Till We Meet Again, Gus

Artikel dibawah ini ditulis oleh Duncan Graham, seorang jurnalis Selandia Baru di blognya Indonesia Now.

FAREWELL GUS DUR: President RI 20 October 1999 - 23 July 2001

I interviewed Gus Dur for a book on Indonesia and spent most of the time laughing at his jokes. There's one below. He was an extraordinary man, a true democrat, liberal, learned and impossible to dislike. History should treat him kindly - just as he treated others. His impact on Indonesia endures leaving it a far better country after the ravages of Soeharto.

THE BIG DEBATE
By Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur)

Back 10 centuries ago, just before the Crusade was launched, the Pope decided all Muslims had to leave Jerusalem peacefully or there’d be bloodshed. Naturally there is a big uproar from the Muslim community. So the Pope strikes a deal. He proposes a debate with a member of the Muslim community. If the Muslim wins the debate, all the Muslims can stay. If the Pope wins, all the Muslims will have to leave.

The Muslims realise they have no choice. They look around for a champion who can defend their faith. No one wants to volunteer, it's too risky. But they finally pick their representative, an old Mullah who unknowingly agrees without understanding what he’s getting himself into. He agrees on the condition that neither side is allowed to talk but communicate by miming, as he’s almost deaf. The Pope agrees.
The day of the great debate comes. The Mullah and the Pope sit opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raises his hand and shows three fingers. The Mullah raises his middle finger. The Pope waves his fingers in a circle around his head. The Mullah points to the ground and stamps his right foot. The Pope pulls out a wafer and a glass of wine. The Mullah pulls out an apple. The Pope stands up and says: ‘I give up. This man is too good. The Muslims can stay.’

An hour later the cardinals are all around the Pope asking what happened. The Pope says: ‘First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there is still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all about us. He responded by pointing to the ground and stamping his feet, telling me that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple reminding me of the first sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?’

Meanwhile, the Muslim community has crowded around the old Mullah in total astonishment. ‘What happened?’ they ask. ‘Well’ says the Mullah, ‘first, he said we Muslims had three days to leave Jerusalem. I told him - up yours! Then he said this whole city would be cleared of Muslims. I told him none would leave this land!’

‘And then?' asks a woman. ‘He took out his lunch and I took out mine,’ says the Mullah.

The power of the mind lies in perceiving differences; the power of the heart lies in perceiving similarities
Kekuatan pikiran terletak dalam menerima perbedaan; kekuatan hati terletak dalam menerima persamaan.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un
انّا للہ و انّا الیہ راجعون
We indeed belong to God, and we indeed toward him are returning.

Happy Anti Corruption Day

Kemarin aku menjemput Damar ke sekolah. Akhir minggu nanti akan ada pentas di mal (-.-'), memperingati (so-called) hari ibu. Selain nyanyi si Jegrak juga bakal baca puisi. Dan tidak ada yang lebih menghibur selain anak-anak umur 2-5 taun yang berlatih untuk pentas.

Ketika akan pulang dan membuka pintu mobil, seorang ibu tua berbaju lusuh dan menggotong karung menyapa, "Dek, mau mangga?". Jarang-jarang dipanggil dek..
Akhirnya aku dan Damar jongkok di pinggir jalan ngobrol sama ibu itu.
Rumahnya jauh. Satu plastik berisi 5 butir mangga dijual 12 ribuan. Sekarung mangga tadi dibeli dengan harga 85 ribu. Sekarung berisi belasan plastik.
Akhirnya kubeli mangganya seharga sebuah majalah national geographic traveller terbaru yang memuat 55 gunung terindah di indonesia.

Mahal? Tidak kalo mengingat si ibu tua ini naik-turun bukit-bukit di Balikpapan di bawah terik matahari Desember sambil menggotong karungnya.

Sebelum pulang aku dan Damar ke Hero dulu, mau beli jamur. We're addicted to mushroom lately. Seplastik seharga 15 ribu. Di persimpangan menuju Balikpapan Baru seorang anak berkulit hitan legam menawarkan korannya, "Cuma 2000, buk!". Di pinggir jalan ada anak lain yang lebih kecil, duduk sambil menyipitkan matanya karena terik.

Aku menyesal tidak membawa susu kotak di tasku.

I was just like any other hypocrit who felt sorry for them but didn't do a think to make things better.
That old woman, those street children, would they still be doing what they're doing if we're not one of the most corrupt country in the world?

I guess there's only one thing money won't buy, and that's poverty.

“Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge.That no king can corrupt.”

Happy Anti Corruption Day.

Little Things, Always the Little Things.

Mark Twain said "Remember the poor, it costs nothing".

Apa sih, definisi "poor"? Miskin?
Hidup dibawah 1 $? Di bawah 2 $?
Tidak punya rumah? Tidak punya pekerjaan?
Hopeless? Homeless?

Jangan salah.
Ada yang merasa 'miskin' itu karena tidak punya mobil mewah.
Ada yang merasa 'miskin' ketika ngga bisa beli blackberry terbaru.
Ada yang merasa miskin karena ngga beli baju bermerek di mal.
Ada yang merasa miskin karena ngga dapet keistimewaan dan kemudahan yang dimiliki para pejabat dan orang 'hebat'.

Miskin karena selalu merasa kekurangan.

Tapi lupakanlah miskin yang itu, balik ke miskin yang ada di berita akhir-akhir ini.

Seorang nenek dipenjara karena 'memungut' 3 biji buah kakao.
Seorang kakek dipukul dan diseret karena menentang penggusuran.
Seorang PSK dibiarkan tenggelam di kali ketika sedang dikejar-kejar.
Aku yakin kalo digoogle maka akan panjang sekali daftarnya...

Dan tulisan kali ini bukanlah ingin membahas dari sudut hukumnya bla bla bla, karena sudah mahfum sekali bahwa hukum itu bukanlah keadilan. Law is not justice. It never is.
Tapi ingin bertanya pada sendiri, have I remembered enough.
Lebih lagi, have I done enough.

Seorang sahabat berkata,
"Dee, lahir-belajar jalan ngomong-tk-sd-smp-sma-kuliah-kerja-nikah-punya anak-memastikan anak mengikuti hal2 tersebut-mati adalah, devil cycle. I dont know where's thing 'so-called' life on that cycle"

Aku bilang, dia harus mengalami semuanya dulu baru bisa tau.

Dan dijawab,
"No i dont have to. Just by thinking about what our country had become. Its a sad fact that there's actually only few people give it a damn, because they been trapped on their own tired old line. There's no time to think about others. Let alone the nation. Busy to save their own asses, and they dont even realize that's what's happened. Its a false joy"

There. My life is a false joy.
And we're just some kinda robot.
How nice.
Just perfect for this gloomy cloudy november days.

Tapi tentu saja, ini harusnya suatu kritik membangun.
I'm still searching the constructive part.

Kritik membangunnya mungkin adalah bagaimana kita bertanya pada diri sendiri, "Apa yang salah dari komunitas kita? masyarakat kita? negara kita? Is it the custom? The education system? What?"
Jika belum terjawab, masih ada pertanyaan selanjutnya yang menunggu, "Apa solusinya?"

Aku selalu berpikir, sesuatu dimulai dari hal terkecil. Dari diri sendiri. Satu demi satu.
Klise.
Tapi sesuatu itu klise mungkin karena itu memang benar.
And yea, I haven't done enough. I'm crawling.

So, when my simple so-called life, with my simple kinda family, seems not enough..well, I cannot blame my idealistic sarcastic friend. We can always agree to disagree, right?
Just don't expect me to stop believing that maybe we, stupid silly nerdy simple people, can actually make a difference. By doing little things.

2 simple things to remember and share with dynamic duo (again):
1. Simpen krincing kita
2. Pisahin dan kurangi sampah dengan ngubur sampah dapur.

Last but never least...listen to your children. Respect them. So they'll listen and respect others.
Do you realize that your children spend less than 20 years with us, then go on to spend another 60 years, 70 years, 80 or maybe even more on this planet. What goes on in our home with them today seems so small it hardly even matters in the grand scheme of things. Yet what we do in our home can affect society for many years to come.

Itu salah satu solusiku, mate, ketika kamu nanya apa nanti Damar Dimas sempet mikirin negaranya.

Bertanya pada Damar the jegrag and Dimas the jambul.
Ketika mereka pengen roti tawar instead of nasi buat makan siang, aku bukan bilang, "Harus makan nasi! Mamah udah capek-capek masak! Arrgghh! Grrrr! Aum!" and so on.
Tapi aku bertanya, "kenapa ngga mau makan nasi?" dan dijawab Damar, "nanti mah, abis makan roti."

Pertanyaan. Jawaban.
Pilihan. Konsekuensi.

Semoga dengan memberikan mereka pertanyaan dan pilihan, someday when they're older, mereka bisa menentukan pilihan yang terbaik bukan cuman untuk diri mereka sendiri tapi juga lingkungan di sekitar mereka. Semoga mereka, entah itu mengikuti 'that tired old line' atau sebaliknya menjadi biksu selibat yang mengabdikan diri untuk menyelamatkan dunia, menjadi manusia yang bermanfaat.

This stupid simple me is still learning, for God sake!


(www.art.com)

Buaya dan Komodo

Siapa lagi yang bisa dipercaya?
My poor country...

The latest update of criminalization of KPK, the Jakarta Pos

The police and those devil's advocates, those corruptors...I cannot hate those people more.

Negeri Para Bedebah
Ada satu negeri yang dihuni para bedebah
by Adhie Massardi

Lautnya pernah dibelah tongkat Musa
Nuh meninggalkan daratannya karena direndam bah
Dari langit burung-burung kondor menjatuhkan bebatuan menyala-nyala
Tahukah kamu ciri-ciri negara para bedebah?
Itulah negeri yang para pemimpinnya hidup mewah
Tapi rakyatnya makan dan mengais sampah
Atau menjadi kuli di negeri orang
Yang upahnya serapah dan bogem mentah
Di negeri para bedebah
Orang baik dan bersih dianggap salah
Dipenjarakan hanya karena sering ketemu wartawan
Menipu rakyat dengan pemilu menjadi lumrah
Karena hanya penguasa yang boleh marah
Sedangkan rakyatnya hanya bisa pasrah
Maka bila negerimu dikuasai para bedebah
Jangan tergesa-gesa mengadu kepada Allah
Karena Tuhan tak akan mengubah apa suatu kaum
Kecuali kaum itu sendiri mengubahnya
Maka bila melihat negeri dikuasai para bedebah
Usirlah mereka dengan revolusi
Bila tak mampu dengan revolusi, dengan demonstrasi
Bila tak mampu dengan demonstrasi, dengan diskusi
Tapi itulah selemah-lemahnya iman perjuangan.

Links of the Day

What do you think?
From bendib. Thanks Fatemah for the link.



Hate Thy Neighbour
Thanks for the interesting post, MERC. Liam Bartlett from Channel 9 on 60 minutes blog,

Trying to understand the Middle East peace process is a bit like attempting to unscramble an egg so we travelled to Israel to get a first-hand look at just how hard it might be to even begin a so-called 'road map to peace'.
t might be to even begin a so-called 'road map to peace'.

At the very heart of the problem are the Jewish settlers, now occupying large tracts of land that the Palestinians say are really theirs. The settlers are essentially squatting on whatever piece they choose and constructing houses and towns in a defiant gesture of "now that I'm here – it's all mine".

from bendib

French Police Clear Migrant 'Jungle', Arrest 278

But Immigration Minister Eric Besson said action had to be taken against migrant trafficking rings. "What I want is to dismantle this 'jungle', which is the operating base for human traffickers," Besson told RTL radio.
Activists opposed the raid however. "It's a scandal," said Jean-Claude Lenoir of the Salam migrant support group. "We can't have soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and treat Afghans seeking refuge here with such little dignity."

Anti Corruption Songs by Slank
You know what I hate more than terrorism? Corruption! A Lot, a lot of corruption! Try to live in this country and you'll find them everywhere. Sometime I think I have no respect left for my own government. Indonesia regularly appears on lists of the most corrupt countries in the world, and in the most recent global corruption survey by Transparency International, Indonesia scored a 2.6, with 10 being the cleanest rating.

The situation looks grim now, since the KPK (The Corruption Eradication Commission)chairmen have been named as suspects by police.
Here's the update.

On going battle between KPK and the police
Q+A-Indonesia's corruption court bill

Korupsi membunuh bangsa...Corruption kills.


Photo from tbelfield.wordpress.com

Malingsial and Malaysians

When so many people from both sides, Malaysia and Indonesia, show their immaturity and shortsightedness, here is a rapper who knows the difference between Malingsial/Indonsial and Malaysians/Indonesians.


Copy My Style Again ~ Saykoji

You copy my style
You copy again
Apa plagiat di negara lo lagi ngetrend?
Ku tetap sabar tetap kau kuanggap friend
But sooner or later i gotta take my stand

Udah bolak balik sampe balik kebolak
Temen gue sampe keselek pas makan kolak
Lagi lagi berulang ulang terus terjadi
Tetangga bikin ulah lagi bikin sakit hati

Suka ngaku ngaku kagak malu malu
Punya indonesia di klaim satu satu
Apa memang kalian yang gak mampu mampu
Buat budaya sendiri efek gak ampuh ampuh

Baca rambu rambu, bangsaku berbudi luhur
Tapi usik terus, reputasi mu masuk kubur
Jujur gue bangga jujur gue bersyukur
Elo ngaku ngaku berarti progress lo mundur

Panas ku bertutur kreasi bicara
Walau sudah jelas identitas ku dijarah
Joe farizal aja bisa minta maap
Masa yang lain kagak nyadar kagak tanggap

You copy my style
You copy again
Apa plagiat di negara lo lagi ngetrend?
Ku tetap sabar tetap kau kuanggap friend
But sooner or later i gotta take my stand

Bukan mo sok nasionalis sombong mengangkat alis
Bukan mo sok gangster bukan sok sadis
Walau lagi ngetop bukan gue sok ngartis
Tapi bales pake lagu paling praktis

Marah marah di internet, udah pasaran
Ngomel ngomel di pasar kagak sabaran
Kaya cacing kepanasan jenggot kebakaran
Rasanya gatel pengen ngasih tamparan

Tapi gue orang nya cinta damai
Walau rasanya sulit untuk santai
Amunisi di samping nyiur melambai
Pakai musik rap ku siap membantai

Memang satu rumpun masih sama melayu
Tapi melayu saykoji keras dan gak kemayu
Selendang rocker ku agak mendayu
Tapi coba ajak gue battle rap ayuk!!

You copy my style
You copy again
Apa plagiat di negara lo lagi ngetrend?
Ku tetap sabar tetap kau kuanggap friend
But sooner or later i gotta take my stand

Salute to Saykoji!

And hatemongers, Stop bashing around.
Your words show the world who you really are.

Stop talking about war!

You know who's going to inherit the world? Arms dealers. Because everyone else is too busy killing each other.

~Yuri Orlov, Lord of War

Cukuplah Karena Kita Sesama Manusia

Hidup terus berjalan.
Bagi keluarga Timothy McKay, Garth McEvoy, Evert Mokodompis dan korban bom JW Mariott/Ritz Carlton mungkin tidak semudah itu. Istri Evert bahkan baru saja melahirkan anak keduanya sehari setelah bom meledak.

Pagi ini aku tertegun membaca satu artikel di Tribun Kaltim. Judulnya Ightiyal dan Bom Bunuh Diri. Salah satu isi tulisan itu adalah :

Teror bom itu telah membuat Indonesia menangis. Menangis karena dengan aksi itu, citra Indonesia kembali masuk dalam kategori negara yang tidak aman. Menangis karena pecinta Manchester United kecewa berat karena jadwal laga Indonesia All Stars verus MU di Stadion Gelora Bung Karno dibatalkan. Umat Islam Indonesia juga ikut bersedih, karena aksi pelaku teror bom bunuh diri itu serta merta meninggalkan citra buruk umat Islam di mata dunia.

Juga disebutkan tentang MUI yang harus menunggu empat tahun (setelah Bom Bali I) untuk menyatakan fatwa haram untuk aksi bom bunuh diri. Fatwa tersebut dikeluarkan 10 November 2005.

Tanpa mengurangi makna dan maksud baik penulis, aku bertanya-tanya "Seegois apa kita ini?" Apakah Indonesia menangis karena telah jatuh lagi korban-korban tak bersalah, telah bertambah lagi anak-anak yatim atau piatu dan telah muncul lagi korban-korban luka yang mungkin akan cacat seumur hidup..... atau karena MU tidak jadi datang??? Mana yang lebih penting? Nyawa manusia atau citra?

Dan ketika aku membaca di tulisan tersebut tentang seorang Syeikh Sholih Al Fauzan di Arab Saudi yang menyatakan bahwa

Ightiyal (membunuh dengan rahasia dan sembunyi-sembunyi) dan perusakan (pada sumber-sumber pemerintahan di negeri kafir) adalah perkara yang tidak boleh. Karena akan menyebabkan kejelekan terhadap kaum muslimin dan menyebabkan pembunuhan dan pengungsian terhadap kaum muslimin, ini perkara yang tidak boleh

...aku mulai merasa sedikit mual.

Apakah segala sesuatu harus berputar di sekitar kita, kaum muslim?
Apakah tidak cukup alasannya karena semua manusia punya hak hidup yang sama?
The same flesh, bone, blood, heart and mind?

Beberapa hadis dari Nabi Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) yang sangat menekankan agar kita menjauhi kekerasan :

Deal gently with the people, and be not harsh; cheer them and condemn them not.

That person is nearest to God, who pardons, when he has someone in his power, one who would have injured him.

Assist your brother or sister Muslim, whether he be an oppressor or an oppressed. 'But how shall we do it when someone is an oppressor?' Muhammad said, 'Assisting an oppressor is by forbidding and withholding that person from oppression.'

The best jihad (lit. striving) is a just word before a tyrannical authority.

All God's creatures are His family; and he or she is the most beloved of God who tries to do most good to God's creatures.

Faith is a restraint against all violence, let no Mu'min commit violence.

May Allah bless us with His love, and the love of those who love Him. May Allah fill our hearts with love.
Wallahu'alam bissawab. Only God knows the best.

Jakarta Meledak Lagi

What's the difference between a drone attack and a suicide bomber? Both use robots, and at the end of the day, both puppeteers get to go home to their families and act like nothing happened that day. Or act like something happened and proud of it.

Apa yang kalian inginkan?
Mengacaukan negeriku?
Tidak puas dengan pemilu?
Permainan kekuasaan?
Mengklaim satu kebenaran di atas yang lain?
Berperan menjadi Tuhan?

The circle of violence won't solve anything.
Whoever you are, you stupid and coward people who are trying to destroy my country, I pray your family won't suffer the same fate as the victims of the bombings of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton today.

Our deepest condolences.
Jakarta meledak lagi.
Indonesia menangis lagi.

Tikus, Cicak, Buaya, Manusia...

Pagi hari. Sambil ganti baju.

Aku : " Gimana dugemnya semalam? ^^ "
Dia : " Gitu deh.."
Aku : Sigh...
Aku : " Jadi ngurusin hanky pangky bisnis gitu sekarang ya..."
Dia : " Semalam akhirnya nyebut angka...."
Aku : " Haaa??? "
Dia : " Itu sih murah. Taun kemarin mintanya something point something billion. "
Aku : " Whaattt??? Terus? "
Dia : " Ya, ntar kuterusin ke bosku. "
Aku : " Terus?"
Dia : " Ya, terserah keputusan yang di atas. "
Aku : " That's it? Bakal dikasih? "
Dia : " Itu dia. Sebenernya kita ngga salah apa-apa. Cuma dipersulit aja. "
Aku : " Ngga bisa dilaporin ke KPK kah? "
Dia : " Hehehe, I wished. "
Aku : " Ngapain kita marah-marah sama anggota DPR atau jaksa korup...kalo ternyata yang terang-terangan di depan mata kita ngga bisa berbuat apa-apa. "
Dia : " Aku pasti bakal protes ke bos. Tapi bukan keputusanku hasil akhirnya. "
Aku : " Jadi selama ini bikin SIM ngga nembak, tilang ngga minta damai, nolak amplop dari supplier, nolak titipan...ada artinya ngga sih? "

Di sini aku salah. Maklum emosi. Mulailah dari yang kecil, mulailah dari diri sendiri...gitu kan?
Jadi pasti ada artinya. Walau saat ini rasanya tidak ada artinya...

Aku : " Mau gimana memutus lingkaran setan ini? Apa mereka yang minta-minta seperti itu padahal mereka digaji dengan uang rakyat ngga takut memberi makan anak-istrinya uang haram? "
Dia : " Lha mereka agamanya (tiiiiitttt).
Aku : " So? Semua agama ngga ada yang menghalalkan korupsi, suap, KKN... Itu yang korupsi banyak yang pake embel-embel haji. Kalo mereka minta 300 juta ke kantong mereka itu bukan masalah agamanya apa tapi orangnya gimana"
Dia : Sigh.
Aku : " Seperti memberi makan tikus..."
Dia : " Masih mending. Ngasih makan tikus ngga dosa. "

Siang hari. Via sms.

Aku : " Aya naon semalam? pake nulis status begitu, hun?"
Dia : " Ya soal permintaan orang-orang itu semalam. Perasaanku galau "
Dia : " Bos tadi pagi malah bilang 'bagus, kok cuma segitu'. Kok begini..."

Saat ini.
Sedih.
Marah.
Bingung.

Aku : " DAMN!!!!!"

Happy Voting, Indonesia!

It's voting day!
And it's too late to be a pessimist.
We can choose only the best of the worse.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Nike, Just Stop It.

If they were friends of yours, would you say "Well hey, that's their lot and they've just got to deal with it. That's part of economic development."
If that was your brother or sister or your mother would you be so dismissive of the injustice that they're facing?

(Jim Keady,Just Stop It Campaign)
www.educatingforjustice.org
www.teamsweat.org

Behind The Swoosh

HOME

20% of the world’s population consumes 80% of its resources.
The world spends 12 times more on military expenditures than on aid to developing countries.

5,000 people a day die because of dirty drinking water.
1 billion people have no access to safe drinking water.

Nearly 1 billion people are going hungry.
Over 50% of grain traded around the world is used for animal feed or bio fuels.
40% of arable land has suffered long-term damage.

Every year, 13 millions hectares of forest disappear.
One mammal in 4, one bird in 8, one amphibian in 3 is threatened with extinction.
Species are dying out at a rhythm 1,000 times faster than the natural rate.
Three quarters of fishing grounds are exhausted, depleted or in dangerous decline.

The average temperature of the last 15 years has been the highest ever recorded.
The ice cap is 40% thinner than 40 years ago.
There may be at least 200 million climate refugees by 2050.

Lets be responsible consumers & think about what we buy, it's too late to be a pessimist.

It's time to come together! What's important is not what's gone but what remains. We know that the solutions are there today, we all have the power to change. So what are we waiting for?

It's up to us to write what happens next... TOGETHER.

I cried today, and not because of some soapy korean dramas.
Mataku mberambangi karena menonton "HOME"nya Yann Arthus-Bertrand.
Film dokumenter ini dimulai dengan terbentuknya bumi. Dan bagaimana bumi berubah begitu cepat dalam tahun-tahun terakhir. You have to watch it to know what I mean.

Film tersebut juga menceritakan tentang hutan Kalimantan yang, dengan kecepatan perusakan seperti sekarang, akan hilang dalam sepuluh tahun ke depan. Hal ini terutama karena pembukaan lahan untuk perkebunan kelapa sawit.
Contoh perusakan hutan primer yang digantikan untuk hutan industri yang lain adalah hutan eukaliptus di Australia dan Tasmania serta deforestasi Amazon dan hutan Amerika Selatan untuk tanaman kedelai (soybean).
Satu hal yang paling teringat, pernyataan bahwa bagaimana free trade bisa dianggap fair trade, jika satu pihak memanen dengan tangan sementara yang lain dengan mesin.

Menceritakan film ini ke Dewo akan berujung dengan perdebatan "Is global warming a myth?" ^^
Dia lebih berpihak ke Michael Chrichton dengan State of Fear-nya.

Tapi karena :
-menghemat listrik dan air (Sedih juga sejak pindah ke Balikpapan dan mendapatkan listrik di kompleks menggunakan genset. Yang berarti mau pemakaian listrik dikit atau banyak konsumsi bahan bakarnya sama...),
-memilah dan membuang sampah pada tempatnya,
-mengurangi pemakaian plastik (inget untuk mbawa-mbawa tas belanja kalo ke Maxi atau Hero!!),
-membeli sayuran dan bahan pangan lokal (mulai merambah ke brand-brand lokal karena aku mulai milih torabika/kapal api, bukan nescafe walopun nescafe diproduksi di dalam negeri),
sebisa mungkin adalah solusi harian di keluarga kami... perdebatan itu akhirnya jadi kurang begitu penting.

If We Tolerate This...

From Ryan Kusuma's blog.

If you tolerate this, your children would be next! Free Ibu Prita!
by Ryan Kusuma

First of all imagine this. As a nursing mother of a newborn baby, you were jailed for a corporate setup crime. One public complaint email, and you were charged for name poisoning under the new handicapped IT law. And you're weren't covered by the consumer protection right.

This is a practice of the abuse of power by a corporate hospital (!) under a faulty law which is represented by the lawyers behind the son of a national mass-murderer (T.S.).

This is not a case of internet publishing ethics. Not a case of irresponsibility. What Ibu Prita has to say is not just some made-up lies. This is a case of public muting.

And this is the proof that UU ITE is cleary defected. Otherwise there would be no misinterpretation (as according to Mr. Cahaya, Applied Tech. General Director of Mins. Comm & Informatics).

Free Ibu Prita Now!

Join the Cause: http://bit.ly/W62QW

------------------------------------------------
Here's the translation I did from the original letter
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Don’t let my case happened to other lives. Especially childrens, elders and babies. Whenever you’re taking a treatment, becareful of the hospital’s luxury and “international” title, because the more luxurious the hospital is, and the smarter the doctors are, the more frequent the patients tests, drug sales, and injections.

I’m not saying that all international hospital are like that but I had to face this case at Omni International Hospital. Exactly on August 7th 2008 at 20.30 pm. With high fever, I came to the Omni International believeing that that hospital had an international standard, with of couse a good medical talent and management.

I was asked to go to the ER dan got my body temperature checked, and the result was 39(C) degrees. And then after the blood test, my thrombosit level is 27.000, which the normal level is 200.000. I was informed and handled by dr. Indah (general) and declared that I’m obliged to be admitted. Dr. I did the lab test recheck with my blood sample and the result was still the same, which is thrombosit 27.000.

Dr. I asked which specialist doctor I want to have. But I asked for her reference because I’m totally uncommon about this hospital. Then the reference is dr. H. Dr. H checked my condition, and I asked my condition, he explained that I had a dengue fever.

Since that night, I was infused and given injections without any explanation or a patient’s or family consent of the injection’s purpose. The next morning, dr. H visited me and informed that there’s a revision to the previous night’s test. It is not 27.000, but 181.000 (a lab test could be revisioned?). I was surprised but dr. H kept on giving instructions to the nurse to give me a variation of injections which I don’t know and with out my or my family’s consent.

I asked back what I’m really having, and the answer is still the same, that I had a dengue fever. I’m so concerned because I have two toddlers at home. So I chose to think positively about the hospital and the doctor that I can quickly recover and I believe I was medicated by a professional international-standard doctor.

Since that Friday, I was given a variation of injections in which with every one weren’t given any explanation from the nurse, and everytime I asked for an explanation, they didn’t have any satisfactorial explanation. It is impressed that the nurse were only doing the doctor’s order and the patient had to accept it. One box of the patient’s cabinet is full with infusions and needles with lots of syringe.

My left hand was starting to swollen. I asked them to stop the infusion and injections and asked to see dr. H. But the doctor still didn’t came after I was transferred to another room. Afterward my body temperature kept on rising to 39 degrees and came a replacement doctor which I don’t know his specialty is. After being checked, that doctor just said that he should wait for dr. H.

The next afternoon came dr. H with orders to the nurse to gave a few more drug injections. I asked the doctor what I’m really having and he explained I’m having an air virus. I asked that then I’m not having a dengue fever. But dr. H explained that dengue fever is still an air virus. I was rehooked with the infusion on the right hand and given a painful injection.

Later that night I was given a couple of syringe at once and I imidiately had breathing troubles for fifteen minutes and was given oxygen. The shift doctor came but only to said to wait for dr. H.

So that night I was still infused. Although my right hand had swollen like my left. I forcely asked stop the infusion and denied anymore injections or medication.

The next day me and my family came and demand dr. H to meet with us. But the promise were always delayed and he finally came later at night. My husband and brothers demanded an explanation from dr. H about my condition, the injections, the early lab test result with 27.000 revisioned into 181.000 and my breathing trouble, which had never happened before in my entire life. My condition is worsening with my left neck and left eye swollen.

Dr. H didn’t gave any satifactory explanation. Moreover, he then started to gave more instructions to the nurse for medications and not to use the infusion. We debated about my condition and asked for his responsibily on this from my first test result that I could have been not admitted in the first place. Dr. H blamed the lab departement and could not gave any satisfactory explanation.

The next day my condition kept on worsening with my right neck swollen and body temperature came back up to 39 degrees. But I insist not to be treated at this hospital and to be transferred to another hospital. But for that I need a complete medical data and once again I got fooled with fictious medical data.

In that medical record, it is explained that I’ve been excreting fine while I been having trouble with it since I was admitted at this hospital without any follow up. Then the lab result that was given is with my thrombosit at 181.000 not 27.000.

I insisted to be given the medical data lab test with 27.000 but was surprised the the 27.000 lab result was not printed and the printed one is 181.000. The head of the lab is dr. M and after I angrily complained the doctor said that the 27.000 lab result were in the Omni management. I forced to meet the management who held the certain lab result.

I filed a written complaint to the Omni management and accepted by Og (Customer Service Coordinator) and I was for a receipt. In that receipt it is only written as a suggestion not a complaint. I got really fooled by the Omni management with the Og staff that had no service to the customer at all but to taunt my action in asking a written complaint receipt.

I had become totally fed up and asked to a written statement from the hospital lab about my first lab result is 27.000 and not 181.000. It is the reason I was to be admitted to this hospital in the first place, although with the real thrombosit level of 181.00 I could have not been admitted.

Dr. G responses, as the one who is to be held to my complaint is that it was unprofesional at all. Not accepting complaint, he deflected that the lab had not given the 27.000 lab result as informed by dr. M. I asked for a meeting with the lab, management, and dr. H, but couldn’t be done with reasoning that it is to be discussed with the upper (management) and promised to be given the written statement at 4 pm.

After that, I went into another hospital and taken into care with my condition need to be taken care in an isolation room because my virus is infectious. According to the analisis, this is a childhood disease which is mumps but has worsened becaused it has swollen. If it is infected to a grown up men could cause impotency and women to cause pancreatitis and cysts.

I was surprised to hear it and really angry to the Omni hospital for lying to me with the analyzed the dengue fever and had given me multiple high dose injecions that cause breathing troubles. I asked about those injections to the new hospitally and found out that I’m prone to high dose injections and caused my breathing troubles.

My husband came back to Omni hospital to asked to the promised 27.000 lab result but faced with uncertain negotiations and a delay request to it could be deliverd the day after to my home. The next morning I waited the news from my house and until 12 pm no one from Omni came with the letter.

I called dr. G as the complaint manager and told me that his courier just about to go to my house. But until 4 pm in the afternoon I waited and still no one came into my house. I called dr. G again and he said that the letter want delivered to someone named Rukiah.

This is an outrageous lie. There’s no one in my house named Rukiah. I asked for my address confirmation, but he said it is difficult to find it and would take a long ting. The logics are in the receipt note should have the address, right? That’s why I called that all of the Omni Management are big liars. Becareful with their games that played someone lives.

Especially with dr. G and Og, had no hospitality and ethics on customers service and not in accordance to the international standard stated by this hospital

I told dr. G, I will come to Omni to take the statement and when my husband came, it its only passed to the receptionist and the contents broke our hearts.

The management only said their sorry for our inconvenience and it is not stated anywhere about the first lab test mistake that says 27.000 and later revisioned into 181.00 and gave the injections that cause my condition to worsened from before I was admitted.

Why does we insisted to get the statement? We want to know that the 27.000 lab result is real or fictious so that the Omni hospital could admit inpatients.

And after we’ve been fooled with promises, the truth is that my 27.000 lab result is fictious and I shouldn’t have been admitted as an inpatient in the first place and no need for injections and breathing troubles and my worsening health could have been treated well.

It cost me my health. Maybe because the costs are covered with insurances that this hospital could take my insurance limit as much as they could. But this hospital doesn’t care about the side-effects of this greedyness.

Mr. Og recommended that I met with the operational director of the Omni hospital (dr. B) but me and my husband are already fed up to follow the lying games with my condition still sick and admitted in another hospital.

Thankfully I’m recovering but there’s still an eye condition in which its upper membrane are torn and infected by the virus to my sights are blurry and I can’t stand to much light exposure and this takes a fair time to heal.

In every human lives there will be one’s paths and destiny. That’s right. But, if a human live got played around by a hospital that is trusted to heal is just disappointing.

May God gave the conscience to the management and doctors of Omni hospital to be remided that someday they too will have family, childrens, parents that one day will need a medical care. May it not happened as to what I had to go through at this Omni hospital.

I’m hoping that one of the readers are the staff or doctors or managemen of Omni hospital. Please say to dr. G, dr. H, dr. M and Og, don’t let your gracious work gone to waste for your company. I must informed that dr. H also practise in RSCM too. I’m not saying that RSCM is bad but be carefull about the healh treament from this doctor.

Regards,
Prita Mulyasari
Alam Sutera
prita.mulyasari@yahoo.com
081513100600

Free Ibu Prita!

Sementara koruptor berkeliaran, anak mantan presiden yang membunuh jaksa muncul di infotainment dan rumah ibadah dirusak...aparat negara ini malah menangkap seorang ibu rumah tangga yang berjuang mendapatkan perawatan kesehatan yang jujur dan profesional.



Read Prita's case in here or here. Juga perkembangannya di sini.

Aku sendiri pernah punya pengalaman dengan Omni. Waktu itu Dimas terkena serangan asma. Kami ke klinik anak di Omni, dan Dr J langsung menyarankan Dimas opname bahkan tanpa memeriksa (hanya melihat dari seberang meja). Dewo yang dari kecil memang sering asma langsung menolak, karena menurut dia asma bukanlah penyakit yang perlu diopname.

Keluarga kami memang sebisa mungkin menjauhi dokter atau obat-obatan. Mungkin karena dari Damar bayi pernah beberapa kali mengalami ketidakcocokan dengan dokter anak.Kalo anak-anak flu batuk biasa biasanya kami jaga tetap makan minum bergizi, istirahat diperbanyak dan minum madu atau kencur. Kalo demam dikompres dan banyak minum.

Hal-hal yang membuat kami menjauhi rumah sakit, dokter dan obat adalah :
Dokter yang tidak komunikatif, bahkan terkesan arogan dan sombong kalo diberi pertanyaan.
Obat-obatan yang banyak dan mahal, padahal hanya flu atau batuk. Apalagi antibiotik yang terbukti sebaiknya tidak diberikan sembarangan ke anak kecil. Bukannya sembuh malah merusak kekebalan dan fungsi tubuh.
Bukan rahasia lagi bahwa dokter dan rumah sakit mendapat komisi dari obat dan produk yang dijual. Bahkan beberapa rumah sakit berusaha menghalangi ibu baru untuk menyusui bayinya secara eksklusif dan membujuk si ibu untuk memberikan susu merek tertentu untuk bayinya.

Semua pengalaman itu membuatku bertanya-tanya, apakah kode etik dokter masih dipegang oleh sebagian dokter itu? Apakah empati dan simpati masih mereka punyai bersama keahlian dan profesionalitas mereka?

Ketika pasien dan konsumen bertanya, meminta penjelasan, penindasan seperti yang dialami Prita kah yang pantas mereka dapatkan????

Demi anak-anak Ibu Prita, demi penegakkan hukum dan keadilan, demi rakyat yang merindukan Indonesia yang lebih ramah dan manusiawi...Ibu Prita harus bebas.

Dukungan untuk Prita di facebook.

Palestina In My Mind

I'm 28 years old.

And I could not remember precisely, when was the first time i heard of the word "Palestine". Perhaps on my elementary school. Cause I read too much at that time. I even wrote about the downfall of USSR in my school magazine and my friends raised their eyebrows.

I was raised as a moslem, in the biggest muslim country in the world. I even remembered someone or a teacher once said something about Jews, and Christians. Yes, there was a lot of racism inside our community too. We're good. They're bad. And sometimes the minority didn't get a decent treatment as they should get.

I was glad I decided not to believe that stereotyping. I was glad I could teach my children that they had to treat others as the way they wanted to be treated.

I had to admit, Rachel Corrie was one the most memorable moment.
I was shocked, not just by the way she passed away. But also by the hatreds she and her family received from Israelis supporter.

In Indonesia, Palestine was always connected with our identity as Muslim. And for some Islamophobics or Zionist supporters in here, Palestinian also identified as terrorists. And the stereotyping went on. So Jews and Israelis and Zionists were the same entity. Just like some said Muslim and Al Qaeda and Terrorist were the same thing.

When I read about Rachel Corrie, I thought: "Hei, she's an American girl. And she's not a muslim. Almost the same age as me. And she's dead defending your brothers and sisters in Palestine."

After that, one by one, I found out about Breaking the Silence from Daniel Bunuel "Don't tell my mom that I'm in The Holy Land" on National geographics channel, October 2008. And then Courage to refuse, ISM, Machsom Watch and Jews Against the Occupation were some of the best sources.

While blogging and reading, I found great thoughts from great people around the world, including Israel. There were Chet, Julia, Leila El Saba and Young Activist in US. Bob Birch and Antony Loewenstein in Australia. Yarra in Israel. And some amazing blogs, from Gaza with love, Oranges and Olives, Jerusalem Syndrom, Raising Yousuf and Noor, Munich and A little bit of everything, Tikun Olam, Mondoweiss and Jews san frontieres. I read "From Beirut to Jerusalem"'s dr. Ang Swee Chai and Palestinian walks's Raja Shehadeh.

Too many to mention.

But from them I knew one thing for sure. That Palestine (or Palestina in Indonesian) was never about religion. It was about humanity. It was about peace, justice and freedom. No matter what your religion was.

Lets face it. This was something that some people here in Indonesia should learn more.

I would finish with some words from Remi Kanazi.

I envision Palestine in my mind
With the “chosen” frozen in time
To realize their morality’s blind
To take back generations of crime
And put an end to Apartheid

How many kids sit and wish
They could be labeled other than a terrorist
To exist is to resist!
Reads the graffiti in their cities

Give them chalk instead of rocks
They’ll use the blackboards
If you let them go to school

Give them chalk instead of rocks
Instead you bulldoze the block
Destroy their homes
Palestine is what you call the “no building zone”

But you can’t bulldoze our minds
Every time we’ll rise through ashes
Like Cassius Clay
We’ll bob and weave for infinity
There is no divinity
In bombing our cities
Setting up committees to treat us differently
We’re from Falasteen
The land where dreams are made

So just remember one thing
One day the bells of freedom will ring
And you’ll see me smiling
Loving life in Palestine

This post dedicated for Blog About Palestine day 2009

Picture Of The Day : Our Waste Management

This picture's from the Independent. It said : A group of scavengers collect plastics for recycling at Jakarta's main garbage dump at Bantar Gebang district, Indonesia. A group can collect up to 2 tonnes of plastic a day and sell it for 2-5 million rupiah ($166-416).

Picture like this always make me sad.
Remember when the same Bantar Gebang killed some people in 2006?

Indonesian people are not used to waste management.
But we're getting there.

Intinya hanya kemauan, strong will. Seperti yang telah dilakukan oleh masyarakat Banjarsari, Cilandak, Jakarta Selatan. Mereka telah menerapkan 4R, "reducing, reusing, recycling and replanting", jauh sebelum warga perumahan mewah Bintaro akhir-akhir ini berlomba-lomba menerapkan green homes dan green environment.

Di rumah, kami sudah menerapkan pemilahan sampah selama 2 tahunan. Awalnya hanya karena ngga tega melihat pemulung memisahkan sampah plastik dan kertas yang bisa mereka jual dari tumpukan sampah basah.
Sekarang Damar dan Dimas pun sudah terbiasa membuang botol bekas susu mereka ke dus "botol susu".
Tadi pagi kami menjual koran-koran bekas dan menyerahkan mainan-mainan lama dan beberapa hasil menyortir tumpukan barang-barang di rumah ke bapak pemulung yang tiap hari lewat.
Sempet tarik-tarikan dulu sama Damar karena tiba-tiba dia ngga mau melepas mainan pesawat dan trolinya yang sudah rusak. Mungkin perasaanya saat itu sama dengan perasaanku waktu Dagadu favoritku ( Make Laugh Not War!) dari jaman kuliah dipensiunkan Dewo karena sudah berubah warna. Akhirnya air mata yang mengalir deras itu berhenti setelah tawar-menawar untuk membeli mainan baru kalo udah gajian.

Yang masih jadi PR, pengolahan sampah basah. Percobaan untuk bikin lubang biopori masih gagal. Ngga kuat muter alat pembuat lobang biopori... >,<
Apalagi sekarang mau pindah. Mungkin dilanjutkan di Balikpapan...

Tapi kemaren sempet berhasil mengolah sampah biji mangga dan rambutan. Caranya? Disebar di halaman! Dan tumbuh!!! Beberapa bibit pohon rambutan sudah dibagi-bagi ke tetangga. Ah, senangnya...^^

Before I'll stop writing, need to mention Earth Hour!
Or just visit http://www.earthhour.org/.

Hmmm,must start to think things to do with my children during that one hour, kalo mereka belum tidur.

Shame On You, Kompas!

Kompas today, A full page ads of Marlboro.


(Sorry bout the monkey, Dimas wouldn't let me move it when I took the picture)

Menteri Kesehatan India, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss merupakan tokoh yang melarang rokok diiklankan dan dipromosikan di media massa, media luar ruang, maupun jadi sponsor event olahraga dan pergelaran musik di India sejak Oktober tahun lalu.
Dan mulai 31 Mei 2009, ia bakal mewajibkan agar semua kemasan rokok memasang peringatan secara visual dengan gambar

Perhaps like these?


Selain sama sekali ngga enak dipandang juga pasti bikin harga rokok jadi lebih mahal.

Bagaimana dengan Pemerintah dan Menteri Kesehatan Indonesia??

Anti Korupsi Versi Dewo

Long weekend...di rumah saja.
Nanti sore mau ngajak anak-anak berenang ^^

Ada pengalaman Dewo yang menarik. Kejadiannya malam Sabtu kemaren di jalan tol menuju kota. Karena terdorong ke bahu jalan oleh truk Dewo disuruh menepi oleh polisi. Dan sempat ngotot-ngototan sama pak polisi selama 30 menit.

Kira-kira seperti ini.
Pak Pol : Bapak saya tilang ya, silahkan ke pengadilan tanggal 20 Maret.
Dewo : Wah Pak, saya terima ditilang tapi tanggal segitu saya sudah di Kalimantan.
Gimana kalo saya bayar di ATM saja?
Pak Pol : Udah ngga bisa Mas Dewo, sekarang semua harus ke pengadilan.
Dewo : Kalo gitu sidang sebelum tanggal 20 saja, pak.
Pak Pol : Wah, ngga bisa
Dewo : Kalo gitu saya nitip bapak saja, saya minta tanda terimanya.
Pak Pol : Wah, ngga bisa pak. Udah deh, saya bantu saja.
Dewo : Ha? Bantu bagaimana Pak? Lha, saya mau bayar tilang kok.

Akhirnya setelah bolak-balik seperti itu setengah jam di tengah kemacetan jalan tol, temannya yang dari tadi duduk di dalam mobil polisi keluar dan bisik-bisik sama polisi satunya.
Endingnya? "Udah Pak, pergi saja deh!"

Lho?
Jadi sebenarnya gimana sih, Pak Polisi?
Garuk-garuk kepala...

Adakah yang bisa ngasih info terbaru tentang pertilangan?

Anyway, I'm so proud of my husband ^^
Say no to corruption, start from tiny little things.

Reflections

Another great programmme by Al Jazeera English, Reflections of War.

Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) for Palestine.
Because Indonesia doesn't have any diplomatic relationships with Israel, I need to learn more about this movement.
And also, In Yuli Ahmada's blog I found this interesting post about IIPAC (Indonesia-Israel Public Affairs Committee).
Here's IIPAC's blog.This site is in Hebrew and English.

Gaza convoy leaves London.
This convoy will travel 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometres) through France, Spain and North Africa, crossing from Egypt into Gaza at Rafah in early March.

Will write more about these topics.
Now, family time!

Tilang atau Damai?

Temanku mengirim email tentang form merah dan biru dalam 'pertilangan'.

SLIP MERAH, berarti kita menyangkal kalau melanggar aturan Dan mau membela diri secara hukum (ikut sidang) di pengadilan setempat.
Itupun di pengadilan nanti masih banyak calo, antrian panjang, Dan oknum pengadilan yang melakukan pungutan liar berupa pembengkakan nilai tilai tilang. Kalau kita tidak mengikuti sidang, dokumen tilang dititipkan di kejaksaan setempat, disinipun banyak calo dan oknum kejaksaan yang melakukan pungutan liar berupa pembengkakan nilai
tilang.

SLIP BIRU, berarti kita mengakui kesalahan kita dan bersedia membayar denda.

Kita tinggal transfer dana via ATM ke nomer rekening tertentu (kalo gak salah norek Bank BUMN).

Sesudah itu kita tinggal bawa bukti transfer untuk di tukar dengan SIM/STNK kita di kapolsek terdekat dimana kita ditilang.
You know what!? Denda yang tercantum dalam KUHP Pengguna Jalan Raya tidak melebihi 50ribu! dan dananya RESMI MASUK KE KAS NEGARA.

One of the most corrupted institution in Indonesia is Police Force. While corruption in judicial institution is the most costly.

Tentu tidak semua polisi korup. Aku yakin masih banyak polisi-polisi jujur yang menghidupi keluarga dan menyekolahkan anak-anaknya dengan gaji yang mepet (God bless them...)
Seorang polisi muda yang menjadi ketua RT di kompleks perumahanku di Balikpapan dulu adalah seorang yang sederhana dan berdedikasi. Dia hanya memiliki sebuah motor tua dan rumah cicilan yang belum dikeramik lantainya. Seorang yang idealis dan rajin menjadi muadzin di mushola kecil di kompleks.

Pengalaman mengenai polisi lainnya waktu aku kuliah di Bandung, tahun 1998. Aku ditilang karena berbelok ke kiri sewaktu lampu merah menyala. Maklum kalau di Jogja hampir di semua perempatan kita bisa langsung belok kiri. Aku distop dan diajak ke pos. "Dik, ini sidangnya hari rabu jam 9 pagi ya!" Kujawab, "waduh Pak, hari itu saya ujian" Si Bapak Polisi akhirnya mengganti form tilangnya dan menyuruhku membayar ke bank dan mengambil SIM di kantor polisi.

The point is,
sebenarnya nggak salah polisi juga kalo mereka sering minta uang damai. Kalau ngga ada yang minta damai, kalau semua orang ngga pakai calo dan uang untuk bikin SIM dan keperluan lain, polisi juga ngga bisa korupsi.

Dengan sangat, sangat, sangat malu aku mengakui kalau SIMku sekarang masih SIM 'haram', SIM nembak. Sedang berusaha mengambil SIM 'halal', ASAP!
Dewo, sudah berhasil melewati semua ujian teori dan praktek dan sudah punya SIM halal. Butuh 3 kali ujian praktek mobil sampai dia lulus. Bandingkan dengan ujian SIM di Jepang!!! Ada yang ratusan kali ujian belum lulus juga.

Jadi, kalau ada yang ngeluh kenapa budaya berkendaraan di jalan umum kita ancur, ya mungkin karena memang kita ngga tau aturan lalu lintas (salah satunya ya aturan tentang form merah dan biru itu). Kenapa ngga tau? Ya, karena SIM-nya nembak!

As simple as that.

Coba liat di jalan tol. Hitung berapa mobil yang menggunakan lajur kiri untuk menyalip atau melewati batas kecepatan.

Believe me! At the end of the day, pendidikan dan faktor ekonomi rasanya berpengaruh kecil dalam masalah sopan-santun berkendaraan.