund for the rebuilding of Gaza, opening of border crossings, lifting the siege, urging the UN Security Council to ask Israel to stop its aggression and backing the Egyptian ceasefire initiative.
All 22 Arab League countries are expected to attend the summit.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who is on a tour of the region to deal with the Israeli offensive on Gaza, is also scheduled to attend the summit.

Spotlight on Arab Summit to halth Israeli onslaught...

With no end in sight of Israeli's onslaught on Gaza, the Arab world is banking on their leaders' summit in Kuwait City on Monday to act decisively to stop the aggression.
Arab foreign ministers who met here yesterday approved a draft resolution calling for an immediate halt to the Israeli aggression which has killed more than a thousand Palestinians in Gaza.
The ministers approved a proposal calling on Arab countries to "pledge financial aid for Gaza reconstruction estimated to cost US$2 billion" and another US$500 million of extra aid to the Palestinian Authority.

The draft will be tabled to the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit to be held in Kuwait City on Monday and Tuesday.
United Nations and Gaza health officials have estimated that some 1,100 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli began its merciless attacks on Dec 27.
Apart from underlining the urgency of stopping the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the draft calls for the reopening of all Gaza's border crossings.
It holds Israel responsible for all the atrocities in Gaza and the violations of the international humanitarian laws.
It urges the UN human rights agencies to probe into serious crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli army against the Palestinian people during the brutal aggression on Gaza and bring to justice those who are responsible for such crimes.
While thanking the countries which have been sending humanitarian aids to Gaza, the draft renewed condemnation of "the brutal aggression on the defenceless Palestinian people in Gaza Strip."
It said the Israeli army had used all kinds of lethal weapons including internationally-banned ones since the start of the aggression.

Tribute to alma mater ...

Pos Malaysia concludes its stamp issue for the year with a set of four entitled "Premier Schools" released today. Present and former Victorians would definitely take pride that their alma mater -- Victoria Institution -- is among the schools featured.
Pos Malaysia says premier schools are those over 100 years which have been identified as cluster schools for their academic and co-curriculum achievements.
"These schools have produced many national leaders, corporate figures, professionals, sportsmen and scholars who have contributed significantly to the growth of Malaysia is this era of globalisation," according to details accompanying the First Day Cover.

Rekindling decades-old friendship ....

After 30 years, the fifth formers of Victoria Institution in 1978 got together tonight for a long overdue reunion. A good number of our former teachers made the evening more meaningful with their presence.
A friend said he knew about the planned gathering through Facebook and suggested everyone present to join the network.
I have kept this class photo of 5 Science 2 with our class teacher Mrs Foo for a long time.

With three decades gone, some of us who turned up for the reunion were beyond recognition. But we all agreed that Mrs Foo, who taught us biology, remains gorgeous as ever.


Looking closely at the photographs, I realized that those seated had held their hands in almost similar position even after all these years. Some things don't change, I suppose!
Here's the group photo of all who attended the reunion.

Journalism in a complex environment...

Over 40 journalists from the Asia-Pacific region are gathering in Jakarta to discuss how the media play both a positive and negative role in how diverse cultures inter-relate especially where politics and religions intersect.
The three-day forum entitled “Asia-Pacific Regional Media Programme” is being co-sponsored by the European Union, Norway, and New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Speakers included former Indonesia foreign minister Ali Alatas, Griffith University's Prof. Michael Wesley, general secretary of International Federation of Journalists Aidan White, Indonesia's former assistant minister/state secretary of foreign affairs Prof. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, and 'the father of the Indonesian media' journalist and author Goenawan Mohamad.
The forum explored how in a time of rapid globalisation and increasing contact – and conflict – between cultures, journalism often has to straddle the 'fault lines' that separate us as peoples.
At times, the media, and journalists themselves, choose simplicity and conciseness over accuracy – particularly where time constraints and available space restrict one's challenge to report on conflict accurately.
The conference being held at the Hotel Mulia Senayan will be followed by a one-day workshop discussing "The Role of Media in Muslim-Western Relations."
The workshop is organized by the New York-based Alliance of Civilizations Secretariat and the Search for Common Ground, a non-governmental organization.

A story to live by ...

A friend emailed me this story today:
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.
He was always there for her.
She told her boyfriend: "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her.
When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.
He asked her: "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"
The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.
The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that.
The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.
Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:
"Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.
Life is a gift.
Before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who died too early on this earth.
Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin .
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

Food for thought ...

Rising prices have plunged an additional 75 million people below the hunger threshold, bringing the estimated number of undernourished people worldwide to 923 million in 2007. As the World Food Day is observed today, UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director-General Jacques Diouf called for a political and financial push to boost sustainable agriculture in the world’s poor countries, double global food production and free the world of hunger and malnutrition.
"I wish to reaffirm that we know what needs to be done to eradicate the hunger of 923 million people in the world. We also know what needs to be done to double world food production and feed a population that is expected to rise to 9 billion people by 2050," he said at a ceremony in Rome marking World Food Day, the anniversary of FAO’s foundation in 1945.
Noting that $US22 billion was pledged to promote global food security earlier this year, but that only 10 percent of this has so far materialized – mainly for emergency food aid – Diouf declared:
"What we need ... is political will and delivery on financial commitments, if we are to be able to make the essential investments that are needed to promote sustainable agricultural development and food security in the poorest countries of the world."
The theme for this year celebration is "World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy".
FAO estimates had put the number of people suffering from chronic hunger worldwide in 2003-05 at 848 million, an increase of 6 million from the 842 million in 1990-92, the World Food Summit baseline period.
Soaring food, fuel and fertilizer prices have exacerbated the problem. Food prices rose 52 percent between 2007 and 2008, and fertilizer prices have nearly doubled over the past year.

New stamps, new friends...

When I wrote last Sept 16 about a man who got started on collecting first day covers (FDC) after an unexpected visit to the philately section at Kuala Lumpur general post office, it drew a response from the man himself.

Signing his name as ‘Din’, he said he had since collected many stamps and was getting hooked to it. Like most collectors, 'Din' was looking forward to the next issue of FDC, which happened to be today in conjunction with World Post Day.
By coincidence, we bumped into each other again. What's interesting was that ‘Din’ brought along a friend whom he had encouraged to take up the hobby.
As any other day when new stamps are released, the place will be a meeting point for collectors. While you get to see familiar faces, there will be new friends to make like Mr Ho and retired Major Ranjit Singh.

Being a seasoned collector, Ho took the trouble to explain to us the ‘secrets’ of stamp collecting.
To think that we were total strangers who could sit together to talk about stamps and become friends is most satisfying. Surely this kind of interaction should be encouraged especially among the young generation.
Everyone is free to join this friendship circle. All you need to do is go to the philately section of the KL main post office whenever new stamps are issued.
As for the latest stamps offering, Pos Malaysia has showcased some of the country's unique flowers in conjunction with World Post Day 2008. The collection is to increase awareness of such flowers that are attractive and unique because of their shape or fragrance.
The collection features four flowers -- kembang songsang (climbing lily), kenerak (kenerak), akar dani (rangoon creeper) and cempaka pisang (banana shrub) while the miniature sheet depicts the bakawali (gooseneck cactus).

Footnote: World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Berne. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. In most countries philatelic exhibitions are organized during this period and special stamps and date cancellation marks are issued on 9 October.

Despite doom prediction, postal services remain relevant.…

Billions of parcels, letters and express items are sent by post to people all over the world. Goods or important documents, migrants’ remittances to their families, newspapers and books -- the list goes on.
Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Edouard Datan says despite predictions of their demise not so long ago, postal services are alive and well and now more relevant than ever.
"E-mail and the Internet have not replaced them, but have instead created new opportunities," he said in his message to mark World Post Day today.
"We live at a time where the different means of communication complement each other. The postal sector provides a precious service, not only to anyone who buys or sells online, but also to people not yet able to make full use of the new technologies and for whom the mail is a vital link with the outside world. With growing international and inter-regional trade, the development gap between postal services around the world needs to be narrowed so that businesses and individuals can benefit more from them," he said.
It is worth recalling that the UPU this year is celebrating its 60th anniversary as a United Nations specialized agency. Since 1948, the postal sector has contributed in meaningful ways to the noble mission of the United Nations, assisting development, reducing poverty and the digital divide, promoting health, environmental protection and sustainable development, to name just a few.
Owing to their universality, postal services provide a link between people all over the globe. This is especially important at a time when millions of people do not enjoy the right to communication. In a constantly changing world, postal services make it possible to establish and maintain this contact and this link, both of which are vital.

Smile…you’re on World Smile Day!

"Smile an everlasting smile, a smile can bring you near to me…"
I recall the opening lyrics of the Bee Gees hit ‘Words’ as the World Smile Day is celebrated today.
There are hundreds of languages in the world but a smile speaks them all. It is perhaps the only thing that unites us and bonds us together as human beings.
It is rare that a smile fails to get a friendly response. Say it with a smile, no matter what language you speak and you will communicate. A smile may happen in a flash but the memory of it can last a lifetime.
The World Smile Day was first celebrated in 1999. As usual, the theme for the day is "Do an act of kindness. Help one person smile". And as ever, the image that leads the way on this day is the iconic Smiley Face.
Harvey Ball, co-owner of an advertising and public relations firm in Worcester, Massachusetts designed the irresistible Smiley Face in 1963 to help ease the acrimonious aftermath following the merger of two insurance companies.
The logo was to accompany a "friendship campaign" that the company came up with to encourage employees to smile as they went about their work or interacted with customers. Thinking about what would inspire employees to smile, he decided the most simple and direct symbol would be a smile itself and that is what he drew.

"I made a circle with a smile for a mouth on yellow paper, because it was sunshiny and bright," Ball recalled in a 1996 interview with The Associated Press. Turning the drawing upside down, the smile became a frown. Deciding that wouldn't do, Ball added two eyes and the Smiley Face was born. He was paid a $45 fee for his timeless creation.
"Never in the history of mankind or art has any single piece of art gotten such widespread favor, pleasure, enjoyment, and nothing has ever been so simply done and so easily understood in art," said Ball. He died in April 2001.
In Malaysia, we had a song about smile that was aired over radio and television:
Here's the lyrics of the song Senyum Seindah Suria:
Senyum Seindah Suria,
Yang membawa cahya,
Senyumlah dari hati,
Duniamu berseri,

Senyum umpama impian,
Dalam kehidupan,
Kau tersenyum ku tersenyum
Kemesraan menguntum...

Senyum..kepada semua,
Senyumanmu amatlah berharga
Senyum..umpama titian
Dengan senyuman terjalinlah ikatan...

And here's the English version:

A smile is quite a funny thing
It lightens up your face
And when it's gone you'll never find
Its secret hiding place
Far more wonderful it is
To see what smile can do
You smile at me
I smile at you
And so one smile makes two

Smile
Smile
It isn't hard to do
Smile for a while
And let one smile catch two...