Archive for
January 17th, 2009
Stories
Israel: Voices against the violence
The Hebrew blogosphere is battling over right and wrong, support vs. opposition and what it means to be patriotic to your own country, while at the same time condemning its actions. In this post, I translated four different entries which highlight their writers' struggle with the grave outcomes of a war. A war where news is biased; where one side is considerably more powerful than the other; where innocent civilians are used as human shields and where the death toll is steep.
In the first post, Raviv Druker reacts to the online petition posted against TV news anchor Yonit Levi in reaction to her stating an opinion while presenting the news:
The petition against Yonit Levi is ugly and disgusting. Every round of fighting displays an odd sense of “patriotism”. In the second Intefada, Ariel Sharon refused to continue because he allowed to broadcast an interview with Yasser Arafat on the national channel 1. The interview, BTW, brought immense damange to Arafat's image, who sounded like a dazed old man. From this round, we will probably remember this petition. Its members write, with hypocrisy, that this is not an issue of left and right. That she cannot state her opinions (of course she can only if they match the petition creator's opinions) and that she conveyed compassion towards the Palestinians. God forbid. Where is her heart? How can she think about another nation when we are suffering so badly? Even if hundreds of civilians were killed there.
In such a period, people expect you to take the IDF reports as trustworthy, or at least better than the Palestinian version. We've all been through many events where we believed, and believed, until it became clear that we were misled. Sometimes with carelessness. One time, the qassam that was taken on an ambulance, turned out to be a strecher. Another, the homes that IDF promised not to destroy in Rafah, were destroyed. A third time, a journalist was killed, not in the circumstances that IDF insisted upon. There were some more incidents, that etched a notion of skepticism in my consciousness towards the IDF spokesman. Also this operation is not lacking doubts. The truck that was bombed, believed to have been carrying Grad missiles, actually carried oxygen tanks. A school was bombed because missiled were shot from it, and those who shot the missiled, according to IDF spokesman, were killed from the bombs and hidden by the Palestinians. I really wanted to belive this, because the civilians who died there weighed heavily on my conscience. Yesterday there was a small notification (I think in Haaretz) that the IDF investigation found out that those who shot the missiles were in a street adjacent to the school. The IDF's bombing in reaction to the shooting took into consideration a possibility of deviation from the target. I think that there was someonewho did not want to shoot, but finally decided to, and hit the school. IDF claims 7 were killed there. The Palestinians claim 40. I wish I could believe IDF.
Yoav Karni highlights how in his eyes, Israeli politicians are doing a terrible job at justifying their actions to the rest of the world:
Roughness, defensiveness and lack of sensitivity has always portrayed Israeli public speakers. One can understand why. They encounter walls of incomprehension and hatred. It is so clear to them that their listeners don't get it. Tzipi Livni complained this week in an interview with an un-sympathizing BBC reporter about “the difference between the impression of what we really are and how we are presented”.
She was wrong. People do not like to listen to self-pity from a country that drops one hundred tons of bombs one morning on a densely populated city. People tend to doubt being righteous. Ms. Livni should not continue to brag about our “values”. We all know what she means, but self-enthusiasm over the IDF's values is not accepted these days.
Not when five young Palestinian sisters lay dead on front pages. Not when young, anxious parents carry infants from the smoking rubble (BTW - this was probably the most popular photo in the world during the first 48 hours of operation “cast lead”).
Not when journalists continue to emphasize the “disproportion”. The British Guardian, one of Israel's greatest journalistic enemy in the Western world counted this week the Palestinian losses, dead and wounded, and stated: “this is a reaction to hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas militants, who killed one Israeli in the past six months.” But the equations is always this way.
Always this way.
Which, obviously, raises the question - how many Israelis need to die until the Guardian's journalists will recognize Israel's right to protect its' citizens?
Eyal Gross describes how one can still be patriotic and oppose the war:
To oppose the war doesn't mean not recognizing the fact that firing qassam missiles towards Israeli citizens is a terrible, atrocious and despicable act.
To oppose the war doesn't mean one does not recognize Hamas' grave responsibility towards the current state of suffering brought upon us and the Palestinian people.
To oppose the war doesn't mean one must ignore the suffering of Sderot residents along with the rest of the south, who have tolerated qassam rockets. I am saying the opposite.
Opposing the war comes from a belief that fighting and violence will not solve the qassam problem, nor will it fix our ties with Hamas. Just like the missiles during the second Lebanon war and the Iraqi scud missiles in 1991 could only be stopped through a cease-fire agreement.
Opposing the war comes from realizing that since in the end, there will be a cease-fire agreement anyways, we will return to the initial point, only with more death, hurting and hate on both sides.
Opposing the war comes from thinking we need to try other ways.
Opposing the war means opening our eyes and realizing how many innocent Palestinian civilians we are killing. Look at the human rights document describing the killin of students in the UN facility and describes the killing of children. I believe that this killing is morally wrong, and will create so much hate, that will only raise the violence towards Israel.
I think there is an easy explanation. When a qassam is fired towards Sderot, everyone in Israel agrees that this act is evil, sad and atrocious. This is also the case when an innocent Israeli civilian is hurt. However, there is a wide concensus in Israel that attacking Gaza is alright, and when we kill innocent Palestinians, if at all that is reported, it is usually portrayed as legitimate. Usually there is no need to write the obvious, meaning = “I am also against qassam missiles” - of course I am against them like every single Israeli I know. We need to voice the not so obvious opinions along those that are not mentioned.
And finally Mishka reacts to the harsh number of dead reported from Gaza:
The ratio between civilians and armed Hamas militia is harsh, even according to the IDF's statements. Yes, I know very well that Hamas is cynically and deliberately using children and civilians as human shields. And yes, I know that during a war, civilians are hurt. But when the fire stops, and the black smoke clears from above the Gaza strip, we will remain with our conscious; with pictures of destruction and death.
I apologize to you readers for not posting Israeli perspectives over the past two weeks. I have been absent and recently returned. As I sift through the Hebrew blogosphere please feel free to send me links to posts you believe should be highlighted.
Flashfloods and landslides in south Philippines
More than 115,000 people in the Philippines’ northern Mindanao region had fled to safety due to flashfloods and landslides. Mindanao Island is located in southern Philippines.
The local government reported that the series of flashfloods that struck Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental have reached humanitarian crisis proportions:
“Figures at the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Coordinating Council showed the disaster has affected 16,104 families or 83,321 individuals jampacked in various evacuation centers in 47 barangays (villages) or more than half of the city’s 80 barangays.”
It added:
“The same places in the city have been hit by floods again and again it just depends how much time is there between the downpours. City Hall workers are trying to unclog the low bridges but they get clogged again and again with debris like coconuts, banana trunks, palm leaves and others.”
There have been two waves of flooding in the past two weeks. Fritzi Gironella explains:
“The calamities that Cagayan de Oro suffered from two floods that hit the city within a week from last January 3 to January 11, 2009 are far from over. On the night of Jan. 13, Tuesday, more rain poured in the city and in neighboring towns in Bukidnon, causing the CDO and Iponan rivers to overflow and flood waters to rise again. As of January 14, 2009, in Cagayan de Oro, the number of barangays hit rose to 44, with about 15,000 affected families.”
Titus Velez mentions that the rains this week were stronger compared to the previous one that caused the flood:
“A little more than a week after the flash flood, Cagayan de Oro is again hit by floods and landslide. As of this time 1 am, water is steadily rising to the same level as last Saturday's flash flood. Rains have been pouring since last Saturday and as of today it has not stop. Residents are afraid because the rains today are stronger than the last one that caused the flood.”
My Life, My Thoughts writes about the flashfloods in Gingoog City:
Hello everyone! Last night I called my family right away after hearing the bad news from my cousin Karen. So sad that my hometown (Gingoog City, Philippines) suffered such horrible flash flood last January 14, 2009. It was a heavy rain that started Sunday morning (January 10, 2009) caused landslide, overflowed creeks and rivers when washed away by the rampaging floodwaters. After 23 years of living there this is the first time that it happened. It was around 3 am that the water had gone up to 5.5 feet OMG. The Flood victims, particularly those families living in the nearby creeks and rivers have already fled and evacuated to safer areas, some of them in barangay halls, health centers, church and schools. A big Thanks to all the rescuers.
A video of the flash floods:
Check also a video clip showing flood waters near the city shopping mall. Blogging Beauty identifies some of the damages left by the flooding:
“What the calamity left our city? I just listed some here:
1. Mud - brought by the flood of course. Along with the undesirable odor that stick with the dirty water with dissolved mud and dirts.
2. Garbage - some caused the flood. Some entered houses and some were scattered on the roads.
3. Damaged Creeks
4. Damaged Bridges - due to high volume of running water, some old and new bridges were damaged. This caused passengers to be stranded in Cagayan de Oro and in some municipalities.
5. Canceled Flights - no air traffic was available in the city due to heavy clouds surrounding the airport area.
6. Damaged Houses - some were even gone. Both the flood and the tidal waves caused some houses to break.
7. Damaged Farms - some rice fields which have rice ready for harvest were all washed out.
8. Damaged Economy - some livelihoods were damaged, some failed to report for work, some failed to operate. Like Gaisano in Carmen, the store was closed for a day because it was flooded. Some lost their farms and live stocks.”
Anything goes notes that the flooding disaster was the worst that hit the city:
“When my mom texted me about the flash floods in my hometown Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, I was a bit worried. Considering that I have read text messages from my friends that in some parts there, the flood was like neck-level. That is pretty dangerous. I remember the last time we had a bit of a flood, it was only almost knee-deep.
“I know a lot of friends who had big problems because water got in their homes. I could just imagine how worse those people who live in the neck-level affected areas are coping up. This was the worst flood in CDO history.”
Check more pictures of the flooding by visiting Cagayan de Oro City Info. There were also flooding disasters in other parts of the Philippines.
Korea: Your 17 habits which cause your skin to age faster
I introduce a post that gives interesting (or funny) information: the 17 habits you have which age your skin.
값비싼 화장품이 피부를 유지해준다!? 이런 마음가짐으로 고급 화장품만을 믿고 피부에 관심을 덜 가지게 되면 5년 후에는 “아줌마! 화장품 뭐 썼길래…” 라는 말을 들을수도 있습니다.
피부는 관리가 중요합니다. […]피부노화를 가속화시키는 몇가지 원인을 공개합니다.
How to take care of your skin is important. […]will introduce several causes to lead to aging.
초콜릿과 케이크를 입에 달고 산다
같은 탄수화물이라도 당분이 많아 몸 속에서 산화 작용이 많이 필요한 케이크나 초콜릿 등은 피부 노화를 촉진시키는 주범. 대신 포도당으로 변하는 속도가 빠른 구운 감자, 흰 빵 등을 섭취할 것.
Compared to other carbohydrates, they have more sugar and therefore burn into your body more. It causes aging. Instead of them, substitute baked potatoes and white bread that change to dextrose.
애교스러운 눈웃음이 특기다
연구결과에 따르면 눈웃음을 짓는 사람은 그렇지 않은 사람보다 눈가 잔주름과 표정 주름이 더 많다. 피부 탄력이 떨어지기 시작하는 20대 이후부터는 습관적인 표정이 굵은 주름의 원인이 될 수 있다. 눈보다는 입으로 웃는 연습을 할 것.
According to research, people who smile with their eyes have more wrinkles around their eyes than people who don’t. From the late 20s, skin elasticity will be weak and the habit of eye smile will give more wrinkles. Try to laugh with mouth rather than eyes.
현기증 날 때까지 운동한다
적당한 운동은 건강과 피부 미용을 위한 필수 덕목. 하지만 운동선수들이 운동을 접는 그 순간부터 쭈글쭈글해진다는 사실을 알고 있는가? 게다가 격렬한 운동을 할 때 표정을 일그러뜨리는 습관은 잔주름을 듬뿍 만들어줄 것이다.
Appropriate exercise is necessary for good health and skin care. However, do you know the moment when sports players stop working out, they start having wrinkles? In addition, when you have excessive exercise, you frown your face. It will give more fine wrinkles.
옆으로 누워야 잠이 솔솔 온다
잘 때 생기는 슬리프 라인(sleep line)은 눈가 주름의 주범. 베개는 반드시 뒤통수 쪽으로 베고 자야 한다. 너무 높거나 낮은 베개도 금물. 목과 턱살이 겹쳐 주름이 생기고 얼굴이 붓게 된다. 팔을 괴고 자거나 엎드려 자는 것도 마찬가지.
The sleep line when you have with that habit is the major criminal behind wrinkles on your eye rims. Your pillow should be located behind the back of your head. It should not be so high or so low. If your neck and chin are overlapped when you sleep, your face will be swollen. Don’t sleep resting your face on your arm or prostrating yourself.
담배 없이는 못 산다
담배는 피부에 공급되는 산소량을 적게 하고 노화의 원인이 되는 래디컬(유해산소)의 형성을 촉진시킨다. 흡연자가 주름이 생길 확률은 비흡연자의 3배. 그러나 비흡연자도 안심할 순 없다. 담배 연기에 자주 노출되면 각질층의 수분 함량이 떨어져 피부가 건조해지기 때문.
Cigarettes will take oxygen out of your skin. It will encourage Free Radical that will cause aging. Smokers will have 3 times more wrinkles than non-smokers. However, non-smokers should not be relieved. If your skin is exposed to cigarette smoke, stratum corneum of your skin will lose moisture and will be dry.
눈을 자주 비빈다
이 무의식적인 습관은 눈가 잔주름과 다크서클을 촉진시킨다. 잦은 눈 화장 역시 잔주름의 지름길. 눈 주위의 연약한 피부에 자극을 주기 때문이다. 눈썹, 쌍꺼풀 사이에 낀 화장 잔여물도 노화의 원인이 되므로 순한 아이 전용 리무버로 깔끔하게 닦아내자.
This unconscious habit will expedite the fine wrinkles of your eye rims and dark circles under your eyes. Frequent eye make-up will also lead to more fine wrinkles. It will worsen tender skin around your eyes. Make-up between eye brows and eyelids will also lead to aging. Therefore, you should use eye remover separately.
눈가에도 스킨을 촉촉하게 바른다
사용설명서에는 바르지 말라고 되어 있지만 아이크림도 따로 안 바르는데 빼먹으면 어쩐지 섭섭해서…. 그러나 알코올이 함유된 스킨을 눈가까지 바르면 눈가 피부의 유·수분 밸런스가 깨지면서 주름이 생기기 쉽다.
According to the instruction, it says not to use it around eyes. However, some of you don’t feel complete without it and therefore use it. However, using toner that contains alcohol around eyes will take moisture of your skin away and lead to more wrinkles.
극세사 타월을 매일 사용한다
피부가 매끈매끈해지는 즉각적인 효과 때문에 스크럽 대용품으로 널리 환영받는 극세사 타월. 그러나 너무 자주 사용하면 피부 보호막인 각질층이 손상되어 피부가 건조해진다. 제거해야 하는 건 오직 ‘묵은’ 각질. 건성피부는 주 1~2회, 지성피부라도 3회 이하로 사용하자.
Due to instant effects to have smooth skin, you use a skin scrubber. Using it too frequently will harm your stratum corneum that protects your skin and will let your skin dry. What you have to get rid of is ‘dead’ skin. If you have dry skin, use it 1 to 2 times per week. Three times per week for oily skin.
안 해본 다이어트가 없다
각고의 노력 끝에 결국 뼈와 가죽만 남은 당신. 권장 섭취량보다 절대적으로 적은 칼로리 섭취로 비타민, 미네랄, 필수 지방산 등이 결핍되어 윤기 없이 푸석푸석한 피부가 되어 있을 게 분명하다.
With all efforts, you are so skinny. You have less calories than the encouraged daily diet. It leads to the lack of vitamin, mineral, and essential fat, and will bring crumbly skin.
화장품을 얼굴 전체에 비벼 바른다
항상 아래에서 위로 가볍게 쓸어 올리듯 바르는 습관을 기르자. 위에서 아래로 밀어내거나 무자비하게 비벼 바르는 버릇은 피부를 처지게 만든다. 불독 강아지 같은 심술보를 갖고 싶지 않다면 당장 바르는 습관부터 바꿀 것.
Try to have a habit to dab lotion on your face from bottom to top. Rubbing your face with lotion from top to bottom will let your skin droop. If you don’t want to have a face like a bulldog, change your habit.
자외선 차단제를 과감히 생략한다
자외선은 멜라닌 색소를 자극할 뿐 아니라 콜라겐과 엘라스틴까지 파괴한다. 자외선을 받은 피부 혈관이 늘어지거나 비정상적인 혈관 가지들이 생성되어 주름과 기미로 진행된다는 최근 연구결과에도 주목할 필요가 있다.
Ultraviolet ray not only causes melanic pigment, but also destroy collagen and elastin. There was a recent research report that it causes wrinkles and chloasma.
젖은 얼굴로 쏘다닌다
날씨가 덥다고 세수한 다음 물기도 닦지 않고 밖을 마구 쏘다니는 건 자살 행위다. 젖은 피부는 마른 피부보다 자외선 투과율이 4배까지 증가한다. 운동 후나 세안 후에는 빨리 물기를 닦아야 한다. 젖은 머리로 외출하는 것도 삼갈 것.
The weather is hot. So you walk outside after washing your face. This is a suicidal act. Wet skin can have ultraviolet rays 4 times more than dry skin. After washing your face, wipe your face out. Don’t go outside with wet hair either.
선탠광이다
바다보다 모래사장을 더 좋아하는 당신이라면 일광이 강한 오전 11시부터 오후 3시까지만큼은 피할 것. 한낮에 자외선 차단 크림도 없이 태닝을 즐긴 후 몸을 찬찬히 관찰해보라. 눈가 잔주름이 두 배는 늘었을 것이며, 없던 점이 몸 여기저기에서 발견될 테니.
If you love tanning outside, please avoid the time from 11am to 3 pm. Check your body after you tan during the day. Wrinkles on your eye rims will be more than two times and you will discover black spots that you have not had.
물은 밥 먹을 때만 마신다
수분 섭취량은 피부 노화와 보다 직접적인 관계가 있다. 20대 초반이라면 촉촉한 수분 크림과 하루 1L 이상의 생수만으로도 탱탱한 피부를 유지할 수 있다. 당신이 흡연자라면 적어도 하루 1.5L 이상의 물을 마셔야 함을 명심할 것.
How much you drink is related to your skin aging. If you are still in early 20s, you can keep elastic skin with moisture cream and 1L water. If you’re a smoker, you should drink more than 1.5L water at least.
에어컨 온도를 18°C 이하로 맞춘다
에어컨이 가동되는 건조한 실내에 오래 있으면 피부 수분을 공기 중에 빼앗겨 노화가 가속화된다. 겨울에 난방 온도를 높이는 것도 마찬가지. 실내·외 온도가 심하게 차이 나지 않도록 냉방 온도를 조절하고 피부에 건조감이 느껴지면 워터 스프레이를 뿌려주자.
If you are in a place having AC on, it causes dryness on your skin and will lead aging on your skin fast. In winter, heater also has the same function. Keep the temperature inside not so much different from the outside. If you feel the dryness, use water spray.
곧 죽어도 더운물로 샤워한다
계절에 관계없이 온수 샤워는 10분 이내로 끝내야 한다. 피부에 필요한 유·수분을 급속도로 빼앗아가기 때문. 미지근한 물로 재빨리 샤워한 후 보디 미스트 등으로 수분을 공급해주자.
Regardless of any season, you should finish your shower with warm water within 10 minutes. Otherwise, you will lose essential moisture and oil on your skin. After the shower, it’s good to use body mist for moisture.
잠자는 시간이 중구난방이다
밤 시간에 잠을 자지 않고 깨어 있으면 낮 동안 손상된 피부가 재생되지 못해 피붓결이 거칠어지고 탄력도가 떨어진다. 밤샘 후 피부 유·수분도를 측정해보면 수분은 15~18% 감소해 있고 유분은 20%나 많아져 있는 것을 알 수 있다.
If you are awake in the middle of night, your skin that was harmed during the day doesn’t have time to be resuscitated. It will cause rough skin and you will lose skin spring. Skin after staying up all night has 15-18 percent lower moisture and 20 percent higher oil than the normal skin.
Malaysia: Worst flooding in years
Malaysia’s State of Sarawak suffered from severe flooding last week. The two hardest hit areas were Kuching and Sibu. Almost 10,000 people were forced to move to higher ground because of rising water level. In some parts of the state, flood waters rose to 14 feet. Why Hello World? provides the initial roundup of articles and pictures about the disaster.
Kuching
japanese-aliav wrote about the flash floods in Kuching:
“Last Sunday (11.01.2009), there's a big flood at my area and around Kuching city center. Everyone was shocked and surprised about it because it came with a sudden and I was lucky to live at 7th floor and I can see my neighbors who live in 1st floor are a bit unfortunate. On Monday (12.01.2009), around 5.30 pm past, the flood started to come and everyone was panic including me because we need to close our shop earlier and I have to wait for my father to come to pick me up but due to flood, the road started with traffic jam. Everyone wants to reach home so the road is full of cars; doesn't matter breaking road rules as long as they can reach home. So, I went back almost 7 pm and my father and mother is waiting for me on the other side of my work place so I rushed while splashing on the water and quickly get into my car.”
Check out the video posted by japanese-aliav:
Beaned heard that the flooding was the worst in decades:
“I wanted to post this entry last night but the wireless connection next door was down, probably shorted by the flood water, so now I'm blogging from work. The flood receded at about 8pm last night and the remains of the drifted papers, plastic bags and even the rubbish bins can be seen all over the road this morning.
“My aunt said that it's been a LONG while since a flood this severe last happened like a few decades ago. Sigh, I hope the raining season will stop soon or somehow because we can't really hang out with the roads flooding like lakes.”
Some residents are blaming the barrage project constructed by the government because it failed to control the floods. Anilnetto also criticizes property developers:
“Greed drove developers to clear and build on low-lying swampy lands. Not only are these buildings expensive, they are poorly built and prone to cracks and sinking. In certain areas, drainage was not even properly built. The local councils are equally to be blamed for granting permits to build in low-lying areas. Sarawak is a large state with a relatively small population. Couldn’t they approve in places that, though further away, are less prone to floods and other problems?”
Pictures by mic5220 courtesy of PhotoBorneo.com through the blog of Why Hello World?
Sibu
Fantasy World writes about the non-stop rains in Sibu:
“Sibu has been raining and raining since Friday until now for non-stop. The non-stop rainfall has caused the flood again. *sigh* The weather forecast said that the rain will be continuing until this coming Wednesday.”
My Longkang wants authorities to immediately address the flood problem:
“This afternoon my car almost stalled while another four cars who were ahead of me stalled along Pedada Road. I spent the past few nights preparing for the worst. I have received calls from friends whose houses were flooded and property damaged. Farmers lost their crops. People unable to go to work and children unable to go to school.
“In the past it used to be once in a long space of time and could be blamed on the quirks of mother nature. It has now become so common place that it is like a house guest that just won’t go home.
“Do the Sarawak people really deserve this kind of treatment?
“Is it a wonder then that the people should feel something deep down in their souls when they see the muddy swirling waters flood the roads, surge into their homes and disrupt their lives.
“Steps should be taken immediately to address the flood problem. I pray some where out there is still some one in authority who still feels something for the woes of the Sarawak people.
“How many times do we have to experience floods before something concrete is done?”
Rubber Seeds believes the flooding was not a simple natural disaster:
“…to many of us we who have gone through so much hardship and trouble with the frequent, we now actually hate ourselves for still staying behind in this flood-prone town. We hate ourselves for electing, term after term, the Ministers and YBs who have done nothing or not doing enough for the people.
“Can any body tell me when can Sibu be free from flooding? Some politicians will argue that flooding is a natural disaster. You may be right some times, but not all the time. This present flood is definitely not a natural disaster. I notice the water level at the Rajang River is not very high these few days. I dare say the very poor drainage system at the affected areas is the major cause for the flood.”
Pictures from Rubber Seeds courtesy of Why Hello World?
Indonesia: Flooding in 13 provinces
Thirteen Indonesian provinces experienced flooding the past week due to torrential rains. The disaster has claimed the lives of 14 people while three others are still missing. The floods hit several districts in West Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo and Sulawesi provinces. More than 50,000 people have to be evacuated.
Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is under up to two meters of water. Forty percent of the city is under the surface of sea water. Bali, a popular tourist destination, is also flooded.
View Larger Map
Google Map of Indonesia
Java Jive writes about the flooding in Jakarta:
“While December was quite sunny and pleasant, the New Year has brought angry torrential downpours, massive cracks of frequent lightening, and of course, annual flooding.
“As I write this post, I’m overlooking a wide canal fully loaded with rainwater and debris. The sky is clouding up, and opening like a wound, while menacing storms are once again forecast for the remainder of this week. One solid night of rain and we won’t be able to get out of Kelapa Gading since the road that leads to the toll is amongst the lowest and quickest to flood.
“Am I nervous? Not at all.
“But I am nervous for those families who cannot get out. For those with small children who cannot get clean drinking water or medical attention. For those who have risked (or not trusted) not having insurance on their homes, businesses, and cars. And for those who may lose everything yet again.”
Mywebsiteku expects flooding to continue until next month:
“Peak of the rainy season is in progress at this time is estimated to occur in February 2009. This is a potential trigger the occurrence of disasters such as soil movement (landslides), flood, wind and waterspout. This is seen from the growth of cloud in Jakarta and surrounding areas of improvement so that the intensity of rainfall affect. therefore need to alert the public on the weather conditions at this time.”
Via Twitter, reports about the flooding:
irwanlee: The sky is gloomy, the Dengue Fever and Flood are back in town.
lusy_sunsetgirl: Both the government & the people are causing the yearly flood in the capital,in my honest opinion.
nanashambles: Rain sucks. Flood everywhere. Chaotic station
storymasterq: The cold front continues. Jakarta's Great Flood usually comes every 5 years to the day, but the next one isn't due until 2012. Apocalypse?
Flooding is frequent in Indonesia. Riau posts pictures taken in Kampar, Indonesia which was flooded a few weeks ago:
Photos from Riau Daily Photo
Latvia: Rioting in Riga
In his post about the Jan. 13 peaceful anti-government protest followed by rioting in Riga, Aleks Tapinsh of All About Latvia wrote that Ivars Godmanis, the Latvian PM, had “told the people in his New Year’s Eve address how penguins deal with severe winter - they huddle together to stay warm - the same way as Latvians ought to do when going through the economic turmoil.”
What happened in Latvia's capital on Tuesday has thus been labeled by some as the “penguin revolution.”
Below are some of the accounts and opinions from the blogosphere.
More from All About Latvia's post linked to above:
Shattered glass. Blue paint on the building. Broken plastic bottles. Cobblestones. Ninety-eight detained.
[…]
But it started all so peaceful. Around 5 p.m. several hundred people had already flooded the Dom Square in the heart of the capital of Latvia. People of different ages, ethnicity, backgrounds appeared united in their disdain for the ruling coalition, and – more importantly – the culture of political cynicism.
Following the 90-minute event mostly young people moved toward the Saeima building. They tried to get in. Prevented from doing so by the riot police, they began throwing anything that they could lay their hands on - from snowballs to street cobblestones. […]
An English-language interview with a protester, conducted by Aleks Tapinsh, is here. The man believes that “new people” should be allowed into Latvia's politics for the country to prosper and talks about the effect that the ongoing crisis has so far had on his business.
A selection of relevant photo and video reports - at a Russian-language blog on the disturbances of Jan. 13: http://lvrevolucija.blogspot.com/.
Juris Kaža of Free Speech Emergency in Latvia offers this assessment:
[…] On one level, the ruling coalition in Latvia had this coming to it. Regardless of what the law and the book of etiquette says, a riot is a form of political struggle, though less focussed and clear than a well-defined non-violent protest. Seeing eggs and rocks fly at the Saeima building as a symbol of the ruling elite and Latvian politicians made not only me but many others feel that they had this coming.
If there is more severe repression against future protests, it will most likely escalate to the West European model of periodic clashes between the police and young streetfighters.
While this is unfortunate, especially for those suffering collateral damage — looted stores, injured police and bystanders — it now seems inevitable that street violence will become part of the political scene here and the threat of such violence — a likely excuse for curbing non-violent expression. Post-Soviet authoritarian thinking in Latvia is strong, and it will not diminish but find some self-justification after the Riga riots.
A pre-protest roundup on the political and economic situation in Latvia - defaulted bank loans, corrupt politicians, legislative chaos - in earlier posts at All About Latvia, here and here.
Juris Kaža, in a Jan. 16 post, reports on the Riga City Council's decision “[to deny] permits for two politically-oriented gatherings in Riga's Old Town” on Saturday and Sunday:
[…] There are comments and appeals circulating on the internet asking people to defy the ban on gatherings in the Old Town and hinting at a repeat of the January 13 disorders if the police attempt to disperse or interfere with any unsanctioned public meetings. […]
A reader, however, refutes the information about the banning of the rallies in this comment to Juris Kaža's post:
[…] Blanket ban of assembly in Old Town would, of course, be wrong and unlawful, and even ban on particular kind of gatherings would, I think. No such ban has been established, public comments of officials proposing to ban particular kind of gatherings notwithstanding. […]
Riga-based LJ user xzirnisx posted several pictures and wrote this (RUS) the morning after the disturbances:
In all kinds of tourist booklets, they've always liked to call Riga the “small Paris.” Last night, the city turned into a small Athens, and I'm incredibly happy about it, because I used to think that for our people, who are patiently enduring all the troubles and deprivations, there is nothing that can force them to drag their behinds off the couch. But, it turns out, there is something.
Naturally, the mass media are trying to turn everything into farce, emphasizing the fact that the “vandals have looted the Latvijas balzams (liquor) store,” but for some reason failing to mention the [five dozen] injured protesters, faces of girls adorned with running mascara and bruises, and pensioners who've also got a taste of black rubber.
Over a hundred people are now huddling at [police] stations all over the city. Most of them are not vandals. I still can't get through to my brother. The PM said that “there'll be no more actions on the territory of the Old Riga.” Here it is, the true face of our pseudo-democracy ;)
In response to a reader's question, LJ user xzirnisx listed some of the reasons (RUS) for the people's discontent:
[…] We currently have the highest unemployment rates in the EU. In December, some 300 people were losing jobs every day - this with the population of 2 million. Per capita GDP is the lowest in the EU (or [it's the lowest] in Polans, which places us on the second place from the end). And what are the measures that the government is taking? They are raising the VAT to 21 percent and cut [state employees'] salaries by 15 percent. In the private sector, salaries have also gone down - by about [a half] since October. In addition to all this, public transportation has become twice as expensive this year and costs Ls 0.50 ($1). They've also raised [natural] gas prices - and they are selling it to us at four times (!!!) the price that Russia is charging them for it. And the more expensive the gas, the more expensive the electricity and heating. […]
Daugavpils-based LJ user aljena-beljaeva posted information (RUS) about a fundraising effort for Edgar Gorban, a 16-year-old protester who lost his eye during the rioting:
[…] They say the eye was hit either by a stone, or he lost it as a result of [tear] gas, but originally there was information about a rubber bullet. I don't know what really happened and I don't really care. One way or another, I saw this boy's crying mother on TV, an ordinary Russian-speaking woman, and I feel very sorry for her. Some people are now saying that we shouldn't be turning him into a romantic hero - he must have been throwing stones himself, so he is the one to blame. […]
Riga-based LJ user kris_reid posted his policeman friend's account (RUS) of what had occurred on Jan. 13, addressing the entry to readers from Russia - who, according to the blogger, were likely to get the other side of the story - “the protester's version” - from “the zombie-box [Russian TV]”:
[…]
“[…] When […] the number of people returning from the rally decreased and we were expecting to hear “thank you for your work” over our walkie-talkies, we got information about groups gathering by the Saeima [Latvian parliament] […]. And at 8 PM, a general alert was issued and an order came for all the free units and the reserves to go to certain points to get instructions. […]
About the “non-use of special devices” - lies. I myself was among those who used them. Got caught on [some videos]. [Beat up] one guy [who was] five meters away and about to throw a stone, and handed him to [the riot police guys], who [beat him up some more] and led him away […]. Him and his cocky [girlfriend]. I heard from colleagues that flash/noise and gas grenades were being used by the Saeima.
[…]
Upd. [Rioters] were multinational. There were enough of both [ethnic] Latvians and [ethnic] Russians.
Can't say anything about the rally - didn't see it […]. People leaving the rally made a good impression - more or less normal people. The whole mess happened because of the predominantly marginal youth, most of them [drunk]. […] And the disturbances were of a totally European scale - with ripped out cobblestone. […]”
Links for Sat, 2009-01
A Step At A Time quotes from an article on the “European complicity and responsibility” for the Holocaust and the ways in which Poland and Ukraine are dealing with “vague and extremely unfair accusations levelled at a whole nation.” AnTyx writes about Estonia's pre-war Jewish population: “While it is a historical fact that Estonia was the first country under Nazi occupation to have been declared ‘judenfrei', it's often overlooked that the Estonian Jewish congregation was far smaller than that in either Latvia and Lithuania. When the Germans arrived, they found less than a thousand Jews - compared to tens of thousands in Latvia and significantly more in Lithuania.”
Polandian notes that thousands of Polish women are having abortions in the UK: “With it being illegal here in Poland, they are forced to travel to other countries thereby adding bureaucratic hassle and a strange environment/language to what must already be a very nasty and stressful situation.”
Au début était le Blog writes about the Turkish prime minister, who, referring to Israel recently asked “how a country that does not put into effect Security Council resolutions can be allowed to enter UN headquarters” [FR].
Alan Jakšić of Balkan Anarchist posts a moving tribute to his father, Stevo Jakšić, who passed away in June 2008.
Posters expressing Macedonian discontent with the EU's visa regime - at Say: Macedonia.
Some photos of the “quirky Vilnius” - at Wu Wei.
Very belatedly, links to Peteris Cedrins' reporting and musings at Marginalia on the history of book publishing in Latvia and the outrageous VAT increase on books from 5 percent to 21 percent.
Parole de democrate posts a screenshot from the Haaretz website, a left-leaning Israeli newspaper, which features an editorial with the headline “The IDF has no mercy for the children of Gaza nursery schools” alongside an IDF advertisement urging readers to “Support the soldiers today”. Parole thinks, “This attitude casts strong doubt on whether Israelis sincerely want peace” [Fr].
A selection of posts from The Hungarian Spectrum: the lack of continuing education programs; health and lifestyle issues; domestic violence; writer György Dragomán; the Hungarian Secret Service and the Catholic Church.
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