That Catastrophic Earthquake!

Right after Christmas came this horrific news about the catastrophic natural disaster. The US Geological Survey said the earthquake registered west of the Indonesian archipelago of Sumatra Island measured 9.0 on the Richter scale – it caused a gigantic tsunami that wiped out most of the regions around the source of the earthquake.

As I watched and browsed the news about this disaster I could not help but feel sadness for the people who have had to go through this tribulation near the end of year. Most TV stations ran the scenes from Phuket (a resort in Thailand), India, and Srilanka over and over again. No news yet from Aceh, the hardest hit region in the area. Although the number of victims from Srilanka, India and Phuket kept increasing… I’m sure Aceh and western part of Sumatera Island must have had more victims, considering their proximate location to the earthquake. The news from Aceh came to public a bit late because the state condition at that time ~ it was still under the state of civil emergency that denied any access, especially from outside the province, to Aceh except for the armies. However, by this night I could see, read, and hear about the huge number of victims in Indonesia (Aceh and North Sumatera).

Tsunami is different from tidal wave. There is still a misconception about it. Tidal wave is caused by tidal current, and tsunami is caused by earthquake. Although tsunamis are rarer in the Indian Ocean than in the Pacific Ocean but the Indian Ocean is prone to the plate tectonic activities ~ since it lies at the meeting point of Indian, Burmese, and Australian plates. Please follow this link for scientific background on the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (compiled by Lareef Zubair).

Some news and photos from this catastrophic disaster:

• Death toll from Asian quake, tidal waves tops 23,300 (Jakarta Post Online, December 28, 2004)


• Indons comb seaside for survivors amid decomposing corpses (The Star Online, Tuesday, December 28, 2004)


• Analysis: Oil markets await quake news (United Press International, December 27, 2004)


• A split-second release after millions of years (The Globe and Mail Online, December 27, 2004)


• Photos of the aftermath of that catasthrope earthquake (The Star Online, December 28, 2004)

Ottawa's Trip for CAGI (3 of 3)

I had breakfast with Yuki. She had to go to work, so I strolled down downtown Ottawa by myself prior to my departure to Toronto. I really would like to take pictures of the garden across the US Embassy and overlooking the Parliament Hill, but the paths were covered by snow that turned to ice. It's beautiful but very dangerous. I don't want to get my bones broken when I walk in the park. *smile*

The train to Toronto ran on time, 12:30PM. At Kingston I could see many students got on this train. Probably they were already bound home for holidays.

My mind was still on the meeting... my conversation with Tuti (YAPPIKA*) and Patra and current condition in Indonesia were bothering me. The process to educate and empower Indonesia's civil society is very long and arduous. People learn the hard way... rise and fall many times. Its biggest problem, corruption and weak law enforcement, is still clawing the country. However, despite many flaws, it could ran the past general and presidential elections peacefully. I don't know whether I can see the full transformation in my lifetime. It will be worth to see and experience it. When will it come? Probably, the answer is blowin' in the wind....

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

A song by Bob Dylan ~ Blowin' in the Wind


Note: YAPPIKA* is Yayasan Penguatan Partisipasi, Inisiatif, dan Kemitraan Masyarakat Indonesia (Indonesian Foundation to Strengthen Civil Society Participation, Initiatives and Partnerships, currently known as Civil Society Alliance for Democracy).

Ottawa's Trip for CAGI (2 of 3)

Got up around seven in the morning. Yuki* wanted to accompany me to downtown, lest I got lost. *smile* We took bus #14 to Rideau Centre. Then we bought some muffins and croissants for the meeting. The meeting was at 1 Nicholas Street, a building that hosts many NGOs, including CCIC**. CCIC let us use their board room for this meeting.

I helped Nancy in the registration of attendees. We missed some people from our August meeting, such as Alex (Alternatives***), Glenn (PPP***), Connie (KAIROS***), Mohammed (CARE***), David, and some government officers. Catherine from Mining Watch Canada couldn't join the morning session. Later on I learned that a car ahead of her was slipped down the road, and she decided not to continue to drive here.

Around 9:30AM Mika (Rights and Democracy) opened the information sharing session. I could see 3 representatives from FAC (Foreign Affairs Canada) and CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency).

There were 3 presentations in this session:

• A. Patra M. Zen from Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation.
• Nancy Slamet from KAIROS.
• Sammy Gamboa from CHRF (Canadian Human Rights Foundation).

Both Nancy and Sammy presented their reports from their October and November visits to Indonesia. The theme of this morning session is about human rights prospect under the new government including impunity cases, people's rights of 'real' civil education, etc.

In Indonesia they met with their partnes organizations such as Kontras (Commission for Involuntary Disappearances and Victims of Violence) Jakarta and Aceh, Yakoma PGI—is the communication arm of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (CCI), Imparsial (Indonesian Human Rights Monitor), human rights working group coalition such as INFID (International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development), Koalisi Perempuan (Women Coalition), Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (Alliance of Independent Journalists), Komnas HAM (Indonesian Human Rights Commission). They also met Hamid Awaluddin (Indonesia's current Minister of Justice and Human Rights) and political advisor and second secretary of Canadian Consulate in Jakarta.

The afternoon meeting was more focused on defining issues, proposing action plans and leaderships for those action plans. I'm glad that this coalition are giving CAGI (Canadian Advocacy Group on Indonesia) more space and focus. I learned a lot here.

The meeting was really long... but nobody, I repeat nobody, lost interest! I respect their attitude. Even Patra acknowledged it. He said that he's surprised everybody could still work and contributed during the long meeting, nobody played with their cellphones, or stepped outside to smoke or else. Yeah, I know. *smile* Here people find it rude if you don't turn off your cell in the meeting or during conversation, but in Indonesia it's usually the other way around. People seem so proud to have someone calling them during the meeting or conversation. It means they're very busy, VIP and in demand. And in Indonesia it means power *smile* Well, don't get me wrong, I like all those gadgets, including cellphone. But I feel that all those gadgets and technologies should serve our purpose not the other way around.

After the meeting was adjourned some of us were still staying in the room to draft a letter about our concern on Munir's (former chairman of Kontras) death and pledge full investigation into his suspicious death.

Then, I hurried to meet Avi. The night was not as cold as last night. The streets were much clearer from snow. I really enjoyed the conversation... about my alma mater, ITB****. Avi was graduated from ITB too, major in Architecture. And, now is pursuing his master degree in Digital Media. He told me about the four labs on the former soccer field, new buildings for quite a number of departments, and future plan to build basic science center on the former zoo on the west of the main complex! I guessed ITB changed a lot. I don't know why, maybe for sentimental reasons, I always felt like it's a part of me. A part of the best years in my early twenties! A part of my soul-searching phase (first phase, probably, whew!). True friends that would be there for you no matter what. Continuous owling to make or finish projects. The rooms and buildings that bore witness to our happiness and loneliness, our triumphs and failures, our dreams and the real world, and many more. Hmmm,... I guess I'm missing my friends. *smile*

"I'm leaving on a jet plane,
don't know when I'll be back again,
oh, babe, I hate to go."

I went to sleep very late... chatted with Yuki, and her roommates Kana and Sanny. Sanny is pursuing her master degree in International Affairs at Carleton University. They had two more friends, Tomoko and Eri who stayed over. A farewell night, I believed, before Eri's departure back to Japan. I fell asleep when they were still chatting and searching references for Sanny's paper on German Laws.

Note:

• Yuki* is my long time friend from Japan who's living in Ottawa now.
  
• CCIC** stands for Canadian Council for International Cooperation.


• Alternatives***, PPP***, KAIROS***, CARE*** are a number of NGOs that have concerns and partner organizations in Indonesia.


• ITB**** is Institut Teknologi Bandung (Bandung Institute of Technology)

Ottawa's Trip for CAGI (1 of 3)

Today was really a roller coaster. I had to stay awake last night to finish some reports. After a gruelling half day with many other things I sent the reports. Oh, man... then I had to quickly catch the train to Ottawa. I almost missed my train because of the slow TTC! It usually took me 30 minutes from North York Station to Union Station, but today the record was 45 minutes! Finally, I could catch my breath when I sat on seat 41 train 4403 bound for Ottawa. I was so tired that I just ignored my grumbling stomach... yeah, I forgot to bring my sandwich!

The train ran on time, at exactly 12:35PM. There were 5 stops before Ottawa: Kingston, Brockville, Smith Falls, and Fallow Fields. The weather was not really good, rain mixed with snow and wind. It's so gloomy and grey outside. I thought I could push myself to read some of the reports... but, soon enough I drifted to dreamland *smile*

The train arrived at Ottawa five minutes before 4:30PM. I needed coffee and something to eat. Unfortunately, there was only one choice, Burger King! I asked one of the lady there whether I could find anything else in this station. No. Nada. So, as I was waiting for my friend to meet me, I was having coffee and chips.

An hour and a 15-minute later, there she was. We took OC Transpo #95 to reach downtown Ottawa. The night was cold with freezing rain and wind. The leftover snow had just added the mess on the streets. We waited for another 15 minutes before her friend picked us up for dinner.

In the car, Phil - her friend - jokingly said, "Why do you have to come today? It's a mess." He wanted to have Chinese food for dinner. I just didn't care. I was too hungry to say anything at all. *smile* The restaurant, named Yang Sheng, was located at Somerset and Bronson. We ordered fish maw soup, fried noodle Singapore style, and braised seafood with vegetable.

Phil, was once an English teacher in Chiba, Japan. He and I agree that there are 3 good things about Japan that we like: good and kind people (friends), good and delicious food, and orderly things (public transportation is always on time). I add cleanliness to that list too. After quite a moment of polite gesture then came a 'controversial' topic. About religion and faith! How an unlikely menu on a cold winter's night. I won't elaborate that discussion here. *smile* Because such discussion is a biggest no-no for most people on earth. *smile* He told me that he wondered why I didn't get emotional or be defensive when he blurted out all his sentiments. Well, I decided a long time ago that it's not worth it to be emotional about it when we're not talking on the same wavelength.

Right after I got at my friend's place, I called Nancy about tomorrow's arrangement. She just returned from her exhaustive day with APWG*... had some upsetting moment with government officers over Palestine-Israel's issue... had some pressing issues with human rights in Indonesia. We talked about half an hour about it. Then, I called Avi, a new friend from Ottawa... couldn't reach him, left a message on his voice-mail and e-mail boxes.


Note: APWG* stands for Asia Pacific Working Group.

World AIDS Day

Today's the World AIDS Day. It's about ten or so years since we came to the realization about the science, social and culture impact of this disease.

I remember about Ryan White. A little boy who knew nothing about it and yet had it. He had to experience being ostracized in school. People, in these case parents, were so scared that their children could get AIDS if they played with Ryan. Elton John made a song just for him. Medical world had not yet reached rich understanding about this disease at that time. Ryan died.

Then... Magic Johnson shocked the world when he acknowledged that he's positive with HIV. Due to his stardom he could reach out and made people more aware of this disease. Then, came Philadelphia, a movie about feeling, emotion, animosity, and kindness towards people with AIDS. As the result, more and more prominent figures conducted the fundraisings to support and finance the researches for cure of this disease.

I remember about an AIDS' image and attitude research I did couple years ago in Indonesia. The research findings gave shocking yet understandable findings, among other things:

• Many people believed that only gay people and prostitutes could get HIV/AIDS. [Housewives who got AIDS were unheard of.]

• Many people didn't know that one-time sexual contact (casual sex) with his/her friend or stranger, or multiple-usage of hypodermic needle to have drugs were some of fatal factors that invited HIV/AIDS into their lives. [In most cases doing drugs and having casual sex are typical channel to get/spread the disease.]
  

The research was conducted in several cities, including Jakarta, Denpasar, and Kupang. Kuta Beach was one of the centers for drugs orgy in Bali. Many people witnessed many hypodermic needles were found on the beach after some big parties. [Oh, man, after that I was so afraid to walk down the beach there without my sandals.]

Do you think that you only find this threat in big, urban cities? Think again. You're wrong! At that time we found some cases in Kupang. How come? Young people there didn't have anything to do after school. Then, there they went up to the hills on some nights to go 'clubbing' with friends. They brought their guitars, they sang until their lungs couldn't take it anymore, and released their curious-but-uninformed libido. [Hmm... does community have any say on the shift of social gathering among their youth?]

Recently I was made aware about the spreading of this disease in conflict areas in Aceh and Papua.

I hope by now people are more informed and can make well-informed decision when they are facing this disease. We can't ignore it; we just have to live with it.