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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Primary students lack interest in natural sciences





Unnatural chemistry: Participants focus on the non-organic chemical works at the eight National Science Olympiad at state senior high school SMA Negeri 70 in Jakarta on Wednesday. The olympiad was attended by 1,447 participants, consisting of 198 elementary school students, 297 junior high school students and 886 senior high school students.JP/NurhayatiUnnatural chemistry: Participants focus on the non-organic chemical works at the eight National Science Olympiad at state senior high school SMA Negeri 70 in Jakarta on Wednesday. The olympiad was attended by 1,447 participants, consisting of 198 elementary school students, 297 junior high school students and 886 senior high school students.JP/Nurhayati

Eleven-year-old Ghina Ramadhani delighted in an experimental display at a science exhibition in Jakarta on Wednesday, jumping on and off a mat wired to a showerhead, turning it on and off in the process.

However, the sixth grader from a school in Tangerang, Banten, maintained that she did not “have much interest in the natural sciences”.

“I’m not that keen on studying nature; I get goose bumps whenever I see organs or bugs.”
She prefers the more “daunting” subjects, such as mathematics, because it “requires me to wrack my brains, which is fun”.

Ghina says she loves puzzles, and loves solving them even more. The natural sciences, she says, are less puzzling than mathematics.

The National Education Ministry has become concerned in recent years by the fact that fewer people are taking their university degrees in natural sciences, making it harder for Indonesia to compete globally in agriculture and other related sectors and raising concerns over the absence of competent people to maintain the country’s natural resources.

It seems, however, that the lack of interest in studying natural sciences actually starts early on. Ghina is not the only primary student to find little challenge in the natural sciences.

Steven Kasemetan from a school in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, says he dislikes the subject because “all I have to do is read the books and memorise them”.

“It’s no fun,” the sixth grader says, adding his school rarely allowed the students to experiment.

Slamet, a teacher from state elementary school SDN Menteng 02, said students were easily bored if the teachers were only giving them theories without showing them how the theories apply in their daily lives.

“When students can associate, for example, how water flows with their daily showers, they will understand better and faster,” he told The Jakarta Post.

The problem with teaching natural sciences these days, Slamet said, was that it included little creativity.

Teachers, he added, sometimes failed to provide a way for their students to see the fun side of the subject, whether by engaging them in experiments or playing games.

During his 12 years of teaching not only has he employed those two methods, but he also lets his students conduct small research projects.

Moreover, his method includes an interactive computer-based program that allows students to learn their lessons while playing games.

“Some of my students also build their own experiments using used materials,” said Slamet, who is also a counselor for his fellow teachers in the natural sciences.

He added he would also take his students on walks around the school complex, which has around 7,000 different kinds of plants growing.

On Wednesday, his school’s booth was rated the best, based on its creativity, display and interactivity, by a panel of judges at the exhibition“If the teachers are creative, the students will be too,” he sai

Farewell cleric of pluralism




Festive preparations to part with 2009 quickly turned into mourning on Wednesday as the nation bid farewell to its cleric of pluralism, Indonesia’s fourth president, Abdurrahman Wahid.

The measure of a man affectionately known as Gus Dur came not from the stream of somber faced dignitaries which arrived at the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital in Central Jakarta or legions of mourners at his residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta. But from the impromptu swell of prayer congregations, tahlil, held across the country.

Nationwide, students and elders held prayers almost as soon as they heard of the demise of the man who symbolized Indonesia’s tradition of religious tolerance as well as being an icon for political reform.

In Surabaya, East Java, an emotional gathering from all walks of life lit candles in front of the Negara Grahadi building. Antara reported that 100 children walked with candles in a spontaneous show of grief.

The eulogies and prayers did not just come from Muslims.

Jakarta Archbishop Julius Darmaatmadja SJ said Gus Dur had left an indelible mark on people of all faiths.

“He was a Muslim, but he became a blessing to all faiths,” he said here Wednesday night.

Amidst the takbir chants the hospital procession in Jakarta was frenetic as the hundreds who gathered pressed towards Gus Dur’s body as it was being led out of room 116 of the Cardiac Wing in a coffin draped in green cloth.

His widow, Shinta Nuriyah, followed closely behind in a wheel chair.

Gus Dur’s daughter, Yenny Wahid, was so stricken with grief that she too had to be placed in a wheel chair.

But such was the commotion that she quickly returned to the room in tears under a thin black head scarf.

Among the crowd at the hospital were Constitutional Court chairman Mahfud MD — who served as minister of Defense in Gus Dur’s Cabinet — and Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati who helped a distraught Yenny to her car.

For President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Gus Dur’s demise was an ironic goodbye as the latter exhaled his last breath not long after the incumbent visited the hospital. Yudhoyono received his first Cabinet posting in 1999 as Gus Dur’s minister of Mines and Energy.

“I call on the Indonesian people to fly their flags at half mast for seven days,” the President said while confirming that he will lead the state funeral at Gus Dur’s hometown of Jombang, East Java, this (Thursday) afternoon.

Yudhoyono will become the first president to oversee the burial of two former presidents after the death of Soeharto last year.

At Gus Dur’s residence in Ciganjur, friends and former political foes alike gathered in another testament of the respect the deceased generated.

Former presidents BJ Habibie and Megawati Soekarnoputri, and People’s Consultative Assembly speaker Taufik Kiemas were among those present.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the Palace is expecting confirmation from a number of heads of state to attend the funeral, including Singapore, Malaysia and Timor Leste.

According to Dr Aris Wibudi of the presidential medical team, Gus Dur’s condition had been poor but stable since Saturday.

On Wednesday morning, however, it took a turn for the worse with complications in his respiratory system, kidneys and circulation.

At 6:15 p.m. he was declared in a critical condition, and he finally died half an hour later. He was 69.

Current Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi who last met Gus Dur a fortnight ago said his predecessor’s final words at the time were to take care of the organization which Gus Dur had led for a decade and a half.

Minister of Trade Mari Elka Pangestu summoned two of Gus Dur’s most lasting traits as “a man who united us all”.

“And of course, we will never forget his incredible sense of humor”.

Former President Gusdur Funeral


President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led Thursday a state funeral for former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Yudhoyono arrived at Gus Dur's funeral in Jombang, East Java, accompanied by Vice President Boediono, TVOne aired.

"I, on behalf of the nation and the Indonesian military, surrender the body and soul of Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid, the fourth President of Indonesia, to the soil of the motherland," said Yudhoyono.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Bersama Bintang




Gratisan Musik

Sapian T.A: Healing wounds of Acehnese women




Dian Kuswandini , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 12/24/2009 10:44 AM | People

JP/Dian KuswandiniJP/Dian Kuswandini

“Please forgive me... I can’t take this anymore… I can’t talk now,” said the skinny woman with an anguished look in her face, before bursting into tears.

Rasyidah rested her head on her counselor’s shoulder, crying. The counselor, Sapiah T. A., gave her a warm hug and held her tight.

Hundreds witnessed that touching moment during the 10th anniversary of the National Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan) last month, as the two shared their stories about how Acehnese women dealt with the trauma experienced during the conflict in their region, which ended four years ago.

Rasyidah is one of the victims. She lost members of her family during the conflict and has been deeply traumatized for years — she easily snaps into hysteria and shuts herself off from people.

That evening’s event brought to light her lingering agony, as she failed to tell her story, forcing Sapiah to talk to the audience on her behalf.

“It happens all the time,” said 34-year-old Sapiah after she stepped down from the stage. “Many victims of violence like Rasyidah are still struggling to get their self-confidence back.”

That’s why I always have to be ready for them — calming them down, while also lifting their spirit at the same time,” she added.

For more than 10 years, Sapiah has dedicated herself to looking after female victims in Aceh, carrying out advocacy programs for them through local NGO Paska Aceh.

Although Sapiah said none of her family members were victims of the conflict, she still wanted to devote herself to helping those women.

“Neither my family nor I have had such a bitter experience, but you know, in Aceh, we are all one big family,” said the former member of Aceh’s Legislative Body.

After all, she went on, “anything that happened in Aceh is every Acehnese’s sorrow.”

From 1975, the Acehnese were entangled in a conflict between the Indonesian government and separatist rebels under the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which lasted nearly 30 years. Many of the locals experienced human rights abuses during that period, losing members of their family.

After the 2004 tsunami disaster — that destroyed vast swathes of Aceh, the two conflicting parties signed a peace deal in Helsinki in August 2005, marking the beginning of a new era in the now-sharia-based province.

The peace deal, however, hasn’t really healed the wounded souls. Many of the women there are still haunted by their memories. And, Sapiah revealed, “their plight worsened as many of them were reduced to poverty after losing their land and other assets.”

As if that wasn’t enough, she went on, many victims hadn’t yet received compensation the government promised because of corrupt practices in the fund channeling process. Some also resented the lack of fairness when it came to distributing funds between them and the tsunami victims.

“The problem is it’s more difficult to tell apart the victims of the conflict from those who suffered from the tsunami,” said Sapiah, who has been involved with several NGOs since studying at university.

Besides, Sapiah continued, families of victims were torn apart, making it difficult to bring them together to give them further assistance. Consequently, many of them still live in poverty, while others are unemployed.

“I have to face many dilemmas when working in this field,” said the graduate of STIE Indonesia.

“On the one hand, you have to help them, most of the times, with cash. On the other hand, you feel like you have made them become financially dependent.”

According to Sapiah, many of the women she’s taking care of now depend on her. If they don’t have cash to buy fertilizer, for example, they will ask her for money.

“The thing is, I will be disappointed with myself if I can’t help them,” she confessed.

So, Sapiah said she had no other choice but to ask her friends to make donations.

“That’s why it’s very important for a humanitarian worker like me to have a wide network,” laughed Sapiah.

Sapiah realized that handing out cash regularly might make victims dependent and ultimately cause them more harm than good. Therefore, her and her activist colleagues decided to teach the women skills like needlework and other jobs in artistic fields. She also continues to look for sources of funding to help out female victims.

She is also grateful her two-year term at the Aceh’s Legislative Body that ended this year helped her when providing humanitarian aid.

“At least my proposed budget for leadership training activities, which targeted these female victims, was approved,” said Sapiah, who represented the Nationhood Democratic Party (PDK) for the Pidie regency.

But of course she too has regrets, as her dream of providing these women with proper road access
to the Center for Women and Children Development in Pidie didn’t come true.

“The road to the Center was in very bad condition, discouraging women from going there,” she explained. “But my proposal to provide them with proper road access was rejected, so there was nothing I could do about it.”

This unique chance she had to advocate for women at the higher level taught her many lessons, and led her to compete fiercely with her male rival from the same party.

“He led many negative campaigns against me, saying a woman shouldn’t become a leader,” Sapiah recalled.

“But I told myself not to give up because I really wanted to speak for these women!”

Sapiah, who didn’t spend a rupiah during the 2004 political election campaigns, lost the race coming
second. But in 2007, she managed to reclaim the extra seat that was created when her regency was expanded into two regencies, Pidie and Pidie Jaya.

“I was very surprised when the National Elections Commission’s staff called me to tell me the news," Sapiah said. “Maybe God knew I deserved the seat because I had good intentions,” she smiled.

Practical lesson from Melbourne Convention: God, men and pluralism

Anand Krishna , Jakarta | Mon, 12/21/2009 3:14 PM | Opinion

"You are lucky. A good hotel location, the city mosque is not far from your hotel, just walking distance," Hassen, the maxi (not a taxi, because it could take six of us) driver greeted me as I was struggling to put on my seat belt.

Melbourne 2009 - and it was the second day of December.

What a change! I was in the city more than 20 years ago.

Then, as a businessman, and I do not remember being driven by a Hassen who would for the next half an hour brief me on the geography of the city, highlighting only such places related to the "religion of God".

Hmm, "So, other religions are not *of' God?"

Hassen interpreted my question as a confirmation of what he had said earlier. With an additional zeal, he repeated himself, "Yes, yes, only one religion of God."

Does God follow any particular religion? Does he follow the religion of His own creation, or ...?

Anyway, Hassen told me there was a "Biryani House" two or three blocks from my hotel.

"Very good halal food, other places not sure." Period.

Earlier he had asked me how many days I planned to spend in the city. And I said almost 10. So, he expected me to visit the recommended Biryani House every day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Excellent!

I could understand Hassen better when he told me he came from Jeddah. Of course, I should have guessed earlier.

For the Arabs of the desert, uniformity is a virtue. With the lowest level of biodiversity, and a similar geographical terrain, the Middle East is one shining example of uniformity.

It should not surprise us, therefore, that they can live with two colors, white for men and black for women.

"When did you come here?" I asked Hassen.

"Year 2000," his answer surprised me. I had to continue our conversation, and ask him, "Why should a Saudi Hassen come to Australia to work, while the Saudi sheiks and emirs employ people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia?"

He showed displeasure at my remark, "I am not Saudi. I live in Saudi Arabia. I am Arab." Politics. Yes, yes, yes, it was stupid of me to refer to him as a Saudi. Not all Arabs living in Saudi Arabia (the Arabia "belonging" to the family of Saud) were Saudis, or belonged to the Bedouin tribe.

(Not unusual, indeed, very universal - it happens everywhere, including in my country.)

"But, I am happy here. I can guide *our people' who come here, just like you, and get blessings from God." Oh yes, sure.

God, the Supreme Guide blesses us all, what to say of guides then - professional solidarity.

Hassen's sense of division between "our" people and "others" was very Arabic, and was interestingly similar to the stance of former US President Bush: "If you are not with us, then you are with them."

"But, why are you here?" Hassen must have guessed that I was certainly not on a business trip with 11 others, and dressed rather too casually for business travelers.

"We are here to attend the Parliament of World's Religions Convention," I answered.

"Oh, religions," he did not approve of the word "religions" - particularly the "s" attached to the word. He shrugged his shoulders, "well, you see, they have all kinds of conferences here.

"Like, next year, they have the conference of atheists. All of them are the same. They do not follow the religion of God."

Okay, Hassen. I agree and disagree with you. Or, perhaps I do not see things the way you do, my dear Hassen.

It does not make sense to me if God has a religion. It makes more sense to me if the various religions are made (by whoever) to guide humankind to God.

Anyway, I must leave you, Hassen, with your understanding of God and religion. Your understanding is as good to you, as my understanding to me.

But, the conference of atheists he mentioned sounded interesting! So, I did some quick Internet research. Indeed so, Melbourne is to host the Global Atheist Convention in March 2010.

I salute your broadmindedness, Australia! After all "atheism" is an "ism" too. We can accept all other "isms", so why not athe-"ism"? After all, atheists have a belief system too, as we, who consider ourselves as theists, do. We believe in God, they believe in no God.

My research also revealed another interesting fact. Ever since the Australian census introduced the instruction "if no religion, write none" in 1971, the number of Australians stating they had no religion has increased seven fold. The 2006 census showed 3,700,000 (19 percent) belonging to this category.

A further 11 percent failed to state whether they followed any religion (Source: Herald Sun).

That however does not make Australians less human. I was rather amused to find newspaper ads like the following:

"There are no pockets in heaven. Give now." It was a call for donations to support a 24/7 telephone counseling service for the seriously ill and those who care for them.

But what truly impressed me was that the paper had supported the color advertisement (The Age, Dec. 2, 2009).

I wondered how many papers in my country would run such complimentary ads as part of their social responsibility programs.

And, how many of our clergies would be courageous enough to "openly" agree and defend such ads? In our country, ads like "donate here, get the benefit there" are more common.

One such ad I saw on my way to Soekarno-Hatta airport a day earlier in fact stipulated the benefit, as also the cause for donation, "Build a House for God here, and Reserve a Mansion in Heaven". Great!

The second ad, "Give good karma this Christmas", was equally impressive, and also supported by the paper. This was a call to donate for "Mosquito Nets for Africa", "Glasses for a Child," and "Save Orangutan Habitat".

Karma and Christmas rhyme as do Krishna and Christ, or Ram and Rahim. But, the question is, how many men of religion in my country would be willing to speak on Karma and Christmas with equal appreciation?

Melbourne, and the Parliament of World's Religions, where humankind meets - right place for the right cause.

But, wait, what is it on the television. Gang rape, three boys caught, seven others are still at large. Melbourne, O Melbourne, you are but like all other cities.

And, I hear someone whispering, "This is why conventions are still needed. But, don't you stop at that. Resolutions must be realized, not merely recorded!" Indeed, Amen.

The writer is a spiritual activist, and an Ambassador for the 2009 Parliament, presently attending the convention in Melbourne to deliver his speech on the Indonesian Motto of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" as a solution to combat religious fanaticism, radicalism, and terrorism

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Here We Go Again




WEEKENDER | Thu, 12/17/2009 6:35 PM | Said & Done

Move over, Mama Lauren; clear off, Ki Joko Bodo; put a lid on it, Permadi. It’s time for our long-awaited annual predictions for the year ahead. Let’s get gazing into our crystal balls – we have more than one, for the whole picture – to foresee what very likely-may just-could perhaps lie ahead in the alleged scheme of things in 2010.


JANUARY

Flooding swamps Jakarta, with the city brought to a standstill. When the waters subside, officials realize that a 7-kilometer line of vehicles on Jl. Sudirman is actually due to a traffic jam, not flooding. They vow to overcome the gridlock woes and get to work on a plan.

FEBRUARY

Singer-songwriter Anang’s decision to set the broken record straight in a song about his split with diva Krisdayanti – and her doing likewise with a follow-up tune – sets off a whole new genre of “vengeance-is-mine” CDs. Erstwhile spouses follow suit, disgruntled in-laws have their fervid 5 cents' worth, and even children get to vent their grievances against their parents for absolutely everything that went wrong in their lives. Marshanda launches her greatest hits album. Messiest of all is the She Said, She Said recriminations of ventriloquist Ria Enes and her doll Susan, titled “Who You Calling a Dummy?” However, the much-anticipated album by a mega-miffed former president against a certain current leader is only available in a bootleg version.

MARCH

Malaysia claims something of ours. It may be a cultural heritage item, or it could be a whole island (the crystal ball is a bit fuzzy here, but it sure looks like Kalimantan). Protests ensue. Protests die down. Traffic gets much worse.

APRIL

A miniature version of the BlackBerry is launched for itsy-bitsy teeny-tiny thumbs. The Baby BB – it rhymes! – is a huge hit among the toddler set, and is released in bubble-gum pink, candy-cane cherry and fire-engine red. It’s also beloved by older folks who should know better but think it’s just really, really cute.

MAY

The city administration announces it is still working on its traffic plan. In the meantime, it introduces the Jam-Packed Leisure Movement, with tips for drivers to use their time on the road constructively and efficiently, such as by knitting, studying to become a contestant on the local version of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, performing in-vehicle aerobics (all the better to ward off deep-vein thrombosis) and so much more. Drivers can’t wait, but they have to anyway.

JUNE

Former National Police chief detective Susno Duadji takes a lot of flack over the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) scandal. Tired of being labeled the bad cop and a corrupting influence, he becomes a regular on local sitcoms as the ever-smiling, kindhearted good cop. He is not averse to looking back at the events that made him famous, recording his own album of tunes. Among them are “Crocodile Rock”, his down-tempo version of Mulan Jameela’s “Buaya Darat”, a coy rendition of “Cicak on Your Collar” and the show-stopping “My Name is Not Cicak”, sung to Whitney Houston’s “My Name is Not Susan”.

JULY

The city is still working on a plan to overcome the traffic jams, and speculates that the problem may have something to do with the melting polar ice caps. Or shifting tectonic plates. Or Malaysia. Or all three.

KD and Anang launch their “Separate But Equal Tour”, where they appear in one arena but on separate stages and with individual sound systems. All goes well until the final curtain call, when neither will leave the stage until the other one goes first. Ahmad Dhani is enlisted to mediate.

Michael Jackson is rumored to be alive and well and living in Klaten.

AUGUST

In a patriotic present for Independence Day, new state-of-the-art satellite photos show even clearer images of Borobudur from outer space. As are 158 villa developments on Bali.

SEPTEMBER

Part of a Mississippi franchise, double deep-fried extra-large Mars bars – served with lashings of peanut, coconut and chocolate sauce – become Jakarta’s latest food fad. The Fry Me to the Moon confections are advertised as all-natural and with no additives or preservatives – which means they're all right then.

OCTOBER

In an effort to get the attention of jaded TV viewers, reality show producers come up with a new concept: Amateurs playing actors playing characters playing actors playing characters, sans script or plot line or direction and recorded on a cellphone. Viewers are justifiably dazed and confused, but ratings are high.

NOVEMBER

She couldn’t get into the country last year, but Japanese porn star Miyabi finally comes to town to star with Manohara in the sinetron “M and M Make Friends”. As an exchange student with a deep, dark, dirty secret, Miyabi is a revelation, looking like she can act, while Manohara, basically playing herself, acts like she looks as a young woman who rebounds from a bad marriage to a nasty prince from – you guessed it – to set up her own traditional cake business. The presence of the exchange student with the deep, dark, dirty secret helps business no end, and soon Miyabi’s serabi are selling like hotcakes.

DECEMBER

The city administration announces that its plan to deal with the traffic jams has been shelved until 2011. In the meantime, it places giant screens in major traffic-congestion areas to play the movie 2012 and a documentary on the Sidoarjo disaster, because, you know, things could be much worse. So sit back and enjoy the show, while you can.

A Place to Call Home




M. Taufiqurrahman , WEEKENDER | Mon, 12/21/2009 3:21 PM | Life

A decent home of one’s own gives more than shelter — it also provides the power of independence. One organization helps those in need to secure the dream abode. M. Taufiqurrahman reports.

Sulaiman, a man in his late 50s, has lived on the scrap of land he inherited from his father all his life. He sells cheap food and drinks from a kiosk at the small squalid hut he calls home.

Some of his family members are buried in the front yard of the house. It might have been familial bonds that prompted Sulaiman to share his 300-square-meter with the dead — and five other households in his extended family — but given the choice, he surely would wish to live elsewhere or in a more comfortable house.

Sulaiman has had to defer that dream for now. When asked by an NGO to show a land title certificate as one of the conditions to get a loan, he was unable to do so. The land was passed down to him without legal documents.

“I wish I had the title deeds for this piece of land so I could apply for a loan to renovate my house. I believe that my business would do better if it were operated from a healthy house,” he says.

Sulaiman is now the only person in Kampung Kuda-Kuda, an impoverished hamlet just 80 kilometers from Jakarta, whose house remains abjectly ramshackle.

It stands in striking contrast to his neighbors’ residences, which have been converted into spacious two- and three-bedroom houses thanks to assistance from not-for-profit organization Habitat for Humanity Indonesia (HHI).

As his neighbors were rebuilding their houses, Sulaiman could only watch with envy.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, an NGO devoted to the goal of eliminating substandard housing and homelessness, provides assistance to poor families of Kampung Kuda-Kuda who already have land of their own.

Habitat provides an interest-free loan repayable over a set period of time. For the local impoverished farmers, the installments can be made every harvest season, roughly three times a year.

The loan is not given directly to families in the form of cash but in materials and other necessities for rebuilding a house.

“We look for building materials and hire workers for the house reconstruction, and Habitat pays for it,” says Suparni, one of the recipients.

The money repaid goes into the revolving fund for Habitat, and is circulated back for the construction of more houses for the needy. The loan and repayment system also works as a motivational tool against the development of a welfare mentality among the poor, the organization says.

“This type of assistance will help poor households do their bookkeeping properly,” says Habitat’s national director Tri Budiarjo. “They will work hard to repay the loan and will not engage in a wasteful spending like buying cigarettes.”

Budiarjo says that building homes for the poor — which constitutes a transfer of assets to the disadvantaged — is a more effective way of eradicating poverty than doling out charity.

“We give them an asset whose value is always increasing. If they need fresh capital to start a new business, they can also use the house as collateral,” he says.

But more than the financial gain, better homes play a more important role in that they positively affect the well-being of their inhabitants.

“Numerous studies have found that better living standards result from better quality houses,” Budiarjo says. “Children living in healthy homes are also found to have a better nutritional condition and they are more intelligent than their peers who live in poor housing.”

Despite the findings, Habitat is one of only a handful of not-for-profit organizations that specialize in building homes for the poor.

Since 1997 the organization has built 13,000 houses in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Manado and tsunami-struck Aceh. HHI is part of a global network of Habitat for Humanity International, founded in the United States in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.

Although the number is impressive for a not-for-profit organization that has been in Indonesia for just a little over a decade, it pales in comparison with the country’s official figures of the housing backlog.

With more than 14 million people presently living in slums, there was a housing backlog of eight million in early 2007. Each year, 800,000 additional families need housing; the government can only help 300,000 families.

Even with the ambitious target of constructing 100,000 houses in the next five years, Habitat will contribute little to the government-led effort in providing decent housing for the poor.

To deal with the challenge, Habitat has devised a new strategy to collect more funds from donors.

In recent years it has intensified its campaign to get donations from individual donors, branching out from its traditional method of tapping corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds from multinational corporations.

Earlier last year, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia started a joint campaign with American donut company Krispy Kreme to raise funds from the company’s customers. Through the “Share Doughnuts, Build Houses” program, each customer that contributes Rp 50,000 to Habitat’s home reconstruction effort gets donuts at a discounted price.

After only a year, the program was considered such a success that Habitat’s Asia-Pacific office decided to extend the campaign to its affiliates in the region.

Still, the organization is not content to pat itself on the back.

“Both individuals and corporations are generous when it comes to donations … and we have little problem collecting donations, but our objective does not concern only getting money for building homes,” Budiarjo says. “We also want to raise awareness about the social gap in housing.”

Beauty & the bleach





Dian Kuswandini , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 12/23/2009 10:10 AM | Body & Soul

Courtesy of VichyCourtesy of Vichy

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest one of all? Say the mantra, and you’ll have the image of Snow White in your mind – fair-skinned with rose-red lips.

It doesn’t stop there though. A picture perfect for most women, the pale princess is also a symbol of innocence and elegance.

If you can see the connection, then you might understand why our outer appearance, or more specifically, the color of our skin, has always been associated to certain traits and qualities.

Have you ever wondered why the darker-skinned Princess Jasmine and Mulan share the same rebellious character?

Well, some might say: “Those things only exist in Disney’s fairytales, don’t they?” But in fact, these kinds of beauty standards have been around for centuries, as ancient Roman and Greek women did everything they possibly could to whiten their skin. Because pale skin signified feminity, innocence, sophistication and high social rank, these women resorted to chalks and lead paints to turn their desire for seemingly perfect skin into reality – oblivious to the poisonous nature of the compounds used.

Have women today learned from those past lessons? Not really. Although beauty standards have gone in many directions, women relentlessly pursue certain beauty standards – be it western women dreaming of having sun-kissed tan skin, or Asian ones yearning for a whiter complexion. And in the latter case, we, Asians, have to confess: Most of the time, we simply go for products without knowing the whitening agents they use – be it mercury, hydroquinon, alpha-hydroxy acid, kojic acid, arbutin or licorice. We are blinded by advertisements and media idolizing the porcelain-pale beauty.

“As the common rule says, ‘you want what you don’t have’,” said dermatologist Retno Iswari Tranggono, president of the Indonesian Cosmetologist Association (HIKI). “Asians want whiter skin, while westerners want more tanned skin.”

toniqueskincare.comtoniqueskincare.com

The skin whitening business – now valued at €13 billion (US$18.6 billion in the region, according to In-Cosmetics Asia – has certainly been growing fast in Asia since the 1970s. Meanwhile, a study released by marketing firm Synovate in 2004 found that three out of five women surveyed in Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan felt they looked younger with fair complexions, while two out of five felt more attractive with fair complexions.

So, will we still want Snow White’s skin many years from now? And will skin whitening products still dominate the market?

“Absolutely,” Vassiliki Petrou, P&G’s beauty director and trend expert, told The Jakarta Post recently.

“And the trend is also spreading to the West,” she added.

Skin whitening, however, is a bit different today. It’s more about having “radiant” skin, not so much pale and white, and women with paler skin are also falling into the trap.

“Having radiant and light [skin] is a big thing,” Petrou said, “and I think it clings to the social cultural trend.” P&G’s Olay brand for the medium-level consumers, and SK-II for premium-level ones, focus on anti-aging and skin-lightening products, promising women more radiant, translucent skin.

And P&G is not alone – now, every beauty company seems to have their own skin-whitening lines, ranging from soaps, lotions and creams to serums, essences and make up. Not to mentions whitening products that come in the form of pills and liquids to be injected.

Perhaps going to the extreme, are the products that bleach dark-colored nipples, turning them into a pinkish color. Sounds pretty, well, odd, doesn’t it?

There’s of course nothing wrong with wanting to change one’s appearance. But as a rule of thumb, it should be done in a safe way.

And that is when knowledge and expertise come into play, Retno pointed out.

Spoilt for choice: A skin tone chart with 20 shades to choose from. www.bodyliciousbeauty.comSpoilt for choice: A skin tone chart with 20 shades to choose from. www.bodyliciousbeauty.com

Going the very basic, Retno said, we must first know about our skin.

“Brown-colored Asian skin contains more melanin than light Caucasian skin,” she said of the pigment that determines the color of our skin, eyes and hair. “This means that we tan more easily than Caucasians,” she added.

Melanin has two major forms that create varying skin tones – eumelanin, which produces a range of brown skin and hair color, and pheomelanin that creates a yellow to reddish hue. While African skin mostly contains eumelanin, Caucasian’s contains pheomelanin. Asian skin, on the other hand, is a mixed of pheomelanin and eumelanin.

“Because we genetically have more melanin, and we live around the equator, where the intensity of sunlight is high, our efforts to whiten our skin could be useless,” said Retno, also the founder of Ristra Institute of Skin Health and Beauty Sciences. “You might be successful once, but without proper maintenance like using sunblock, your skin will easily get dark again,” she said.

We genetically have more melanin, Retno continued, to match the warm climate we live in. Why?

Because melanin actually protects the skin against the sun’s rays thanks to the built-in SPF (sun protection factor).

“The more melanin our skin contains, the more protected it is,” Retno revealed.

Therefore, “We should be thankful to for having dark brown skin,” said Retno, adding that the ideal SPF for Indonesians actually ranges from two to five.

Of course, Retno acknowledged that convincing Asian women to accept their skin color, and not use whitening products was not an easy task. Therefore it is important for them to be well-informed about skin whitening products and understanding how they work.

According to Retno, whitening products usually inhibit the formation of melanin, degrading it and removing the older, darker skin to unveil lighter- and younger-looking skin underneath it.

Universal Barbie: Barbie faces come in many different skin tones. Courtesy of MattelUniversal Barbie: Barbie faces come in many different skin tones. Courtesy of Mattel

Sounds gentle? Not really, as it depends on the whitening agents we use. Most of them, in fact, work by forcing layers of the skin to peel off. Unfortunately, until a new layer grows, the skin remains exposed to sunrays, which can stimulate skin cancer growth.

The use of whitening substances like mercury and hydroquinone also poses a grave danger to us as they are toxic and may cause death.

“If the mercury penetrates into the body through the skin, it will be deposited in the brain, kidney, liver, which will later cause health abnormalities,” Retno said.

Hydroquinone, on the other hand, has been shown to cause leukemia in mice and other animals.

Although banned in most countries, doctors in Indonesia are still allowed to prescribe solutions with a 2 to 4 percent concentration of hydroquinone. Incidentally, Michael Jackson used hydroquinone to make the color of his skin uniform.

“We often ask why doctors still prescribe it [hydroquinone] when they know it’s dangerous,” Retno said. “And the doctors will answer: ‘it’s OK for medical purposes.’”

And of course, it’s cheap, compared to safer whitening products. Hydroquinone sells for about $20 per kilogram, while highly concentrated licorice extract sells for about $20,000 per kilogram.

Licorice extract, because it is derived from herbs, is one of the safer whitening agents, Retno said, and so are tea tree and bengkoang extracts, vitamin C, arbutin, kojic acid, azelaic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta-hydroxy acid (BHA).

AHA – mostly in the form of lactic acid and glycolic acid, is believed to be able to help accelerate skin cell turnover rates and remove unhealthy layers of superficial skin cells. Several studies have also shown that AHA can inhibit melanin production.

Arbutin and kojic acid are also popular whitening agents. While kojic acid – a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice to manufacture sake – inhibits the production of melanin, Arbutin, on the other hand, is derived from the leaves of cranberry, mulberry and bearberry, as well as pears. Retno herself uses a combination of this arbutin, licorice and tree extracts in her whitening products under the brand Ristra.

So being informed about whitening compounds before buying potions, lotions, and make up promising beauty will definitely go a long way.

And so will taking your time to achieve that goal too. “Whitening [your skin] is a long and continuous process,” Retno said. “If those products claim they can lighten your skin in seven days, they’re most
definitely scams.”

Rainbows underwater in Belize even if sky is gray





Pat Wellenbach , Associated Press , Belize | Tue, 12/22/2009 11:51 AM | Travel

coral underwater as a thin line of the clear Caribbean ocean separates it from the clouds near the second largest barrier reef that runs along the coast of Belize. AP/Pat Wellenbachcoral underwater as a line of the clear Caribbean ocean separates it from the clouds near the second largest barrier reef that runs along the coast of Belize. AP/Pat Wellenbach



CAYE CAULKER, Belize (AP) -- It was a dark, rainy, gray day. We don't go for monochrome excursions during our tropical adventures, so this kind of day was not acceptable.

Nonetheless, my two teenage children and I were going to make the best of our snorkeling trip along the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest unbroken reef in the Western Hemisphere. We were near the island of Caye Caulker, which is situated just off the coast of Belize. The search for a diverse palette was our mission with our boat captain guide, Harry Woods of E-Z Boys Tours.



Rainbow Parrot fish, front, passing by a group of yellow tail snapper off Caye Caulker Island near the second largest barrier reef that runs along the coast of Belize. AP/Pat WellenbachRainbow Parrot fish, front, passing by a group of yellow tail snapper. AP/Pat Wellenbach

So, onward down into the water we dove. Looking up, we found a ceiling of rain droplets falling from the sky, patterned on the ocean surface. But our aqua world below offered a rainbow of hues.

Our meet-and-greeter was an independent, curious, jowly fish with wings like scalloped shells, a Nassau black grouper. Its face came right up to the camera, as if to say, "Welcome to my universe of color."

We saw creatures of all shapes and sizes, traveling mostly in groups, though a few, like the moray eel, cautiously ventured out alone from their homes in the coral. And back they'd retreat as soon as they had satiated their curiosity about us.

Harry Woods, the captain and guide diving into the ocean as passengers snorkel off Caye Caulker Island near the second largest barrier reef that runs along the coast of Belize. AP/Pat WellenbachHarry Woods, the captain and guide diving into the ocean as passengers snorkel off Caye Caulker Island. AP/Pat Wellenbach

We gingerly tiptoed by stingrays and swam lightly through the many schools of fish, never once feeling like an intruder. Some schools tucked themselves behind strands of coral while others boldly glided about.

Our temporary visit almost appeared humorous to the fish whose mouths were permanently fixed in a grin.

A shark took a look while cruising by us while porpoises playfully swam alongside the boat as they frolicked about, almost inviting us to join them.

As we made our way back to the boat, the merging of sea and sky seemed dreamlike, and the gray gave way to sun.

Season of the year




Wed, 12/23/2009 - 9:27 AM
Ground crews refueling a plane with fuel, or avtur, at Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport, Pekanbaru, Riau. State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina predicts avtur demand to rise 5 percent during Christmas...

Most pictures reflect where we are, some where we want to be


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Debnath Guharoy , Consultant | Tue, 12/22/2009 9:47 AM | Business

A major indicator of national health, even wealth, is the presence or absence of domestic appliances in people’s homes. If you measure this facet of life in only the big cities you get one picture.

Throw light across the nation, cities, towns and villages alike and you get another. In understanding this country of extremes, of unimaginable wealth and abject poverty, those distinctions are crucially important.

On the eve of another new decade, a peep inside Indonesia’s homes tells us where the comfort levels are, quite literally. Nine out of 10 households have a colour TV set today. 93 percent, to be precise.

In an environment where the box is the center of attention almost every waking hour in the home, the old black-&-white is now almost extinct as a species. In the millions of extended families, even the poor are watching the news in color.

In other words, it could be said that 7 percent are the most unfortunate of all Indonesians today.

Though that kind of statement can belittle the pain they live in everyday, it is nonetheless a remarkable reality.

Trailing not too far behind in the world of home entertainment gadgets is the old VCD player. From 65 percent of homes with a deck in December 2007, the number is down to 58 percent today. That’s because the DVD player has rocketed upwards in recent times, with 26 percent of homes now owning one.

For the last five years, no other household appliance has made such rapid strides.

It will soon overtake the other old trusty tool, the portable radio-cassette player, still entertaing millions everyday. 46 percent still have one, down from 51 percent just two years ago. Similarly, the personal CD or cassette player, like the old Walkman, has its days numbered too.

From over 20 percent owning one three years ago, just 13 percent are still using them. Not surprisisngly, the MP3 (or 4) as well as the iPod is taking over.

The picture is quite different in the kitchen. While every home has an appliance to cook with, gas replacing kerosene by the millions, the oven is still a luxury.

Only 2 percent of the population, or less than 1 percent of households has one. On the other hand, 2 percent of 230 million is a lot bigger than Singapore. 39 percent, and climbing, has a refrigerator at home, with over 70 percent having “other small appliances” in the kitchen as well. Some 8 percent have a toaster.

The dishwasher is only for the rich, and they too have it mostly on display with the household help actually doing the cleaning up.

At over 25 percent, the blender/food processor is much more popular, for when Ibu wants to bake a cake presumably. Just 10 percent has a washing machine, for all the same reasons but nine out of 10 homes has the ubiquitous electric iron in the laundry.

But it is the future demand for appliances in the home that is most exiting, representing Indonesia’s aspirations in no small but significant way. Optimising that potential, making those dreams come true will not only create many more jobs but it can stimulate the consumer economy.

The replacement market as well as the new market is still very big, for both white and brown goods.

For example, 3 percent of all Indonesians 14 years and older want to buy a colour TV in the next 12 months. 2 percent a DVD player. 6 percent want to buy a refrigerator. 5 percent are in the market for a washing machine. These are large numbers. For many, these hopes will remain unachieved.

Consumer credit can make the difference between dream and reality. A small beginning has already been made, but financing of household appliances lags way behind the revolution credit has stimulated in the world of motorcycles.

This is where marketing minds need to come together, from the financial services, retail and manufacturing sectors. Working together, more pressure needs to be applied on legislators so that greater protection for lenders can work for the greater good of all concerned.

That simple fact can make an enormous difference to Indonesia as a whole. It will create jobs, create wealth, create joy.

Progress is being made, but all too slowly. Perhaps the biggest hurdle of all is the individual marketer’s desire to outsmart the other. Working as we do with so many from across different sectors of industry, it is all too painfully clear to this writer.

What escapes most marketers is the sheer size of the potential, and the need to work together to exploit it. There is more than enough room for growth, for all. When was the last time KADIN led a mixed group of industry specialists to meet the right group of legislators to press a well-thought case for better laws to protect providers of consumer credit?

When was the last time a group of manufacturers, retailers and bankers got together to explore opportunities together?

The absence of credible and active industry associations are a sorry reminder of the lack of maturity across the marketing fraternity at large. There are too many square pegs in round holes, misguidely nursing textbook buzz-phrases like “first-mover advantage”.

These opinions are based on Roy Morgan Single Source, a syndicated survey with over 25,000 Indonesians 14 years and older interviewed each year.

That national database is updated every quarter, reflecting changes as they occur in the marketplace. Almost 90 percent of the population is covered, in the cities, towns and villages, separately.


The writer can be contacted at debnath.guharoy@roymorgan.com

Bersama Bintang




Gratisan Musik

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Climb ev'ry mountain







Mt Merapi, viewed from Mt Merbabu, Central JavaMt Merapi, viewed from Mt Merbabu, Central Java

Indonesia is a hiker’s paradise, but sometimes it can be tough just knowing where to start. A new website aims to help you take the first step.

Dan Quinn makes lists. He makes lists of things to do. He makes lists of things to buy. And he’s made a list of mountains to climb.

“Without a list,” he says, “I don’t get things done.”

One of the things he wants to get done is to climb at least 100 of Indonesia’s “Ribus”.

A “Ribu” is the term humorously coined for a mountain in Indonesia with an elevation of (as the name suggests) at least 1,000 meters. There are around 130 of these dotted across the archipelago, all listed on the Gunung Bagging website, www.gunungbagging.com.

The Gunung Bagging website is the brainchild of Quinn and fellow Briton Dr Andy Dean. The two hiking enthusiasts met earlier this year on a trip with hiking group Java Lava. Once chatting, they shared their frustration at the lack of comprehensive and accessible practical information on how to climb Indonesia’s hundreds of peaks. The fresh air and physical exercise obviously did them some good, because by the time they came down from the mountain, they had hatched a plot to create such a resource.

Now, several months later, the combination of their passion for climbing, Dean’s scientific and technical knowledge (he is a geographer by training) and Quinn’s writing skills has resulted in the Gunung Bagging website, a clean, user-friendly and helpful resource on Indonesia’s mountains and how to climb them.

The name, in case you’re wondering, comes from the English and Scottish pastime of “mountain bagging” — trying to climb (or “bag”) all mountains above 3,000 feet (about 1,000 meters).

The idea of the “Ribus” is based on the list of “Ultras” — peaks around the world of more than 1,500 meters.

“Here, if you follow 1,500 meters as for the Ultras, you really run out of options [for hikes] from Jakarta on the weekends and many are missing,” Quinn explains. “So we brought that prominence down to 1,000.” (Their methodology for identifying the peaks is detailed on the website.)

The website lists 123 of these, divided into three categories: sangat tinggi (really high: >3000 meters; there are 30 of these); tinggi sedang (quite high: 2,000–3,000 meters; 49) and kurang tinggi (not all that high: 1,000–2,000 meters; 44). Also included are 20 spesials — mountains that might not make the grade in terms of height, but make up for it with other properties (Anak Krakatau being the obvious entrant here; it’s a midget at only 264 m but its cracker personality always makes it the life of the party). The website also organizes the mountains by province.

The idea is for each entry on each mountain to give information about elevation, location and practical information about how to “Bag it!” plus any other relevant and interesting information.

But that’s a lot of information and a lot of mountains. “We can’t climb them all so we will require information. It’s a collaborative effort,” Quinn says.

“We do both want to stress that it is not finished — it is a framework,” Dean says. “And we want people to contribute to it.”

Sunset over Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu, Central JavaSunset over Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu, Central Java

While there are a few famous mountains on which a lot of information is available, he adds, “There are hundreds of volcanoes with very little information and definitely people who have climbed them. … There is definitely a large group — bigger than you might expect — of Indonesian people who do a lot of climbing of volcanoes.”

Each entry has a space to enter comments (scroll down past the Google Satellite Image) so anyone can enter a comment, containing useful practical information about how to climb the mountain — where to start from, difficulty and how long it might take a moderately fit walker, equipment needed, facilities available, etc.

All comments are moderated — “we want to try and remain impartial rather than slagging off a porter or something” — and all contributors credited. Although the website is in English, useful comments written in Indonesian will also be included.

In this way, the website aims to cater both to those who are “prominence fanatics”, who take mountain climbing very seriously, and to those who’d just like to get out of the city and go on an enjoyable walk.
Either way, Quinn says, “We want to make it easier for people to do things and visit places.”

And if you should manage to “bag” 20 of Indonesia’s volcanoes, you can even enter your name in the Gunung Bagging “Hall of Fame” — you could even be the first. But if you haven’t started yet, you’ll have some catching up to do.

Anak Krakatau, LampungAnak Krakatau, Lampung

Quinn, who came to Indonesia a year ago because of his fascination for gamelan (“the volcanoes were an added bonus”), has already started ticking them off on his list.

“When I moved here, I thought, great, you know, if I could climb five this year it would be brilliant,” he says. “I think I’ve done 13 or 14.”

Dean, who was a keen hiker in the UK and then Canada, where he lived for five years, has also pulled together a respectable count in his couple of years living in Indonesia.

“I’ve managed to climb 10 or 11 volcanoes, and have realized that climbing volcanoes in Indonesia is not that difficult,” he says.

“I like the physical challenge of climbing the volcanoes in Indonesia and the view from the summit at sunrise and sunset. And in Indonesia, as long as you don’t climb on the Independence Day weekend, you can actually escape from people. Java is pretty crowded, but there are parts of Java you can be really impressed by the forest and get away from the crowds.”

Papandayan, West JavaPapandayan, West Java

But too often, he adds, it is difficult to know where to start. “Sometimes it can just seem too hard, and you can really decide not to bother. That’s an important motivation for us.”

“I hope it will encourage people to go to places they might not visit otherwise,” Quinn says. “As people visit more a place more often, it becomes more accessible.”

There’s a benefit for everyone. Practice responsible hiking, and the local economy around the mountain gets a boost from the visitors. And the benefits for hikers are manifold.

“Firstly, it’s just going for a walk in a natural environment,” Quinn says. “It’s such a simple pleasure that many people are very disconnected from these days.”

As such, it’s good for both mental and physical health.

“You generally come back with a fresh perspective on things that had been troubling you at work or in life generally,” he says. “You learn more about the place you live in, get away from that disconnect of just sitting behind a computer or in a car.”

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

A three-in-one tourist spot




Life by the sea: The economy in of the fishermen village stops not at selling raw material as local municipality develop the culinary industry there. JP/Slamet SusantoLife by the sea: The economy in of the fishermen village stops not at selling raw material as local municipality develop the culinary industry there. JP/Slamet Susanto

Depok Beach in Kretek, Bantul regency, has found popularity as a three-in-one resort, where visitors can enjoy three main features of the seashore.

First, tourists can relish the shoreline panorama complete with its fishing activity. Second, they can sample various local culinary specialties, and third, there is a magnificent sand dune on the beach, the world's second longest of the kind after one in Mexico.

Two kilometers west of Parangtritis Beach, Depok, is a fishing area where dozens of outboard-motor boats put out to sea daily.

Visitors can watch fishermen shoving their boats toward the sea and lugging them ashore after their day-long operation, with simple equipment and great courage against the high waves.

Vacationers can also indulge in freshly caught fish around noon, when fishermen return from the sea. The fish is guaranteed to be fresh and with no preservatives.

After enjoying the coastal beauty and playing on the sand with their families, tourists will find it relaxing to savor Depok's fish cuisine. Dozens of food stalls affiliated with Koperasi Mina Bahari 45 (a fishery cooperative) line the shore, where they prepare fish dishes to visitors' tastes.

Unusually, the cooperative members are comprised of two groups. The first group, with 20 members, specializes in the sale of fresh fish and occupies a row of kiosks near the gate to the beach. The second group, with 40 members, offers varieties of grilled or fried fish in their eateries, complete with drinks, especially young coconuts.

"Buyers may choose the fish themselves," said Rismi, a 30-year-old who has been selling various kinds of fish for the past five years. She revealed that while on ordinary days she sells only 1 quintal of fish of different species, on weekends or holidays her sales rise to 5 quintals.

The sellers claimed they sell their wares at market price and avoid raising the prices during the holiday rush because the tourists enabled them to make a living.

"If they're put off, we could be out of luck," Rismi added. "For visitors' satisfaction, we've agreed to conform to market prices despite the queues of buyers."

According to the chairman of Koperasi Mina Bahari 45, Sumarman, any member who breached the accord by selling their wares at a high price, would be punished by being isolated and prohibited from selling fish on Depok Beach, in order to preserve the pleasantness of the destination.

"We meet every month to evaluate fish prices and cooking service charges, among other things," he said. When prices of cooking oil and other related needs increase, for instance, cooperative members will meet to discuss the prices.

"At present, fish cooking service fees range from Rp 3,000 to Rp 6,000 depending on the kind of fish and how it is prepared," he said.

Indulging your tastebuds: Aside from seafood, tourists can enjoy traditional crispy crackers and treats made of processed seaweed. JP/Slamet SusantoIndulging your tastebuds: Aside from seafood, tourists can enjoy traditional crispy crackers and treats made of processed seaweed. JP/Slamet Susanto

To enjoy the flavors of seafood, visitors don't have to spend a lot of money. A family of five needs to pay only Rp 60,000 to Rp 110,000 depending on the fish and style of cooking.

"My family frequently spends our leisure time on Depok Beach while looking at the coastal scenery," said Yoebal, a tourist. With his wife and a child, he spends no more than Rp 70,000 per visit.

"Prices are still reasonable enough to make us feel refreshed," he added.

In June, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik inaugurated Depok as the first culinary tourist spot in Yogyakarta. He and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie together launched the National Program for Independent Community Empowerment.

The program allocates Rp 9 billion to 100 villages in 15 provinces for the development of tourist villages. "Tourists are willing to spend their money on the traditional food of a region in addition to seeking natural rural scenery," said Jero Wacik.

Nevertheless, he added, local food should be properly and carefully served, with courteous and honest service to ensure tourists become regular visitors.

"Visitors are a means of promotion. They will tell their friends to come here if they are satisfied, and the other way round," the minister added.

To support Depok's culinary tourism, Bantul regent Idham Samawi promised to clear the coastal zone of social problems such as prostitution, gambling and drinking. His regency also provided training for 38 traders to create tourist stalls to offer visitors not only food but also comfortable surroundings.

In addition to the requirements of cleanliness and hospitability, food prices are made uniform. Offering the same rates, while providing a standard for tourists, is intended to minimize disputes or unsound competition among local businesses.

"Cooperating with several universities, we are also organizing management training courses," said Idham.

The natural wonder that should not be missed when visiting Depok Beach is its splendid sand dune that stretches more than 2 kilometers.

Holiday meal: Those who flock Depok beach often go there just for the occasional seafood lunch with family and friends. JP/Slamet SusantoHoliday meal: Those who flock Depok beach often go there just for the occasional seafood lunch with family and friends. JP/Slamet Susanto

A study by the Coastal Geospatial Laboratory not far from the beach has shown the dune is formed out of sand from the Merapi volcanic eruption. After drifting along river streams and reaching the shore, the sand is continuously beaten and carried by sea currents. Over time, it becomes very fine and can easily be blown away by the wind.

The fine grains of sand moved by the wind for centuries form the sand dune, with its top constantly shifting according to the direction of the gusts of air. The sand movement leaves behind tongue-like grooves that create a gorgeous view.

For the past few years, the Yogyakarta provincial tourism office has arranged sand dune hikes as a nature tourism activity in the area, attracting tourists from Yogyakarta as well as other parts of the country.

Regulate meat distribution: Minister



As has occurred in previous years, unorganized meat distribution has once again tainted Idul Adha (Islamic Day of Sacrifice) festivities celebrated Friday by the majority of Muslims in Indonesia.

Expressing his concerns about the situation, Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono called for the distributions to be regulated.

He called on those organizing the animal slaughter and the meat distribution to coordinate with local administrations and security officers.

“I noticed the lack of organization did not limit itself to events in Jakarta, and this is a cause for concern,” Agung told news portal detik.com over the weekend.

“Next time, the organizing committees should coordinate with the local administration in their respective areas, as the latter have better knowledge of poor people in the area [who should receive the meat].

“[They should also coordinate] with security officers to help distribute the meat,” he said.

Agung added that the committees should also be proactive in reaching out to the needy instead of letting them gather at fixed locations in order to be able to obtain portions
of meat.

“There is always the potential for chaos when thousands of people gather in one spot,” he said, adding that the committees could either distribute the meat by visiting poor people’s houses or by limiting the number of recipients in any one location to 100 people.

“The current system, in which the recipients are packed into one place, is a circus,” Agung said, adding that these incidents could taint the country’s image by creating the impression that the poverty rate in Indonesia was increasing.

“This is actually nothing more than gross mismanagement,” he said.

The Betawi Consultative Body (Bamus Betawi), for example, used its network across Jakarta to distribute the meat so there were no people queueing, but only a handful of children watching the slaughter.

“We use our network and cooperate with neighborhood unit (RT) heads to distribute the meat,” Bamus Betawi chairman Nachrowi Ramli told detik.com.

Antara news agency reported that large crowds of hundreds of people queuing for meat descended into havoc in a number of regions during this year’s Idul Adha celebrations.

In Semarang, Central Java, a middle-aged woman fainted when the crowd she was in suddenly started to scramble for the meat as soon as the local committee started the distribution.

In a mosque in Cirebon, West Java, an 11-year-old boy was rescued from the crowd by a security officer after he experienced breathing difficulties.

Similar scenes were also spotted during meat distribution at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta, as well as in South Tangerang in Banten, Indramayu in West Java and Probolinggo in East Java, among others.

Despite having to wait for hours and being squeezed by impatient crowds, many of the people queueing were forced to go home empty-handed because of the inadequate amount of meat distributed in some locations.

In other areas, meanwhile, the available meat exceeded the number of recipients and ended up being distributed to middle-income people.

Idul Adha is the second-largest festival in the Islamic calendar and commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to God, although a sheep died instead of Ismail at the time of the sacrifice.

Muslims who are able to afford it usually buy sheep, goats, cows or camels, have them slaughtered and distribute the meat to the poor. They are also allowed to consume small portions of the meat.
Idul Adha coincides with the peak of the haj pilgrimage held annually in Saudi Arabia.

Denpasar set to increase minimum wage





DENPASAR: The Denpasar municipal administration office has set the minimum wage for the city at Rp 1.1 million, to be effective as of Jan. 1, 2010.

Denpasar Manpower, Transmigration and Social Affairs Office chief AA. Oka Badra warned employers to abide by the prevailing regulation.

The local authorities and representatives of workers and employers' associations recently decided on the minimum wage.

Badra said the minimum wage had been increased slightly from Rp 952,000 in 2009 to Rp 1.1 million in 2010.

"There are so many factors that influenced the increase. Higher inflation, regional economic growth and other issues contributed to the change," he said.

Badra called on local businesses to report to his office if they could not pay the minimum wage to their worker

Borobudur at the crossroads




The best time to visit Borobudur Temple is at dawn. That is when Central Java’s magnificent World Heritage monument is enveloped in cool mist and peace.

That is when you will be able to climb the ancient stones in near solitude and be rewarded with a view of the candi’s rotund stupas – 72 in total – rising majestically out of the mist with the first rays of the sun.

Of course, you don’t actually have Borobudur to yourself. When I went, I was surprised to find 20 to 30 others on the highest terrace of the monument, waiting impatiently for the sun to come up.

They were mostly foreign tourists, some with fancy cameras on tripods, some with little children. However, it was relatively quiet and I felt very fortunate to be able to visit this historic gem in such serene circumstances.

This was my second visit to Borobudur, and how different it was from the first. I had come the day before and made the mistake of coming on a Sunday. The entrance at the foot of the monument was already buzzing with people eager to set foot on the monument and as I looked across the length of Borobudur Park, I could see a never-ending stream of people making their way toward the entrance.

Borobudur at dawn – quiet and peaceful (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)Borobudur at dawn – quiet and peaceful (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

Once past the entrance, it was quite a challenge trying to navigate the stairways. The narrow stone stairways were choc-a-bloc with people, so climbing was a slow process, often with a view of nothing else but someone else’s posterior. When I got to the top, several visitors, mostly teenagers or children, were seated on top of the stupas, despite signs forbidding visitors to do so.

Strewn across the floors of Borobudur’s many terraces was litter – cigarette butts, empty bottles of mineral water, plastic bags. The few dustbins that were available were already full to the brim. It was not a pretty sight.

According to the authorities, Borobudur gets about 2.5 million visitors a year, the bulk of whom are Indonesians. When I went, schools were on their year-end break so a high proportion of the visitors that day were large groups of excited students on school outings. The rest were mostly families from neighboring provinces who had come on holiday, and a handful of foreign tourists accompanied by their guides (or guidebooks).

Litter along the terraces of Borobudur could damage the porous surfaces of the ancient stones (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)Litter along the terraces of Borobudur could damage the porous surfaces of the ancient stones (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

It is comforting to know that so many people make the effort to visit Borobudur. After all, the monument is a present-day window to Indonesia’s glorious past. It is also an enduring memento of the advanced level of craftsmanship that prevailed in Java at a time when Western Europe was struggling through its Dark Ages.

Built in the eighth and ninth centuries, Borobudur houses a staggering 2,672 relief panels, many exquisitely detailed, as well as 504 Buddha statues. At the summit, a gigantic central stupa rests on a massive lotus-shaped base half a meter thick, making this the largest Buddhist stupa in the world.

Borobudur is a place of pilgrimage for those of the Buddhist faith. Its passages were designed for monks to circumambulate the edifice in silent prayer. Along the lower square terraces, they would be flanked by carvings such as the biography of the Lord Buddha, from his descent from heaven until his enlightenment, which is depicted on the main wall of the first gallery.

As they ascended to the higher circular terraces, they would be surrounded by unembellished stone walls, representing Buddhism’s Sphere of Formlessness. Above them, the main stupa – which is empty, signifying Nirvana – would soar into the sky. Today, Buddhist rituals are still carried out at Borobudur on auspicious days such as Waisak.

On top of this, Borobudur lies amid great natural beauty. As I stood atop the candi’s highest tier, I was almost eye to eye with Mount Merapi, the still-active volcano that soars 2,911 meters in the northeast. It was wrapped in fluffy clouds, while on the ground, green rice paddies stretched for miles.

Children climbing one of the stupas (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)Children climbing one of the stupas (JP/Sunita Sue Leng)

On the western and southern edges, the Menoreh hills rose and fell. This is the geographical center of Java. Called the Kedu Plain, it is also known as the Garden of Java as it has been made unusually fertile and lush by volcanic earth and the intersection of two rivers, the Progo and the Elo.

Little wonder, then, that so many are drawn to Borobudur, which is already under threat, even without the crowds. According to the Borobudur Heritage Conservation Institute, acid rain has damaged some of the carvings, while global warming could cause more fissures and cracks in the monument’s stones.

The growing number of tourists to Borobudur, which is managed by PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko, add further strain. Litter is not just unsightly; the remnants of cigarettes or sugary drinks could damage the porous surfaces of the monument’s stones. Overcrowding along the steep stairs holds the risk of accidents, should a child or elderly person slip and fall.

Poorly supervised youngsters mean unnecessary touching of carvings, or worse, climbing onto statues and stupas, contributing to erosion of its more fragile surfaces. Painstakingly restored in the ‘70s and ‘80s with help from UNESCO, the Borobudur temple is a grand inheritance that every Indonesian should be proud of, regardless of religion. It would be a shame to let it succumb today to modern-day tourism.
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Roger Sirisena (not verified) — Sat, 07/18/2009 - 10:30am

I was fortunate to visit Borobudur last year during a trip to Bali and Yogjakarta, and was amazed by the splendor and vastness of this world heritage site. Being a Buddhist I was delighted at the magnificent culture and history lying embedded at this world's wonder monument. Borobudur is a 'temple' of great religious significance to Buddhists the world over who must visit it and venerate. It is a rich national treasure which all Indonesians should be proud of.
Regrettably, the majority of the millions of tourists visiting Borobudur do not appear to observe the norms of conduct and behavior that such a sanctified site demands, and they have caused untold physical and environmental damage to this historical edifice. We must all help protect this glorious monument for the benefit of all peoples of the world and our future generations.

Indonesia for Kids (not verified) — Tue, 05/05/2009 - 12:30pm

Borobudur is amazing in itself, but even more amazing when you put it in the context of all the temples throughout the Yogyakarta area. It's truly amazing that all these temples were built here over such a period. It really must have been an amazing civilization.

Greg Willson (not verified) — Sun, 03/08/2009 - 7:27am

I travelled overland from Bali and into Java when I was a young man in the mid 1980's and was awestruck in the size and majesty of this place. To drop litter in Borobudur is a disgrace. I hope people will one day realise the significance of this place to all of humanity.

Khombouw art





Khombouw art

The bark of the Khombouw tree is dried and stretched in the sun.


Local people call it Khombouw painting, while visitors call it Kombo or Ombo painting. Khombouw is the name of a rare tree that grows only on Asei Island, in Lake Sentani, Papua.

Many natives of Asei Island are highly skilled in the art of painting, particularly on the inner bark of Khombouw trees. Their artwork often features symbols resembling hieroglyphic drawings from ancient Egypt.

Previously, Khombouw paintings served as a means to maintain historical records. Later it became an artistic expression of local culture.

To make a Khombouw paintings, Asei people cut down a Khombouw tree before removing its bark. Once, people would spend 10 hours on a boat to find trees for this purpose.

Generally, these paintings have only three colors. The white color is derived from powdered clam shells, a reddish brown is made from clay and black from coal.

The paintings are more valuable if they were made by ondofolo (a tribe leader or respected figure in the community).

Today, these paintings are often available at souvenir shops. With reasonable prices, Khombouw paintings are popular among tourists.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Boediono, Mulyani ‘to be scapegoated’ over Century

The change of tack by the President’s Democratic Party in calling for an inquiry into the Bank Century debacle may see Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani take the fall, analysts warn.

Democratic Party legislator Ruhut Sitompul said Tuesday in Jakarta that all 144 of the party’s legislators at the House of Representatives had signed the petition requesting the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) bailout.

The establishment of the committee, fiercely opposed by the party initially, now looks inevitable, with the list of petitioners surging to more than 400 out of 560 House legislators.

Once established, the committee will have the power to summon for questioning anyone deemed responsible in the decision to bail out Century, including Boediono (the central bank governor at the time), Mulyani or even President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself.

In the event the President is found guilty of wrongdoing, the committee could push for his impeachment.

But critics point out the Democratic Party will likely to do all it can to prevent the President being summoned or any impeachment effort taking root, with Ruhut squarely blaming Boediono and Mulyani as those most responsible for the bailout decision.

“We, the Democratic Party, will not take sides, even on the behalf of Boediono, Raden Pardede [then secretary of the Financial System Stability Committee, or LPSK] or Mulyani,” Ruhut said.

Anas Urbaningrum, the Democratic Party chairman at the House, also hinted Boediono and Mulyani would be the ones taking the heat from the inquiry committee.

Prior to Monday’s announcement of the final audit by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), which indicated a deliberate cover-up by Bank Indonesia of misappropriation and fraud within Century, not a single Democratic Party legislator had signed the petition requesting the establishment of the inquiry committee.

The committee will also likely call the Financial Transaction Report Analysis Center (PPATK) to track how the bailout fund has been spent.

“The inclusion of the Democratic Party shows that the battle is now on the committee’s future direction,” said Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) political analyst Burhanuddin Muhtadi.

“With that in mind, the current trend shows there is move to make both Boediono and Mulyani the targets of the committee. Targeting them suits the needs of the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party and the PAN [National Mandate Party].”

Burhanuddin added that serving up Boediono and Mulyani on a silver platter would benefit the Democratic Party by deflecting attention from widespread public speculation that the bailout fund was used to save major Century depositors who were also donors to Yudhoyono’s presidential campaign.

“As for Golkar, Mulyani has a bitter history with the chairman of that party, Aburizal Bakrie,” he said.

Mulyani famously refused to intervene when the share price of PT Bumi Resources, Aburizal’s most lucrative company, nose-dived.

“As for the PAN, clearing Boediono and Mulyani from the Cabinet would give [party senior] Hatta Radjasa tremendous political clout in his capacity as the coordinating economics minister,” he said.

Burhanuddin warned that sacrificing Boediono and Mulyani would tarnish Yudhoyono’s reputation, considering how the two were his most trusted aides in the Cabinet.

Indonesia Corruption Watch’s (ICW) Emerson Yuntho said he would not be surprised if the inquiry committee only had Boediono and Mulyani in its crosshairs.

A family of the Orang Rimba tribe lives in a simple hut deep in the jungle




Deforestation, which has become a hot topic for global talks in the past few years, is directly affecting the life of the Orang Rimba tribe who live deep in the jungles of Jambi, a province in Sumatra.

The tribe has been experiencing climate change, the shrinking of their forest home and decreasing biodiversity in the forest - an impact of deforestation.

"The size of the forest has been shrinking due to the forest fires or land clearances for cultivation. We are worried about this phenomenon," said Tumenggung Grip, head of the Orang Rimba tribe in the Bukit 12 neighborhood.

Today, fewer than 5,000 people from the Orang Rimba tribe live in the jungles of Jambi. They are scattered across various locations including the Bukit 12 and Bukit 30 neighborhoods.

Usually living on the slopes of the mountains or among the huge trees not far from the river, the tribe is also known by the name of the river near where they live. Tumenggung and his community are known as the Orang Rimba Makekah Hulu, or the tribe who live near the upper course of the Makekah River.

They live in simple huts made of wood, leaves and, sometimes, tarpaulin. They collect rattan and sell it to people living near the forest. They catch fish and boars for daily consumption.

However, the ever-expanding palm oil plantations and the activities of the people from outside the forest pose a real threat to their future.

"The forest is shrinking," Tumenggung lamented. "What will become of our children?"