[Bahasa Indonesia]
Today Kompas Dailies put a huge pic of Lapindo mud. It says it all.
I think it is high time for us to stop complaining about our life and start feeling thankful for a change, and start sharing.
.start doing something. anything.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Something is just worth supporting.
In the midst of hunger and malnutrition in our country.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Some time ago, a friend forwarded me this link, which tells a story about an animal pound in the city where animals are needlessly suffering and some are left to die. *sigh*
It is the hunger topic again. This time it is about animals. Yet another tear drop from my eyes.
I promised that friend that I would put this up on my blogs, hoping somehow it will make a difference. Apology for the long delay.
It is a wonder how we often fall for animals, but not for human. We feel the pity when we see animals in pain, but choose to ignore humans who are in agony.
Or maybe it is just too painful for us to see, that we decide to look away and move on with our beautiful happy life, probably out of fear of getting hurt inside.
I think, as are children, animals are there to touch us deeper, with their innocence, honesty, and vulnerability.
When trust, unconditional love, and affection start to grow from within us, we can extend ourselves and learn to love others as well. To be affectionate and lend our hands to animals, nature and humankind alike.
Look who is learning to love now. And we thought we were the ones who are doing them a favor.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I have been postponing to write this entry for quite some time. I saw the news on TV quite a while ago about hunger in this country.
A mother and her two young sons died of hunger at home. Malnutrition everywhere in certain regions. Hunger in the middle of this very city that I live in, whose streets I pass by every single day. I really don't think I need to put a picture here.
My heart broke. My tears as well.
To think that there is hunger in this tropical agricultural maritime country is beyond my common sense. To think that it happens on my doorstep without me--us?--doing anything much is beyond tolerance.
I sms-ed several friends. I received heart warming responses.
I know there is a vast, beyond-my-comprehension problem in the country that has led us to this situation, both the hunger and the ignorance. I understand very well that there should be a structural—almost political—change to improve the situation. I know.
Still, one response which the little ordinary me hold dearest to my heart was an invitation to do what we can, to be kind and attentive to those who are around us.
That office boy who serves us coffee everyday at work. That personal/taxi/bus/bajaj driver who takes us places at almost always “the speed of light”. That street hawker, that vegetable seller, that boy in the red-white stripe T shirt which we might not even notice.
Do we know whether they will have food on their table tonight? Do we know whether their kids have been well fed and have managed to stay in school? Do we even care?
I have been postponing to write this entry for quite some time. Because I did not know the solution to this problem. I still do not.
But perhaps that is my very problem. That is our problem. We feel so puzzled, insignificant and powerless that we do not do anything. At all.
It is time to do something. Anything. Start giving. Please.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Last weekend I helped my friends from MPATI (Masyarakat Peduli Autis Indonesia - Care for Autism Indonesia) in conducting a training session on public speaking for its pioneers.
About 15 people from all walks of life attended the training. Parents of autistic children, therapists, psychologists, and youth from Miss/Mr. Jakarta (I wonder if this is the correct translation of Abnon Jakarta). They came from Kalimantan, Solo and various places in Jakarta.
I can only say: Amazing people. People full of enthusiasm and commitment to share their understanding of autism and to help autistic children and their surrounding create a better future.
Thank you, Gayatri and DY, for allowing me to participate and for such a wonderful initiative. Thank you, MPATI pioneers, for your enthusiasm and patience.
Thank you, Mbak Lita of Maverick, for willing to help without any single hesitation. I cannot imagine doing this without your help.
I want to share the presentation of the training here. Unfortunately, it is still in Indonesian. Let me know if you are really interested and want to have the English version.
For more info, contact Ms. Tini or Ms. Reni at the MPATI Secretariat at
Jl Warung Buncit Raya 99, Wisma Yaqif, Jakarta Selatan. Tel +62 (21) 799 1508, hp +62 (813) 8074 1898 or e-mail yayasan_mpati@yahoo.com.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Today Indonesia is celebrating the 62nd anniversary of its independence day. I was trying to find the right picture for this thread.
My choice goes to the picture below, showing the double badminton players from Indonesia: hendra Gunawan and Joko Riyadi during the current World Championship in Malaysia. 
The picture was taken from a Kompas Cyber Media article titled “Pebulutangkis Indonesia Terus Melaju.” – Indonesian badminton players keep advancing. Look at the single-minded-ness, the fighting spirit and the determination obviously reflected on their face.
But more than that, it is how I feel, and wish, about my country and my people: that we keep advancing. I am tired of people complaining about the state of the country. It is time to change our frame of mind and be more optimistic, constructive, and active.
Just like what the T-shirt I saw in the shopping mall today said: “You have to be the change that you want to see.” Spot on.
Start doing something. Anything.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
The regional election day when Jakarta votes to elect a new governor.
So, Jakartanians, which would it be?
[Bahasa Indonesia]
Some things are worth promoting.
SENADA, a USAID-financed project on Indonesia’s competitiveness, has launched a 1,000,000 USD grant fund today for firms, institutions and organizations that have innovative ideas for a more competitive Indonesia.
Proposed innovations may be in the form of new products or services that add value or reduce costs, initiatives that capture or retain customers or provide new services, and an idea that creates a more business friendly environment.
No matter what innovation specifically is, it should benefit not only the grantee, but should also have a wider impact that will improve the competitiveness of its industry value chain.
Check out the SENADA Business Innovation Fund's website.
.start doing something. anything.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
I remember passing by a riverbank one day, where all the small wooden huts reside. I asked my friend how we can eliminate them. He simply responded, by erradicating poverty. So true. How?
Education and SME development. I really truly believe those were the two things that will revive my country. Don’t ask me to give you the comprehensive logical argument on why I believe it, I just do.
Education. No further argument needed.
Small and medium enterprises. The majority of companies in Indonesia is considered to be a small or medium companies. The majority. Can you imagine if most of them grow? Can you imagine how strong the economy would be?
Again, how to do that?
The million dollar question. I will quote another friend when I asked him, “What can we do?” He said: just do what we can. Spot on, babe. You're thinking too much. Stop thinking, start doing.
What can we do? A lot of things. Look at the family of those who work for you. The office boy. The driver. The maid. The street hawker that pass by your house everyday.
Do you have time to spare, skills to share? Volunteer. Support any type of social activities around you, whichever you are comfortable with, does not really matter.
Do you like to write? Then for God’s sake start writing. Anywhere.
Do you have money? Donate. Give up those four cups of Starbuck's coffee a month and give the money to the needy instead.
Be a true professional at what you do, whatever it may be. No corruption. No complaints. If you are a consultant, consult well. If you are a business planner, plan it well. If you are a teller, count well. You have a job? Consider yourself lucky.
Smile and say hello to those who open the door for you, to those who clean up your desk, to those who take you to work, to those strangers whom you meet at the lift everyday.
If you can’t do all the above, at least please do not make the condition any worse. The signs are everywhere. What are you waiting for?
Start doing something. Anything.
[Bahasa Indonesia]
These kind of people--people who actually dedicate their time, their life, for other people in need--have often put me to shame. And put my life back to perspective.
I have just visited a school managed by my mom’s friend, Ibu Su’dan. She and her late husband established the school in 1980 under the name Ittiqon Foundation for needy children in North Jakarta.
They started with less than 10 students in old wooden house. They literally had to visit the houses in surrounding area and asked parents to let their children go to school. “What’s the use, they will end up being a garbage collector, like me,” they said.
Twenty seven years have passed (My God, twenty seven years!). Now 800 elementary and junior high school students go to that school. For free. Some students who want to pay are a allowed to pay at will. Some students actually save their money to pay for the school as best as they can.
Forty-two amazing noble people teach in the school, with ‘salary’ way below the minimum regional wage. They even cook for the students, if need be. The head of the school once stated that they were free to leave if they wanted to look for better job, but they said they liked it there.
On rare occasions, the students receive milk, rice or even cheese bread. Ibu Sudan said that some never had tasted cheese before and they threw it away because they said it was salty. The milk gave them indigestion at first because they were not used to it.
I was so proud to hear that a student from the school was in the top five best score for final exam among all students in North Jakarta.
Some graduates from the school receive diploma scholarship from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah. Upon receiving the diploma, they return to the school and teach. A full beautiful cycle has been accomplished.
Now the school has just finished building two more classes. They are about to receive support from an organization to build 15 more classes with . Yet there are a lot to be done.
Here’s my wish list:
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Let these speak, then.
How can we still walk on the face of the earth with our head held up high?
[pics courtesy of Efrulwan, Surabaya]
I was listening to Trijaya FM on Friday. They were interviewing Aksa Mahmud. He sounded like idealistic, simple and humble.
I met him several years ago. I was making a company profile for his Group. During my conversation with him, he too sounded like idealistic, simple and humble.
One statement I remembered during our conversation was when we were talking about the social activities of his companies. He said, "Let's just focus on business activities and not talk about the social activities. I don't feel right 'bragging' about our social activities." I went home feeling impressed.
I hope he stayed like that and live that each day of his life, including during his political career. And I hope more and more people will become like that.
Have you been following the news on avian flu? I have. Well, how can I not if they are always on the headlines and on the radio or tv?
The endemic has gotten to a stage where we need to kill thousands of chickens, ducks, and pigeons for the sake of humanity.
Killing thousands of being in the name of humanity. That does not sound right, does it?
I am not against the move. Perhaps it is something we 'need' to do.
My friend's father is a bird lover. I can't imagine him killing his birds. Must be hard. Even harder for those who make a living out of it.
Granted, it is something we need to do. The question is how did we get to this stage? We have killed our forests. Now we are killing the animals.
How can nature not strike back? Perhaps its something THEY need to do as well. An eye for an eye.
A couple of days ago I saw a photo article of people choosing to use trains because they thought it was safer - in light of the recent ship and aircraft accidents.
This morning I saw an article of train derailed and fell from the bridge.
Wake up.
This article was taken and summarized from today's Kompas East Java edition.
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASES
Kompas Surabaya, January 10, 2007
East Java’s unemployment rate, which was expected to lower in 2007, is actually growing high. According to the latest data released by the East Java’s Provincial Office of Manpower, the increase is about 38% compared to last year’s rate of unemployment. Lapindo Brantas Inc’s mud flood may be attributed as one main factor that triggered such rise.
The unemployed are largely low educated people (primary and high school graduates) and around 3,000 of them are victims of work termination due to operation shutdown of manufacturing companies affected by the Sidoarjo mud flood.
Unemployment Rate in East Java
2005 : 1,082,221 people
2006 : 1,498,131 people
2007 projection : 1,385,252 people
.sad.
My sister has just returned from her hajj pilgrimage. She is fine, thanks for asking. She talks a lot about the journey. Very positively, despite of all the practical challenges she had to face. Good for her.
She also told us about how most of the Indonesian pilgrims were starving when they were in Arafah desert. Which reminds me. They say that you will receive your karma more directly when you are on hajj pilgrimage. So for instance, if you are arrogant enough to say that you will not get lost, you will be lost. If you complain that your food tastes awful, then for the whole journey your food will always taste awful.
Now in this case, the whole Indonesian hajj group are starving. I know on one hand the organizer was responsible for it and should take up the responsibility for it. But I wonder. Can this be one of those karmas as well? Instead of to individuals, this time it applies to the whole nation.
The whole group was starving. And back home, the whole village were swept away by landslide, the whole aircraft vanished without a trace. The whole hill was burnt by a forst fire. The whole ship sanked. The whole region was filled by hot mud. The whole seaside area was blown away by hurricane.
Communal Karma. They say it is the next step. When individuals do not listen to the call of nature, the nature will call harder. To the whole community. Until we listen. Until we have no choice but to listen. Sooner or later.
