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Productive Debt is Fine

Anang Kurniawan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:05:32 +0000

Debate on state debt is still on going here in Indonesia. As the writer remembers, matters of foreign debt had become hot issue during 1997 crisis. During present global economy crisis, state debt emerges for debate. It is due to the fact that this crisis has forced many nations, including the advanced one as United States, to sharply increase their amount of debt.

IMF publication on June 9, 2009 exhibits that the ratio for debt to gross domestic product (GDP) in US, Japan, and UK increases by more than 10 percent for three years period of 2006 to April 2009. Meanwhile, German, Canada, and Australia boost less than 10 percent during the same period. Yet some nations record decline on their loan to GDP ratio. Some are Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Argentina. The decreases respectively are 3 percent (to 6.9 percent), 12 percent (to 15.6 percent), 3 percent (to 29.1 percent), and 26 percent (to 50.4 percent).

The above elaboration is showing how nations of rich natural resources are able to use their resources to ease their debt well. Indonesia is included here. Using GDP as measurement, our debt shrinks by 6 percent from 39 percent to 32.9 percent at the same period. Though, the debt does not reduce by amount.

Since the New Order, the amount has increased. Though 1997 economy crisis has been a decade away, the amount of debt is swelling. In 1997, the debt was recorded 18.17 percent to GDP. The crisis made the debt ratio to GDP sharply amplified, reaching its peak in 2000 by 97.83 percent. Four years following, it decreased to 57 percent and in 2009 to 33 percent. It is estimated the debt is at 32 percent in 2009. Though it sharply decreases if seen from its ratio to GDP post-1997 crisis, the amount increases as the deficit of state budget.

Indonesia’s debt increased from IDR 940 trillions in 1999 to IDR 1,273 trillions in 2001. Then, the amount increased to IDR 1,299 trillions in 2004, and to possibly IDR 1,700 trillions in 2009 (according to data from Department of Monetary). The increase is noted IDR 740 trillions since a decade ago in 1999 or IDR 401 trillions from 2004 to 2009. The debt sharply increases within these five years compared to previous periods.

Multiplier Effect is a Must

Everyone, I believe, is pleased to have more fund than be in debt. If possible, we prefer to be those with excessive fund who lend the debt to others. Yet possible option is limited sometimes. State in economic crisis usually experiences increase in debt. It requires much fund to heal its economy. In time of crisis state income decreases; thus, option to debt must be taken.

Developing countries implementing constructions are usually recorded as debtor with large amount, especially from foreign to cover up domestic shortage. They require more fund to finance the infrastructure. Therefore, their debt tend to be large. It is common for them to be the customers of World Bank or other multilateral financial institution. Developing countries with affluent natural resources also debt, though not that large. Saudi Arabia and Russia are the examples. Before 1997 economic crisis, Indonesia debt was at that level (below 20 percent to GDP). With the rich of natural resources, such developing countries should not be in debt that deep, though it is not to guarantee them to be immune for debt.

Debt for state is not taboo for proper reason to productive project. Thus, the income gained has the ability to pay the debt. It may bestow large multiplier effect for economic interest to increase the state income. It indirectly increases the state ability to pay back the debt. Thus, the state does not take its burden to payback the debt to the next generation. It is necessary to manage the debt to things else of consumption matters which burdens later generation.

Debt must be well-managed to efficiency in cost and to safe the continuity of state financial ability. The risk must be in control to ensure its economy in safe. Indonesia has this awareness to debt, though rumors shout that the debt is to finance cash for poor program (BLT) not to productive project. People start to comment upon our policy on debt. They regard to the increase of our debt.

As Indonesia applies deficit budget, our debt continues to increase. However, our government highlights the policy that debt is an instrument to finance APBN to cover up the deficit and payback due debt. It is necessary to limit deficit APBN and to control the use of debt for non-consumption matters. Indonesia should regard such option as debt swap frequently offered by creditors to mitigate the debt. At least, the option may reduce the debt significantly. Thus, this matter of debt does not trouble our ability to build our economy.

Source Language: Dr Sri Adiningsih. Utang Oke Asal Produktif. Jawa Pos. 22 Juni 2009

Control the Stability of Rupiah

Anang Kurniawan — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:04:35 +0000

The stability of exchange rate for Rupiah against US Dollar has provided soft pad for us to gorgeous dream on our economic condition, at least for this first semester of 2009. Rupiah is strongly traded at IDR 10,000 per USD.

In determined 2010 RAPBN, the government draws on assumption for this exchange rate at IDR 9,500 to IDR 10,500. Keeping its position firm will ensure later prosperous economic condition.

It is, of course, not an easy and simple job. There are many factors determining its stability. The success of legislative election is regarded as one dominant flavor.

Those facts, then, are adequate to emerge our concern to its rate fluctuation. Presidential race will be held next month.

We must stay alert, indeed. Though we record the highest growth among countries in this region, it cannot be used as an assurance. Thus, awareness must never be off.

Optimism to better economic condition, of course, must be lighted on. The shrink of Rupiah at IDR 12,000 against USD during the third quarter of 2008 could be an example. That received much concerns.

In fact, we could tame the fluctuation of Rupiah, even record 6 percent growth. Also, Indonesia’s inflation was still assumed relatively better in regards to the increase of just 2 percent compared to previous 2007. Inflation in other countries, meanwhile, leaped 3 to 4 times higher than previous year.

Decline on its exchange rate was relatively less significant compared to other currencies. Korea’s Won, for an instance, droped off to 23 percent. Rupiah, in the mean time, declined to 11.96 percent.

Portrait to Fragility

Law of Supply and Demand also colorizes this present condition of Rupiah. Demand to USD as international transaction instrument is less than the flow of that currency to Indonesia. The difference is often called as the reserve of foreign exchange.

Importers commonly utilizes USD for transaction and pay their foreign debt. Meanwhile, exporters and investors are able to generate USD to manufacture domestically.

The trading circumstance here is fairly fascinated. Numerous foreign investments give that proof. During May 2009, the total investment reaches IDR 123 trillions.

This creates abundant foreign exchange reaching USD 58 billions. But we must remember something though we had lots of foreign exchange in beginning second semester of 2008. However, the fluctuation of its exchange rate against USD may sharply decrease our foreign exchange. If in July 2008, our saving reached USD 57 billions, it could dwindle to USD 51 billions by six weeks.

Our foreign exchange was not only exploited to stabilize the fluctuation, but to cover up our deficit trading balance also. In July 2008 our import reached USD 12.82 billions, meanwhile, our export only reached USD 12.55 billions. The difference was almost noted at USD 300 millions in deficit.

Seeing present condition, when our export is worried due to economic situation in such targeted countries as Japan (19.79 %), USA (14.02%), and Singapore (9.50%), we cannot hope that much from them.

Hence, it is absolutely necessary to keep the political and social condition in stable, which lead into conducive economic climate. The stability represents something that may kick the worries of our Rupiah decline away.

In brief, uncertainty is visible. Indonesia is still about to experience possible harder economic problem.

Present Rupiah rate against the USD may become a talisman to deal with potential economic problem later. We do not expect the heat of competition for presidential race be toxin for Rupiah. If that happens, the hard-work and achievement during previous years will only be a sacrifice on political altar.

Source Language: Agus Suman. Menjaga Stabilitas Rupiah. Jawa Pos. 25 Juni 2009

Sara Teasdale’s Poem

Anang Kurniawan — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:29:10 +0000

Bebukit Panjang

Puncak bukit: terlewati pasti sejenak lalu

Dan aku beranjak turun kini

Sungguh aneh: puncak bukit terlewati dan, ku tak tahu

Namun belukar menangkapi ujung-ujung gaunku.

Sepanjang pagi ku termenung: betapa bangganya aku

Disana berdiri tegak selayak ratu

Terbungkus angina dan mentari: dunia dibawah sana

Namun semua gelap, ku hanya melihat setangkup.

Kesunyian terpencil membayang sudah

Dan belukar menangkapi ujung-ujung gaunku.

Namun percuma: berpikir untuk kembali

Sisa ini hanya jalan menurun semata

The Long Hill

I must have passed the crest a while ago

And now I am going down–

Strange to have crossed the crest and not to know,

But the brambles were always catching the hem of my gown.

All the morning I thought how proud I should be

To stand there straight as a queen,

Wrapped in the wind and the sun with the world under me–

But the air was dull, there was little I could have seen.

It was nearly level along the beaten track

And the brambles caught in my gown–

But it’s no use now to think of turning back,

The rest of the way will be only going down.

Pertukaran

Hidup ada keindahan untuk dijual

Semua: cantik dan mengagumkan

Biru ombak memecah putih di karang

Erang senapan berayun dan bernyanyi.

Wajahwajah bocah mendongak

Menyunggi tanya selayak kerucut

Hidup ada keindahan untuk dijual

Nyanyi selayak lengkung emas

Berbau pinus diguyur hujan

Tatap mencinta, lengan memeluk

Dan semangat menyala-nyala

Kesucian pikir menerangi malam

Jual semua kau punya untuk keindahan

Beli dan jangan pernah peduli

Untuk seorang nyanyikan lagu damai

Berhitung murka yang hilang tahunan silam

Dan untuk hirup bahagia

Beri semua kau punya, atau bisa

Barter

Life has loveliness to sell,
All beautiful and splendid things,
Blue waves whitened on a cliff,
Soaring fire that sways and sings,
And children’s faces looking up
Holding wonder like a cup.

Life has loveliness to sell,
Music like a curve of gold,
Scent of pine trees in the rain,
Eyes that love you, arms that hold,
And for your spirit’s still delight,
Holy thoughts that star the night.

Spend all you have for loveliness,
Buy it and never count the cost;
For one white singing hour of peace
Count many a year of strife well lost,
And for a breath of ecstasy
Give all you have been, or could be.

Tidur tlah Menjelang

Tidur tlah menjelang, dan pasti bebintang bersinar

Dari atap-atap bermahkota salju

Kerajaan lelap, damai yang melupakan

Senandung sunyi: suci dan sayup

Akan kucipta dunia selayak ini

Mewujud mimpi pada pikiran terasing

Akan kutemukan kristal damai: diatasku

Akan kudapati bebintang

“There Will Be Rest”

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising,
Out of a dream in my lonely mind,
I shall find the crystal of peace, — above me
Stars I shall find.

Wajahwajah

Orangorang yang kutemui

Pada kotakota rusak di belakang

Wajahwajah yang melenyap segera

Dan tak kujumpai di waktu lewat

Tahukah kamu: betapa kamu bercerita sungguh

Pada pertemuan mata dan mata

Betapa aku malu dan sedih sungguh

Melubangi kemelaratanmu yang memalukan?

Rahasia merebak dalam sunyi

Tangis membumbung dari balik tempat sembunyi

Biarkan aku pergi, sungguh aku tak tahan

Wajahwajah terlewati: penderitaan

Orangorang di jalan tiada henti

Mungkinkah, ya, mungkinkah

Pada pertemuan mata dengan mata

Tahukah kamu sebanyak aku tahu?

Faces

People that I meet and pass

In the city’s broken roar,

Faces that I lose so soon

And have never found before,

Do you know how much you tell
 In the meeting of our eyes,
How ashamed I am, and sad
 To have pierced your poor disguise?

Secrets rushing without sound
 Crying from your hiding places —
Let me go, I cannot bear
 The sorrow of the passing faces.

— People in the restless street,
 Can it be, oh can it be
In the meeting of our eyes
 That you know as much of me?

Bebintang

Sendiri dilingkup malam

Menjulang pada bebukit kelam

Pinus berjajar berdiri

Menakjubkan dan sunyi.

Dan surga penuh bebintang

Jauh di atas kepalaku

Putih dan tembus pandang

Dan berkabut merah

Berjuta dentum

Hati menyala-nyala

Waktu terulur panjang

Tanpa terganggu atau lelah

Jauh menjulang kubah surga

Selayak bebukit agung

Kulihat mereka berbaris

Agung dan hening

Dan kutahu aku

Terhormat sungguh

Menjadi saksi

Kemuliaan yang sangat.

Stars

Alone in the night
On a dark hill
With pines around me
Spicy and still,

And a heaven full of stars
Over my head,
White and topaz
And misty red;

Myriads with beating

Hearts of fire
That aeons
Cannot vex or tire;

Up the dome of heaven
Like a great hill,
I watch them marching
Stately and still,
And I know that I
Am honored to be
Witness
Of so much majesty.

Aktivis Greenpeace di Persidangan: Ahli bertindak atas Perubahan Iklim

Anang Kurniawan — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:27:47 +0000

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Ketika saksi diperlukan, tak ada yang lebih baik dibanding Professor James Hansen, salah satu ilmuwan paling ahli tentang iklim dan Direktur NASA Goddard Institute untuk Kajian Angkasa Luar. Pada Rabu, dia dihadirkan untuk memberikan kesaksian pada Pengadilan Inggris atas ancaman yang ditimbulkan bagi iklim dunia oleh perusahaan batu bara Kingsnorth.

Enam aktivis Greenpeace dijatuhi sangsi atas pengrusakan setelah menggelar aksi Oktober lalu, untuk membeberkan ancaman yang ditebarkan Kingsnorth.

Kesaksian yang diberikan Hansen akan sangat krusial bagi pembelaan tertuduh, sebab para aktivis mengakui pengrusakan yang mereka lakukan, meski, kata mereka, semua untuk mencegah kerusakan yang lebih besar atas properti dan planet ini.

Cacat Hukum

Pengadilan memasuki hari kelima. Keenam aktivis Greenpeace dikenakan tuduhan atas pelemparan bom asap pada pembangkit listrik Kingsnorth Oktober tahun lalu. Mereka dijatuhi sangsi setelah menyebabkan kerugian sebesar £30,000 atas coretan ‘GORDON’ pada cerobong asap. Mereka berencana untuk menggambar “GORDON – BIN IT” (Gordon – Inilah Sampah), namun mereka gagal melakukannya disebabkan buruknya pencahayaan.

Para aktivis menerima tuduhan pengrusakan tersebut, namun beranggapan bahwa mereka selayaknya mendapat perlindungan hukum sebab aksi itu untuk melindungi properti lain di Kent (tempat lokasi Kingsnorth), dan seluruh dunia, dikatakan juga, beresiko untuk mengalami kerusakan yang jauh lebih serius disebabkan perubahan iklim akibat pembangkit listrik berbahan baku batu bara tersebut.

Kemarin, Hansen dihadirkan di persidangan untuk memberikan kesaksian. Hansen memiliki jejak rekam yang menakjubkan, menghabiskan lebih dari 20 tahun untuk mengkaji iklim Bumi. Disamping sejumlah besar penghargaan, ia telah membuktikan di hadapan Konggres dan Senat AS berulang kali dan memperingatkan beberapa Wakil Presiden AS, termasuk Al Gore, tentang dampak-dampak perubahan iklim.

Kingsnorth Pembunuh

Hansen berkata pada keduabelas juri pada Maidstone Crown Court di Kent tentang emisi yang dihasilkan Kingsnorth bisa menimbulkan kerusakan properti dunia, dan juga kepunahan spesies dan menciptakan bencana disebabkan perubahan iklim. Selama testimoni tersebut, Hansen memperingatkan bahwa, jika dunia meneruskan bisnis-secara-biasa, keturunan kita kelak akan mendapati ‘planet yang lebih gersang dan kurangnya keanekaragaman hayati’. Dia berkata bahwa meskipun hanya kenaikan suhu sebesar dua derajat adalah ‘resep untuk bencana global’ dan terakhir kali ketika suhu Bumi mencapai dua derajat lebih hangat dari sekarang, timbul kenaikan permukaan air laut setinggi 25 meter. Dia menegaskan bahwa Inggris per orangnya secara historis memikul tanggung jawab atas pelepasan emisi CO₂ ke atmosfer (diikuti oleh AS dan Jerman) dan bahwa, jika Inggris meneruskan praktik bisnis semacam ini, akan menyebabkan kepunahan hampir satu juta jenis spesies; beberapa ratus dari spesies ini secara langsut bisa dialamtkan pada pembangkit listrik Kingsnorth.

Belum Terlambat

Selama pergelaran Live Earth, Hansen didaulat ke atas panggung bersama Al Gore. Ia membawa serta cucu-cucunya. “Berapa banyak spesies mesti kita selamatkan?” tanyanya pada mereka. “Semuanya,” jawab cucu perempuan. “Aku juga,” sahut cucu laki-laki.

“Kita tidak bisa menyelamatkan mereka semua,” ujar Hansen pada persidangan, “namun kita masih bisa menyelamatkan sebagian besar.” Namun, meski “tidak cukup banyak waktu” segera kita memerlukan moratorium atas pembangunan semua pembangkit listrik berbahan batu bara yang baru (tanpa CCS: Carbon Capture and Storage / Penangkapan dan Penyimpanan Karbon) dan atas tahapan-tahapan pembangkit yang telah ada. Dan semuanya – tak peduli Inggris, AS, atau Jerman – mesti menentukan sikap.”

“Gordon Brown,” lanjutnya, “mesti mengeluarkan moratorium baru tanpa CCS.” Berbicara pada para hakim, ia juga menyetujui pernyataan mantan Wakil Presiden AS sekaligus Penerima Nobel Perdamaian, Al Gore: “Saya tidak mengerti mengapa tidak kita dapati barisan pemuda menahan bulldozer dan mencegahnya untuk mendirikan pembangkit berbahan batu bara.”

Sebelum kesaksian Hansen, saksi ahli pembela, Dr Geoffrey Meaden (melalui sambungan video dari Brasil), mengkonfirmasi bahwa contoh dampak perubahan iklim yang diajukan para aktivis adalah ‘kondisi nyata’. “Dan itu benar-benar dianggap merusak,” lanjutnya, “oleh para aktivis, dan komunitas ilmuwan, dan saya pribadi” bahwa kita sedang mengubah iklim ini. “Masalah semakin mendesak,” ujarnya “semua warga dan pemerintah mesti bertindak.”

“Dalam jangka lima tahun,” ujar Dr Meaden, “tak akan ada lagi es yang tersisa pada musim panas di Artik…Sungguh ironis, area Kingsnorth sendiri sangatlah rentan terhadap banjir akibat perubahan iklim. Situasinya sudah semakin mendesak jika kita tidak segera mengambil tindakan untuk segera mengurangi emisi gas rumah kaca, abad mendatang kita mungkin harus menyerahkan 20% daratan Kent pada lautan…Sudah sangat mendesak bagi kita untuk mengambil tindakan.”

Bertindaklah

Salah satu aktivis kami, Emily, juga bertindak, dan memperkenalkan dirinya dan betapa ia ingin terlibat dengan Greenpeace. Emily menjelaskan bahwa emisi apapun di atmosfer sekarang ini akan berdampak pada tahun-tahun mendatang. Ketika ditanya mengapa ia memanjat cerobong itu, ia berkata, “Saya sungguh terpanggil untuk melakukannya.” Dan, ketika gambar-gambarnya sedang bergelantungan di puncak cerobong Kingsnorth ditampilkan, paling tidak sepasang hakim menarik nafas dalam-dalam.

Aktivis kami lainnya, Kevin, selanjutnya memperkenalkan diri sebagai pekerja penyambung tali dari Wiltshire dan lantas berusaha mengembalikan iklim seperti tahun 80an. Pertanyaan Kevin terfokus pada aspek keselamatan sebagai langkah nyata. Kebanyakan bukti yang diajukan para saksi ahli kondisinya sungguh rumit dan dipenuhi masalah teknis dan keduabelas hakim benar-benar dipusingkan untuk memahaminya. Namun akhirnya, bahan bakar olahan fosil menyebabkan perubahan iklim yang lantas menimbulkan kerusakan besar pada lingkungan, ekonomi, dan kesehatan manusia. Belumlah terlambat untuk mengatur perubahan iklim ke dalam sebuah hukum dan mencegah dampak terburuk yang ditimbulkan.

Semua mesti bertindak.

Source Language:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/climate-kingsnorth-trial050908

Greenpeace activists in the dock: Experts take ‘the stand’ on climate change

Maidstone Crown Court, United Kingdom — As expert witnesses go, they don’t come any better than Professor James Hansen, one of the world’s leading climate scientists and Director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. On Wednesday, he was called to give evidence before a UK Court on the threat posed by Kingsnorth coal-fired power station to the world’s climate.

Six Greenpeace activists are being charged with criminal damage after they took action last October, to highlight the threat posed by Kingsnorth.

Hansen’s evidence will be crucial in establishing their defence, since while the defendants accept the damage they caused, they say they did so to prevent much greater damage to other property and the planet.

Lawful damage

The trial is in its fifth day. The six Greenpeace activists are on trial for scale a smokestack at Kingsnorth power station in October last year. They have been charged with causing £30,000 worth of criminal damage for painting “GORDON” down the chimney. They planned to paint “GORDON – BIN IT”, but they weren’t able to because of poor light.

The defendants accept that they caused the damage, but are arguing that it was lawful for them to damage the chimney in order to protect other property in Kent (where Kingsnorth is located), and around the world, said to be at the risk of much more serious damage from climate change caused to a large degree by coal-fired power stations.

Yesterday, Hansen was called to the stand to give evidence. Hansen has an impressive CV, having spent the last 20 years studying the Earth’s climate. As well as numerous accolades for his work, he has given evidence to the US Congress and Senate several times and warned a succession of US Vice-Presidents, including Al Gore, about the impacts of climate change.

Kingsnorth kills

He told the 12 jurors at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent that emissions from the Kingsnorth power station led to damage to property worldwide, as well as the extinction of species and the creation of climate change refugees. During his testimony, Hansen warned that, if the world continues with business-as-usual, our descendants will be “left with a much more desolate planet and much less biodiversity”. He said that even a two degree rise in temperature is “a recipe for global disaster” and that the last time the Earth was more than two degrees warmer than it is now, there was a 25-metre sea level rise. He pointed out that the UK bears the most responsibility for historical CO2 emissions in the atmosphere per person (followed by the US and then Germany) and that, if the UK carries on with business as usual, it could cause the extinction of nearly one million species; several hundred of these species extinctions could be associated directly with Kingsnorth power station.

It’s not too late

During Live Earth, last year, he was invited to go on stage with Al Gore. He took his grandchildren along. “How many species do we need to save?”, he asked them. “All of them,” said his grand-daughter. “Me too,” said his grandson.

“We can’t save all of them,” Hansen told the Court, “but we can still save most.” But, although “there’s just barely still time” we need an immediate moratorium on the construction of all new coal-fired power plants (without CCS) and the phasing out of existing coal plants. And somebody – whether it’s the UK, US or Germany – needs “to stand up”.

“Gordon Brown,” he said, “should announce a moratorium on all new coal plants without carbon capture and storage.” Speaking to the Jury, he also agreed with a statement made by former US Vice President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Al Gore: “I can’t understand why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers and preventing them from constructing coal-fired power stations”.

Just before Hansen’s evidence, another defence expert witness, Dr Geoffrey Meaden (via video link from Brazil), confirmed that the examples of climate change impacts being cited by the defendants are ‘true circumstances’. “It is overwhelmingly perceived,” he said, “by the defendants, the scientific community and myself” that we are changing our climate. “There’s an increasing urgency,” he said, “for all citizens and governments to take action.”

“Within five years,” said Dr Meaden, “there could be no summer ice left in the Arctic…Ironically, the Kingsnorth area itself will be extremely vulnerable to flooding due to climate change. The situation is so urgent that unless we act immediately to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by the next century we may have to abandon up to 20 percent of Kent to the sea… It behaves us to act with urgency.”

Taking a stand

One of our activists, Emily, also took the stand, and introduced herself and how she’d come to be involved with Greenpeace. Emily explained that whatever emissions are in the atmosphere now will have impacts for years to come. When asked why she climbed the chimney, she said, “I felt very strongly that I wanted to do that.” And, when the pictures of her hanging off the top of Kingsnorth’s smokestack were handed out, at least a couple of jurors gasped.

Another activist, Kevin, was next and introduced himself as a rope access worker from Wiltshire who had become concerned about climate change back in the ’80s. Kevin’s questions focused mostly on the safety aspects of the direct action. Much of the evidence presented by the expert witnesses was of a highly complicated technical nature and the 12 jurors really have a tough job to take it all in. But, in the end, burning fossil fuels causes climate change that is wreaking massive damage to the environment, the economy and human health. It is not too late to bring climate change under control and avoid the worst impacts.

Somebody needs to take a stand.

Obama, Johnson, and Racial Politics

Anang Kurniawan — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:34:55 +0000

As a liberalist and a Democrat, I am amazed hearing the acceptance speech delivered by Barack Obama in his presidential nominee in last-week party convention. He highlights his core pledge: Change we can believe in.

However, he describes in details some typical policies-to-strive, e.g., health assurance for all, improvement on education quality, increase on economic growth and distribution, decrease on self-dependency on Mid-East oil, withdrawal of US Army from Iraq, and alleviation on the Government of Afghanistan.

To start a national campaign, the speech is comprehensive and faultless. That is my conclusion watching Obama’s speech that night. But, morning papers carry other news. Indeed, I do not represent my whole party. There are many activists, especially Afro-American, questioning Obama’s approach.

Juan Williams is an example, renowned commentator for radio and public television, a historical author for Afro-American people led by Martin Luther King Jr. in second-half of 20^th century. His complain is that Obama has become a stealth candidate, a candidate who keeps in secret his true view on the resolve of racial issue in America. In resentful tone, Williams insists on Obama take a role as the heart of nation during his campaign. Racial justice is beyond bargaining.

Instead of Williams counsel, I prefer the approach of Robert Caro, a Pulitzer Winner, and the author of four-volume-autobiography of Lyndon Johnson, Democrat politician elected as US President 1963-1968. According to Caro, rather than overacting statement on the early, what does matter is the end of the struggle. For him, Johnson is ‘politics genius’ who enables Obama’s candidacy years later.

Before elected as a president, Johnson represented State of Texas in Congress for years and became ‘a tough guy’ in Senat. The power he gradually developed was built upon two things. He knew very well how to employ political resources he had to persuade or to force others to go after his willss. And, he did on purpose to rely his life on the support of senators from South, white politicians supporting for racism.

Histories

Johnson then was changed. In 1957, with all his political ability he strived for first code on civil rights, which was passed to codified (though very fragile) in Senat in 1870.

In 1965, as the movement on civil right led by Martin Luther Jr. went to its climax, Johnson as a president acted more drastically. He sent the Congress a voting rights act, a historical proposal for voting rights, to eliminate all codes preventing Afro-American from voting in South.

Many Americans cried, including King, as Johnson said sublime words on civil rights act: we shall overcome. I, myself, am impressed, and startled as well, however, Johnson is white guy born and raised in racist environment in South.

Caro connects directly the passed Code with the present fact. He emphasizes that Barack Obama is elected as Democrat candidate for, partly, in 2008 all Afro-American have rights to vote.

What did transform Lyndon B Johnson, a racism defender, into chief champion for Afro-American rights? Personally, Johnson had no bad tendency against these people. Since he was child, he believed that we all are equally created by God.

In Johnson’s mind, according to Caro’s version, ambition and compassion met in 1957. Johnson realized that to be elected US President he must abandon ‘the scent of Magnolia,’ a perfumed-flower as a sign reactionary political culture in South.

Caro’s book is intended to prove that Lyndon B Johnson took significant role to win the struggle of civil rights for Afro-American people.

He is right, but, there is important lesson for us all. In politics, big triumph is not always in straight ways. Barrack Obama does not announce racial justice for one pillar of his campaign.

However, I believe, racial justice, and social justice, will be better if Obama is elected as US President in November 4.

Source Language:

R William Liddle. Obama, Johnson, dan Politik Ras. Kompas: 10 September 2008

Be Aware: Credit Card Leaking

Anang Kurniawan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:37:24 +0000

Comfort and ease offered by bank issuing credit card are sometimes misused by certain parties or customers themselves.

Credit card bearer must be aware to the fraud of leaking the credit card. It leads with customers disadvantages and created stuck credit to the bank if its customers fail to pay their obligation. Last February, Head Office of Indonesia Police Department succeeded to wrap up a syndicate of credit card forger architected by a Malaysian.

The police confiscated around 7,000 forged credit cards. Amount of 6,900 of the total were Indonesian bearers and utilized in some transactions. Also, 7.2 millions of credit cards were confiscated, of which 2.2 millions were belonged to Indonesians. Chief of Public Relation of Indonesian Police Department, General Inspector Abubakar Nataprawira, confirmed that the loss on credit card falsifying reached IDR 30 trillions, the precise number was still calculated though. The process required long time due to the complaints from credit card bearers on their losses. “If the bearers complain, the precise number then is calculated,” he said.

Responding to the issue, Indonesia Credit Card Issuer Association (ICCIA) accentuated on the losses of credit card misuses during the year of 2007 reached IDR 30 billions only, not IDR 30 trillions as launched by the police. “The number has been gathered throughout existing credit card issued in Indonesia,” commented Chief Executive of ICCIA, Dodit W Probojakti, as confirmed by SINDO.

Dodit explained that the total transaction during the year of 2007 arrived at 126 millions equal to 246 transactions per minute. The transaction value reached IDR 72 trillions, while, the total outstanding balance out of the total numbers of circulated credit cards in Indonesia by December 2007 was IDR 21 trillions approximately. “Out the total transaction, around IDR 35-40 billions were misused,” said he.

Meanwhile, Director of Accountancy and Payment System of Indonesia Bank, SWD Murniastuti confirmed that, in order to anticipate the fraud on credit card misuse, Indonesia Bank, since the year of 2005 through SE No 7/60/DASP, has obliged to all credit cards issued in Indonesia to utilize chip technology for security. The policy must be implemented by the end of this year. Indonesia Bank also coordinated with police institution, attorneys, credit card association, and credit card principals as well regarding on the case on early 2008 where the police succeeded to catch the fraud.

“Indonesia Bank persistently conducts security efforts rapidly along with ICCIA and credit card principals through encouraging the issuer to block and alter all cards with data stolen. Recently, all acquiring banks have been performed security audit by independent auditor appointed by card principals,” explained she.

She added that, for management of NPL credit cards, Indonesia Bank is still in cooperation with ICCIA to re-define the standard of NPL credit cards. It is due to its customs that the measurement for credit card collectibility is still based on general requirements for common credits. Instead, the characteristics and businesses done in credit cards are dissimilar to those of common credits. Moreover, her party is still studying on ideal payment and minimum income for credit card bearer.

“This policy is utilized to early selection to candidates of credit card bearer with an expectation of decreasing NPL rate. Indonesia Bank also requires the card issuers to provide intensive reports on the progress of decreasing NPL rate,” said Murniastuti.

She explained that the figure of NPL credit card by May 2008 reached IDR 3 trillions, equal to 11.9% of total balance of credit card. Compared to consumptive credit value per May 2008, the amount of NPL reached 0.28%.

Board of Executive Indonesia Credit Card Association, Budy Setiawan said that the perpetrators of credit card taping were succeeding in taping around 2.2 millions data on credit cards. Out of 2.2 millions, 9,000 cards were already forged. However, the value will be possibly increased.

Budy admitted that out of 21 card issuers of ICCA members were the victims of taping committed by Malaysian syndicate. The total loss was unable to report for in calculation progress. Budy explained the mode of taping; all data was obtained by the fraud through a device named Electronic Data Captured.

Indonesian Version:

Waspada Pembobolan Kartu Kredit. Seputar Indonesia. 14 July 2008

Virtue: Establishing the Republic’s Idea

Anang Kurniawan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:36:06 +0000

The awareness to nationalism has emerged since a hundred years; still this Republic is away from its idea. The fluctuation of political condition is truly affected. The elite politics is more loyal to its interest of either personal or faction than setting the interest of public as a primary.

The consequence is recorded through its history the presence of certain point that needs to be corrected: Old Order by New Order, New Order by Reformation Movement. Reformation Movement is initially expected to be an entrance of changing to pursue the Republic’s idea. We are then entering a time of transition creating persons with no self-control, full of desire to pursue self-interest who leap into a living space.

This living space is getting crowded. This living space notes people attempting to compel their subjective truth to be accepted and performed by others and social bandits elected as government leaders or as members of the House. It is hard to expect such persons perform effective efforts and produce strategic policies that are able to employ all resources for collective benefit.

The government bureaucracy goes behind its previous practice: creating permit procedure and opportunistic. The time of transition is hard, but, can we comprehend this as a phase of detoxification to make this Republic better? Or, is it assumed as an uncontrolled condition and a must to set back to New Order? Do we surrender or appear as a subject of agent of change?

Subject and Virtue

The perspective of cultural sociology questions whether our behavior is determined by external structure or we determine the external structure. This desired structure is a system within which we interact as a social creature; e.g. system of culture. We grow up and develop through absorbing and learning certain values and system of culture. Our aptitude of employing language, of adapting to social norms harmonically is a proof of our living and absorbing system of culture.

Routine practices and self-creation exhibit a fact that we are successor agent of that social structure. If we only routinely practice the social system in which we are living, this civilization will be stagnant and has no leap or change. So, how can we explain the presence of such individuals or groups as the inventors and leaders that alter the social order? However, human being is unique rational being. Human’s social behavior is frequently aggravated by some internal motives such as interest, desire, and personal preference (Turner, Bran S (ed) 2006: The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology).

Those individuals who can produce change or novel social order are the subject. In this context, no individual can determine the self to be the subject. Event emerges the subject. Every event is the multiplication of another. The subject appear when action of and decision of individual isolate himself from the context to promote an event altering the situation. Instead of emerged by event, chance and consequence to the action or decision are another prerequisite of the subject. When decision and action are performed, another variable is possibly to appear and hinder them so that no situation is altered or in reverse.

In fact we are never able to point what is called ‘chance’ unless it is done (post factum). The consequence is that it is essential to be loyal to the action and decision. Because, someday what is decided may become novel event that change the situation (Badiou, A. 2004: Infinite Thought: Truth and the Return to Philosophy)

On this point, the presence of virtue in one’s character is chief. Virtue can be triggering motive to individual to act. Virtue is abstract conception on what is assumed as the good such as wisdom, courage, justice, humanity, generosity, and self control.

The criteria of virtue is there on every culture, is expected to be there, and if is lost everyone is regretful, and when is done can grant the feeling of fullness or satisfaction to the performer.

You can feel it when you are donating, helping others, and standing for justice. Such characters make the founding fathers loyal to the value of humanity though they are being jailed or exiled. Eventually they become the subject for liberating a nation (a novel situation). Their loyalty to the value of humanity is noted in our Preamble of Constitution 1945: expanding the public’s wealth, educating the nation, creating world’s peace and creating just and prosperous society.

The Republic of the Youth

However, the New Order, during its 30 years government, succeeds to plant a regime mental at least in one generation. This mental structure is a result of patterns of interaction and communication performed by New Order. Not only those who ‘serve’ it but also its oppositions are in the same frame of mental.

An answer cannot be accomplished using a same mindset that creates the problem, think out of the box. For reformation and its republic idea to be accomplished, a generation that is not trapped to the previous mindset and creative and innovative is needed. In this situation the idea from the youth appears. They relatively have distance from the mental and the practice of New Order.

This generation appears in every field. Indonesian movie (culture), for example, is awaken because of concerns given by the youth to its movie. Economy is preceded; companies succeed because of the work of the youth not of the government’s or military’s intervention. Politic is starting it. Political preference of the public has expected no old faces. Borrowing a friend’s term, its political soil has been good, and it is the time to start planting and developing.

The character f virtue inside us may trigger us to dedicate for make this nation better in whatever field we are. What we need is a loyalty to our belief for it is only the matter of time for generation to be changed; if it is not next year, 2014 will be. Meanwhile, the connection and interaction among the youth so far need to be expanded so that this Republic’ vision and idea are secured still. So, a Republic of the Youth is ready to be accomplished.

Source of Indonesian Text:

Chris Panggabean, Mewujudkan Cita-cita Republik dengan Keutamaan. KOMPAS edisi Jumat 27 Juni 2008.

Logic to Fortune

Anang Kurniawan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:33:45 +0000

Have you heard a story on a thriving person established fortune during his youth? Or, person with nothing-at-all becoming prosperous all of a sudden? Let’s take a look.

A music band from Lampung, who received no attention before, can be included to this group. The band is established by some juvenile from lower social class, with no physical attractive look. Having released their album, they obtain fame and popularity. It is difficult to rationalize this phenomenon, even for music freaks and those who comprehend music theoretically. Their music is an ordinary quality in terms of musicality and vocal and arrangement and so on. Why do they win the heart then? The answer is simple. We can notice the demand of music and song of this kind and the consumer as well. Thus, the product is sold. In music industry, moreover, taste is not directly equal to quality.

Another example comes from a juvenile in Western, who is eager to work with various software and unwilling to get a job in a company. We recognize him as one of the richest person in contemporary world.

What can be learnt from above-mentioned examples? Fortune or prosperity does not come at sudden. There is logic behind it. Those examples above find their market for their products.

Then, what is its connection with this article? It is just simple. You, of course, have heard a story or read in newspaper on fake investment. Investment of this kind is continuing still, though, without any heralding.

You even frequently receive SMS from unknown sender offering persuasive investment. Or, phone call offering investment of this kind? So what? It does not matter. If you wish and are attracted to invest some, it is your wish. It is your money, however.

Investment for prosperity, once again, owns its rationales. Investment, first, has underlying meaning no profit emerges at sudden.

Your invested money must be utilized for something; it must record transaction; profit then can be expected. For instance, you decide to invest on agri-business. Your funds accumulated with other investors are employed to build plantation. Having harvested, the products are sold. If the demands are fine, you can see the profit.

Second, investment contains risk. Your investment on the plantation possibly produces products, but there is risk of pest. Risk on product substitution is also there, which brings impact on the decrease on demands.

Those two above explanation exhibits obvious logic: no investment offer profitable potency only. In fact, the higher potency on profit, the higher potency on loss.

The third is the presence of cycle. Still on the above example, it is possible that the product will not be demanded all the times. When people see the business is prospective, people initiate to enter into competition of similar business. It causes the abundance of products, and the decrease of price. Or, the products are possibly demanded temporarily for the change on customers’ demand and tastes.

Just like the band from Lampung, it is possible that they gain no success as they receive nowadays for the change on people’s taste on music.

Transparency is the fourth. It is the most important thing. No profit falls from the sky. Or, you obtain bags of money without no explanation how the money comes from. Except, you do what the persons under KPK investigation do.

Logic to Investment

Referring to above explanation, if you frequently receive offer to obtain prosperity at sudden, through SMS, phone calls, or internet, it is better for you not to feel contented.

If you read the perpetrators’ testimony on their thriving stories, you must not get tempted. The parties offering prosperity must advertise ‘ketch-up for success’ and promote in all manners.

If you get persuaded easily, they must be pleased. You are the figure responsible for loss and profit. The investment manager will be profited always. How can be so?

The reason is so simple. If the investment offered may gain copious wealth, why doesn’t the investment manager invest for himself? Why does he invite others?

Charity? If it is so, he can donate to orphanage, to mosque or church construction, or support people in need.

Thus, there is, once again, no free lunch on investment offering prosperity. It contains rationale and logic within. Without them, you possibly become the loser. The investment provider is only the organizer; meanwhile, the money invested is yours.

In brief, to gain fortune, indeed, you must invest. The investment can manifest in finance or in creativity as band from Lampung performs. However, all has rules.

As long as the rules are performed well and correctly, you have the opportunities to be richer. On the contrary, if the rules of rationality are ignored, it is highly possibly for you experiencing loss.

Translated from: Elvyn G Masassya. Logika Kekayaan. Kompas: August 3, 2008

Kemenangan – Hutan Indonesia Memperoleh Proteksi Sementara

Anang Kurniawan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:31:47 +0000

Riau, Indonesia—berita baik bagi hutan-hutan Indonesia memang jarang terdengar, namun, pemerintah daerah Riau telah mengeluarkan larangan sementara (interim) atas penebangan hutan di Riau, sebab, penebangan hutan yang cepat di daerah ini sungguh berdampak buruk. Larangan ini, terlebih jika dibuat permanen, juga akan merupakan kabar baik bagi iklim.

Tahun 2007 dunia telah mencatat penggundulan hutan Indonesia adalah yang tercepat dan bagaimana kebakaran yang menimpa lahan-lahan subur melepaskan karbon dalam jumlah besar. Kini, kerja keras itu terbayar tuntas, pemerintah propinsi Riau mengusulkan pemberhentian sementara atas perusakan hutannya – gerakan yang akan mencegah jutaan ton karbon memasuki atmosfer.

Hutan-hutan di Indonesia banyak dibersihkan untuk pembukaan perkebunan kelapa sawit, kayu dan usaha kertas. Ketika hutan dibersihkan, rawa-rawa genbur akan dikeringkan dan dibakar untuk mengkondisikan tanah sesuai dengan perkebunan kelapa sawit. Pembakaran hutan dan lahan-lahan subur menghasilkan emisi gas rumah kaca dalam jumlah besar, menjadikan Indonesia sebagai penghasil polusi terbesar di dunia.

Provinsi Riau memiliki sejumlah besar kawasan hutan dengan lahan-lahan subur. Pembersihan hutan yang cepat terjadi disana. Pada 2007, camp pembela hutan kita mencoba meng-expose perusakan yang terjadi. Kini, Gubernur Riau telah mengumumkan pemberhentian sementara atas deforestation, yang akan bertahan sampai hukum nasional disetujui.

“Moratorium ini merupakan langkah awal yang penting dan sebuah kesempatan bagi pemerintah lokal, komunitas hutan dan, para stakeholders lainnya untuk membenahi tata kelola hutan kita,” kata Arief Wicaksono, Penasihat Politik Greenpeace untuk Asia Tenggara.

Langkah ini seiring dengan keinginan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono yang dikemukakan pada Pertemuan G-8 Juli kemarin untuk mengurangi tingkat emisi karbon disebabkan penggundulan hutan pada angka 50% pada 2009. Kini, larangan secara nasionall sangat dibutuhkan.

Untuk menjamin janji kepada G-8 terwujud, bagaimanapun juga, lebih dari sekedar kata-kata manis, Pemerintah Indonesia seharusnya segera mengeluarkan larangan deforestation secara nasional.

“Pemerintah Indonesia seharusnya mendeklarasikan moratorium nasional untuk konversi hutan untuk meghentikan siklus jahat dari pengeringan lahan-lahan subur, kebakaran hutan dan hilangnya keragaman hayati sebab pengrusakan hutan,” ujar Zulfahmi, juru kampanye Greenpeace untuk hutan Asia Tenggara.

Peningkatan permintaan dunia atas minyak sawit mendorong pertumbuhan yang cepat atas pembukaan perkebunan kelapa sawit. Beberapa perusahaan multinational mendominasi pasar kelapa sawit.

Sejalan dengan kampanye kami bulan April, Unilever, pengguna minyak kelapa sawit terbesar mengumumkan dukungannya atas moratorium untuk mencegah deforestation lebih lanjut bagi pembukaan perkebunan kelapa sawit. Hanya langkah pasti dari kedua belah pihak, pengguna terbesar minyak sawit dan pemerintah Indonesia, yang bisa menghentikan penggundulan hutan dan mengurangi tingkat emisi yang besar per tahunnya.

Hal itulah yang benar-benar kami kampanyekan sekarang. Sebuah kemenangan tidak hanya akan signifikan untuk menjaga keragaman hutan Indonesia yang masih tersisa, namun juga sebuah langkah penting untuk mencegah perubahan iklim.

Source Language:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/indonesia-palm-oil-riau-deforestation-ban18082008

Victory – Indonesia’s peat forest gains temporary protection

Riau, Indonesia — In a rare piece of good news for Indonesia’s forest, a regional governor has announced an interim ban on deforestation in Riau, one of the areas currently worst affected by rapid deforestation. The ban, especially if made permanent, is also good news for the climate.

In 2007 we highlighted how Indonesia’s forests are the fastest disappearing on Earth and how the subsequent burning of peatlands is releasing huge amounts of carbon. Now that work has paid off with the province of Riau pledging an interim halt the destruction of its forests – a move that will prevent billions of tonnes of carbon from entering the atmosphere.

Indonesia’s forests are being cleared for palm oil plantations, timber and paper products. Beneath much of this forest are thick layers of peat that lock up billions of tones of carbon. Once the forest is cleared the peat swamp is drained and often burned to make the soil more suitable for palm oil plantations. Burning of the forest and peat results in massive emissions of greenhouse gases, making Indonesia the world’s third largest climate polluter.

Riau Province has huge areas of forest covered peatlands. It has been experiencing rapid clearance for palm oil plantations. In 2007, our forest defender camp helped expose this devastation. Now the Riau Governor has announced the temporary ban on deforestation, which will remain in place until a national law is agreed.

“The moratorium is an important first step and an opportunity for the local government, forest communities and other stakeholders to improve forest governance,” said Arief Wicaksono, Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s Political Advisor.

The move follows Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s pledge at the G-8 Summit in July to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation by 50 percent by 2009.

National ban needed now

However to ensure their G-8 pledge is more than just nice words, the Indonesian Government needs to quickly ban deforestation nationally.

“The Indonesian government should declare a national moratorium on forest conversion to bring a halt to the vicious cycle of peatland drainage, forest fires and resulting biodiversity loss due to forest destruction.” said Zulfahmi, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest campaigner.

Rising global demand for palm oil is driving the rapid expansion of palm oil plantations. Several major multinational companies dominate the palm oil market.

Following our campaign in April, Unilever, the world’s biggest user of palm oil announced its support for a moratorium on further deforestation for palm oil. Only decisive action from both the biggest users of palm oil and the Indonesian Government can halt the deforestation and cut Indonesia’s massive annual emissions.

That’s exactly what we are campaigning for now. A win would not only be massively significant for protecting what remains of Indonesia’s diverse rainforest but also a vital step in tackling climate change.

Risk on Inflation Pressure

Anang Kurniawan — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:29:01 +0000

Meeting on Governor Council of Bank of Indonesia (BI), Tuesday (5/8), decided to re-elevate reference rate of interest or BI Rate to 25 point base to 9%. This decision was anticipated the settlement of stabilities on economic and monetary system in Indonesia.

The decision to elevate the BI Rate was aimed to sustain the accomplishment of target on inflation during middle-term. “Bank of Indonesia is still viewing the future presence of risk on inflation pressure resulting from the fluctuation of world oil price and world food price and pressure on domestic demands,” said the Governor of Bank of Indonesia, Boediono.

The state of high risk on inflation pressure was the consideration for BI to re-elevate BI Rate on this month. But, the impact on fuel price increase had been reduced.

To apply monetary effective policy, the increase on BI Rate is accompanied by the practice of other monetary instruments optimally such as controlling on the volatility of exchange rate and absorbing liquidity excess through open market operation.

Credit Yielding

The rate of inflation on July 2008 was recorded at 1.37% for annual inflation realization reaching 11.9% up to 11.03% from the previous month (month on month).

January-July inflation reached 8.85%, much higher than the same period on the previous year reaching 2.72%. By estimating several factors on risk and inflation pressure which possibly occur by the end of this year, BI predicts that inflation rate will be at 11.5-12.5 % by 2008 (year on year/YOY).

Though the interest rate tends to increase and the prices on various goods are elevated, credit yielded is still boisterous.

Director of Surveying and Banking Controlling of Bank of Indonesia, Halim Alamsyah, said that banking credit tends to be equal in all sectors.

Economist of BNI, Ryan Kiryanto, said the banking parties responded the increase on BI Rate by elevating the credit interest to 0.5-1%. “Slight increase on credit interest will not reduce the demands on credit,’ Ryan said.

Director of Astra International Ltd, Priyono Sugiarto, said, “If BI Rate is persistently elevated, and the purchase power of the people is shrink, people won’t be able to purchase any.”

Chief Committee on Fiscal and Monetary Kadin Indonesia, Bambang Soesatyo, said that the increase on BI Rate was strong blow in the midst of the people with shrinking purchasing power .

Source Language: Risiko Tekanan Inflasi. Kompas: August 6, 2008