Archive for the ‘Global Awareness’ Category
74 Geologists Meet To Deciding The Cause Of Mud Volcano
Finally, some decision on the mud volcano issue! A majority of top geologists voted that the cause of mud volcano in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia was caused by the Lapindo Brantas drilling for gas and oil. The decision was taken among 74 geologists in Cape Town, South Africa at a conference of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which ran from October 26-29. The topic of debate Lusi, the name of Indonesian mud volcano which erupted in May 2006, has triggered a social and environmental disaster. The volcano has swamped 12 villages and displaced around 30,000 people and continues to spew boiling mud at a rate sufficient to fill 53 Olympic swimming pools each day.
There were four varying hypotheses, including University Durham’s professor of geology, Richard Davies. Forty-two scientists voted in favour of Davies’ argument that the cause lay with a gas exploration well, Banjar-Panji-1, that was being drilled in the area by oil and gas company Lapindo Brantas, it said. Three scientists say the blame lies with an earthquake two days earlier in Yogyakarta, 280 kilometres away, which has always become the defensive reason of Lapindo Brantas, the company that tarted the drilling. Sixteen said the evidence was inconclusive, while 13 believed that a combination of quake and drilling was to blame.
Whatever the decision is, the cause is not fully clear because not everybody agree on one hypothese. At least the majority believe that the mud volcano was triggered by the drilling. I hope this can shed some light on the case!
Check out the news here!
The Miniature Earth
Just found it on the net, this is worth reading. It makes me feel humble and sad at the same time.
IF THE WORLD WERE A VILLAGE OF 100 PEOPLE
In the world today, more than 6 billion people live.
If this world were shrunk to the size of a village of 100 people, what would it look like?
61 are Asian
13 are African
12 are European
8 are North American
5 are South American and Caribbean
1 are from the South Pacific
50 are women, 50 are men
47 live in urban area
9 are disabled
33 are Christians (Catholic, Protestants, etc)
18 are Moslems
16 are non religious
14 are Hindus
6 are Buddhists
13 practice other religions
Read the rest of this entry »
Daftar Produk Makanan Impor Cina Yang Ditarik
Sekitar 53,000 anak di Cina telah sakit dan 4 meninggal dunia karena produk susu yang mereka minum ternyata mengandung bahan kimia melamin. Berita ini membuat heboh dunia karena beberapa perusahaan susu besar di Cina menggunakan bahan yang berbahaya ini. Beberapa perusahaan menyalahkan supplier susu mereka yang mencampur bahan melamin dengan susu asli karena menaikkan kandungan protein dalam susu tersebut. Beberapa pejabat Cina yang terkait dengan perijinan makanan dan kesehatan telah mengundurkan diri karena skandal ini.
Produk yang mengandung melamin ternyata bukan hanya susu bubuk, tetapi juga produk lain yang mengandung susu seperti permen, biskuit susu, dll. Produk Cina yang terkontaminasi juga menyebar sampai ke Afrika. Indonesia juga tidak luput dari masalah ini.
Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (BPOM) bertindak dengan menyurati Asosiasi Peritel Indonesia untuk melakukan penarikan, menyegel dan melaporkan produk terkait. Produk-produk yang ditarik dari peredaran karena diduga mengandung susu dari China adalah:
Jinwel Yougoo (susu fermentasi rasa jeruk, aneka buah, dan tanpa rasa), Guozhen (susu bubuk full cream), Meiji Indoeskrim Gold Monas (rasa coklat dan vanila), Oreo Stick Wafer, Oreo Sandwich Cookies, M&M’s (Kembang gula coklat susu), Snicker’s (Biskuit-Nougat lapis coklat), Dove Choc (Kembang gula coklat), Natural Choice yogurt Flavoured Ice Bar, Yili Bean Club (matcha Read Bean ice bar, red bean ice bar, Yili Prestige Chocliz, Chesnut Ice Bar), Nestle Dairy Farm UHT pure mild, Yili High Calcium low fat Milk Beverage, Yili High Calcium Milk Beverage, Yili pure milk, Dutch Lady Strawberry Flavoured milk, White Rabbit creamy candy, dan Yili Choice Dairy Frozen Yogurt Bar.
Jadi apabila anda mengkonsumsi beberapa makanan di atas sebaiknya anda berhenti dulu sampai tahu kualitas kesehatan makanan yang anda konsumsi.
December 21st, 2012: The End Of The World?
Okay, you probably have heard a lot of writings, issues, or prediction about when the world ends. I think that this one prediction is worth noted. Why? Because last week, de Volkskrant and Expatica mentioned that thousand of people in the Netherlands believe in this prediction. They said that there are more people in the Netherlands who believed in this prophecy than those in United States and Poland. These Dutch people are even buying survival rations and boats. What is it about this prophecy that could influence many people in the Netherlands?
December 21st 2012 (some said its December 23rd) is the end of the Mayan Great Cycle after the completion of the 12th Baktum - shortly - the end of Mayan calendar. What is the Mayan calendar? According to Armageddon Online, the Maya calendar is a system of complex and highly developed calendars created by the Maya Civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Their calendar started in August 11, 3114 BC (gregorian calendar), exactly after Atlantis sank. Basically the Mayan see time not as in linear line, but as a cycle. This means that they thought that time repeated itself, so therefore, if they knew the past they could predict the future. By understanding time, they Maya could gain power over their world. As a cycle, the date mentioned will be the end of their calendar after 5,125 solar year. Read the rest of this entry »
International Youth Forum 2008
This is the one program that I think you should attend! This would be an event for 300 youth around the world working out the differences to build the common goal in Millennium Development Goal!
International Youth Forum 2008
Bandung, West Java,Indonesia
Announcement follows: International Youth Forum 2008 is a forum for youths to learn, share and experience mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among world youth faiths leader communities through real conversations on what things that matter the most, so that they can be the agents of a peaceful change in their own communities. The IYF 2008 will bring about 300 young people ages of 18-30 from around the world that have been actively engaged or interested in this program. Program’s Goal: > To promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation among interfaith, international, and inter-civilization youth leaders in the world. > To bring clarity of divisive issues and help forge greater understanding towards peace. > To build a peace network > To provide creative space for peace thoughts, interactions, and social movement. > To build a Global Youth Action Plan and recommendation on achieving MDGs 2015 Program format: This program will offer a mixing speakers to share their own experiences of peace-building toward MDGs and youth empowerment issue, country paper sessions, inner reflection and sharing in which individuals can share their peace-building stories, panel-discussions, quiet time, world cafe, dialogue, field practice, social workshops involving the local communities, free time, workshop on practical exercises for skill improvement, cultural event, and family groups. |
Application form can be downloaded at http://www.4shared.com/file/28342062/41791120/iyf2008_application_form.html
or click Iyf Application Form
Has Live Earth Gone Too Far???
Ok, seriously, I am a big fan of Al Gore and the Live Earth community. I have registered to this community long before the concert. I am happy that Al Gore won a Noble Prize because in some way it is also a recognition on our efforts trying to raise the awareness of the global warning. I know there have been cynical voices comparing the waste that was produced during the concert and the electricity that was used was in a way contradictory with the save the energy issue. However, I know that there are costs to pay.
I also read that Al Gore has his private jet which consumes more fuel since he is flying all over the world with it (instead of using commercial flight like most of us did). Again, I think this was still ok since he has to travel fast to raise the awareness and he can’t adjust himself to the American commercial flight’s unpredictable schedule.
But now, I think the Live Earth Community has gone one step too far by promoting this free guitar that was donated after the concert in Sydney. It uses sms promotion with standard tariff applies. C’mon guys! The idea is to eliminate the consumerism idea that occupies the world, and now you are trying to gain money (that I’m sure for the sake of the organization’s effort to raise awareness) by paid-sms??? What is the difference between us and the ones who polluted the world by selling their craps and try to promote their stuff via sms??? What’s happening here? Don’t we have better ways to do it??? Why are we promoting consumerism in another form? I’m personally disappointed now and hope that we can come up with better solution for fund-raising. Don’t let the one who tries to inform the world about the global warming becomes the one who fuels it… Read the rest of this entry »
Have A Blessed Eid Ul-fitr!
On this blessed Eid ul-Fitr (which happens to be my birthday)
I pray, may Allah’s blessing fills your heart and home with happiness and peace.
I aks for your forgiveness in this happy day,
Eid Mubarak today and always,
Binsar Pakpahan
They Are Shooting Monks In Burma
Dear friends,
The Burmese protests are widening, the international response is building–and the Burmese generals are panicking. Today the Burmese junta banned gatherings of more than 5, and sent thousands of troops to take control of the street — but still the monks and protesters march. Desperate officers have beaten, tear-gassed and fired on their own people, reportedly shooting five monks in Rangoon.
The next 36 hours are crucial. Leaders have called an emergency session of the UN Security Council–but only a decisive initiative will prevent a massacre like the one from 1988. Already 85,000 people from 192 countries have signed our emergency global petition.Please click the link below to sign (a single click will add your name), then send this email to others so they can too–we’ll send the updated petition to the Chinese government and the UN Security Council members every day:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/i.php/?cl=20962502&signup=1
We’re calling for UN powers–above all China, which holds the economic strings of the Burmese regime–to apply decisive pressure now to stop the violence, and to broker a peaceful transition. If they fail to do this, the massacres will be sudden.
The protesters have declared they will not back down. The Burmese have showed their courage. The scenes fill our television screens–now the world must act.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/i.php/?cl=20962502&signup=1
In hope,
Paul, Ricken, Graziela, Ben, Galit and the whole Avaaz team
Report On Iofc Web On My Presentation At Caux
I’m posting the report of my presentation written by Andrew Stallybrass, who is the moderator during the presentation. You can see it at http://www.afr-iofc.org/news.php?id=397 . Here is some of the contents…
An afternoon seminar, looked at the question ‘Beyond tolerance: what discourse do we need to fight fundamentalism?’ Chief Rabbi Marc Raphael Guedj, from Geneva, Switzerland, Director, of the Foundation Racines et Sources. suggested themes to be explored: ‘Promoting the dimension of the universal wisdom of each religion, and sharing it, in a spirit of respect for the traditions of others. This is the very foundation of interreligious dialogue; Deepening the spiritual roots of each religious tradition, since fundamentalisms stay in the superficiality of dogmatism, and forget their own spiritual roots; Being aware of the complexity of identities, and thus finding freedom from monolithic and murderous identities; Asking ourselves the question: how to transmit religious values without weighing dogmatically on the conscience of others, while shaping others as free beings, creative and open to others.’
Rabbi Guedj explained the title. He had been one of those to launch the Imams and Rabbis for Peace, whose World Congresses have brought together several hundred Rabbis and Imams. ‘As a Rabbi, I feel responsible, because religion develops identity.’ Some argue for tolerance of each other’s religious views. But tolerance, he said, is ineffective as a response to the fundamentalist ideas growing apace in the Middle East. ‘Fundamentalists are fascinated by dogma and rituals, but they are not rooted in spirituality, and so their roots are petrified. Openness towards others is a characteristic of people who have strong spiritual roots.’
The Rabbi continued, ‘Many in Western society ask, if I have the spirit, why do I need the word? I am a strong critic of dogma. But how can I transmit this spirit to my grandchildren? Spirit is ethereal. Rejecting the word is not a solution. We need to go backwards and forwards. Ritual should be the wings of the spirit, able to fly away in many directions. And it needs to be interpreted. We need both the spirit and the word. I was inspired by the Dalai Lama, who said, ‘I am not asking you to become Buddhist, but I have wisdom to offer you.’ I say the same. Rather than trying to convince others about our religion, can we share its wisdom with others? If we did that, perhaps this would enable us to rediscover spiritual roots strong enough to win the struggle with fundamentalism.’
He was followed by Rev Binsar Pakpahan from Indonesia, who is doing doctoral studies in theology in the Netherlands. His thesis is on remembering in order to forgive. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country, he pointed out. As a member of the Christian minority, he went to school with Muslims, and they got on well. ‘The situation changed after 9/11,’ he said, and there is now increasing hostility towards Christians, and pressure to introduce Sharia law in the country.
Read the rest of this entry »Caux Conference
I was in Caux, Switzerland last week attending ‘Agenda for Reconciliation’ conference held by Initiatives of Change International (13-19 August). I was actively involved there. I had 3 workshops on three different days. The first was delivering a workshop on the theme ‘Religion, culture and belief – are they factors for peace or for conflict?’ on the third day of the conference with Chief Rabbi Marc Raphael Guedj from Geneva, Switzerland, Director of the Foundation Racines et Sources, and Prof Dr Nasr Abu Zayd, Professor of Islamic Studies in Utrecth Universiteit and Leiden Universiteit, Netherlands. The next day I was facilitating the World Cafe with John Freebury from Canada on the theme ‘Celebrating Diversity’. And on Friday I held an Anti-Corruption Workshop with Ngan Le my Vietnamese friend.
I’m posting some pictures of the conference here, and you can see more news and even my paper on the next thread. Enjoy!
Call For The Taliban To Free 22 Korean Hostages
I am posting this in my blog so that everyone who wants to join can click the link below and please join the petition to calling on Taliban leaders to free 22 humanitarian workers from Korea. The Taliban just killed one hostage last Wednesday and it is crucial for us to sign the petition to ask them to honor their code of honoring the guests who intend them no harm. Click this link to sign the petition. Your voice is priceless! http://www.avaaz.org/en/honour_the_afghan_code/b.php/?CLICKTRACK
Live Earth Sos!!!
Guys,
This is the earth day live! It has been concluded by the United Nations that 90% of the global warming are caused by human. If we do not change our attitude, we will be doomed in 15 years time, and who knows what will happen in 100 years from now. We should save mother earth, the whole world are uniting! Check out your carbon emission, and see how much we are affecting the world. This is mine! I contribute quite a lot although I use bicycle and recycle, but since I travel 3-4 times with plane it increases my pollution amount. Check it out http://www.earthlab.com You can make a difference by taking small steps! Start saving the earth everyone!!!
If you are having problems viewing this email, please click here.
Thank you for calculating your Live Impact score
and taking actions to be part of the solution to the
climate crisis! YOUR ECP SCORE IS: 278
YOUR CARBON OUTPUT IS: 9.3 TONS PER YEAR Dont miss Live Earth on 7.07.07 - live and on
demand at LiveEarth.MSN.com! After Live Earth, go to EarthLab.com to view your
Plan Profile (ECP) and learn more ways you can
reduce your impact and lower your
Earth Conservation ECP score!
