Oil Price
09 April 2008
This title may lead you to think of something serious or big.
It is not! It has nothing to do with, say, Iraq or Iran, oil carter or even Bloomberg. It's just about a dream I had last night. The story is, that in my dream, oil price hike was so devastating that we all have to line in long queue to buy gasoline.
This is the United States the whereabout I am talking about. In California, with million of cars jamming any roads.
Everyone was in trouble. Even if you can afford to buy, the stock was limited.
I don't really understand the point being this dream. Why is it that even in dream, things can be that serious?
True, we would all be hopeful that the fossil-based fuel can be replaced sometime soon. For a country like Indonesia, whom once joined the petroleum exporting countries, the case is now more on importing. The high price of oil is serious for us.
Water, you said? But when?
Even when it is possible, the cost may still be not feasible. If you need more fuel to generate the expected new base of fuel, any economist would have to just say no.
This musing, I am not very sure to have any meaning. Perhaps, at the very least, just an excuse to revisit this---rather neglected---blog.
AIDS, the Day to Fight
29 November 2007
Killing in our world, either in the past or even at present, have taken many toll roads. Wars killed so many. Disasters took so much lives. Epidemics afflicted people worldwide. AIDS is still at the top chart of one of the deadliest.
UNAIDS estimate for this year is 33 million people are infected with HIV. The number of AIDS death was 2.1 million in 2006. This year, UNAIDS estimated about 2.5 million people will be infected by the virus at the global scale. The strive to overcome this serious problem seems pacing a long and winding road.
There is no cure---that is the painful fact. Treatment, which is still expensive, may not readily available to those who need it. Look at Africa. Two third of about 40 million AIDS infected are there
. Being poor for most of them makes it hard to reach health access.Worse as it now, AIDS infected individuals are also increasing in many other parts of the world. India is now a focus of the eyes. Along the way, there is also Indonesia which is taking the front seat as the most serious case in Southeast Asia.
The statistic says that Indonesia has almost 10 thousands AIDS infected by September 2007. All provinces have cases, while Jakarta, West Java and Papua as the three at the top. Check the provincial data here.
I really applaude the work of the National AIDS Commission (NAC) or Komisi Penanggulangan AIDS (KPA) in leading Indonesia's effort to deal with this epidemic. So much to be done and it is making headway. The National Startegy and Action Plan 2007-2010 are guides for the nation to address this.
Yes, there is no cure, yet. But prevention is equally important in order not to worsen matters. That is what we need to join hand to promote AIDS awareness at all level. December 1 is the World AIDS Day which is observed globally. We are too.
I urge you to give some minutes browsing the KPA website, read and read. Facts and news are there. Follow the links---to many worldwide sources. There, you will find also UNAIDS and so on.
LA/29/11/07
Labels: AIDS, world diplomacy
Truly, Asia is Indonesia
08 November 2007
2008?
It is coming soon. You can have plenty of things to do. But, travelling to Indonesia may be one of best choices there is.
Yes, I am saying this because I am an Indonesian. But, if you have visited the country, you know what I mean. Even if you haven't, this is a valid invitation.
The thing is, 2008 is also a good timing since the Department of Tourism and Culture set it as the Visit Indonesia Year. You can always access its website for updates.
In fact, this coming year is also pledged as the Visit West Sumatera Year. I have been visiting to many countries before, seeing the beauty of many cities, but stopping by in Bukittingi or Maninjau Lake in West Sumatera is always my opted preference. You can explore the possibilities there.
What about security? In case you ask, that is so much a cliche rather than a fact. It is safe.
Then again, people should avoid New York if 9/11 is the barometer. Or London, Madrid, Jerusalem, Bombay, Bangkok and what not.
Bali? Just recently the US Embassy in Jakarta released a confirmation that the Ngurah Rai airport in Bali is safe and comply to international security aviation standard.
What I am saying is that it is due for any world citizen to retake the joy of exotic Indonesia anytime.
Truly, it is Indonesia that is Asia.
You will find out yourself that what is wrapped and sold with a price by another country may as well just be a tiny cultural parcel abundantly available in Indonesia.
I tell you this, if someone sell you another person's treasures, what else you can make of it except...?
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It is a very big country, very diverse and colorful. Saying just that already a proof of so many good things.
2008 is the Visit Indonesia Year.
It is coming soon. You can have plenty of things to do. But, travelling to Indonesia may be one of best choices there is.
Yes, I am saying this because I am an Indonesian. But, if you have visited the country, you know what I mean. Even if you haven't, this is a valid invitation.
The thing is, 2008 is also a good timing since the Department of Tourism and Culture set it as the Visit Indonesia Year. You can always access its website for updates.
In fact, this coming year is also pledged as the Visit West Sumatera Year. I have been visiting to many countries before, seeing the beauty of many cities, but stopping by in Bukittingi or Maninjau Lake in West Sumatera is always my opted preference. You can explore the possibilities there.
What about security? In case you ask, that is so much a cliche rather than a fact. It is safe.
Then again, people should avoid New York if 9/11 is the barometer. Or London, Madrid, Jerusalem, Bombay, Bangkok and what not.
Bali? Just recently the US Embassy in Jakarta released a confirmation that the Ngurah Rai airport in Bali is safe and comply to international security aviation standard.
What I am saying is that it is due for any world citizen to retake the joy of exotic Indonesia anytime.
Truly, it is Indonesia that is Asia.
You will find out yourself that what is wrapped and sold with a price by another country may as well just be a tiny cultural parcel abundantly available in Indonesia.
I tell you this, if someone sell you another person's treasures, what else you can make of it except...?
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It is a very big country, very diverse and colorful. Saying just that already a proof of so many good things.
2008 is the Visit Indonesia Year.
LA/Nov/07
