The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/05/2005 12:26 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Technical studies on the brain of the controversial Homo floresiensis, nicknamed ""the Hobbit"", shows that it might be a new species in the family tree of modern man's evolution.
Finding a reason for the diminutive chimpanzee-sized brain of the Hobbit has caused several disputes since its discovery in September 2003. First discovered inside the Liang Bua limestone cave in Flores, the creature was estimated to stand at about a meter tall and weigh 25 kilograms.
The team of Indonesian and Australian scientists who discovered the skeleton believed that the Hobbit is most likely a new species and its discovery would rewrite the evolutionary history of mankind.
Mike Morwood, an anthropology professor of the University of New England who co-led the Flores Team, said on Friday here that the combination of Homo erectus characteristics at the back side of the Hobbit's brain and Homo sapiens characteristics at the front, which he said were more advanced than in current human beings explains that their theory ""is definitely not pathological.""
A research work by a group of experts published on Thursday on Science Express, the online edition of the U.S. Journal Science, concluded the same thing: the Hobbit was probably a new, dwarf species of human.
Scientists from the United States, Australia and Indonesia compared the skull to those of humans, chimpanzees and other human ancestors to determine whether it was simply a pygmy form of a human, a person whose growth was stunted by a growth disorder, or an entirely new species.
""It was a surprise because the brain was so small that we thought it would resemble a chimp's, but instead it was more like that of bigger creatures,"" said Dean Falk, lead author of the study, as quoted by AFP.
Moreover, comparisons with pygmy skulls, and with the skulls of humans who had suffered the brain growth-stunting affliction microcephaly, revealed few similarities, leading scientists to conclude it was a new species.
However, some scientists who examined the remains, contest the study's conclusions and argue that the Hobbit belongs to the Homo sapiens species.
Professor Maciej Henneberg, head of anatomy at Adelaide University, said he thought the bones were simply those of a normal human stunted by microcephaly.
Henneberg spent several days in Jakarta last month helping to document the bones.
Harry Widianto, a paleoanthropologist at Yogyakarta's Archeology Agency, said that the Hobbit was best regarded as a sub-species of Homo sapiens in its evolutionary stage between 18,000 to 30,000 years ago.
Harry said that the debates over the Hobbit's species were a consequence of theoretical differences over human evolution.(005)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
RI students seek broader experience in Britain
RI students seek broader experience in Britain
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 03/07/2005 12:33 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Tinna, a 23-year-old graduate of Pelita Harapan University, is convinced that studying abroad will expand her horizons and enrich her with experiences she could not possibly get in Indonesia.
""I cannot make a comparison about the quality of art education (in Indonesia and the UK), but I guess wider experience is not something I can possibly get here,"" she said, explaining her interest in taking a post-graduate art degree in the UK.
She was speaking on the sidelines of an education fair over the weekend held by the British Council at the Hilton Hotel. Some 21 UK universities participated in the event.
Her mother, Retiana, who supported Tinna's plan, said, ""Actually, wherever a child studies, it depends on how serious she is. But studying in the UK will hopefully increase her independence, especially as it is a country with a different culture to ours. The many restrictions in Indonesia would prevent her from developing her personal skills.""
Assistant director of English Language and Education at the British Council here, Simon Colledge, said that strongly held traditions along with a cosmopolitan, modern society and cultural diversity were some of the main attractions for students to come to the UK.
The long traditions of the UK's universities had ensured high national standards, with universities being regularly assessed by the UK Department of Education to vet their teaching, resources and research capabilities.
""Professors are expected to be up-to-date in their particular fields of study. They must do independent research in their areas of expertise, with the results being published nationally or printed in textbooks.""
""Courses and lectures are consumer focused. They give individual attention based on academic interest. For example, a post-graduate student is assigned a personal tutor.""
According to Ria Widjaja, marketing communications officer for the British Council, over the past five years between 600 and 750 Indonesian students went to the UK each year to continue their studies. The figures were expected to grow by 20 percent this year, she said.
The cost of undergraduate study in the UK is between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds sterling per year (about US$5,235), while minimum living costs, including accommodation, food and transportation, come to about 700 pounds sterling per month.
The British Council's public relations manager, Mona Monika, said that the quality of UK graduates was recognized by the Indonesian Ministry of National Education.
""It might be due to the fact that all universities apply the same national standards in terms of quality and pricing. The fact that test papers are checked by lecturers from other universities ensures that a student's hard work and achievements are the key to the success of his studies.""
She added that one of the UK's strengths was its national students union, which had a network of local student unions.
""The power that the national students union has in the UK enables it to provide input for education legislation in the UK, ensuring that the students' interests are heeded,"" she said.
She added that the presence of careers guidance departments that collaborated with top international companies such as Macintosh and IBM, in UK universities made it easier for students to find jobs after they graduated.
""Students can ask for advice on where to focus in their studies should they be interested in working for a particular company. The advisor will send them in the right direction.""
Mona said that this benefited both the students and companies looking for employees. ""A strong interest in the students' future after graduating is something that is lacking in Indonesia,"" she added. (005)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 03/07/2005 12:33 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Tinna, a 23-year-old graduate of Pelita Harapan University, is convinced that studying abroad will expand her horizons and enrich her with experiences she could not possibly get in Indonesia.
""I cannot make a comparison about the quality of art education (in Indonesia and the UK), but I guess wider experience is not something I can possibly get here,"" she said, explaining her interest in taking a post-graduate art degree in the UK.
She was speaking on the sidelines of an education fair over the weekend held by the British Council at the Hilton Hotel. Some 21 UK universities participated in the event.
Her mother, Retiana, who supported Tinna's plan, said, ""Actually, wherever a child studies, it depends on how serious she is. But studying in the UK will hopefully increase her independence, especially as it is a country with a different culture to ours. The many restrictions in Indonesia would prevent her from developing her personal skills.""
Assistant director of English Language and Education at the British Council here, Simon Colledge, said that strongly held traditions along with a cosmopolitan, modern society and cultural diversity were some of the main attractions for students to come to the UK.
The long traditions of the UK's universities had ensured high national standards, with universities being regularly assessed by the UK Department of Education to vet their teaching, resources and research capabilities.
""Professors are expected to be up-to-date in their particular fields of study. They must do independent research in their areas of expertise, with the results being published nationally or printed in textbooks.""
""Courses and lectures are consumer focused. They give individual attention based on academic interest. For example, a post-graduate student is assigned a personal tutor.""
According to Ria Widjaja, marketing communications officer for the British Council, over the past five years between 600 and 750 Indonesian students went to the UK each year to continue their studies. The figures were expected to grow by 20 percent this year, she said.
The cost of undergraduate study in the UK is between 6,000 and 10,000 pounds sterling per year (about US$5,235), while minimum living costs, including accommodation, food and transportation, come to about 700 pounds sterling per month.
The British Council's public relations manager, Mona Monika, said that the quality of UK graduates was recognized by the Indonesian Ministry of National Education.
""It might be due to the fact that all universities apply the same national standards in terms of quality and pricing. The fact that test papers are checked by lecturers from other universities ensures that a student's hard work and achievements are the key to the success of his studies.""
She added that one of the UK's strengths was its national students union, which had a network of local student unions.
""The power that the national students union has in the UK enables it to provide input for education legislation in the UK, ensuring that the students' interests are heeded,"" she said.
She added that the presence of careers guidance departments that collaborated with top international companies such as Macintosh and IBM, in UK universities made it easier for students to find jobs after they graduated.
""Students can ask for advice on where to focus in their studies should they be interested in working for a particular company. The advisor will send them in the right direction.""
Mona said that this benefited both the students and companies looking for employees. ""A strong interest in the students' future after graduating is something that is lacking in Indonesia,"" she added. (005)
'Puskemas' play key role in TB fight
'Puskemas' play key role in TB fight
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 03/21/2005 1:02 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Community health centers (Puskesmas) are at the forefront of the increasingly successful fight against tuberculosis in Indonesia, according to experts.
Since the health centers began actively participating in anti-tuberculosis programs in 2002, the rate of recovery for tuberculosis patients has increased from 69 percent in 2001 to 76 percent in 2004, said Rosmini Day, the acting director of directly transmitted disease control at the Ministry of Health.
At about 30,000 Puskesmas in Indonesia, tuberculosis medicine is provided at no cost to patients. The centers also monitor the patients and make sure they take the medicine for a six month period, she said on Friday.
""The medicine is provided for free to all patients, regardless of their economic status. The Indonesian government contributed about Rp 50 million in 2004 to pay for the medicine. We also receive a contribution of US$5 million every two years, or $2.5 million a year, from a global fund.""
Jan EJ. Voskens, senior consultant of the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation, said the relative success of the Puskesmas in curbing tuberculosis could be attributed to the application of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategy called Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS).
The DOTS strategy cure rate is up to 95 percent, even in the poorest countries, according to WHO.
The strategy focuses on five key elements, which are: government commitment to sustained tuberculosis control, detection of tuberculosis cases among symptomatic people with sputum smear microscopy tests, six to eight months of regularly supervised treatment (including direct observation of drug-taking), regular and uninterrupted supply of high-quality anti-tuberculosis drugs and an effective reporting system to monitor treatment progress and program performance.
Voskens said the Puskesmas were more involved than hospitals in the treatment of tuberculosis.
""Doctors are often stubborn and still use old methods instead of DOTS in treating TB,"" Voskens said.
""Switching doctors and medicines is not advisable,"" Voskens added, ""as it will cause multi-drug resistance, in which curing can be very costly.""
He added that a six-month treatment for tuberculosis cost about $10 per patient, while in resistance cases a patient could expect to spend about $20,000 for the bulk purchase of anti-resistance drugs, or up to $40,000 for every private purchase. (005)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 03/21/2005 1:02 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Community health centers (Puskesmas) are at the forefront of the increasingly successful fight against tuberculosis in Indonesia, according to experts.
Since the health centers began actively participating in anti-tuberculosis programs in 2002, the rate of recovery for tuberculosis patients has increased from 69 percent in 2001 to 76 percent in 2004, said Rosmini Day, the acting director of directly transmitted disease control at the Ministry of Health.
At about 30,000 Puskesmas in Indonesia, tuberculosis medicine is provided at no cost to patients. The centers also monitor the patients and make sure they take the medicine for a six month period, she said on Friday.
""The medicine is provided for free to all patients, regardless of their economic status. The Indonesian government contributed about Rp 50 million in 2004 to pay for the medicine. We also receive a contribution of US$5 million every two years, or $2.5 million a year, from a global fund.""
Jan EJ. Voskens, senior consultant of the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation, said the relative success of the Puskesmas in curbing tuberculosis could be attributed to the application of the World Health Organization (WHO) strategy called Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS).
The DOTS strategy cure rate is up to 95 percent, even in the poorest countries, according to WHO.
The strategy focuses on five key elements, which are: government commitment to sustained tuberculosis control, detection of tuberculosis cases among symptomatic people with sputum smear microscopy tests, six to eight months of regularly supervised treatment (including direct observation of drug-taking), regular and uninterrupted supply of high-quality anti-tuberculosis drugs and an effective reporting system to monitor treatment progress and program performance.
Voskens said the Puskesmas were more involved than hospitals in the treatment of tuberculosis.
""Doctors are often stubborn and still use old methods instead of DOTS in treating TB,"" Voskens said.
""Switching doctors and medicines is not advisable,"" Voskens added, ""as it will cause multi-drug resistance, in which curing can be very costly.""
He added that a six-month treatment for tuberculosis cost about $10 per patient, while in resistance cases a patient could expect to spend about $20,000 for the bulk purchase of anti-resistance drugs, or up to $40,000 for every private purchase. (005)
Free medication boosts tuberculosis recovery rate
Free medication boosts tuberculosis recovery rate
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 03/23/2005 1:11 PM
Rodiyah nods and smiles when asked if she will finish the entire six-month course of tuberculosis (TB) medicine that the Setiabudi district community health center (Puskesmas) is providing her free of charge.
""I want to get well this time around,"" the 50-year-old woman says.
When she was first diagnosed with tuberculosis two years ago, she stopped taking the medicine after two months and the TB eventually came back.
Rodiyah returned to the Puskesmas last month and has been coming in every week to pick up her free medicine.
""I thought I was cured until the symptoms reappeared,"" she said.
The fact that she is raising six children, with the youngest in the fourth grade, makes it that much more important that she beat the disease once and for all this time.
""I need to get better,"" she says.
Rodiyah is an example of the main problem facing the country in eradicating TB. The World Health Organization has estimated that about 400 people in Indonesia die each day from tuberculosis, making it the number one killer among infectious diseases.
Indonesia had the largest number of registered TB patients in the world after India and China with 207,000 in 2004, a sharp increase from 178,000 the previous year.
""This increase is the result of more people going to Puskesmas because they have heard about the free medication provided by the government,"" said Setiabudi Puskesmas manager Kenny Zulfa Amir.
Rosmi Day, the acting director of directly transmitted disease control at the Ministry of Health, said recently the recovery rate for TB patients increased from 69 percent in 2003 to 76 percent in 2004. Rosmi credited this improvement to Puskesmas applying the WHO's Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS) method of treatment.
The DOTS strategy focuses on the government's commitment to fighting tuberculosis, the detection of cases, regular supervised treatment (including close observation of patients), ensuring a regular supply of anti-TB drugs and the effective reporting and monitoring of patients. The WHO has said that DOTS can improve cure rates to up to 95 percent, even in the poorest countries.
Jan Voskens, a senior consultant at the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation, said DOTS was important because for TB to be cured patients had to finish their entire course of medicine, uninterrupted.
On-and-off treatment will result in multidrug resistant TB.
""Resistance is not only expensive, costing about $20,000 to $40,000 for a two-year treatment, but the medicine given can actually harm the patients,"" he said.
At a Puskesmas in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, Herawati, a nurse in the Puskesmas' TB unit, said the work done by people monitoring the patients (PMOs) played a big role in the high cure rate at the health center.
""PMOs, usually the patients' relatives or friends, play a pivotal role in ensuring that medication is taken regularly,"" she said.
Puskesmas, she said, only play a passive role in this work, meaning that they educate patients and PMOs about TB, its dangers and how to cure the disease.
""With our limited human resources, it is impossible for us to take the campaign to the streets. We can only visit patients every four weeks to check if they are taking their medication,"" she said.
At both the Setiabudi and Mampang Prapatan health centers, boxes containing six-month courses of medicine are labeled with the patients' names to help monitor their compliance with the program.
Whenever the medicine runs out, the Puskesmas go to municipal health agencies for new supplies.
Herawati said there needed to be more of an effort to educate people about tuberculosis.
""People need to know the symptoms, which include continuous coughing over a three-week period, fever during the night, difficulty breathing and weight loss,"" she said.
Since the disease is transmitted through airborne particles, it is important for medical workers dealing with TB patients to wear masks to protect themselves from infection.
""We have work to do, and to do that work we need to stay healthy,"" Herawati said. (005)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 03/23/2005 1:11 PM
Rodiyah nods and smiles when asked if she will finish the entire six-month course of tuberculosis (TB) medicine that the Setiabudi district community health center (Puskesmas) is providing her free of charge.
""I want to get well this time around,"" the 50-year-old woman says.
When she was first diagnosed with tuberculosis two years ago, she stopped taking the medicine after two months and the TB eventually came back.
Rodiyah returned to the Puskesmas last month and has been coming in every week to pick up her free medicine.
""I thought I was cured until the symptoms reappeared,"" she said.
The fact that she is raising six children, with the youngest in the fourth grade, makes it that much more important that she beat the disease once and for all this time.
""I need to get better,"" she says.
Rodiyah is an example of the main problem facing the country in eradicating TB. The World Health Organization has estimated that about 400 people in Indonesia die each day from tuberculosis, making it the number one killer among infectious diseases.
Indonesia had the largest number of registered TB patients in the world after India and China with 207,000 in 2004, a sharp increase from 178,000 the previous year.
""This increase is the result of more people going to Puskesmas because they have heard about the free medication provided by the government,"" said Setiabudi Puskesmas manager Kenny Zulfa Amir.
Rosmi Day, the acting director of directly transmitted disease control at the Ministry of Health, said recently the recovery rate for TB patients increased from 69 percent in 2003 to 76 percent in 2004. Rosmi credited this improvement to Puskesmas applying the WHO's Directly Observed Therapy Short-Course (DOTS) method of treatment.
The DOTS strategy focuses on the government's commitment to fighting tuberculosis, the detection of cases, regular supervised treatment (including close observation of patients), ensuring a regular supply of anti-TB drugs and the effective reporting and monitoring of patients. The WHO has said that DOTS can improve cure rates to up to 95 percent, even in the poorest countries.
Jan Voskens, a senior consultant at the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation, said DOTS was important because for TB to be cured patients had to finish their entire course of medicine, uninterrupted.
On-and-off treatment will result in multidrug resistant TB.
""Resistance is not only expensive, costing about $20,000 to $40,000 for a two-year treatment, but the medicine given can actually harm the patients,"" he said.
At a Puskesmas in Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, Herawati, a nurse in the Puskesmas' TB unit, said the work done by people monitoring the patients (PMOs) played a big role in the high cure rate at the health center.
""PMOs, usually the patients' relatives or friends, play a pivotal role in ensuring that medication is taken regularly,"" she said.
Puskesmas, she said, only play a passive role in this work, meaning that they educate patients and PMOs about TB, its dangers and how to cure the disease.
""With our limited human resources, it is impossible for us to take the campaign to the streets. We can only visit patients every four weeks to check if they are taking their medication,"" she said.
At both the Setiabudi and Mampang Prapatan health centers, boxes containing six-month courses of medicine are labeled with the patients' names to help monitor their compliance with the program.
Whenever the medicine runs out, the Puskesmas go to municipal health agencies for new supplies.
Herawati said there needed to be more of an effort to educate people about tuberculosis.
""People need to know the symptoms, which include continuous coughing over a three-week period, fever during the night, difficulty breathing and weight loss,"" she said.
Since the disease is transmitted through airborne particles, it is important for medical workers dealing with TB patients to wear masks to protect themselves from infection.
""We have work to do, and to do that work we need to stay healthy,"" Herawati said. (005)
Companies told to invest more in computer security
Companies told to invest more in computer security
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/26/2005 1:23 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian firms have been told to spend more on protecting their computer systems now that information technology plays a pivotal role in businesses.
BT Bellua Asia Pacific information security consultant Jim Geovedi said the current state of cyber security in Indonesia was at an alarming level.
""The main cause is the system management that is adopted from overseas but is not adapted to the local culture. Security challenges are especially high for middle level-up businesses,"" Geovedi told a conference that concluded on Thursday.
He said viruses and other malicious programs spread through the internet were now far more advanced than those in previous years.
Emmanuel Gadaix, founder of the Telecom Security Task Force firm, agreed, saying there were no longer ""closed environments"" even in banking that were immune from attacks.
""The increasing complexity of telecommunications infrastructure with the advent of the internet and telecommunication systems leads to many further opportunities for attackers. The banks used to be closed environments, but this isn't really the case any more,"" he said.
The Singapore Internet Research Center, an internet security research firm, has predicted the world would need to spend at least US$2.4 billion on computer security spending in the coming three years, almost a three-fold increase from $901 million in 2003.
Some 40 experts and computer security consultants took part in the conference sponsored by Bellua Asia Pacific.
Another speaker, Phil Leifermann, said a ""reactive"" approach, in which an organization fights an attack once it occurs, was no longer effective to secure a computer system.
He added that development in IT has put an organization or company at risk of attacks on its computer system as it enables it to communicate and exchange information with other parties.
""Technology increases capabilities as well as risks that are higher compared to five to 10 years ago. We need an enterprise security management approach, in which security issues are first addressed at the management level through policy development,"" he said.
It may require a significant amount of organizational changes and money to implement the new approach at the start, he said, but the return on investment could be cheaper than trying to fix the system when it breaks down.
Geovedi predicted Indonesia might need up to 30 years to reach the standard of the United States today, but asserted that efforts must be exhausted for the sake of security. (005)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/26/2005 1:23 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian firms have been told to spend more on protecting their computer systems now that information technology plays a pivotal role in businesses.
BT Bellua Asia Pacific information security consultant Jim Geovedi said the current state of cyber security in Indonesia was at an alarming level.
""The main cause is the system management that is adopted from overseas but is not adapted to the local culture. Security challenges are especially high for middle level-up businesses,"" Geovedi told a conference that concluded on Thursday.
He said viruses and other malicious programs spread through the internet were now far more advanced than those in previous years.
Emmanuel Gadaix, founder of the Telecom Security Task Force firm, agreed, saying there were no longer ""closed environments"" even in banking that were immune from attacks.
""The increasing complexity of telecommunications infrastructure with the advent of the internet and telecommunication systems leads to many further opportunities for attackers. The banks used to be closed environments, but this isn't really the case any more,"" he said.
The Singapore Internet Research Center, an internet security research firm, has predicted the world would need to spend at least US$2.4 billion on computer security spending in the coming three years, almost a three-fold increase from $901 million in 2003.
Some 40 experts and computer security consultants took part in the conference sponsored by Bellua Asia Pacific.
Another speaker, Phil Leifermann, said a ""reactive"" approach, in which an organization fights an attack once it occurs, was no longer effective to secure a computer system.
He added that development in IT has put an organization or company at risk of attacks on its computer system as it enables it to communicate and exchange information with other parties.
""Technology increases capabilities as well as risks that are higher compared to five to 10 years ago. We need an enterprise security management approach, in which security issues are first addressed at the management level through policy development,"" he said.
It may require a significant amount of organizational changes and money to implement the new approach at the start, he said, but the return on investment could be cheaper than trying to fix the system when it breaks down.
Geovedi predicted Indonesia might need up to 30 years to reach the standard of the United States today, but asserted that efforts must be exhausted for the sake of security. (005)
RI needs big investment for clean drinking water
RI needs big investment for clean drinking water
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 04/02/2005 2:09 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia needs a massive effort and investment of up to US$5 billion, to be able to supply half of its population with clean drinking water by 2015, experts say.
Core problems exist within the regional administration-owned tap water companies (PDAM) nationwide, they said during the Indo Water Expo held at the Jakarta Convention Center, which was participated in by some 200 exhibitors from 20 countries.
A total of 316 PDAMs operate across the country, with average losses of approximately 35 percent. About 65 percent of the PDAMs are burdened with corporate debts of about Rp 4.5 trillion (about $489.13 million) in total.
According to Helmut Krist, a coordinator at a water management project in Indonesia and Timor Leste, some of the key problems include lack of understanding and business focus at the management levels on how to improve the systems. The owners of the PDAMs -- local administrations -- generally do not have a consistent strategy on how to improve performance, attract investment or how to turn the PDAMs into professional business entities, providing high quality services to their customers.
""Since decentralization in 1999, PDAMs are becoming more independent and self-reliant; however many face serious difficul ties in providing service (quality, quantity, continuity) or in expanding their systems to increase the coverage of piped water,"" Kris said on Wednesday. ""The current coverage for the whole urban population is around 38 percent, or six million house connections for 100 million people.
""This leads to an increasing degradation of fresh water resources and will hamper in a significant way the economic and social development of Indonesia. The high infant mortality rate and incidence of typhoid are associated with water-borne diseases closely linked to inadequate water, sanitation and drainage services. Economic losses due to inadequate sanitation are estimated at 2.4 percent of GDP, or about $6.8 billion per year.""
Didier Perez, project leader for Euro Promocap Iwat (Promoting European Capacity Building in Indonesia Water Utilities) project said, ""The 2001 Bonn charter, which was supported by the World Health Organization, targets for its implementation to provide greater surety in providing drinking water.
""It clarifies that water utilities should play a central role in delivering safe water services to consumers, ensure staff with sufficient skills and training and maintain adequate accounts in line with government requirements,"" he said.
Indonesia, he said, would suffer from water shortages by 2025 unless a radical change is achieved in its network efficiency.
The UN Millennium Development Goal, developed at the Johannesburg Earth Summit in 2002, states that by 2025 access to safe drinking water must be made available for the whole world population.
Suyono Dikun, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure at the National Development Planning Board (BAPPENAS), said: ""We realize that we are facing catastrophic conditions. The population will reach 246 millions in 2015 and will probably hit 300 million in 2025.""
This could pose a problem as the provision of water and envi ronmental sanitation are far behind population growth. More than 100 million people live without proper access to clean water, he said.
""The land's water-carrying capacity is declining consistently due to rampant deforestation, illegal logging, illegal mining and other destructive acts,"" he added.
""It has been predicted that there will be a water deficit starting in 2005 in Java,"" he added.
Experts on the panels said that about 90 percent of PDAMs did not perform well due to management and financial problems.
""According to the decentralization law, water supply and sanitation are the responsibility of local administrations but the priority given to those sectors in districts is still very low compared to other sectors,"" Suyono said.
""The government alone will never have enough money to serve the whole population as other problems exist, such as the lack of a policy and regulation framework,"" he added.
Experts said that PDAM's challenges include limited infrastructure networks, poor management and technical skills and limited investment capital. (005)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 04/02/2005 2:09 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia needs a massive effort and investment of up to US$5 billion, to be able to supply half of its population with clean drinking water by 2015, experts say.
Core problems exist within the regional administration-owned tap water companies (PDAM) nationwide, they said during the Indo Water Expo held at the Jakarta Convention Center, which was participated in by some 200 exhibitors from 20 countries.
A total of 316 PDAMs operate across the country, with average losses of approximately 35 percent. About 65 percent of the PDAMs are burdened with corporate debts of about Rp 4.5 trillion (about $489.13 million) in total.
According to Helmut Krist, a coordinator at a water management project in Indonesia and Timor Leste, some of the key problems include lack of understanding and business focus at the management levels on how to improve the systems. The owners of the PDAMs -- local administrations -- generally do not have a consistent strategy on how to improve performance, attract investment or how to turn the PDAMs into professional business entities, providing high quality services to their customers.
""Since decentralization in 1999, PDAMs are becoming more independent and self-reliant; however many face serious difficul ties in providing service (quality, quantity, continuity) or in expanding their systems to increase the coverage of piped water,"" Kris said on Wednesday. ""The current coverage for the whole urban population is around 38 percent, or six million house connections for 100 million people.
""This leads to an increasing degradation of fresh water resources and will hamper in a significant way the economic and social development of Indonesia. The high infant mortality rate and incidence of typhoid are associated with water-borne diseases closely linked to inadequate water, sanitation and drainage services. Economic losses due to inadequate sanitation are estimated at 2.4 percent of GDP, or about $6.8 billion per year.""
Didier Perez, project leader for Euro Promocap Iwat (Promoting European Capacity Building in Indonesia Water Utilities) project said, ""The 2001 Bonn charter, which was supported by the World Health Organization, targets for its implementation to provide greater surety in providing drinking water.
""It clarifies that water utilities should play a central role in delivering safe water services to consumers, ensure staff with sufficient skills and training and maintain adequate accounts in line with government requirements,"" he said.
Indonesia, he said, would suffer from water shortages by 2025 unless a radical change is achieved in its network efficiency.
The UN Millennium Development Goal, developed at the Johannesburg Earth Summit in 2002, states that by 2025 access to safe drinking water must be made available for the whole world population.
Suyono Dikun, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure at the National Development Planning Board (BAPPENAS), said: ""We realize that we are facing catastrophic conditions. The population will reach 246 millions in 2015 and will probably hit 300 million in 2025.""
This could pose a problem as the provision of water and envi ronmental sanitation are far behind population growth. More than 100 million people live without proper access to clean water, he said.
""The land's water-carrying capacity is declining consistently due to rampant deforestation, illegal logging, illegal mining and other destructive acts,"" he added.
""It has been predicted that there will be a water deficit starting in 2005 in Java,"" he added.
Experts on the panels said that about 90 percent of PDAMs did not perform well due to management and financial problems.
""According to the decentralization law, water supply and sanitation are the responsibility of local administrations but the priority given to those sectors in districts is still very low compared to other sectors,"" Suyono said.
""The government alone will never have enough money to serve the whole population as other problems exist, such as the lack of a policy and regulation framework,"" he added.
Experts said that PDAM's challenges include limited infrastructure networks, poor management and technical skills and limited investment capital. (005)
Better welfare won't stop deforestation
An article I wrote during my journalist year
Better welfare won't stop deforestation
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 01/28/2005 9:52 AM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Improving the economic welfare of communities living in forested areas would do little to reduce the widespread illegal logging across the country, environmentalists say.
Director of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) Indro Sugianto said the most effective way to combat illegal logging was to develop an integrated law enforcement system to use against the logging ""mafia"", which was known to be backed by elements in government and the security forces.
However, Indro said the poor economic conditions of people living at or near forests had contributed to illegal logging.
""In some cases, illegal logging is a systematic process -- and certain parties use the desire of people to improve their welfare to lure the poor into (logging) for their profit,"" he said on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in coordination with the European Commission (EC), launched a joint program aiming to preserve tropical forests and reduce illegal logging practices by raising the living standards of local communities.
The EC allocated around 1.2 million Euro (Rp 15.5 billion) for the Small Grants Program for Operations to Promote Tropical Forests (SGP PTF) for a two-year term. The program would cover forested areas in Java, South Sumatra and Central Sulawesi.
The grant would be used to pay for livelihood-based projects designed to reduce poverty among the local people often blamed for taking part in illegal logging.
Data from the Forestry Information Center shows that the rate of deforestation increased from 1.6 million to 1.8 million hectares per year between 1985 and 1997, to more than 2.83 million hectares between 1998 and 2000; 80 percent of which was due to illegal logging.
If the trend continued, there would be no forests left by 2010 in Kalimantan and North Sumatra, the World Bank has predicted.
Environment activists said the fight against illegal logging would be a long one because it was supported by endemic corruption at all levels of government and law enforcement.
The high domestic and international demand for timber also contributed to the increase in illegal logging cases, they said.
Luca Tacconi, a senior economist at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), said the improved welfare of local communities would not stop them from illegally logging the forests until the law was firmly enforced against the perpetrators.
""We need to look at complementary measures such as the law, economic situations and the right to forest use,"" he said.
He said an effective monitoring system that could track changes in deforestation and getting the community involved in managing the forests were two measures that could help reduce illegal logging.
The executive secretary of the Alliance of Indonesian Traditional Communities, Emil Kleben, said the main problem with illegal logging was people's misconception about forest use.
""Urban people equalize the forests with the economy because they see only the trees. For tribal communities, forests are the source of life, religion and the economy,"" he said.
Commenting on the UNDP-EC's program, Elil said, ""It will be successful if it pushes the communities to take their own initiatives in forest conservation and not narrow the problems down to economics, which are only advantageous to certain individuals.""
Better welfare won't stop deforestation
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 01/28/2005 9:52 AM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Improving the economic welfare of communities living in forested areas would do little to reduce the widespread illegal logging across the country, environmentalists say.
Director of the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) Indro Sugianto said the most effective way to combat illegal logging was to develop an integrated law enforcement system to use against the logging ""mafia"", which was known to be backed by elements in government and the security forces.
However, Indro said the poor economic conditions of people living at or near forests had contributed to illegal logging.
""In some cases, illegal logging is a systematic process -- and certain parties use the desire of people to improve their welfare to lure the poor into (logging) for their profit,"" he said on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in coordination with the European Commission (EC), launched a joint program aiming to preserve tropical forests and reduce illegal logging practices by raising the living standards of local communities.
The EC allocated around 1.2 million Euro (Rp 15.5 billion) for the Small Grants Program for Operations to Promote Tropical Forests (SGP PTF) for a two-year term. The program would cover forested areas in Java, South Sumatra and Central Sulawesi.
The grant would be used to pay for livelihood-based projects designed to reduce poverty among the local people often blamed for taking part in illegal logging.
Data from the Forestry Information Center shows that the rate of deforestation increased from 1.6 million to 1.8 million hectares per year between 1985 and 1997, to more than 2.83 million hectares between 1998 and 2000; 80 percent of which was due to illegal logging.
If the trend continued, there would be no forests left by 2010 in Kalimantan and North Sumatra, the World Bank has predicted.
Environment activists said the fight against illegal logging would be a long one because it was supported by endemic corruption at all levels of government and law enforcement.
The high domestic and international demand for timber also contributed to the increase in illegal logging cases, they said.
Luca Tacconi, a senior economist at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), said the improved welfare of local communities would not stop them from illegally logging the forests until the law was firmly enforced against the perpetrators.
""We need to look at complementary measures such as the law, economic situations and the right to forest use,"" he said.
He said an effective monitoring system that could track changes in deforestation and getting the community involved in managing the forests were two measures that could help reduce illegal logging.
The executive secretary of the Alliance of Indonesian Traditional Communities, Emil Kleben, said the main problem with illegal logging was people's misconception about forest use.
""Urban people equalize the forests with the economy because they see only the trees. For tribal communities, forests are the source of life, religion and the economy,"" he said.
Commenting on the UNDP-EC's program, Elil said, ""It will be successful if it pushes the communities to take their own initiatives in forest conservation and not narrow the problems down to economics, which are only advantageous to certain individuals.""
Gout in Asian Countries
The Offal Truth
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/24/2008 11:10 AM | Health
In the West, it's considered a disease of times gone, or at most an old man's affliction. Here (Indonesia), it remains a relatively common problem, especially among men. Vivi takes a closer look at gout.
A typical lunch for Ferdy used to consist of chowing down on amazingly tasty animal parts - the innards, lungs and other offal -- that some people consider to be disgusting and better thrown away.
Two years ago, the 31-year-old Jakarta marketing officer experienced pain in his joints and extremities. After an initial doctor's consultation failed to improve his condition, he went in for a blood test. It revealed a uric acid level of 11 mg/dL and he was diagnosed with gout.
"That was a frightening experience for me," he says. "I am a young man with a chronic condition which was probably triggered by my previous eating habit."
Simply put, gout is a form of arthritis. The problem is caused when the body cannot effectively metabolize uric acid, a waste product that naturally occurs in the body. Gout usually attacks the big toes as they are the coolest and farthest extremity from the body. It also can affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers and spine. Sufferers describe the pain as excruciating.
"The process begins with the metabolism of purines, which are nitrogen containing compounds that are important for energy," according to the Health and Age website. "Humans are the only mammal that breaks downs down purines into uric acid which is not as easily eliminated from the body as humans lack an enzyme called uricase. Thus explain the build up of uric acid in body tissues."
"Normally, the body keeps a health level of purines which is below 6.8 mg/dL. When the concentrations of uric acid reach 7 mg/dL and above, the blood becomes supersaturated and crystals of a salt cold monosodium urate form thus causing inflammation and pain."
Uric acid is produced from purines in the liver. Most passes through the kidneys and is excreted in urine. The rest is disposed of in the intestines, where it is processed and broken down by bacteria.
Gout is most common in men over 40, and doctors say women have a much lower risk for the condition, possibly because of the action of estrogen in facilitating the excretion of uric acid. However, about 85 percent of cases in females occur in post-menopausal women.
A study done by the Indonesian Rheumatic Centre in Jakarta in North Sulawesi, found that alcohol consumption and certain food habits were associated with gout. A family history of gout and being overweight were also significant risk factors.
Dr. Mardiana, who has been in general practice for 30 years, said that one out of 100 male patients she sees is diagnosed with gout. She said that she very rarely had a female patient with gout.
Aside from a hereditary predisposition, she said the consumption of animal organs and offal contributes to the disease's high prevalence here. "Many of my patients with Makassar, Padang or Manado backgrounds have gout," she says. "Their diets include a lot of offal. We consume the inner parts of animals when it is practically junk."
Fund manager Agus has a family history of gout but is an admitted food lover. The 26-year-old fund manager ate whatever and however much he wanted, until he was diagnosed with gout.
"My first gout attack was back in 2002 when I was 20, which is quite young and it was quite scary in a way," he says. "I was given medication but I chose not to depend on medication because I think that lifestyle changes are more important to prevent the disease to deteriorate my state of health."
A quick Internet search revealed all the foods barred from his plate.
"For a foodie like me, it was a tough choice to make. Almost all the food I like is basically on the list. For example, it turns out that seafood contains high levels of purines. And finding out that ‘good food' such as oatmeal, beancurd and tempeh have significant amount of purines was a little bit disappointing.
He says he finds the situation a bit "funny ...I can focus on my heart and cholesterol levels and eat lots of oatmeal, salmon and beancurd. On the other hand, this will exacerbate and speed up my gout flare-ups.
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Dr. Mardiana says portion control is very important in controlling gout.
"Food in the nut and beans family, including soybeans, actually have a moderate amount of purines. You can eat this food but you must control your portions. For example, a quarter cup of beans accompanied by vegetables."
She adds that by controlling the amount of purines consumed, it gives the body a chance to metabolize them properly.
"In my experience, a lot of patients with gout also come from poor families," she says. "They cannot afford medications and therefore, the only option is a strict diet to prevent attacks. However, they usually tend to forget the rules and often, when they feel better, they will go back to their old eating habits and then come back to me with the same complaint."
Sonny, a 36-year-old gout sufferer, agrees that food choices play a significant role in preventing gout attacks.
"I used to loathe healthy food and until I was diagnosed I preferred to eat fried food, soto (Indonesian chicken soup) and satay. I read books on gout and then modified my lifestyle. I don't have as many attacks per year anymore although, I do get more attacks when I start to slack off and not take care of my body properly," he says.
"You know, our eating habits in Indonesia are crazy, we eat organs considered rubbish. I used to like fried cow's lungs but now I don't even dare to have a tiny bite of lungs and emping (bitter nut crackers) which I love."
He says he has learned his lesson the hard way.
"Once you know that you are at risk, like me, don't even think about eating what you are not supposed to. The pain from gout attacks is so bad that even the wind blowing causes excruciating pain when your joint is inflamed."
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/24/2008 11:10 AM | Health
In the West, it's considered a disease of times gone, or at most an old man's affliction. Here (Indonesia), it remains a relatively common problem, especially among men. Vivi takes a closer look at gout.
A typical lunch for Ferdy used to consist of chowing down on amazingly tasty animal parts - the innards, lungs and other offal -- that some people consider to be disgusting and better thrown away.
Two years ago, the 31-year-old Jakarta marketing officer experienced pain in his joints and extremities. After an initial doctor's consultation failed to improve his condition, he went in for a blood test. It revealed a uric acid level of 11 mg/dL and he was diagnosed with gout.
"That was a frightening experience for me," he says. "I am a young man with a chronic condition which was probably triggered by my previous eating habit."
Simply put, gout is a form of arthritis. The problem is caused when the body cannot effectively metabolize uric acid, a waste product that naturally occurs in the body. Gout usually attacks the big toes as they are the coolest and farthest extremity from the body. It also can affect other joints such as the ankle, heel, instep, knee, wrist, elbow, fingers and spine. Sufferers describe the pain as excruciating.
"The process begins with the metabolism of purines, which are nitrogen containing compounds that are important for energy," according to the Health and Age website. "Humans are the only mammal that breaks downs down purines into uric acid which is not as easily eliminated from the body as humans lack an enzyme called uricase. Thus explain the build up of uric acid in body tissues."
"Normally, the body keeps a health level of purines which is below 6.8 mg/dL. When the concentrations of uric acid reach 7 mg/dL and above, the blood becomes supersaturated and crystals of a salt cold monosodium urate form thus causing inflammation and pain."
Uric acid is produced from purines in the liver. Most passes through the kidneys and is excreted in urine. The rest is disposed of in the intestines, where it is processed and broken down by bacteria.
Gout is most common in men over 40, and doctors say women have a much lower risk for the condition, possibly because of the action of estrogen in facilitating the excretion of uric acid. However, about 85 percent of cases in females occur in post-menopausal women.
A study done by the Indonesian Rheumatic Centre in Jakarta in North Sulawesi, found that alcohol consumption and certain food habits were associated with gout. A family history of gout and being overweight were also significant risk factors.
Dr. Mardiana, who has been in general practice for 30 years, said that one out of 100 male patients she sees is diagnosed with gout. She said that she very rarely had a female patient with gout.
Aside from a hereditary predisposition, she said the consumption of animal organs and offal contributes to the disease's high prevalence here. "Many of my patients with Makassar, Padang or Manado backgrounds have gout," she says. "Their diets include a lot of offal. We consume the inner parts of animals when it is practically junk."
Fund manager Agus has a family history of gout but is an admitted food lover. The 26-year-old fund manager ate whatever and however much he wanted, until he was diagnosed with gout.
"My first gout attack was back in 2002 when I was 20, which is quite young and it was quite scary in a way," he says. "I was given medication but I chose not to depend on medication because I think that lifestyle changes are more important to prevent the disease to deteriorate my state of health."
A quick Internet search revealed all the foods barred from his plate.
"For a foodie like me, it was a tough choice to make. Almost all the food I like is basically on the list. For example, it turns out that seafood contains high levels of purines. And finding out that ‘good food' such as oatmeal, beancurd and tempeh have significant amount of purines was a little bit disappointing.
He says he finds the situation a bit "funny ...I can focus on my heart and cholesterol levels and eat lots of oatmeal, salmon and beancurd. On the other hand, this will exacerbate and speed up my gout flare-ups.
"So what am I supposed to do?"
Dr. Mardiana says portion control is very important in controlling gout.
"Food in the nut and beans family, including soybeans, actually have a moderate amount of purines. You can eat this food but you must control your portions. For example, a quarter cup of beans accompanied by vegetables."
She adds that by controlling the amount of purines consumed, it gives the body a chance to metabolize them properly.
"In my experience, a lot of patients with gout also come from poor families," she says. "They cannot afford medications and therefore, the only option is a strict diet to prevent attacks. However, they usually tend to forget the rules and often, when they feel better, they will go back to their old eating habits and then come back to me with the same complaint."
Sonny, a 36-year-old gout sufferer, agrees that food choices play a significant role in preventing gout attacks.
"I used to loathe healthy food and until I was diagnosed I preferred to eat fried food, soto (Indonesian chicken soup) and satay. I read books on gout and then modified my lifestyle. I don't have as many attacks per year anymore although, I do get more attacks when I start to slack off and not take care of my body properly," he says.
"You know, our eating habits in Indonesia are crazy, we eat organs considered rubbish. I used to like fried cow's lungs but now I don't even dare to have a tiny bite of lungs and emping (bitter nut crackers) which I love."
He says he has learned his lesson the hard way.
"Once you know that you are at risk, like me, don't even think about eating what you are not supposed to. The pain from gout attacks is so bad that even the wind blowing causes excruciating pain when your joint is inflamed."
Being Chinese Indonesian
Being Chinese and Indonesian
The Jakarta Post | Wed, 01/23/2008 10:25 AM | Life
I call myself an ordinary Indonesian. I speak fluent Indonesian as well as a local dialect, eat Indonesian food (that includes being a very good chili eater) and have an Indonesian passport.
But when I walk on the street, I sometimes hear people calling me "Cina" (Chinese). When I first heard the term as a child, I was confused and went to my father. "It's because we are of Chinese descent," he told me.
I was seven, and I did not feel any different from my friends who had darker skins. My parents tried to explain that each human is made differently by God.
As I grew older, I started to better understand what the term "Chinese" really means. It sometimes feels like I am being differentiated from the rest of the Indonesian population simply because of the way I look. Despite the many ethnic groups in this country, I think at times that my ethnic heritage puts me at a disadvantage.
I remember when I was in elementary school and my parents complained about an increase in school fees. Apparently, each student's fees were determined based on his or her family's neighborhood and ethnic group. Those classified as Chinese paid higher school fees because they were considered wealthier than their non-Chinese counterparts.
I was reminded once again of my "identity" when I was in 6th grade and had to fill out a form to continue on to high school. There were three options: Indonesian citizens (WNI), Indonesian citizens of a different heritage (WNI keturunan) and foreigners (WNA).
My mother told me to tick the second option. I asked why and she said, "Because that is us."
Finally, exams were over and I received my score. I had a school which I wanted to go to but apparently my mark was 0.02 lower than the required entry score for my ethnic category. If I were an Indonesian citizen, I would have gotten in because the entry score was 2 points lower.
I started to feel it was unfair. I hated that I was born with small eyes and had to deal with men calling me "Cina" or "Amoy". There was a man in my neighborhood who would touch me whenever I walked past, muttering "Cina, Cina." He didn't do it to any other girls. "If I wasn't born Chinese, I wouldn't have to deal with creepy men touching me," I thought.
I still don't understand why I am classified as Chinese when I was born and raised in Indonesia.
When, by God's grace, I was able to further my studies in Australia, some people asked me where I was from. When I told them that I was from Indonesia, some of them remarked that I looked Chinese and asked me if I spoke Chinese.
I would answer no and they would say, "But I thought you were Chinese."
The funny thing is that the mainland Chinese do not consider us Chinese because we were born outside China. We are called overseas Chinese.
It is as though because I am of Chinese descent, I am expected to know everything about a heritage that my family left behind many years ago.
"It is actually good if you know and study your own language and culture," a friend, who happens to be an Indonesian Muslim, told me in a well-meaning way.
"One should never forget one's roots."
"Absolutely," I replied. "But when Mandarin-speaking schools, Chinese names and Chinese celebrations were forbidden for years, can you really expect those roots to continue to grow? Even now, some people still mock those who speak Chinese in public.
I am glad that people are more open now because otherwise, it is too stupid to pretend that it didn't happen."
"That's true. That's a pity and I'm sorry to hear that," she said, and I know she meant it.
Although it is still a little hard to blend in sometimes, I am happy that I have many friends, non-Chinese included, who accept me for who I am and look beyond superficial appearances.
While others, due to insecurity, fear and ignorance, choose to focus on differences, my friends and I seek instead to focus on brotherly love, equality, acceptance and understanding.
Our diversity is what makes Indonesia unique and culturally rich. We sometimes forget that we live in a very blessed country, but it is up to us what we do with the blessings bestowed on us.
‘We are accepted by our deeds'
Lie Hua is a seventh-generation Chinese-Indonesian who works as a translator in Jakarta.
Given the periodic flare-ups of anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia, it might be assumed that it was a painful experience growing up as an ethnic Chinese in this country. But there are two sides, ups and downs, in any relationship.
I was born on April 23, 1951, a seventh generation Chinese-Indonesian (my ancestors arrived in this country in the mid-1700s). I was raised in a Chinese neighborhood in West Jakarta, but I cannot speak any Chinese dialect. In fact, we spoke the Betawi dialect. I got on with indigenous Indonesian kids but of course there were also some cultural differences between us.
I went to a government elementary school where most of the students were of ethnic Chinese descent. Some of our teachers were native Indonesians but we were never discriminated against. My best friend was Endang, the son of a Sundanese butcher in our local market. We walked to school together and would watch movies during our free time. Endang was the minority in our school, but he got on well with the rest of us.
I continued my studies at Tjandra Naja Junior High School on Jl. Gadjah Mada. Again, most of the students and teachers were of Chinese origin. I spent three and a half years here because of the abortive coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party. The school term, which should have ended in July 1965, was extended to December 1966 due to the emergency situation.
The upheaval, which led to Soeharto's rise to power, ushered in a very dark chapter for Chinese-Indonesians. The witch-hunt for members and sympathizers of the Indonesian Communist Party, which the government closely linked with the People's Republic of China, led to an intensified anti-Chinese campaign in virtually all aspects of life.
The government issued a regulation that Chinese names must be changed into Indonesian names. Chinese characters were forbidden in public places. Even public celebrations of Chinese rites were prohibited. Chinese-Indonesians, for their own safety, converted to Christianity and some to Islam, and tried to shed their Chineseness.
But I kept my Chinese name. My father, who taught Indonesian in a Chinese school in Jakarta, always believed that we would be accepted in Indonesian society because of our deeds, not because of our names or other attributes. That is why he sent me and my younger brother and sisters to an Indonesian school, not to a Chinese school where tuition would have been free for us.
My family also continued to observe Chinese rites, but this time we did it more quietly, without attracting attention.
Despite my distinct Chinese name, wherever I went I never felt discriminated against. Looking back, I think the reason is that I never had any ill feeling towards native Indonesians. Some of my teachers and my friends were indigenous Indonesians and they were all kind to me.
In contrast, I felt - and still feel - alienated in the presence of Chinese-speaking Chinese, especially Chinese-Indonesians who have been here for a generation or two. If I am greeted in Chinese, I will just stare, unable to answer in kind, and an inevitable feeling of awkwardness and distance arises between us. In their view, I am not one of them because of my inability to speak Chinese.
That's why when I go to Jakarta's Chinatown, Glodok, I always feel uneasy. The moment you show that you cannot speak Chinese, these people seem to be saying: "You look Chinese but cannot speak Chinese, so you are not one of us."
After completing my senior high school when the anti-Chinese feeling was at its height, I continued my studies at a foreign language academy and then in 1973-1975 I studied English literature at the Nasional University, where 99 percent of the students were Muslims and native Indonesians.
I was well accepted there although many of my friends found it strange that I could not speak Chinese. They assumed that I spoke Chinese at home just like they spoke Javanese, Sundanese or whatever their regional dialect was. I enjoyed my studies at this university even though anti-Chinese sentiment was still prevalent.
To put it succinctly, I grew up in a non-Chinese-speaking Chinese community, befriending many native Indonesians but having few friends in the Chinese-speaking Chinese community. And I still have my Chinese name. That is who I am.
The Jakarta Post | Wed, 01/23/2008 10:25 AM | Life
I call myself an ordinary Indonesian. I speak fluent Indonesian as well as a local dialect, eat Indonesian food (that includes being a very good chili eater) and have an Indonesian passport.
But when I walk on the street, I sometimes hear people calling me "Cina" (Chinese). When I first heard the term as a child, I was confused and went to my father. "It's because we are of Chinese descent," he told me.
I was seven, and I did not feel any different from my friends who had darker skins. My parents tried to explain that each human is made differently by God.
As I grew older, I started to better understand what the term "Chinese" really means. It sometimes feels like I am being differentiated from the rest of the Indonesian population simply because of the way I look. Despite the many ethnic groups in this country, I think at times that my ethnic heritage puts me at a disadvantage.
I remember when I was in elementary school and my parents complained about an increase in school fees. Apparently, each student's fees were determined based on his or her family's neighborhood and ethnic group. Those classified as Chinese paid higher school fees because they were considered wealthier than their non-Chinese counterparts.
I was reminded once again of my "identity" when I was in 6th grade and had to fill out a form to continue on to high school. There were three options: Indonesian citizens (WNI), Indonesian citizens of a different heritage (WNI keturunan) and foreigners (WNA).
My mother told me to tick the second option. I asked why and she said, "Because that is us."
Finally, exams were over and I received my score. I had a school which I wanted to go to but apparently my mark was 0.02 lower than the required entry score for my ethnic category. If I were an Indonesian citizen, I would have gotten in because the entry score was 2 points lower.
I started to feel it was unfair. I hated that I was born with small eyes and had to deal with men calling me "Cina" or "Amoy". There was a man in my neighborhood who would touch me whenever I walked past, muttering "Cina, Cina." He didn't do it to any other girls. "If I wasn't born Chinese, I wouldn't have to deal with creepy men touching me," I thought.
I still don't understand why I am classified as Chinese when I was born and raised in Indonesia.
When, by God's grace, I was able to further my studies in Australia, some people asked me where I was from. When I told them that I was from Indonesia, some of them remarked that I looked Chinese and asked me if I spoke Chinese.
I would answer no and they would say, "But I thought you were Chinese."
The funny thing is that the mainland Chinese do not consider us Chinese because we were born outside China. We are called overseas Chinese.
It is as though because I am of Chinese descent, I am expected to know everything about a heritage that my family left behind many years ago.
"It is actually good if you know and study your own language and culture," a friend, who happens to be an Indonesian Muslim, told me in a well-meaning way.
"One should never forget one's roots."
"Absolutely," I replied. "But when Mandarin-speaking schools, Chinese names and Chinese celebrations were forbidden for years, can you really expect those roots to continue to grow? Even now, some people still mock those who speak Chinese in public.
I am glad that people are more open now because otherwise, it is too stupid to pretend that it didn't happen."
"That's true. That's a pity and I'm sorry to hear that," she said, and I know she meant it.
Although it is still a little hard to blend in sometimes, I am happy that I have many friends, non-Chinese included, who accept me for who I am and look beyond superficial appearances.
While others, due to insecurity, fear and ignorance, choose to focus on differences, my friends and I seek instead to focus on brotherly love, equality, acceptance and understanding.
Our diversity is what makes Indonesia unique and culturally rich. We sometimes forget that we live in a very blessed country, but it is up to us what we do with the blessings bestowed on us.
‘We are accepted by our deeds'
Lie Hua is a seventh-generation Chinese-Indonesian who works as a translator in Jakarta.
Given the periodic flare-ups of anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia, it might be assumed that it was a painful experience growing up as an ethnic Chinese in this country. But there are two sides, ups and downs, in any relationship.
I was born on April 23, 1951, a seventh generation Chinese-Indonesian (my ancestors arrived in this country in the mid-1700s). I was raised in a Chinese neighborhood in West Jakarta, but I cannot speak any Chinese dialect. In fact, we spoke the Betawi dialect. I got on with indigenous Indonesian kids but of course there were also some cultural differences between us.
I went to a government elementary school where most of the students were of ethnic Chinese descent. Some of our teachers were native Indonesians but we were never discriminated against. My best friend was Endang, the son of a Sundanese butcher in our local market. We walked to school together and would watch movies during our free time. Endang was the minority in our school, but he got on well with the rest of us.
I continued my studies at Tjandra Naja Junior High School on Jl. Gadjah Mada. Again, most of the students and teachers were of Chinese origin. I spent three and a half years here because of the abortive coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party. The school term, which should have ended in July 1965, was extended to December 1966 due to the emergency situation.
The upheaval, which led to Soeharto's rise to power, ushered in a very dark chapter for Chinese-Indonesians. The witch-hunt for members and sympathizers of the Indonesian Communist Party, which the government closely linked with the People's Republic of China, led to an intensified anti-Chinese campaign in virtually all aspects of life.
The government issued a regulation that Chinese names must be changed into Indonesian names. Chinese characters were forbidden in public places. Even public celebrations of Chinese rites were prohibited. Chinese-Indonesians, for their own safety, converted to Christianity and some to Islam, and tried to shed their Chineseness.
But I kept my Chinese name. My father, who taught Indonesian in a Chinese school in Jakarta, always believed that we would be accepted in Indonesian society because of our deeds, not because of our names or other attributes. That is why he sent me and my younger brother and sisters to an Indonesian school, not to a Chinese school where tuition would have been free for us.
My family also continued to observe Chinese rites, but this time we did it more quietly, without attracting attention.
Despite my distinct Chinese name, wherever I went I never felt discriminated against. Looking back, I think the reason is that I never had any ill feeling towards native Indonesians. Some of my teachers and my friends were indigenous Indonesians and they were all kind to me.
In contrast, I felt - and still feel - alienated in the presence of Chinese-speaking Chinese, especially Chinese-Indonesians who have been here for a generation or two. If I am greeted in Chinese, I will just stare, unable to answer in kind, and an inevitable feeling of awkwardness and distance arises between us. In their view, I am not one of them because of my inability to speak Chinese.
That's why when I go to Jakarta's Chinatown, Glodok, I always feel uneasy. The moment you show that you cannot speak Chinese, these people seem to be saying: "You look Chinese but cannot speak Chinese, so you are not one of us."
After completing my senior high school when the anti-Chinese feeling was at its height, I continued my studies at a foreign language academy and then in 1973-1975 I studied English literature at the Nasional University, where 99 percent of the students were Muslims and native Indonesians.
I was well accepted there although many of my friends found it strange that I could not speak Chinese. They assumed that I spoke Chinese at home just like they spoke Javanese, Sundanese or whatever their regional dialect was. I enjoyed my studies at this university even though anti-Chinese sentiment was still prevalent.
To put it succinctly, I grew up in a non-Chinese-speaking Chinese community, befriending many native Indonesians but having few friends in the Chinese-speaking Chinese community. And I still have my Chinese name. That is who I am.
Korean food
An article from my journalist year
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 04/27/2005 3:30 PM | Life
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For Seoul-born Lupina Cho, 27, meal time is family time. It is a time when families enjoy the food and mothers spoil their families with many side dishes. Meat, especially beef, is a treat for her family.
""Meat is the main attraction of the whole meal. For example, we will have bulgogi (barbecued meat) and cook it together at the table, for the sake of spending time together and enjoying the special food,"" she said.
Bulgogi can be translated literally as ""fire meat"". It is barbecued meat strips, usually beef or pork, chicken, baby octopus or rabbit. In some places, dog meat is also popular.
Influenced by the Mongolian, Chinese and Japanese, Koreans have developed a unique combination of food that is both healthy and preservable, such as the famous pickled vegetables, usually white cabbage, called kimchi, a variation of which dates back to the seventh century.
Bulgogi and kimchi are two other well-known Korean dishes. Another popular dish is bibimbap, a mixture of rice, vegetables and meat.
Bibimbap is usually eaten with half-boiled eggs, Korean red pepper sauce and vegetables. Bibimbap can also be served on a sizzling hot plate to keep it warm.
Bibimbap is a healthy meal for busy people who want to remain healthy, according to Cho.
The ddeok rice cake is a favorite among youngsters. It is often cooked as a soup, fried or boiled and mixed with fermented bean sauce or red pepper sauce.
There is also Ttok-mandu kuk, rice cake soup with dumplings. This dish is quite special and is usually eaten to mark the Lunar New Year.
Soup is indeed a favorite among Koreans, especially during winter.
Among the dozens of different kinds of traditional soups that Koreans enjoy, chicken ginseng soup or samgye-t'ang is one of the most famous. This consists of young chicken meat boiled with ginseng, sticky rice, Chinese dates and garlic, and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Samgye-t'ang is also often eaten in summer as Koreans believe the ingredients in the soup strengthen the immune system, a belief also held by the Chinese.
Besides meat, rice and soup, Koreans also love noodles, which are popular among other Asians such as Japanese and Chinese.
Korean instant noodles are known for the generous size and unique large shape. A favorite among Korean food lovers is ramen with the spicy red soup and dried vegetables and seaweed that accompany it.
Naengmyon (cold noodles) is a refreshing summer favorite. The thin, chewy buckwheat noodles are served in a cold beef broth with chopped scallions, shredded radish, cucumber, sesame seeds and lean beef slices.
Many Koreans, including Cho, claim the dishes are healthy and low in calories and no one gets fat from eating a lot.
""People mostly get fat when they eat snacks, junk food and too much fried food. But (Korean) main meals do not contain much fat,"" Cho added.
So, go for it! (005)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 04/27/2005 3:30 PM | Life
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For Seoul-born Lupina Cho, 27, meal time is family time. It is a time when families enjoy the food and mothers spoil their families with many side dishes. Meat, especially beef, is a treat for her family.
""Meat is the main attraction of the whole meal. For example, we will have bulgogi (barbecued meat) and cook it together at the table, for the sake of spending time together and enjoying the special food,"" she said.
Bulgogi can be translated literally as ""fire meat"". It is barbecued meat strips, usually beef or pork, chicken, baby octopus or rabbit. In some places, dog meat is also popular.
Influenced by the Mongolian, Chinese and Japanese, Koreans have developed a unique combination of food that is both healthy and preservable, such as the famous pickled vegetables, usually white cabbage, called kimchi, a variation of which dates back to the seventh century.
Bulgogi and kimchi are two other well-known Korean dishes. Another popular dish is bibimbap, a mixture of rice, vegetables and meat.
Bibimbap is usually eaten with half-boiled eggs, Korean red pepper sauce and vegetables. Bibimbap can also be served on a sizzling hot plate to keep it warm.
Bibimbap is a healthy meal for busy people who want to remain healthy, according to Cho.
The ddeok rice cake is a favorite among youngsters. It is often cooked as a soup, fried or boiled and mixed with fermented bean sauce or red pepper sauce.
There is also Ttok-mandu kuk, rice cake soup with dumplings. This dish is quite special and is usually eaten to mark the Lunar New Year.
Soup is indeed a favorite among Koreans, especially during winter.
Among the dozens of different kinds of traditional soups that Koreans enjoy, chicken ginseng soup or samgye-t'ang is one of the most famous. This consists of young chicken meat boiled with ginseng, sticky rice, Chinese dates and garlic, and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Samgye-t'ang is also often eaten in summer as Koreans believe the ingredients in the soup strengthen the immune system, a belief also held by the Chinese.
Besides meat, rice and soup, Koreans also love noodles, which are popular among other Asians such as Japanese and Chinese.
Korean instant noodles are known for the generous size and unique large shape. A favorite among Korean food lovers is ramen with the spicy red soup and dried vegetables and seaweed that accompany it.
Naengmyon (cold noodles) is a refreshing summer favorite. The thin, chewy buckwheat noodles are served in a cold beef broth with chopped scallions, shredded radish, cucumber, sesame seeds and lean beef slices.
Many Koreans, including Cho, claim the dishes are healthy and low in calories and no one gets fat from eating a lot.
""People mostly get fat when they eat snacks, junk food and too much fried food. But (Korean) main meals do not contain much fat,"" Cho added.
So, go for it! (005)
Historical Factors Influencing Australian Contemporary Nursing
An essay I wrote during my nursing degree
===
Contemporary nursing in Australia has gone through many phases. Nursing was initially a vocation based on religious values, humanism, self-devotion and sacrifice. The fundamental Nightingale system was based on female virtues, emphasis on discipline and displacement of men (Godden and Forsyth, 2000).
Although the practice has evolved, the public image of the profession is still influenced by these historical factors. Many of these factors were caused by female inferiority which caused lack of involvement in science and education; thus nursing as vocation work rather than a profession.
This contributed to the silencing of the nurses of Bundaberg hospital in malpractices cases involving a surgeon named Dr. Patel. Their complaints were ignored and the nurses did not pursue the matter further as most feared redundancy. Tony Hoffman, who finally brought the matter to the parliament, was faced with ethical and professional issues when trying to fulfill one of her roles, as a client advocate.
The system, code of professional conducts, and ethics must be compensated at times to enable nurses fulfilling their obligations. It is argued that the ends justify the means and often an individual's personal life is affected in the process.
This paper will discuss the role of the nurse, historical factors, ethical and professional issues in contemporary nursing practice and factors relevant to the Bundaberg's case.
Historical Factors Contributing To the Bundaberg Nurses' Silence
Gender, science, education and professionalism issues have been reformed in contemporary nursing practice. However, historical factors still influence contemporary nursing practice and contributed to the silencing of the Bundaberg's nurses.
Gender
Women's role played a major factor in gender division in nursing (Godden and Forsyth, 2000). Men were defined as human subjects and women were defined in relation to nature and the feminine (Parker, 2006).
The development of nursing as an exclusively female occupation has therefore had major ramifications for its status and image. This long standing attitude of inequality caused poor self-esteem among nurses and a lack of belief in the value of the nursing role by the public (Bloomfield, 1999).
Science
Nursing was established in Australia during a period of male dominance, patriachialism and female subservience. Men dominated science and women's social position was replicated by nurses' subordinate position in relation to doctors (Bloomfield, 1999).
Operating room nurses were portrayed as "handmaidens" to the surgeons. It implies that nurses' bodies and their practical knowledge are sites of discursive control by surgeons, rather than nursing colleagues and managers (Riley & Manias, 2006).
Vocation
Nursing was practical work based on intrinsic Nightingale values. Holten said (as cited in Bloomfield,1999), Nightingale promoted obedience to doctors, moral development, religious values, discipline, and self-control. These principles were strongly enforced within a rigid hierarchical structure. The position of the nurse now, although respected, is still primarily associated with domestic duties.
Education
The Nightingale apprenticeship system, introduced by Lucy Osburn in 1868, was significantly fundamental and remained substantially unchanged in Australia for about 100 years (Department of Human Services and Health, 1994).
By the end of the 19th century, hospitals were responsible for training. Different pressures led to policy change in 1983, when higher education for Registered Nurses was supported by the Commonwealth government (Department of Human Services and Health, 1994) and nursing was acknowledged as a profession.
Education equipped today's RNs the ability to think independently and solve clinical problems, once held to be the monopoly of doctors.
Ethical and Professional Issues
The organization of nursing practice in Australia is influenced by historic, social, economic, political and technical factors (Lange & Cheek, 1997). Nursing today involves education, body of knowledge, autonomy, and code of ethics. The profession is complex and multifaceted. Nurses' roles include direct care provider, clinical manager, client and family advocate, researcher, and educator (Potter & Perry, 2001). The information that nurses gather is considered sensitive under the Federal Privacy Act 1988. This resulted in code of ethics, conduct, and boundaries being developed; to ensure community protection and guidance for ethical decision making.
Nurses, therefore, have ethical obligations to the patient, society, government, co-workers and employer. This, and the hierarchy system within the healthcare system, can contradict nurses' obligations to fulfill their roles because of the different power and bureaucracy inside the healthcare and legal system.
Regulatory power is held by the government and accrediting bodies such as the Nursing Board Victoria. Physicians historically had almost unlimited power within the health care system. They have opposed changes that would disperse their power, arguing that they are the most educated and knowledgeable. Nurses commonly have had limited power due to the traditional aspects of nursing. Nurses are most concerned about client well-being in the midst of a powerful system and often responded to negatively when they speak with a voice of reason and act in the best interest of their clients (Ellis & Hartley, 2004).
Pressures divide the nurses' loyalty among patient, employer, and self. It is not unusual for an ethical decision to involve conflict between the best interests of the employer and the patient (Ellis & Hartley, 2004).
Relevant to the Bundaberg case, both the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council and International Council of Nurses code of ethics state that nurses have an ethical responsibility to report instances of unsafe and unethical practice by anyone. The Bundaberg nurses were fulfilling their professional obligations in reporting Patel's malpractice but were initially ignored by the hospital and Queensland health beaurecracy. The nurses' union argues that the culture of bullying in Health Queensland resulted in the early internal complaints by nursing staff being ignored (Burton, 2005). All, but Hoffman, decided to not get further involved as they fear redundancy.
Hoffman might have failed to gather consent when she brought the matter to further government bodies. This contradicted the Privacy Act which had to be compensated for the community's benefit, hence, the ends justify the means (Firtko & Jackson 2005). Consequences of whistleblowing can be severe for the whistleblowers as nurses are placed in a situation that they are unfamiliar with, including the law, system, media and politicians. Hoffman, for example, had to earn everyone's trust again and experienced threats (Jones & Hoffman 2005).
Conclusion
I believe that Australian contemporary nursing has evolved. However, the public image of the profession is still influenced by historically influenced traditional views.
Female inferiority developed problems such as lack of education for nurses, as it was viewed as a female's work. These biases therefore contributed to the physician jurisdictive power. One can argue that this factor is not relevant today but in practice, they still and will continue until nurses stand up and exercise their power in influencing policy development.
The contradiction between the law over ethics, bullying and underestimation continue to silence nurses. Nurses are obliged to protect the community and fulfill their roles. However, they are constricted within a rigid hierarchical system.
I believe that nurses should be protected legally, mentally, physically and intellectually. Threats of unemployment and dismissal of reports will discourage nurses in fulfilling their professional obligations. To ensure that nurses can fulfill their diverse roles, there should be laws that protect individuals, their futures and reputations. Therefore, nurses are no longer bullied, as perhaps, their biggest enemy is the whole political and legal system.
===
Contemporary nursing in Australia has gone through many phases. Nursing was initially a vocation based on religious values, humanism, self-devotion and sacrifice. The fundamental Nightingale system was based on female virtues, emphasis on discipline and displacement of men (Godden and Forsyth, 2000).
Although the practice has evolved, the public image of the profession is still influenced by these historical factors. Many of these factors were caused by female inferiority which caused lack of involvement in science and education; thus nursing as vocation work rather than a profession.
This contributed to the silencing of the nurses of Bundaberg hospital in malpractices cases involving a surgeon named Dr. Patel. Their complaints were ignored and the nurses did not pursue the matter further as most feared redundancy. Tony Hoffman, who finally brought the matter to the parliament, was faced with ethical and professional issues when trying to fulfill one of her roles, as a client advocate.
The system, code of professional conducts, and ethics must be compensated at times to enable nurses fulfilling their obligations. It is argued that the ends justify the means and often an individual's personal life is affected in the process.
This paper will discuss the role of the nurse, historical factors, ethical and professional issues in contemporary nursing practice and factors relevant to the Bundaberg's case.
Historical Factors Contributing To the Bundaberg Nurses' Silence
Gender, science, education and professionalism issues have been reformed in contemporary nursing practice. However, historical factors still influence contemporary nursing practice and contributed to the silencing of the Bundaberg's nurses.
Gender
Women's role played a major factor in gender division in nursing (Godden and Forsyth, 2000). Men were defined as human subjects and women were defined in relation to nature and the feminine (Parker, 2006).
The development of nursing as an exclusively female occupation has therefore had major ramifications for its status and image. This long standing attitude of inequality caused poor self-esteem among nurses and a lack of belief in the value of the nursing role by the public (Bloomfield, 1999).
Science
Nursing was established in Australia during a period of male dominance, patriachialism and female subservience. Men dominated science and women's social position was replicated by nurses' subordinate position in relation to doctors (Bloomfield, 1999).
Operating room nurses were portrayed as "handmaidens" to the surgeons. It implies that nurses' bodies and their practical knowledge are sites of discursive control by surgeons, rather than nursing colleagues and managers (Riley & Manias, 2006).
Vocation
Nursing was practical work based on intrinsic Nightingale values. Holten said (as cited in Bloomfield,1999), Nightingale promoted obedience to doctors, moral development, religious values, discipline, and self-control. These principles were strongly enforced within a rigid hierarchical structure. The position of the nurse now, although respected, is still primarily associated with domestic duties.
Education
The Nightingale apprenticeship system, introduced by Lucy Osburn in 1868, was significantly fundamental and remained substantially unchanged in Australia for about 100 years (Department of Human Services and Health, 1994).
By the end of the 19th century, hospitals were responsible for training. Different pressures led to policy change in 1983, when higher education for Registered Nurses was supported by the Commonwealth government (Department of Human Services and Health, 1994) and nursing was acknowledged as a profession.
Education equipped today's RNs the ability to think independently and solve clinical problems, once held to be the monopoly of doctors.
Ethical and Professional Issues
The organization of nursing practice in Australia is influenced by historic, social, economic, political and technical factors (Lange & Cheek, 1997). Nursing today involves education, body of knowledge, autonomy, and code of ethics. The profession is complex and multifaceted. Nurses' roles include direct care provider, clinical manager, client and family advocate, researcher, and educator (Potter & Perry, 2001). The information that nurses gather is considered sensitive under the Federal Privacy Act 1988. This resulted in code of ethics, conduct, and boundaries being developed; to ensure community protection and guidance for ethical decision making.
Nurses, therefore, have ethical obligations to the patient, society, government, co-workers and employer. This, and the hierarchy system within the healthcare system, can contradict nurses' obligations to fulfill their roles because of the different power and bureaucracy inside the healthcare and legal system.
Regulatory power is held by the government and accrediting bodies such as the Nursing Board Victoria. Physicians historically had almost unlimited power within the health care system. They have opposed changes that would disperse their power, arguing that they are the most educated and knowledgeable. Nurses commonly have had limited power due to the traditional aspects of nursing. Nurses are most concerned about client well-being in the midst of a powerful system and often responded to negatively when they speak with a voice of reason and act in the best interest of their clients (Ellis & Hartley, 2004).
Pressures divide the nurses' loyalty among patient, employer, and self. It is not unusual for an ethical decision to involve conflict between the best interests of the employer and the patient (Ellis & Hartley, 2004).
Relevant to the Bundaberg case, both the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council and International Council of Nurses code of ethics state that nurses have an ethical responsibility to report instances of unsafe and unethical practice by anyone. The Bundaberg nurses were fulfilling their professional obligations in reporting Patel's malpractice but were initially ignored by the hospital and Queensland health beaurecracy. The nurses' union argues that the culture of bullying in Health Queensland resulted in the early internal complaints by nursing staff being ignored (Burton, 2005). All, but Hoffman, decided to not get further involved as they fear redundancy.
Hoffman might have failed to gather consent when she brought the matter to further government bodies. This contradicted the Privacy Act which had to be compensated for the community's benefit, hence, the ends justify the means (Firtko & Jackson 2005). Consequences of whistleblowing can be severe for the whistleblowers as nurses are placed in a situation that they are unfamiliar with, including the law, system, media and politicians. Hoffman, for example, had to earn everyone's trust again and experienced threats (Jones & Hoffman 2005).
Conclusion
I believe that Australian contemporary nursing has evolved. However, the public image of the profession is still influenced by historically influenced traditional views.
Female inferiority developed problems such as lack of education for nurses, as it was viewed as a female's work. These biases therefore contributed to the physician jurisdictive power. One can argue that this factor is not relevant today but in practice, they still and will continue until nurses stand up and exercise their power in influencing policy development.
The contradiction between the law over ethics, bullying and underestimation continue to silence nurses. Nurses are obliged to protect the community and fulfill their roles. However, they are constricted within a rigid hierarchical system.
I believe that nurses should be protected legally, mentally, physically and intellectually. Threats of unemployment and dismissal of reports will discourage nurses in fulfilling their professional obligations. To ensure that nurses can fulfill their diverse roles, there should be laws that protect individuals, their futures and reputations. Therefore, nurses are no longer bullied, as perhaps, their biggest enemy is the whole political and legal system.
Some causes of constipation
Inhibited intestinal motility causes repeated absorption of water, producing dry and hard stools as little water is left to soften and lubricate the stools (Crisp & Taylor, 2001).
This causes the affected individual to strain when defecating and can lead to hemorrhoid. The distended bowel gives a feeling of abdominal fullness and discomfort (Partridge & Smith, 1987).
Hardened fecal material that is lodged in the appendix can cause appendicitis (Sherwood, 2007).
Lifestyle related cause of constipation include inadequate dietary fiber, dehydration, stress and sedentary lifestyle.
Fiber is necessary to form bulk in stool while activity generally increases bowel motility. Fluid is needed for lubrication and prevention of dry stools while exercise helps stimulate bowel contraction. Stress might cause constipation as it reduces blood flow to the digestive organs due to sympathetic nervous system activation (Dosh, 2002).
This causes the affected individual to strain when defecating and can lead to hemorrhoid. The distended bowel gives a feeling of abdominal fullness and discomfort (Partridge & Smith, 1987).
Hardened fecal material that is lodged in the appendix can cause appendicitis (Sherwood, 2007).
Lifestyle related cause of constipation include inadequate dietary fiber, dehydration, stress and sedentary lifestyle.
Fiber is necessary to form bulk in stool while activity generally increases bowel motility. Fluid is needed for lubrication and prevention of dry stools while exercise helps stimulate bowel contraction. Stress might cause constipation as it reduces blood flow to the digestive organs due to sympathetic nervous system activation (Dosh, 2002).
The process of food digestion
Mouth and Salivary Organs
Digestion starts at the mouth where ingestion and chewing occur to reduce food size. Saliva is secreted to enable taste sensation and foodstuff lubrication.
Digestion of carbohydrate begins, facilitated by salivary amylase enzyme. Carbohydrate is hydrolyzed from polysaccharides into disaccharides. Lysozyme, which acts as an antibiotic agent, is also secreted.
Deglutition turns foodstuff into bolus which enables it to move from the mouth into the stomach after passing the pharynx and esophagus.
Stomach
Receptive relaxation and contractions begins as the food bolus enters the lower portion of the esophagus. These are facilitated by the smooth muscle tissues. Peristalsis and segmentation motility enables the bolus to be moved, broken-down and mixed with hydrochloric acid (HCl). HCl, produced by the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa, turns bolus into chyme.
Carbohydrate digestion continues in the body of stomach where polysaccharides are hydrolyzed to disaccharides.
Protein digestion begins in the antrum. Pepsin is secreted by the stomach chief cells to hydrolyze protein into peptide fragments.
Only a few of lipid-soluble substances, such as alcohol and aspirin, are absorbed in the stomach.
The chyme is then continually pushed towards the pyloric sphincter by peristaltic waves and then injected into the duodenum every 20 seconds (Thibodeau & Patton, 2007).
Small Intestine
Further protein and carbohydrate digestion occurs here. In the lumen, carbohydrate and protein digestion continues and fat digestion is accomplished.
Carbohydrate and protein digestions are completed in the small-intestine brush border.
Trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase are pancreatic digestive enzymes that attack different peptide fragments of protein in the small-intestine lumen.
Aminopeptidases are secreted by the small-intestine epithelial cells to hydrolyze peptide fragments to amino acids inside the small-intestine brush border.
Pancreatic amylase hydrolyzes starch, e.g. amylopectin, into glucose and maltose.
Disaccharidases include maltase, sucrase and lactase. They are secreted by the small-intestine epithelial cells to hydrolyze disaccharides to monosaccharides in the small-intestine lumen.
Bile salts, produced by the liver, facilitate fat digestion and absorption in duodenal lumen. Bile salts emulsify large fat globules to prepare further fat digestion by the pancreatic enzyme, lipase. Lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides to fatty acids and monoglycerides.
Small-intestinal motility includes both peristaltic contractions and segmentation. Segmentation in the duodenum and upper jejunum mixes the incoming chyme with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver and intestinal mucosa. This enables the absorption of nutrients, most electrolytes and water as the chyme comes in contact with the intestinal mucosa (Thibodeau & Patton, 2007).
Segmentation occurs between 9 to 12 times per minute (Sherwood, 2007).
Peristalsis moves the chyme nears the end of the jejunum, enabling movement of digested food into the large intestine.
Large Intestine
The function of the large intestine is to absorb salt and water and store feces. Because most digestion and absorption occurs in the small intestine, the contents delivered consist of indigestible food residues, unabsorbed biliary components and remaining fluid (Sherwood, 2007).
Sacs called haustra actively change locations which result in contraction of the circular smooth muscle layer. Haustral contraction is similar to the small-intestine contraction however occurs only at about every 30 minutes. Its back-and-forth mixing movement exposes the chyme to the absorptive mucosa (Sherwood, 2007).
Haustral contractions delay foodstuff transit and enhance absorption (Thomson & Shaffer, 2000)
Mass movements drive the colonic contents toward the sigmoid colon. During mass movements, the ascending and transverse colon contract simultaneously. It is triggered by the gastrocolic reflex which triggers defecation reflex when colonic contents is pushed into the rectum. Defecation reflex causes the internal anal sphincter to relax and the rectum and sigmoid colon to contract more vigorously. When the external anal sphincter relaxes, defecation occurs. Feces elimination is assisted by the reflex as well as voluntary straining which increases intra-abdominal pressure and helps feces expulsion through the anus canal (Sherwood, 2007).
Digestion starts at the mouth where ingestion and chewing occur to reduce food size. Saliva is secreted to enable taste sensation and foodstuff lubrication.
Digestion of carbohydrate begins, facilitated by salivary amylase enzyme. Carbohydrate is hydrolyzed from polysaccharides into disaccharides. Lysozyme, which acts as an antibiotic agent, is also secreted.
Deglutition turns foodstuff into bolus which enables it to move from the mouth into the stomach after passing the pharynx and esophagus.
Stomach
Receptive relaxation and contractions begins as the food bolus enters the lower portion of the esophagus. These are facilitated by the smooth muscle tissues. Peristalsis and segmentation motility enables the bolus to be moved, broken-down and mixed with hydrochloric acid (HCl). HCl, produced by the parietal cells of the gastric mucosa, turns bolus into chyme.
Carbohydrate digestion continues in the body of stomach where polysaccharides are hydrolyzed to disaccharides.
Protein digestion begins in the antrum. Pepsin is secreted by the stomach chief cells to hydrolyze protein into peptide fragments.
Only a few of lipid-soluble substances, such as alcohol and aspirin, are absorbed in the stomach.
The chyme is then continually pushed towards the pyloric sphincter by peristaltic waves and then injected into the duodenum every 20 seconds (Thibodeau & Patton, 2007).
Small Intestine
Further protein and carbohydrate digestion occurs here. In the lumen, carbohydrate and protein digestion continues and fat digestion is accomplished.
Carbohydrate and protein digestions are completed in the small-intestine brush border.
Trypsin, chymotrypsin, and carboxypeptidase are pancreatic digestive enzymes that attack different peptide fragments of protein in the small-intestine lumen.
Aminopeptidases are secreted by the small-intestine epithelial cells to hydrolyze peptide fragments to amino acids inside the small-intestine brush border.
Pancreatic amylase hydrolyzes starch, e.g. amylopectin, into glucose and maltose.
Disaccharidases include maltase, sucrase and lactase. They are secreted by the small-intestine epithelial cells to hydrolyze disaccharides to monosaccharides in the small-intestine lumen.
Bile salts, produced by the liver, facilitate fat digestion and absorption in duodenal lumen. Bile salts emulsify large fat globules to prepare further fat digestion by the pancreatic enzyme, lipase. Lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides to fatty acids and monoglycerides.
Small-intestinal motility includes both peristaltic contractions and segmentation. Segmentation in the duodenum and upper jejunum mixes the incoming chyme with digestive juices from the pancreas, liver and intestinal mucosa. This enables the absorption of nutrients, most electrolytes and water as the chyme comes in contact with the intestinal mucosa (Thibodeau & Patton, 2007).
Segmentation occurs between 9 to 12 times per minute (Sherwood, 2007).
Peristalsis moves the chyme nears the end of the jejunum, enabling movement of digested food into the large intestine.
Large Intestine
The function of the large intestine is to absorb salt and water and store feces. Because most digestion and absorption occurs in the small intestine, the contents delivered consist of indigestible food residues, unabsorbed biliary components and remaining fluid (Sherwood, 2007).
Sacs called haustra actively change locations which result in contraction of the circular smooth muscle layer. Haustral contraction is similar to the small-intestine contraction however occurs only at about every 30 minutes. Its back-and-forth mixing movement exposes the chyme to the absorptive mucosa (Sherwood, 2007).
Haustral contractions delay foodstuff transit and enhance absorption (Thomson & Shaffer, 2000)
Mass movements drive the colonic contents toward the sigmoid colon. During mass movements, the ascending and transverse colon contract simultaneously. It is triggered by the gastrocolic reflex which triggers defecation reflex when colonic contents is pushed into the rectum. Defecation reflex causes the internal anal sphincter to relax and the rectum and sigmoid colon to contract more vigorously. When the external anal sphincter relaxes, defecation occurs. Feces elimination is assisted by the reflex as well as voluntary straining which increases intra-abdominal pressure and helps feces expulsion through the anus canal (Sherwood, 2007).
Avian or Bird Flu - Australia case Study
Avian flu - Australian case study
There are up to 500 strains of influenza viruses and they constantly change and evolve. They are normally highly species-specific and only rarely spill over to cause infection in other species. (Farndon, 2005)
Influenza type A virus affects humans and animals. One of them, the avian influenza virus has been recorded to affect birds and human. Only four, of the hundreds strains of avian influenza virus, are known to have caused human infections. In general, human infection with these viruses has resulted in mild symptoms and very little severe illness, except the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus ("Avian Influenza", 2006).
From 278 reported cases of H5N1 avian influenza since 2003, 168 died. Health experts began to fear that a new and deadly flu pandemic was imminent.
This paper will discuss and present the global size and problem of H5NI avian influenza, risk factors influencing the frequency and distribution of the disease, and prevention and control measures in Australia.
The Size of the Problem in Human
Countries where the H5N1 virus infected humans include Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Lao PDR, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.
There is the risk that the virus will start a pandemic, through genetic material exchange between human and the viruses, during co-infection of a human or pig. Virus mutation is also another possibility (World Health Organization, 2006).
In a pandemic occurs, between two million and 50 million deaths worldwide was predicted by experts. ("Q&A: Bird Flu,"2007)
In humans, the reported symptoms of H5N1 influenza virus have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms to eye infections (conjunctivitis), watery diarrhea, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.
On 24 March, 2006, there were 42 cases reported to the WHO and there were 15 cases on 24 March, 2007. The global incidence and prevalence rate could not be calculated as the disease was rare and patchily spread.
Incidence rate by age shows that half of the H5N1 cases occurred in people under the age of 20 years, 90% of cases occurred in people under the age of 40 years. Those between the age of 10 to 19 year-old is the largely group affected and 70 year-old and above the least ("Avian Influenza," 2006).
A total of sixty percent or 168 out of 278 people who contracted the virus have died. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was highest in 2003 (100%), followed by 2004 (70%) and 2006 (69%). However, the total number of occurrences and deaths was highest in 2006 when out of 116 cases, 80 people died. Please refer to appendix for additional yearly CFR and country specific CFR.
The Factors Determining and Influencing the Frequency and Distribution of the Disease
The risk from H5N1 virus is generally low to most people. However, contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with their excretions, increases the risk factor. The virus can survive for long periods in the tissues and faeces of diseased birds and in water, especially when temperatures are low. ("Avian influenza," 2006)
Exposure to an environment that may have been contaminated by faeces from infected birds is a second, though less common, source of human infection. To date, not all human cases have arisen from exposure to dead or visibly ill domestic birds. A history of poultry consumption in an affected country is not a risk factor, provided the food was thoroughly cooked and the person was not involved in food preparation ("Avian Influenza," 2006).
For unknown reasons, most cases have occurred in rural and pre-urban households where small flocks of poultry are kept. Very few cases have been detected in presumed high-risk groups, such as commercial poultry workers, workers at live poultry markets, cullers, veterinarians, and health staff caring for patients without adequate protective equipment. Research is urgently needed to better define the exposure circumstances, behaviours, and possible genetic or immunological factors that might enhance the likelihood of human infection ("Avian Influenza,"2006).
Prevention and Control in Australia
Australia is one of the most prepared countries in the world to respond to an outbreak of H5N1avian influenza or any influenza pandemic and that $555 million has been provided to ensure that Australia is prepared.
An episode of H5N1 infection would trigger the Australian Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI). Victoria also has a Pandemic Influenza Plan, which details the steps that will be used by state government agencies and health services to manage an outbreak. The Australian Veterinary Emergency Planis designed to manage bird flu outbreaks among bird populations such as poultry farms. ("Bird Flu," 2006)
There are no reports of the current H5N1 flu strain in Australia, either among birds or people. There were five previous bird flu outbreaks in Australia among commercial flocks, all of which were contained and eradicated. The last outbreak was in 1997 in Tamworth in New South Wales. ("Bird Flu," 2005)
The AHMPPI includes Surveillance, monitoring and reporting; Infection Control; Quarantine; Border control and public awareness and education. It includes purchase of antiviral drugs, vaccines, thermal imaging screeners, funding for the improvement of the nation's infectious disease surveillance.
Posters and scripts to be used by local health and community workers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health communities. They focus on the human health risks of avian influenza in wild birds in Australia. (Department of Health and Ageing, 2006)
Containment of disease and maintenance of essential services is the focus of the plan. In the early stages of a pandemic, intensive efforts will concentrate on containing the pandemic to make time for a vaccine to be produced. Strategies include reducing traveler numbers to Australia, social distancing and infection control measures, short term home quarantine for those exposed to the virus and the targeted use of antiviral drugs.
Conclusion
The H5N1 virus killed 60 percent of those infected. Most had very close contact with infected birds or their body fluids, or through eating them raw.
Between two million and 50 million deaths worldwide was predicted by experts if a pandemic occurs. ("Q&A: Bird Flu,"2007)
Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. The vaccine has been shown to produce an apparent protective immune response but only at an unusually high dose and only in just over half of the people vaccinated. Given the world's limited capacity to produce vaccines, it means that only 1.25% of the world's population could be vaccinated if it was required and only half of those would be immunized. ("Avian influenza," 2006)
There are no reports of the current bird flu strain in Australia, either among birds or people. Australia is one of the most prepared countries in the world to detect and manage Avian Influenza if it enters the country. Australia's plans and strict quarantine policy work together to keep Australia safe.
Since there is a possibility of an avian flu H5N1 pandemic occurring and a vaccine with full immunogenicity is not yet found, preventive measures are the keys in keeping minimal outbreak in a country.
There are up to 500 strains of influenza viruses and they constantly change and evolve. They are normally highly species-specific and only rarely spill over to cause infection in other species. (Farndon, 2005)
Influenza type A virus affects humans and animals. One of them, the avian influenza virus has been recorded to affect birds and human. Only four, of the hundreds strains of avian influenza virus, are known to have caused human infections. In general, human infection with these viruses has resulted in mild symptoms and very little severe illness, except the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus ("Avian Influenza", 2006).
From 278 reported cases of H5N1 avian influenza since 2003, 168 died. Health experts began to fear that a new and deadly flu pandemic was imminent.
This paper will discuss and present the global size and problem of H5NI avian influenza, risk factors influencing the frequency and distribution of the disease, and prevention and control measures in Australia.
The Size of the Problem in Human
Countries where the H5N1 virus infected humans include Azerbaijan, Cambodia, China, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Lao PDR, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.
There is the risk that the virus will start a pandemic, through genetic material exchange between human and the viruses, during co-infection of a human or pig. Virus mutation is also another possibility (World Health Organization, 2006).
In a pandemic occurs, between two million and 50 million deaths worldwide was predicted by experts. ("Q&A: Bird Flu,"2007)
In humans, the reported symptoms of H5N1 influenza virus have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms to eye infections (conjunctivitis), watery diarrhea, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications.
On 24 March, 2006, there were 42 cases reported to the WHO and there were 15 cases on 24 March, 2007. The global incidence and prevalence rate could not be calculated as the disease was rare and patchily spread.
Incidence rate by age shows that half of the H5N1 cases occurred in people under the age of 20 years, 90% of cases occurred in people under the age of 40 years. Those between the age of 10 to 19 year-old is the largely group affected and 70 year-old and above the least ("Avian Influenza," 2006).
A total of sixty percent or 168 out of 278 people who contracted the virus have died. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) was highest in 2003 (100%), followed by 2004 (70%) and 2006 (69%). However, the total number of occurrences and deaths was highest in 2006 when out of 116 cases, 80 people died. Please refer to appendix for additional yearly CFR and country specific CFR.
The Factors Determining and Influencing the Frequency and Distribution of the Disease
The risk from H5N1 virus is generally low to most people. However, contact with infected birds or surfaces that have been contaminated with their excretions, increases the risk factor. The virus can survive for long periods in the tissues and faeces of diseased birds and in water, especially when temperatures are low. ("Avian influenza," 2006)
Exposure to an environment that may have been contaminated by faeces from infected birds is a second, though less common, source of human infection. To date, not all human cases have arisen from exposure to dead or visibly ill domestic birds. A history of poultry consumption in an affected country is not a risk factor, provided the food was thoroughly cooked and the person was not involved in food preparation ("Avian Influenza," 2006).
For unknown reasons, most cases have occurred in rural and pre-urban households where small flocks of poultry are kept. Very few cases have been detected in presumed high-risk groups, such as commercial poultry workers, workers at live poultry markets, cullers, veterinarians, and health staff caring for patients without adequate protective equipment. Research is urgently needed to better define the exposure circumstances, behaviours, and possible genetic or immunological factors that might enhance the likelihood of human infection ("Avian Influenza,"2006).
Prevention and Control in Australia
Australia is one of the most prepared countries in the world to respond to an outbreak of H5N1avian influenza or any influenza pandemic and that $555 million has been provided to ensure that Australia is prepared.
An episode of H5N1 infection would trigger the Australian Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI). Victoria also has a Pandemic Influenza Plan, which details the steps that will be used by state government agencies and health services to manage an outbreak. The Australian Veterinary Emergency Planis designed to manage bird flu outbreaks among bird populations such as poultry farms. ("Bird Flu," 2006)
There are no reports of the current H5N1 flu strain in Australia, either among birds or people. There were five previous bird flu outbreaks in Australia among commercial flocks, all of which were contained and eradicated. The last outbreak was in 1997 in Tamworth in New South Wales. ("Bird Flu," 2005)
The AHMPPI includes Surveillance, monitoring and reporting; Infection Control; Quarantine; Border control and public awareness and education. It includes purchase of antiviral drugs, vaccines, thermal imaging screeners, funding for the improvement of the nation's infectious disease surveillance.
Posters and scripts to be used by local health and community workers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health communities. They focus on the human health risks of avian influenza in wild birds in Australia. (Department of Health and Ageing, 2006)
Containment of disease and maintenance of essential services is the focus of the plan. In the early stages of a pandemic, intensive efforts will concentrate on containing the pandemic to make time for a vaccine to be produced. Strategies include reducing traveler numbers to Australia, social distancing and infection control measures, short term home quarantine for those exposed to the virus and the targeted use of antiviral drugs.
Conclusion
The H5N1 virus killed 60 percent of those infected. Most had very close contact with infected birds or their body fluids, or through eating them raw.
Between two million and 50 million deaths worldwide was predicted by experts if a pandemic occurs. ("Q&A: Bird Flu,"2007)
Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. The vaccine has been shown to produce an apparent protective immune response but only at an unusually high dose and only in just over half of the people vaccinated. Given the world's limited capacity to produce vaccines, it means that only 1.25% of the world's population could be vaccinated if it was required and only half of those would be immunized. ("Avian influenza," 2006)
There are no reports of the current bird flu strain in Australia, either among birds or people. Australia is one of the most prepared countries in the world to detect and manage Avian Influenza if it enters the country. Australia's plans and strict quarantine policy work together to keep Australia safe.
Since there is a possibility of an avian flu H5N1 pandemic occurring and a vaccine with full immunogenicity is not yet found, preventive measures are the keys in keeping minimal outbreak in a country.
Inclusive education broadens students' perspective
An article from my journalist year
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 04/14/2005 1:27 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Everyone has something to offer, that is one of the most valuable things a child can learn.
Raisa Aurora, a 13-year-old girl, wrote in her award-winning essay that she learned about truth and patience from her schoolmate who suffers from Down's syndrome, a congenital condition characterized by moderate to severe mental retardation and trisomy of the human chromosome numbered 21.
Her essay won first place in the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 2005 writing competition.
Asih, the friend's name, is a 15-year-old girl who goes to a regular public junior high school. She is often teased by her schoolmates, Raisa wrote, but Asih had also taught them about values.
Although Raisa thinks Asih should go a special school, rather than being forced to contend with the taunts of other children, placing children with special needs in regular schools can be of benefit to them.
""Disabled children's psychological development will be better if they are included in a normal environment because they will feel no different to normal kids,"" education expert Arief Rachman told The Jakarta Post last week. ""As for normal kids, they will learn to be more accepting"".
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), announcing an inclusive education program at its Dakkar World Education Forum in 2000, defines such an approach as an effort to address the learning needs of all people, with a specific focus on those vulnerable to marginalization and exclusion.
The definition, therefore, places physically and mentally disabled children among those in need of having a normal learning environment.
The Ministry of National Education has developed the inclusive education program for children with mental and physical disabilities to ensure children's education rights.
Recent data shows that out of 1.5 million disabled school-aged children, only 52,000 have been accommodated in a total of 1,129 special schools here, including 224 state-run ones.
""The number is insufficient and building new special schools would be more expensive,"" said the ministry's director of special education, Mudjito.
The ministry provided Rp 5 million each to 504 regular schools now accommodating 2,750 disabled children, two years ago to hold campaigns for inclusive education.
The program, which cost Rp 10 billion of this year's state budget, was divided into full and integrated inclusion methods.
Full inclusion enables children to have full-classes in regular schools, while in integrated inclusion children interact with other students for certain subjects accompanied by a teacher.
Mudjito said the lack of facilitating schools, especially for children with mental disabilities, had contributed to the problem of disabled children discontinuing their studies.
""This program is more effective in building unconditional acceptance,"" he said.
According to him, building new schools is more expensive and not as effective.
Arief said that teachers needed to be properly trained before schools offered the programs.
A clear educational concept and mission, an adjusted curriculum -- according to what kinds of special needs are catered for in the school -- and the provision of special facilities for disabled children are other things that need to be factored in before a school is declared inclusive.
""A regency should have one or two inclusive schools that could accommodate disabled children in the area,"" Arief said.
Since the program is still in its introductory phase, the first thing that the government needs to do is to train teachers.
Later on, other groups who are vulnerable to marginalization should be considered in designing school programs.
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 04/14/2005 1:27 PM
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Everyone has something to offer, that is one of the most valuable things a child can learn.
Raisa Aurora, a 13-year-old girl, wrote in her award-winning essay that she learned about truth and patience from her schoolmate who suffers from Down's syndrome, a congenital condition characterized by moderate to severe mental retardation and trisomy of the human chromosome numbered 21.
Her essay won first place in the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 2005 writing competition.
Asih, the friend's name, is a 15-year-old girl who goes to a regular public junior high school. She is often teased by her schoolmates, Raisa wrote, but Asih had also taught them about values.
Although Raisa thinks Asih should go a special school, rather than being forced to contend with the taunts of other children, placing children with special needs in regular schools can be of benefit to them.
""Disabled children's psychological development will be better if they are included in a normal environment because they will feel no different to normal kids,"" education expert Arief Rachman told The Jakarta Post last week. ""As for normal kids, they will learn to be more accepting"".
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), announcing an inclusive education program at its Dakkar World Education Forum in 2000, defines such an approach as an effort to address the learning needs of all people, with a specific focus on those vulnerable to marginalization and exclusion.
The definition, therefore, places physically and mentally disabled children among those in need of having a normal learning environment.
The Ministry of National Education has developed the inclusive education program for children with mental and physical disabilities to ensure children's education rights.
Recent data shows that out of 1.5 million disabled school-aged children, only 52,000 have been accommodated in a total of 1,129 special schools here, including 224 state-run ones.
""The number is insufficient and building new special schools would be more expensive,"" said the ministry's director of special education, Mudjito.
The ministry provided Rp 5 million each to 504 regular schools now accommodating 2,750 disabled children, two years ago to hold campaigns for inclusive education.
The program, which cost Rp 10 billion of this year's state budget, was divided into full and integrated inclusion methods.
Full inclusion enables children to have full-classes in regular schools, while in integrated inclusion children interact with other students for certain subjects accompanied by a teacher.
Mudjito said the lack of facilitating schools, especially for children with mental disabilities, had contributed to the problem of disabled children discontinuing their studies.
""This program is more effective in building unconditional acceptance,"" he said.
According to him, building new schools is more expensive and not as effective.
Arief said that teachers needed to be properly trained before schools offered the programs.
A clear educational concept and mission, an adjusted curriculum -- according to what kinds of special needs are catered for in the school -- and the provision of special facilities for disabled children are other things that need to be factored in before a school is declared inclusive.
""A regency should have one or two inclusive schools that could accommodate disabled children in the area,"" Arief said.
Since the program is still in its introductory phase, the first thing that the government needs to do is to train teachers.
Later on, other groups who are vulnerable to marginalization should be considered in designing school programs.
Tips for traveling to Asia
If you are a non-Asian, especially if you are Caucasian, and you somehow have to stay in an Asian country for a while, I have some tips for you. This is probably useful for those who are traveling to Asian countries too.
However, even if you are Asian but you have a different skin colour, e.g. Indian versus Chinese and vice versa, this might be applicable too.
The reason why I am writing this is because I have traveled to some countries. I am now currently living in Indonesia, again, after living in Melbourne, Australia for 11 years. I made friends with a couple of expatriates and I used to work as a journalist for an English newspaper in Jakarta hence my acquaintances.
I listened funny stories and experienced some too from different sources.
What people might think of you:
1. You must be very rich (OMG, 1 USD buys 9,500 Rupiah) and most likely are not familiar with the cost of living here and therefore, if there is no fixed price, I will try to increase my profit margin by 100 percent. If you haggle, then I will then go from there.
2. If you are a guy, there is a possibility that you are interested in the exotic girls you find here and therefore, if I happen to have ‘connections’ I will introduce you to some ‘girls’ and they don’t cost much.
3. You can’t eat spicy food
4. You have to eat cheese and steak every day
5. You hate Durian (it’s a smelly fruit but delicious)
6. Your knowledge of Asian food is limited to rice, noodles, curry
7. You have a sensitive stomach and you will get a diarrhea if you eat on the street (hawker’s food). You are probably too disgusted to eat it anyway
8. You are paranoid about the squatting toilet
9. You must always use tissue after you go to the toilet and because you only wipe your butt with toilet papers you must be dirty
10. Your body odour smells like cheese. You can’t stand the heat and perspire a lot and therefore will smell like cheese
11. If you are a guy and you are trying to approach an Asian girl one of this might come across her mind:
a. I can probably have a better lifestyle because he is rich (if the girl is a gold digger)
b. Does he think that because he is white, he can just ask me for a date and try to sleep with me because he thinks that he is special? (if the girl is not a gold digger, most likely educated abroad)
c. Is he one of the “Oh-I-Love-Asians” guys whom jerk off while watching Asian porn? (If you make it obvious)
d. If I go out with him or marry him, will he have an affair with my maid since everyone here will seem exotic to him? (if she had a bad experience in the past and most likely insecure in return)
e. Do I look like a prostitute? (If she happens to be in a bar that is known as a pickup place)
f. Oh, he is a nice guy and I like him (If you are both on the same boat hence smiley faces during your conversation)
TIPS:
1. In order to prevent getting ripped off, it is wise to actually do your research by asking your guide (hopefully he is nice) about the standards of living here. Useful resources will include local friends and colleagues. Never agree to pay the taxi driver if he does not have his meter on. You are most likely getting ripped off for twice the original fare. Hey, even I almost got ripped off when I was in Bali and I am Asian and I speak Indonesian. What I did was threaten the taxi driver to turn the meter on or I will get off right there on the spot. I always haggle when I am buying things where they don’t have the price tag on. I always start with, “What??? That is so expensive, you must be joking. Don’t put the price up please…. Pretty please?” It is actually useful if you actually learn these phrases in the local language. Online dictionary can be useful but better still, get someone to teach you how to say it in a less informal language with the right intonation and all. They will think that you have been here forever.
2. If you are not looking for a ‘lady companion’ for the night, make the involved party or girls who approach you sure that you don’t actually want to pay for a prostitute. They like tourists and expatriates because apparently you give more money and tips. But if you don’t give enough, they will pout and it is not pretty. If you choose to do it, play it safe and play it smart.
3. My friend’s husband actually loves spicy food and chili. He is German and he is amazing. He eats everything and if you are a beginner, always try in small amount and you slowly upgrade from there. Stomach cramp is quite the normal experience after you eat hot and spicy food. Even I still get it. Don’t get turned off by the colour or smell of the food. It can be quite a memorable experience.
4. If you are one of those people who need to have your cheese and steak everyday, it is a good idea to stock up when you find an imported cheese that you actually adore. Some supermarkets stock limited types of cheese. If you are looking for camembert, brie, blue vein or gourmet cheeses, you are mostly only able to find them at supermarkets targeting expatriates. However, most supermarkets have Kraft singles and Laughing Cow. Really good perfect steak is often hard to find and therefore, if you can cook, you are probably better of cooking your own especially if you are fussy about the definition of medium, medium rare, medium well-done and well-done. My experience is that usually, it is slightly overcooked and overpriced for the quality although I did find some places that serve steaks like they are supposed to.
5. You are probably turned off by the smell of Durian (a yellow fleshed fruit with thorny skin) so try a little bit while holding your breath. Even some Asians find it offensive but I am one of those who actually love it. But if you hate it, you hate it because the smell can be quite repulsive. If you actually like it, remember to drink a lot of water afterwards
6. Asian food is very diverse and I don’t agree that expatriates or tourists have limited knowledge on Asian food. If you happen to, though, I encourage you to try a little bit and if you have any food allergy or intolerance always ask if they put the ingredients in your food. Be aware that wheat and gluten intolerance is not cooks’ and food producer’s concern. Also, they use a lot of MSG in Asia. I sometimes ask them specifically to not add MSG into my food (mostly because I know that they might or that most of the other ingredients probably already have MSG added in it).
7. You might get diarrhea when you eat street or hawker’s food. Usually, the food might be contaminated, off or dirty. But also, it might also be because your immune’s system is not quite up to it yet because you have not been exposed to that specific strain of bacteria in your home country. If you are going to try the food, always drink bottled water because often, the contamination comes from the ice cubes in drinks. Also, it is probably beneficial if you drink or take probiotic bacteria supplement ( Lactobacillus Acidophillus, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus Casei, for example). Often, you just need to build up your body’s resistance so just try them in small amount and always make sure that you take care of your health properly as there are tropical and other diseases that can be transferred from food or water, such as typhoid fever. Therefore, get your vaccines before you leave. I caught Typhoid fever, dengue fever and Rubella when I was here. It was not pretty but I survived because when I got sick, I knew that it might be because of my immune system and went to the GP straight away. But don’t let this put you off. It does not happen often but if you hear of an outbreak, you should be careful. Therefore, read the local English newspaper (if there is any) either online or get someone to buy it for you.
8. Hmm, the squatting toilet….. Most major or big shopping centres have sitting down toilets but if you go elsewhere there is a chance that you have to face the squatting toilet. Although I am Asian and was brought up in Indonesia until I was 15, I still choose not to use it unless if I really have to. If you have to use it, don’t forget to make sure that you have toilet papers or tissues. Most likely, the only available source of cleaning-yourself-up material is a bucket of water and ugh… I am not fond of it. It is useful to take this when you go out along with anti bacterial hand gel or wipes. I find places where they don’t have soap available and started to take my own soap for a while so that I can wash my hands properly after doing my business.
9. I use toilet papers and actually think that it is probably more hygienic than spreading germs everywhere using water and your hands. I therefore always carry my own in case they don’t have it available and you can think that it is unclean but I feel clean! So do what you feel comfortable with doing and just carry your own supplies after you “donate” your own “stock” if you think that you certainly can’t live without your supplies of personal hygiene need.
10. I don’t know why people think that Caucasians smell like cheese. Actually this is a notorious idea. I think that this is due to narrow mindedness or they just think that your feet odour is slightly different and it smells like cheese. If you have a body odour problem, though, personal hygiene and anti-perspirant deodorant is recommended because we sweat more here. I use them because I can’t stand the sticky and wet underarm feeling. Anti bacterial talcum powder is probably beneficial if you apply if after your deodorant. You can use corn starch if you can’t find any.
11. If you are a non-Asian trying to approach a local Asian girl, you will either be thought of as negatively or positively. Some tips for some common thoughts that runs in a girl’s mind are:
a. I can probably have a better lifestyle because he is rich (if the girl is a gold digger)
It this happens to you or might happen to you my suggestion is to play it cool and test the girl. If you happen to not worry and care about materialism, I’d say go for it and have fun. If you happen to fall in love with this girl and is looking for something more or just simply is not as rich as she thinks you are, tell the truth and probably say something like, “I only have 10 dollars left this month.” Look at her reaction. You can see where you can go from there. Stop paying for everything and buying things for a while. She will either: complain, don’t care or stray away from you. But if you are one of those guys who like spending money on his ladies, go for it and spoil them. Although, do not expect for anything in return, either relationship wise or sexually, as you may not get them.
b. Does he think that because he is white, he can just ask me for a date and try to sleep with me because he thinks that he is special? (if the girl is not a gold digger, perhaps educated abroad)
Actually, this happens sometimes. Just be yourself when you approach a woman, just like you are supposed to anyway, and be sincere about your intention because women can actually sense intentions. Although I have to say that this happens between Asians too. I think that boys will always be boys. If this is what you are after, make it clear and make sure that the lady is looking for the same thing. If you are totally smitten by her and not looking for ‘it’ tonight, then just converse and have a friendly conversation like you have with your female friends. This usually works if she finds that you are a nice guy and is actually open to new friendships.
c. Is he one of the “Oh-I-Love-Asians” guys who jerks off while watching Asian porn? (If you make it obvious)
I think that this is a double edged sword. Some girls like it when you say it, some don’t. Some will take it as a compliment, some as an insult. I think that women are just generally complicated just like men are. Although sometimes you are sincerely trying to sound your preference, make sure that you don’t do it in a cheesy sleazy way (unless that is your intention) and look beyond the outer appearance. There is no such thing as a typical woman. Women are special and complicated because they are a totally different gender. But is that not what makes us special?
d. If I go out with him or marry him, will he have an affair with my maid since everyone here will seem exotic to him? (if she had a bad experience in the past and most likely insecure in return)
This is related to some of the above points. Therefore, I don’t really know what more to say except be honest and be yourself. A developed notion about someone is often hard to break as it is often psychological. But, I think, if you are totally sincere, the other party should be able to sense it after a while. If she does not, you are free to make your own choice. If you intend to have an affair, either don’t get married or suggest an open relationship to avoid dramas.
e. Do I look like a prostitute? (If she happens to be in a bar that is known as a pickup place)
This is tricky because you can either be looking for a prostitute or are actually thinking that she is a nice woman. In which case, unless you get any signals from the woman, don’t say anything like “how much” or “let’s go back to my place” because there are pretty traditional and conservative women.
f. Oh, he is a nice guy and I like him (If you are both on the same boat hence smiley faces during your conversation)
This probably does not require further explanation other than congratulations and hope that it works out for you both.
However, even if you are Asian but you have a different skin colour, e.g. Indian versus Chinese and vice versa, this might be applicable too.
The reason why I am writing this is because I have traveled to some countries. I am now currently living in Indonesia, again, after living in Melbourne, Australia for 11 years. I made friends with a couple of expatriates and I used to work as a journalist for an English newspaper in Jakarta hence my acquaintances.
I listened funny stories and experienced some too from different sources.
What people might think of you:
1. You must be very rich (OMG, 1 USD buys 9,500 Rupiah) and most likely are not familiar with the cost of living here and therefore, if there is no fixed price, I will try to increase my profit margin by 100 percent. If you haggle, then I will then go from there.
2. If you are a guy, there is a possibility that you are interested in the exotic girls you find here and therefore, if I happen to have ‘connections’ I will introduce you to some ‘girls’ and they don’t cost much.
3. You can’t eat spicy food
4. You have to eat cheese and steak every day
5. You hate Durian (it’s a smelly fruit but delicious)
6. Your knowledge of Asian food is limited to rice, noodles, curry
7. You have a sensitive stomach and you will get a diarrhea if you eat on the street (hawker’s food). You are probably too disgusted to eat it anyway
8. You are paranoid about the squatting toilet
9. You must always use tissue after you go to the toilet and because you only wipe your butt with toilet papers you must be dirty
10. Your body odour smells like cheese. You can’t stand the heat and perspire a lot and therefore will smell like cheese
11. If you are a guy and you are trying to approach an Asian girl one of this might come across her mind:
a. I can probably have a better lifestyle because he is rich (if the girl is a gold digger)
b. Does he think that because he is white, he can just ask me for a date and try to sleep with me because he thinks that he is special? (if the girl is not a gold digger, most likely educated abroad)
c. Is he one of the “Oh-I-Love-Asians” guys whom jerk off while watching Asian porn? (If you make it obvious)
d. If I go out with him or marry him, will he have an affair with my maid since everyone here will seem exotic to him? (if she had a bad experience in the past and most likely insecure in return)
e. Do I look like a prostitute? (If she happens to be in a bar that is known as a pickup place)
f. Oh, he is a nice guy and I like him (If you are both on the same boat hence smiley faces during your conversation)
TIPS:
1. In order to prevent getting ripped off, it is wise to actually do your research by asking your guide (hopefully he is nice) about the standards of living here. Useful resources will include local friends and colleagues. Never agree to pay the taxi driver if he does not have his meter on. You are most likely getting ripped off for twice the original fare. Hey, even I almost got ripped off when I was in Bali and I am Asian and I speak Indonesian. What I did was threaten the taxi driver to turn the meter on or I will get off right there on the spot. I always haggle when I am buying things where they don’t have the price tag on. I always start with, “What??? That is so expensive, you must be joking. Don’t put the price up please…. Pretty please?” It is actually useful if you actually learn these phrases in the local language. Online dictionary can be useful but better still, get someone to teach you how to say it in a less informal language with the right intonation and all. They will think that you have been here forever.
2. If you are not looking for a ‘lady companion’ for the night, make the involved party or girls who approach you sure that you don’t actually want to pay for a prostitute. They like tourists and expatriates because apparently you give more money and tips. But if you don’t give enough, they will pout and it is not pretty. If you choose to do it, play it safe and play it smart.
3. My friend’s husband actually loves spicy food and chili. He is German and he is amazing. He eats everything and if you are a beginner, always try in small amount and you slowly upgrade from there. Stomach cramp is quite the normal experience after you eat hot and spicy food. Even I still get it. Don’t get turned off by the colour or smell of the food. It can be quite a memorable experience.
4. If you are one of those people who need to have your cheese and steak everyday, it is a good idea to stock up when you find an imported cheese that you actually adore. Some supermarkets stock limited types of cheese. If you are looking for camembert, brie, blue vein or gourmet cheeses, you are mostly only able to find them at supermarkets targeting expatriates. However, most supermarkets have Kraft singles and Laughing Cow. Really good perfect steak is often hard to find and therefore, if you can cook, you are probably better of cooking your own especially if you are fussy about the definition of medium, medium rare, medium well-done and well-done. My experience is that usually, it is slightly overcooked and overpriced for the quality although I did find some places that serve steaks like they are supposed to.
5. You are probably turned off by the smell of Durian (a yellow fleshed fruit with thorny skin) so try a little bit while holding your breath. Even some Asians find it offensive but I am one of those who actually love it. But if you hate it, you hate it because the smell can be quite repulsive. If you actually like it, remember to drink a lot of water afterwards
6. Asian food is very diverse and I don’t agree that expatriates or tourists have limited knowledge on Asian food. If you happen to, though, I encourage you to try a little bit and if you have any food allergy or intolerance always ask if they put the ingredients in your food. Be aware that wheat and gluten intolerance is not cooks’ and food producer’s concern. Also, they use a lot of MSG in Asia. I sometimes ask them specifically to not add MSG into my food (mostly because I know that they might or that most of the other ingredients probably already have MSG added in it).
7. You might get diarrhea when you eat street or hawker’s food. Usually, the food might be contaminated, off or dirty. But also, it might also be because your immune’s system is not quite up to it yet because you have not been exposed to that specific strain of bacteria in your home country. If you are going to try the food, always drink bottled water because often, the contamination comes from the ice cubes in drinks. Also, it is probably beneficial if you drink or take probiotic bacteria supplement ( Lactobacillus Acidophillus, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus Casei, for example). Often, you just need to build up your body’s resistance so just try them in small amount and always make sure that you take care of your health properly as there are tropical and other diseases that can be transferred from food or water, such as typhoid fever. Therefore, get your vaccines before you leave. I caught Typhoid fever, dengue fever and Rubella when I was here. It was not pretty but I survived because when I got sick, I knew that it might be because of my immune system and went to the GP straight away. But don’t let this put you off. It does not happen often but if you hear of an outbreak, you should be careful. Therefore, read the local English newspaper (if there is any) either online or get someone to buy it for you.
8. Hmm, the squatting toilet….. Most major or big shopping centres have sitting down toilets but if you go elsewhere there is a chance that you have to face the squatting toilet. Although I am Asian and was brought up in Indonesia until I was 15, I still choose not to use it unless if I really have to. If you have to use it, don’t forget to make sure that you have toilet papers or tissues. Most likely, the only available source of cleaning-yourself-up material is a bucket of water and ugh… I am not fond of it. It is useful to take this when you go out along with anti bacterial hand gel or wipes. I find places where they don’t have soap available and started to take my own soap for a while so that I can wash my hands properly after doing my business.
9. I use toilet papers and actually think that it is probably more hygienic than spreading germs everywhere using water and your hands. I therefore always carry my own in case they don’t have it available and you can think that it is unclean but I feel clean! So do what you feel comfortable with doing and just carry your own supplies after you “donate” your own “stock” if you think that you certainly can’t live without your supplies of personal hygiene need.
10. I don’t know why people think that Caucasians smell like cheese. Actually this is a notorious idea. I think that this is due to narrow mindedness or they just think that your feet odour is slightly different and it smells like cheese. If you have a body odour problem, though, personal hygiene and anti-perspirant deodorant is recommended because we sweat more here. I use them because I can’t stand the sticky and wet underarm feeling. Anti bacterial talcum powder is probably beneficial if you apply if after your deodorant. You can use corn starch if you can’t find any.
11. If you are a non-Asian trying to approach a local Asian girl, you will either be thought of as negatively or positively. Some tips for some common thoughts that runs in a girl’s mind are:
a. I can probably have a better lifestyle because he is rich (if the girl is a gold digger)
It this happens to you or might happen to you my suggestion is to play it cool and test the girl. If you happen to not worry and care about materialism, I’d say go for it and have fun. If you happen to fall in love with this girl and is looking for something more or just simply is not as rich as she thinks you are, tell the truth and probably say something like, “I only have 10 dollars left this month.” Look at her reaction. You can see where you can go from there. Stop paying for everything and buying things for a while. She will either: complain, don’t care or stray away from you. But if you are one of those guys who like spending money on his ladies, go for it and spoil them. Although, do not expect for anything in return, either relationship wise or sexually, as you may not get them.
b. Does he think that because he is white, he can just ask me for a date and try to sleep with me because he thinks that he is special? (if the girl is not a gold digger, perhaps educated abroad)
Actually, this happens sometimes. Just be yourself when you approach a woman, just like you are supposed to anyway, and be sincere about your intention because women can actually sense intentions. Although I have to say that this happens between Asians too. I think that boys will always be boys. If this is what you are after, make it clear and make sure that the lady is looking for the same thing. If you are totally smitten by her and not looking for ‘it’ tonight, then just converse and have a friendly conversation like you have with your female friends. This usually works if she finds that you are a nice guy and is actually open to new friendships.
c. Is he one of the “Oh-I-Love-Asians” guys who jerks off while watching Asian porn? (If you make it obvious)
I think that this is a double edged sword. Some girls like it when you say it, some don’t. Some will take it as a compliment, some as an insult. I think that women are just generally complicated just like men are. Although sometimes you are sincerely trying to sound your preference, make sure that you don’t do it in a cheesy sleazy way (unless that is your intention) and look beyond the outer appearance. There is no such thing as a typical woman. Women are special and complicated because they are a totally different gender. But is that not what makes us special?
d. If I go out with him or marry him, will he have an affair with my maid since everyone here will seem exotic to him? (if she had a bad experience in the past and most likely insecure in return)
This is related to some of the above points. Therefore, I don’t really know what more to say except be honest and be yourself. A developed notion about someone is often hard to break as it is often psychological. But, I think, if you are totally sincere, the other party should be able to sense it after a while. If she does not, you are free to make your own choice. If you intend to have an affair, either don’t get married or suggest an open relationship to avoid dramas.
e. Do I look like a prostitute? (If she happens to be in a bar that is known as a pickup place)
This is tricky because you can either be looking for a prostitute or are actually thinking that she is a nice woman. In which case, unless you get any signals from the woman, don’t say anything like “how much” or “let’s go back to my place” because there are pretty traditional and conservative women.
f. Oh, he is a nice guy and I like him (If you are both on the same boat hence smiley faces during your conversation)
This probably does not require further explanation other than congratulations and hope that it works out for you both.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Dating and the amusement park
I think that dating is like spending a day in an amusement park. There are so many rides, so many activitities to do, so many planning, so many people, so much time wasted on the trip and queuing. Ultimately, we either go home exhausted but happy or dreadfully terrified of all the buzz the park has to offer.
Two rides that I think can represent my view on this topic are the roller coaster and fairy wheel.
The roller coaster offers us excitement. Dizziness, speed and that upside down mechanical wonder that often make people dizzy and stomachs churn. But after a while that butterfly feeling that you get when it goes downward disappear and you get used to it. It becomes a boring ride after you get on it for a couple of times in a row.
On the other hand, the fairy wheel seems to be packed by family and kids and look boring to the adventure seeker. Although, I have to say that being on it enables me to look at my surrounding clearly and I am amazed by how relaxing and peaceful it makes me feel.
I think that ultimately, most people seek stability in their life and many hope that ultimately, marriage is the island where you, after a long sail asea, end up settling at.
Maybe some marry for reasons other than love. Money, status quo, family pressure, the need for reproduction, ticking biological work, fear of loneliness, or just for the sake of it because you don't want to end up being alone. This all bring us to some of human basic needs, companionship and love.
If you are the adventurous type blessed with perfectly healthy and working body until you grow old, than I guess that arthritis, osteoporosis, and those other 'age-related ailments' are not hindrances which will stop you from riding all the adventures and new rides the parks have to offer.
Plastic fantastic or an eternal diamond? You choose
Two rides that I think can represent my view on this topic are the roller coaster and fairy wheel.
The roller coaster offers us excitement. Dizziness, speed and that upside down mechanical wonder that often make people dizzy and stomachs churn. But after a while that butterfly feeling that you get when it goes downward disappear and you get used to it. It becomes a boring ride after you get on it for a couple of times in a row.
On the other hand, the fairy wheel seems to be packed by family and kids and look boring to the adventure seeker. Although, I have to say that being on it enables me to look at my surrounding clearly and I am amazed by how relaxing and peaceful it makes me feel.
I think that ultimately, most people seek stability in their life and many hope that ultimately, marriage is the island where you, after a long sail asea, end up settling at.
Maybe some marry for reasons other than love. Money, status quo, family pressure, the need for reproduction, ticking biological work, fear of loneliness, or just for the sake of it because you don't want to end up being alone. This all bring us to some of human basic needs, companionship and love.
If you are the adventurous type blessed with perfectly healthy and working body until you grow old, than I guess that arthritis, osteoporosis, and those other 'age-related ailments' are not hindrances which will stop you from riding all the adventures and new rides the parks have to offer.
Plastic fantastic or an eternal diamond? You choose
Love and Vivi
I was having a discussion with a couple of friends about love. Is it simple or is it complicated? Is it hard or is it easy? What is love? When people say that first love never dies, do you think it’s true?
I think it is. First love or past loves will always have a place in your heart but not necessarily the one that you focus your attention, feeling, sacrifices and decisions on.
For me, past loves don’t die because I learn from them. I may not want to go back with any of them but those relationships taught me a lot about what true love is all about. I prefer to take everything that has happened into good memories. It does not matter that I cried over things that have happened or the fact that when my heart was broken I felt that maybe I would not be able to relive these kinds of moments with another person.
But you see, all those heartaches turn out well because they turned me into a more mature person who appreciates a relationship more. With each one, I learn from past mistakes whether it is interpersonal relationships, characters or simply what type of guys I can stand and definitely can put up with me. With each lesson I learned, I found that perhaps God let it happened so that I can understand how to treat my future one better.
After all, I believe on the phrase that “things happen when the time is right.” Opportunities must be seized. Chances must be given but pity, desperation, boredom or curiosity can never be a good foundation where you can build a good relationship on.
True love, for me, is about giving and sacrificing. It is about how much you are willing to give to a person. It is about how much you are willing to put your own happiness or wants after the other person’s.
For me, true love is not easy because it counterattack the selfishness trait that each human has. That is why, I believe that once a decision is made, any consequences have to be taken wholeheartedly just as the good experiences have to be too.
I don’t believe in looking back and comparing people because each person is different and one can teach you different things and take you to different journey. Once a journey is decided, it is like a non refundable ticket. You either refuse to embark the flight or you can just get on it because you have decided to do it and you stick to your decision.
Can love ever be easy? I don’t think so. Love breaks you into pieces but then build you back into a better creation. Admiration, obsession and lust let you feed your inner ego but love forces you to let go of your ego. Love can last or love can stop but a commitment cannot be looked down upon because you are responsible for the other party as well.
Maybe it sounds more like a business contract but isn’t marriage is like one? I don’t like breaking contracts unless it is a mutual agreement but for me, I’d rather wait for the right person to have a relationship with than go out and chase after any available guy.
It is not because I am arrogant, lazy, prudent, think highly of myself or conservative. I am more concerned about not being able to be my best self for someone and in turn hurt or disappoint the other person while forcing him to let me feed on him.
The past is the past that cannot be rewinded or taken away. You have to take it along with the person that you have chosen. But the present and the future are things that you can work on. How much you are willing to invest, how many opportunities you are willing to seize, how many risks you are willing to take, and how much commitment or sacrifices you are willing to make is totally up to you.
Life is a race. You have to keep running until you reach the finish line. There is no such thing as rerun in races. You just go on, let your old sweat evaporate and wipe your fresh one with satisfaction when you reach the finish line. Because, you have finished the exhausting long run.
It does not matter how many years you take or how slow you run, what is most important is that you finish your race. You have to keep running because the clock keeps ticking and unfortunately, time will not stop for us.
So, I will go on and finish my race, knowing that at the end of it, I shall be satisfied that I ran with all my might and did not give up in the middle of my race regardless on how difficult the track is.
I think it is. First love or past loves will always have a place in your heart but not necessarily the one that you focus your attention, feeling, sacrifices and decisions on.
For me, past loves don’t die because I learn from them. I may not want to go back with any of them but those relationships taught me a lot about what true love is all about. I prefer to take everything that has happened into good memories. It does not matter that I cried over things that have happened or the fact that when my heart was broken I felt that maybe I would not be able to relive these kinds of moments with another person.
But you see, all those heartaches turn out well because they turned me into a more mature person who appreciates a relationship more. With each one, I learn from past mistakes whether it is interpersonal relationships, characters or simply what type of guys I can stand and definitely can put up with me. With each lesson I learned, I found that perhaps God let it happened so that I can understand how to treat my future one better.
After all, I believe on the phrase that “things happen when the time is right.” Opportunities must be seized. Chances must be given but pity, desperation, boredom or curiosity can never be a good foundation where you can build a good relationship on.
True love, for me, is about giving and sacrificing. It is about how much you are willing to give to a person. It is about how much you are willing to put your own happiness or wants after the other person’s.
For me, true love is not easy because it counterattack the selfishness trait that each human has. That is why, I believe that once a decision is made, any consequences have to be taken wholeheartedly just as the good experiences have to be too.
I don’t believe in looking back and comparing people because each person is different and one can teach you different things and take you to different journey. Once a journey is decided, it is like a non refundable ticket. You either refuse to embark the flight or you can just get on it because you have decided to do it and you stick to your decision.
Can love ever be easy? I don’t think so. Love breaks you into pieces but then build you back into a better creation. Admiration, obsession and lust let you feed your inner ego but love forces you to let go of your ego. Love can last or love can stop but a commitment cannot be looked down upon because you are responsible for the other party as well.
Maybe it sounds more like a business contract but isn’t marriage is like one? I don’t like breaking contracts unless it is a mutual agreement but for me, I’d rather wait for the right person to have a relationship with than go out and chase after any available guy.
It is not because I am arrogant, lazy, prudent, think highly of myself or conservative. I am more concerned about not being able to be my best self for someone and in turn hurt or disappoint the other person while forcing him to let me feed on him.
The past is the past that cannot be rewinded or taken away. You have to take it along with the person that you have chosen. But the present and the future are things that you can work on. How much you are willing to invest, how many opportunities you are willing to seize, how many risks you are willing to take, and how much commitment or sacrifices you are willing to make is totally up to you.
Life is a race. You have to keep running until you reach the finish line. There is no such thing as rerun in races. You just go on, let your old sweat evaporate and wipe your fresh one with satisfaction when you reach the finish line. Because, you have finished the exhausting long run.
It does not matter how many years you take or how slow you run, what is most important is that you finish your race. You have to keep running because the clock keeps ticking and unfortunately, time will not stop for us.
So, I will go on and finish my race, knowing that at the end of it, I shall be satisfied that I ran with all my might and did not give up in the middle of my race regardless on how difficult the track is.
If Life is like a DVD player
Why do we forgive but don’t forget? Why can’t memories be like a movie played in a DVD player? I’d like a remote control with that please. Some chips would be great to go with the menu. Subtitle all the languages I do not understand. Replay events that I don’t get. Rewind words that I do not comprehend. Pause moments I’d like to remember. Fast forward tasks I do not enjoy doing.
Unfortunately, there is no erase option in DVD movies. So maybe memories will be better if it is like a word document. Spell-check my words, please. Thesaurus jargons, please. Save good pieces, please. Erase nasty talks, please and while we’re at that, can I undo what I’ve just said?
Then again, I’d rather talk about Mc Donald’s because it has happy meals and I can choose my own menu whether it’s a set menu or a la carte. But too much junk food isn’t good for your body and waistline. So maybe I’d rather it be like Japanese food.
Fusion or authentic Japanese sushi? Some are delicacies that are rare to find while others are like rice rolled in soggy seaweed. However, raw fish can get you sick if it has not been kept at an appropriate temperature. I’d rather say no to diarrhea.
Should it be like chocolate cake? Sweet, bitter, fattening and can either be a healthy or cursed indulgence. Hmm…who cares, just roll your sleeves and dig in. It’s what life is all about. You can’t really control or choose fate so I might as well embrace all the calories and fat contained in that piece of devilish chocolate mud cake and get hyper, due to sugar overdose, in the process.
On a second thought, let’s pause this for a while because I am hungry and everything seems to be related to food. But I am a hungry mammal after all. Hot blooded, warm hearted and have cold feet and hands at the same time. I can’t believe how complex being a human can be. I’d rather have a simple life but I don’t want to be Paris Hilton (although, I wouldn’t mind her bags and shoes).
II Pause
Unfortunately, there is no erase option in DVD movies. So maybe memories will be better if it is like a word document. Spell-check my words, please. Thesaurus jargons, please. Save good pieces, please. Erase nasty talks, please and while we’re at that, can I undo what I’ve just said?
Then again, I’d rather talk about Mc Donald’s because it has happy meals and I can choose my own menu whether it’s a set menu or a la carte. But too much junk food isn’t good for your body and waistline. So maybe I’d rather it be like Japanese food.
Fusion or authentic Japanese sushi? Some are delicacies that are rare to find while others are like rice rolled in soggy seaweed. However, raw fish can get you sick if it has not been kept at an appropriate temperature. I’d rather say no to diarrhea.
Should it be like chocolate cake? Sweet, bitter, fattening and can either be a healthy or cursed indulgence. Hmm…who cares, just roll your sleeves and dig in. It’s what life is all about. You can’t really control or choose fate so I might as well embrace all the calories and fat contained in that piece of devilish chocolate mud cake and get hyper, due to sugar overdose, in the process.
On a second thought, let’s pause this for a while because I am hungry and everything seems to be related to food. But I am a hungry mammal after all. Hot blooded, warm hearted and have cold feet and hands at the same time. I can’t believe how complex being a human can be. I’d rather have a simple life but I don’t want to be Paris Hilton (although, I wouldn’t mind her bags and shoes).
II Pause
Random words
I should know better than to let words become swords in my tiny little brain.
When the edge strikes through my heart, it splits into tiny pieces that condemns all positive thoughts
Reflection of reality passes through as it waves goodbye to me
I’m flying and fell into the dark night sky
Where hawks still fly and look for prey
I am a prey
Of humans’ greed and unsatisfied desire
I am the worm
That the birds of evil look for
They don’t take no for an answer
I am nothing that became something great
Loved and hated
Despised and worshipped
They call me the root of all evil
But I am no more than pieces of paper
On which is stated In God We Trust
A statement that becomes nothing
When people’s eyes turn as green as me
When the edge strikes through my heart, it splits into tiny pieces that condemns all positive thoughts
Reflection of reality passes through as it waves goodbye to me
I’m flying and fell into the dark night sky
Where hawks still fly and look for prey
I am a prey
Of humans’ greed and unsatisfied desire
I am the worm
That the birds of evil look for
They don’t take no for an answer
I am nothing that became something great
Loved and hated
Despised and worshipped
They call me the root of all evil
But I am no more than pieces of paper
On which is stated In God We Trust
A statement that becomes nothing
When people’s eyes turn as green as me
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