Amalina - Environmental Justice - Malaysia
What three things do you do differently after your program at the East-West Center (SUSI/YSEALI)?
1. I was taught to pause and reflect on myself, and to look over my entire work from a bigger perspective, or "the balcony" as we did it back in the East West Center, especially during the climax of the project. This helped me to remember the objective of my work and allowed me to maintain my focus.
2. I remember distinctly where I was feeling pressured over my insecurities and weaknesses, where Lance told me that I should focus on my strengths instead of caring too much about my weaknesses. I held on to that token of wisdom and now I have more strengths and more confident.
3. In decision making, having a majority vote where most people are happy is not necessarily the best way. Sometimes having a consensus where every stakeholder can tolerate the decision may be a better alternative, as all parties are being considered and have a voice. We should always give everyone a voice and constantly ask the community we are helping for their insight as we should not impose them with what we think they need but what the actually need.
What impact did the program have on your career?
The program has inspired me greatly to focus on environmental issues, in both my personal and professional life. Meeting people during and after the program has strengthened my passion to use my legal background to help the environment by fighting for environmental justice. The program has helped me to meet like minded friends and co-founded our first project for environmental education, the Chili Padi Academy.
Now that I was just called to the bar, I took a month to volunteer for the Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit under the Sabah Wildlife Department to understand the environmental issues in Malaysia so that it gives me a basic guidance as to what policies and laws Malaysia needs in order to protect its environment.
What issues are you most passionate about in your daily life?
The issues that resonate with me most are human rights and environmental issues which are directly connected to each other. Now we as a civilization are facing many threats to survival from many environmental disasters, and unfortunately the victims of these disasters tend to be from a lower socioeconomic status, some of them becoming environmental refugees and facing hardship. Environmental protection is a common responsibility and no single group shall be burdened by the sins of those who harm the environment.
How have you come to see leadership?
Leadership to me is by no means telling people what to do from the comfort of an air conditioned room and plush chairs. It means to lead from example and being the first to do what I wanted to preach. It is to allow everyone to share a common vision and helping everyone to the direction of the vision. It is to facilitate conversations and coming to decisions together a a group.
1. I was taught to pause and reflect on myself, and to look over my entire work from a bigger perspective, or "the balcony" as we did it back in the East West Center, especially during the climax of the project. This helped me to remember the objective of my work and allowed me to maintain my focus.
2. I remember distinctly where I was feeling pressured over my insecurities and weaknesses, where Lance told me that I should focus on my strengths instead of caring too much about my weaknesses. I held on to that token of wisdom and now I have more strengths and more confident.
3. In decision making, having a majority vote where most people are happy is not necessarily the best way. Sometimes having a consensus where every stakeholder can tolerate the decision may be a better alternative, as all parties are being considered and have a voice. We should always give everyone a voice and constantly ask the community we are helping for their insight as we should not impose them with what we think they need but what the actually need.
What impact did the program have on your career?
The program has inspired me greatly to focus on environmental issues, in both my personal and professional life. Meeting people during and after the program has strengthened my passion to use my legal background to help the environment by fighting for environmental justice. The program has helped me to meet like minded friends and co-founded our first project for environmental education, the Chili Padi Academy.
Now that I was just called to the bar, I took a month to volunteer for the Sabah Wildlife Rescue Unit under the Sabah Wildlife Department to understand the environmental issues in Malaysia so that it gives me a basic guidance as to what policies and laws Malaysia needs in order to protect its environment.
What issues are you most passionate about in your daily life?
The issues that resonate with me most are human rights and environmental issues which are directly connected to each other. Now we as a civilization are facing many threats to survival from many environmental disasters, and unfortunately the victims of these disasters tend to be from a lower socioeconomic status, some of them becoming environmental refugees and facing hardship. Environmental protection is a common responsibility and no single group shall be burdened by the sins of those who harm the environment.
How have you come to see leadership?
Leadership to me is by no means telling people what to do from the comfort of an air conditioned room and plush chairs. It means to lead from example and being the first to do what I wanted to preach. It is to allow everyone to share a common vision and helping everyone to the direction of the vision. It is to facilitate conversations and coming to decisions together a a group.
