John Kirwan
receives New Zealand knighthood
Associated
Press, Wellington, New Zealand | Mon, 06/04/2012 6:37 AM
Former All Blacks winger John Kirwan
has been knighted in a New Zealand civil honors list marking the diamond
jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The 47-year-old Kirwan, who played
63 tests and then coached Japan and Italy, has been recognized for his
services to sport and mental health. After suffering from depression throughout his adult
life, Kirwan fronted a high profile and successful advertising campaign
encouraging others to seek treatment.
Kirwan says "I've accepted the award on behalf of
all those people who are suffering, to show there is hope."
Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, All Blacks assistant
coaches at last year's World Cup, have been made Companions of the New Zealand
Order of Merit.
Sumber : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/04/john-kirwan-receives-new-zealand-knighthood.html
1.
Former All Blacks winger John Kirwan has
been knighted in a New Zealand civil honors list marking the diamond
jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Mantan
All Blacks pemain sayap John Kirwan telah
knighted di daftar Selandia Baru sipil
kehormatan menandai Yobel berlian Ratu
Elizabeth II. (Present Perfect Tense)
2.
The 47-year-old Kirwan, who played 63
tests and then coached Japan and Italy, has been recognized for his
services to sport and mental health. 47 tahun
Kirwan, yang bermain 63 tes dan kemudian melatih
Jepang dan Italia, telah diakui pengabdiannya bagi olahraga dan kesehatan mental. (Present
Perfect Tense)
Why
Australians need to learn Indonesian
Dewi
Anggraeni, Melbourne, Australia | Sat, 06/02/2012 2:27 PM
David Hill, in his report Indonesian Language in
Australian Universities: Strategies for a Stronger Future, states that
enrollments in Indonesian language courses fell nationally by 40 percent from
2001 to 2010 and by 70 percent in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous
state; with this downward trend still continuing today.
In fact, there was more interest in learning Indonesian in Australia in the 1960s than there is now.
In 2002, the Howard government axed an Asia-literacy program for Australian schools, with an estimated worth in today’s terms at just over AS$100 million (US$96.58 million) a year. The Rudd government, which succeeded Howard in late 2007, replaced the program, but on a much smaller financial scale of A$62 million over four years. Unfortunately the well-meant gesture was not enough to save the dire situation. The enthusiasm of the past had run out of steam.
However, does this really herald a worsening Australia-Indonesia relationship? Not necessarily worsening, but, rather, estranged.
Australia had a presence in Indonesian history during its role in the days of Indonesia’s struggle for independence. The Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation prevented Dutch ships, carrying troops and war supplies, from leaving Australian ports for Indonesian shores, where the Dutch were then trying to regain power. At the government level, Australia, through the UN’s Good Offices Committee, helped bring about Indonesia’s independence.
Parallel to that, genuine people-to-people contact developed on a small scale. Inter-country marriages took place. However at government level, Australia was motivated by more than just sympathy for Indonesia’s nationalism.
The policymakers were concerned about the growth of communism, and believed that if they did not play a significant role in the birth of the Indonesian nation, the communists would, as they seemed to be involved in the fight for independence.
It is important to remember that at the time, most Australians, especially those outside the power elite and academic circle, were not in the least interested in countries outside Great Britain, so Indonesia was only a blur in their consciousness, hardly distinguishable from other Southeast Asian and Pacific nations.
While among the historically aware minority — including those interested in regional security — the perception was that Indonesia was a fledgling nation needing assistance in every way, with some believing that unless Australia took concrete steps in understanding its neighbor, with their inevitable potential dangers and threats, it might not be in a position to defend itself if things did turn nasty.
Learning the language of neighbors became desirable. Within several years, linguists were trained to be proficient in these languages. An even smaller minority, academics among them, were following their personal fascination with Indonesia, its culture and its language. Their various works have been extremely important in Indonesian studies until today. In fact, their enthusiasm succeeded in infecting many students to follow suit.
Indonesian studies flourished in the 1960s. Increasing numbers of secondary schools throughout Australia were incorporating Indonesian language into their modern languages program.
Businesses, intentionally and unintentionally, benefitted from this development as Australian companies were gaining confidence investing in Indonesia.
In the late 1970s however, the situation took an unfortunate turn following the development in Timor Leste. As Timor Leste loomed into Australia’s political consciousness, Indonesia’s image continually worsened. And Indonesian studies fell out of favor.
The truth is that there was not enough time for a real friendship between the two countries to develop, let alone settle, or for a strong basis of mutual understanding to take roots.
The repressive New Order rule became the image of Indonesia, on the one hand desirable to the anti-communist conservative Australians — the government openly persecuting and prosecuting anyone remotely associated with left-wing ideology — and on the other hand, sinisterly expansionist to the activists of East Timor Leste’s independence.
Most of the former were not interested in learning or having their children learn Indonesian, so they were hardly advocating maintaining Indonesian in schools, and many of the latter held sway in the community.
It was easier, it appears, for people who had very little knowledge about a country and its people to readily believe that these people, evidently very different from themselves were bad and dangerous, all 200 million of them, than to seek information about what was happening in the country before making judgements.
Over decades, Australian businesses became aware of the emerging power of Asian countries: the Republic of Korea, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Confident at first that they would be able to cut a swathe in these countries with the English language, they are now increasingly awake to the fact that it is necessary to arm themselves with local language proficiency if they want to go far in China, Indonesia and Vietnam. And since China provides the biggest potential, the revived interest in Asian language leans very heavily on Mandarin, while Indonesian is still lingering.
Something has emerged however, which puts Indonesia in the realm of limited public consciousness. With the news continuously bringing home the threat of terrorism from militant Muslim extremists around the world, the stories told by many experts that Indonesia is the home of moderate Muslims made an increasing number of Australians take notice.
Yes indeed, it is worth studying Indonesian. But is it really necessary to learn the language? They say.
One of the things many Australians agree on is how learning a foreign language is a waste of time, when everyone is doing their utmost to learn English. They know they are good at teaching English as a second language, so why not help Indonesians gain proficiency in English?
Good argument, except for the fact that it will never change the image that Indonesia is a relatively unknown entity which needs Australia’s help.
It is hardly a healthy base for a real friendship. And while it is crucial for developing strong and sustained economic ties, real friendships are a joy in themselves, because they broaden your horizon.
If you doubt this, I suggest you ask the primary and secondary school students in Indonesia and Australia who have been fortunate enough to participate in the BRIDGE project of the University of Melbourne’s Asia Education Foundation Asia-literate program.
I was nearly moved to tears last week when some of the students from Beveridge primary school in the outskirts of Melbourne told me, that in their regular online communication with their counterparts across the ocean, they learn a great deal from each other.
Learning each other’s language is obviously crucial. I am still trying to remember when I had heard that last. If this realization spreads at the primary school level, maybe there is hope yet for a real friendship to develop between Australia and Indonesia.
The writer is an author and journalist.
In fact, there was more interest in learning Indonesian in Australia in the 1960s than there is now.
In 2002, the Howard government axed an Asia-literacy program for Australian schools, with an estimated worth in today’s terms at just over AS$100 million (US$96.58 million) a year. The Rudd government, which succeeded Howard in late 2007, replaced the program, but on a much smaller financial scale of A$62 million over four years. Unfortunately the well-meant gesture was not enough to save the dire situation. The enthusiasm of the past had run out of steam.
However, does this really herald a worsening Australia-Indonesia relationship? Not necessarily worsening, but, rather, estranged.
Australia had a presence in Indonesian history during its role in the days of Indonesia’s struggle for independence. The Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation prevented Dutch ships, carrying troops and war supplies, from leaving Australian ports for Indonesian shores, where the Dutch were then trying to regain power. At the government level, Australia, through the UN’s Good Offices Committee, helped bring about Indonesia’s independence.
Parallel to that, genuine people-to-people contact developed on a small scale. Inter-country marriages took place. However at government level, Australia was motivated by more than just sympathy for Indonesia’s nationalism.
The policymakers were concerned about the growth of communism, and believed that if they did not play a significant role in the birth of the Indonesian nation, the communists would, as they seemed to be involved in the fight for independence.
It is important to remember that at the time, most Australians, especially those outside the power elite and academic circle, were not in the least interested in countries outside Great Britain, so Indonesia was only a blur in their consciousness, hardly distinguishable from other Southeast Asian and Pacific nations.
While among the historically aware minority — including those interested in regional security — the perception was that Indonesia was a fledgling nation needing assistance in every way, with some believing that unless Australia took concrete steps in understanding its neighbor, with their inevitable potential dangers and threats, it might not be in a position to defend itself if things did turn nasty.
Learning the language of neighbors became desirable. Within several years, linguists were trained to be proficient in these languages. An even smaller minority, academics among them, were following their personal fascination with Indonesia, its culture and its language. Their various works have been extremely important in Indonesian studies until today. In fact, their enthusiasm succeeded in infecting many students to follow suit.
Indonesian studies flourished in the 1960s. Increasing numbers of secondary schools throughout Australia were incorporating Indonesian language into their modern languages program.
Businesses, intentionally and unintentionally, benefitted from this development as Australian companies were gaining confidence investing in Indonesia.
In the late 1970s however, the situation took an unfortunate turn following the development in Timor Leste. As Timor Leste loomed into Australia’s political consciousness, Indonesia’s image continually worsened. And Indonesian studies fell out of favor.
The truth is that there was not enough time for a real friendship between the two countries to develop, let alone settle, or for a strong basis of mutual understanding to take roots.
The repressive New Order rule became the image of Indonesia, on the one hand desirable to the anti-communist conservative Australians — the government openly persecuting and prosecuting anyone remotely associated with left-wing ideology — and on the other hand, sinisterly expansionist to the activists of East Timor Leste’s independence.
Most of the former were not interested in learning or having their children learn Indonesian, so they were hardly advocating maintaining Indonesian in schools, and many of the latter held sway in the community.
It was easier, it appears, for people who had very little knowledge about a country and its people to readily believe that these people, evidently very different from themselves were bad and dangerous, all 200 million of them, than to seek information about what was happening in the country before making judgements.
Over decades, Australian businesses became aware of the emerging power of Asian countries: the Republic of Korea, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. Confident at first that they would be able to cut a swathe in these countries with the English language, they are now increasingly awake to the fact that it is necessary to arm themselves with local language proficiency if they want to go far in China, Indonesia and Vietnam. And since China provides the biggest potential, the revived interest in Asian language leans very heavily on Mandarin, while Indonesian is still lingering.
Something has emerged however, which puts Indonesia in the realm of limited public consciousness. With the news continuously bringing home the threat of terrorism from militant Muslim extremists around the world, the stories told by many experts that Indonesia is the home of moderate Muslims made an increasing number of Australians take notice.
Yes indeed, it is worth studying Indonesian. But is it really necessary to learn the language? They say.
One of the things many Australians agree on is how learning a foreign language is a waste of time, when everyone is doing their utmost to learn English. They know they are good at teaching English as a second language, so why not help Indonesians gain proficiency in English?
Good argument, except for the fact that it will never change the image that Indonesia is a relatively unknown entity which needs Australia’s help.
It is hardly a healthy base for a real friendship. And while it is crucial for developing strong and sustained economic ties, real friendships are a joy in themselves, because they broaden your horizon.
If you doubt this, I suggest you ask the primary and secondary school students in Indonesia and Australia who have been fortunate enough to participate in the BRIDGE project of the University of Melbourne’s Asia Education Foundation Asia-literate program.
I was nearly moved to tears last week when some of the students from Beveridge primary school in the outskirts of Melbourne told me, that in their regular online communication with their counterparts across the ocean, they learn a great deal from each other.
Learning each other’s language is obviously crucial. I am still trying to remember when I had heard that last. If this realization spreads at the primary school level, maybe there is hope yet for a real friendship to develop between Australia and Indonesia.
The writer is an author and journalist.
3.
However at government level, Australia was
motivated by more than just sympathy for Indonesia’s nationalism. Namun
pada tingkat pemerintahan, Australia
didorong oleh lebih dari sekedar simpati terhadap nasionalisme Indonesia. ( Simple Past Tense)
4.
The policymakers were concerned
about the growth of communism, and believed that if they did not play a
significant role in the birth of the Indonesian nation, the communists would,
as they seemed to be involved in the fight for independence. Para
pembuat kebijakan khawatir tentang pertumbuhan komunisme, dan
percaya bahwa jika mereka tidak memainkan
peran penting dalam kelahiran bangsa
Indonesia, komunis akan, karena
mereka tampaknya terlibat dalam perjuangan untuk kemerdekaan.
(Simple Past Tense)
Police on
swallowed diamond: This, too, shall pass
Associated
Press, Windsor, Ontario | Fri, 05/18/2012 7:25 AM
Police in Canada say they are waiting for a man
accused of stealing a $20,000 diamond and swallowing it to produce the
evidence.
It has been nearly a week since Richard Mackenzie
Matthews, 52, is alleged to have switched a diamond at Precision Jewellers in
Ontario and swallowed the real one.
Matthews is being held at
police headquarters while investigators wait for the 1.7-carat stone to pass
through his system. Sgt. Brett
Corey said Thursday that Matthews has gone to the washroom numerous times, but
the diamond hasn't passed.
Corey says a recent X-ray showed a pair of fake
diamonds, or cubic zirconiums, stuck in the man's intestines but because a
diamond is translucent, it isn't visible. He says the suspect is eager to get
the ordeal over with and is co-operating.
In the early stages, Corey says Matthews was being
given laxative type foods, but is now being fed whatever he wants, in an effort
to get things moving.
Matthews is charged with theft
and breach of court conditions, and is also wanted on warrants in Toronto.
Sumber
: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/05/18/police-swallowed-diamond-this-too-shall-pass.html
5.
Matthews is being held at police
headquarters while investigators wait for the 1.7-carat stone to pass through
his system.
Matthews
ditahan di markas polisi ketika penyidik menunggu
1,7 karat batu
melewati sistemnya (Present
Continuous Tense)
6.
Matthews is charged with theft
and breach of court conditions, and is also wanted on warrants in Toronto. Matthews dibebankan dengan pencurian dan pelanggaran kondisi pengadilan, dan juga ingin di waran di Toronto. (Simple Present
Tense)
UEFA still has unsold tickets for Euro 2012 final
Associated Press,
Warsaw, Poland | Tue, 06/05/2012 8:06 PM
UEFA says it still has tickets available for
several European Championship matches in Ukraine, including the final.
UEFA says there are "a limited number of
corporate hospitality packages" remaining for the July 1 final in Kiev.
Of 1.4 million tickets available for the 31
matches, fewer than 10,000 are unsold, including some seats for the
England-France game in Donetsk next Monday.
UEFA says the total number of unsold tickets
represents "less than 0.8 percent of the overall capacity" at the
tournament.
Tickets
priced from €30 (US$37.3) are still being sold through UEFA's website
and outlets in Ukraine.
All matches being played in co-host Poland have
sold out. Poland kicks off Euro 2012 against Greece on Friday in Warsaw. (nvn)
Sumber : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/06/05/uefa-still-has-unsold-tickets-euro-2012-final.html
7.
Tickets priced from €30 (US$37.3) are
still being sold through UEFA's website and outlets in Ukraine. Tiket
harga dari € 30 (US
$ 37,3) masih dijual melalui website UEFA dan
outlet di Ukraina. (Present Continuous Tense)
All Roads Lead To Prosperity
The way of country’s development is often considered
as one size fits all. America-led market liberalization and democratization
idea overwhelms all over the world. The
governments – especially in crisis – are pushed to embrace the liberal
idea either voluntarily or forcedly. Indonesians experienced this dilemma
in 1998 prior to the fall of Pak Harto. However, seeing what has happened in
China and Germany, that long-standing tenet of liberalism or democracy should
have been revised.
China is not a democratic country. It clearly deprived
its citizens of democracy and freedom of speech. Even it ridiculously bans
Facebook and Twitter. It also insists to maintain socialism, but socialism with
Chinese characteristic. It also upholds irrelevant Communist Party that turns
out to give an impressive result. The stability-create-prosperity idea proves
right.
Tellingly, the Chinese pave the new way of modern
government. Chinese reveals multi-party system is not the only option. The
single party system can deliver the same outcome. In China, the Communist Party
in power doesn’t mean that other best minds aren’t accommodated. Two of Chinese
ministers are not the party members. The Chinese People’s Political
Consultative Conference transforms to be a big think thank covering the China’s
best minds and all stakeholders. It implicates that all policies comes from
people rather than from an arrogant power.
China has challenged the democracy idea as the best
system with compelling result. China begins to outperform America. The best
account why the China’s system works is that meritocracy prevails. Let the best
manage the rest. The leadership is always reinvigorated by regular succession.
In short the scorching political clout is not the sake of power, but to do good
for all people.
The other success story is Germany – the steadfast
welfare state – where the free market idea is ousted. Americans frequently look
down this communist-like system regarded as inefficient, unproductive and
out-of-date system.
To exemplify, the German’s powerful worker unions
don’t allow lay-offs which is impossible task during economic crisis.
Theoretically, every company can hire or fire the workers in flexible way so as
to keep the business responsive to the market. The flexibility makes the
enterprises easily to be restructured and compete with new innovations.
However, given such conditions, German’s companies are neither uncompetitive nor
unproductive. Even they can survive in economic crises.
The recipe is likely that German enterprises didn’t
have an America’s habit of outsourcing. They still produce machineries or
simple tools which now associated with Chinese expertise. Certainly German’s
products can’t be cheaper than China. Relying on their superior technology,
they compete in quality rather than price. Now some pundits name German as
China of Europe.
German’s economic system might be obsolete and travel
the different path with other developed countries, but it really works.
Both paragons of China and German confirm that there
is no single way of development. The long-standing democracy-lead-prosperity
faith now can be juxtaposed with meritocracy-lead-prosperity faith. The free
market does seek efficiency which lay-offs and outsourcing are ways of it, but
Germans show how to manage them while remain competitive.
Sumber :
http://imo.thejakartapost.com/erwin/2011/03/08/all-roads-lead-to-prosperity/
Simple Present Tense :
8.
The governments – especially in crisis – are pushed
to embrace the liberal idea either voluntarily or forcedly.
(Pemerintah
- terutama dalam krisis - didorong untuk merangkul
gagasan liberal baik secara
sukarela atau paksa.)
