Tokyo (ANTARA News/Reuters) - A Japanese space probe that ended a seven-year voyage earlier this year brought back dust from the surface of an asteroid for the first time, Japan`s space agency said on Tuesday.
Scientists hope the particles will help unlock secrets of the solar system`s formation.
The unmanned craft Hayabusa, meaning "falcon" in Japanese, was destroyed on re-entry in June, but managed to drop a container bearing the sample after landing on the near-Earth asteroid Itokawa in 2005.
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) says the particles may offer clues about how the solar system was formed 4.6 billion years ago.
Asteroids are believed to have retained their original state over time, unlike the Earth`s surface, which has been affected by atmospheric changes, water and volcanic activity.
"There is so much that humans don`t know, such as how the Moon was formed," a JAXA spokesman said. "But research, not just into these particles but into other findings, could provide us with hints on how the solar system and the planets were formed."
Part of the sample would be distributed next year to researchers around the world for further tests, JAXA said.
Most of the particles were smaller than one-100th of a millimetre and components included minerals such as olivine, pyroxene and plagioclases.
Scientists also hope the findings will shed light on the risk to Earth from asteroid impacts. (*)
Source: Antara
Taiwan donates $50,000 for Merapi victims
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Taiwan has donated US$50,000 in fund to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) to rehabilitate areas affected by the Mount Merapi eruptions.
Andrew Hsia of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (Teto) in Jakarta handed the aid to PMI chairman Yusuf Kalla recently, Teto said in a press statement on Tuesday.
Hsia expressed hope the aid would be helpful for the PMI to continue rehabilitating disaster-hit areas to allow the affected people to resume a normal life.Kalla said he was thankful for the aid and pledged to use it properly.
"We all know Java is the most populous island. Whenever a disaster occurs it claims many lives. The reconstruction of the affected areas will need a long time and cost a sizable amount of funds," he said.
Mt Merapi, the world`s most active volcano, had erupted repeatedly in the past two or three weeks but its most fatal eruptions occurred on Oct 26 and Nov 5.
At least 259 people had perished and many others sustained burns and became displaced in the eruptions.
The total number of refugees being sheltered in 639 refugee centers in Yogyakarta and Central Java reportedly reached 367,548.
The volcano`s eruptions spewed hot clouds of ash and lava into the air and sent lava down its many slopes. (*)
Source: Antara
Andrew Hsia of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (Teto) in Jakarta handed the aid to PMI chairman Yusuf Kalla recently, Teto said in a press statement on Tuesday.
Hsia expressed hope the aid would be helpful for the PMI to continue rehabilitating disaster-hit areas to allow the affected people to resume a normal life.Kalla said he was thankful for the aid and pledged to use it properly.
"We all know Java is the most populous island. Whenever a disaster occurs it claims many lives. The reconstruction of the affected areas will need a long time and cost a sizable amount of funds," he said.
Mt Merapi, the world`s most active volcano, had erupted repeatedly in the past two or three weeks but its most fatal eruptions occurred on Oct 26 and Nov 5.
At least 259 people had perished and many others sustained burns and became displaced in the eruptions.
The total number of refugees being sheltered in 639 refugee centers in Yogyakarta and Central Java reportedly reached 367,548.
The volcano`s eruptions spewed hot clouds of ash and lava into the air and sent lava down its many slopes. (*)
Source: Antara
Will there be the sultanate republic of Yogyakarta?
Indonesia(Antaranews) -A heated discourse on determining the status of Yogyakarta has been filling the air with a big question: will there ever be a Sultanate Republic of Yogyakarta?
"No, there`s no way for any referendum to determine the status of Yogyakarta. That`s would be unconstitutional as there will be no legal basis for holding a referendum in this regard," said Constitutional Court chief Mahfud M.D. who spoke to the media here Tuesday afternoon.
Yogyakarta is a province within the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. Yet, Yogyakarta is steeped in royal culture inherited from the long history of the Javanese sultanate which resulted in the sultan becoming automatically the governor of the province since the birth of the republic in the mid 1940s.
Mahfud, who built his teaching career at the Yogyakarta-based Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) before moving into politics a decade ago in Jakarta, tried his best to stand in between the seemingly open conflict between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Yogyakarta province governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.
President Yudhoyono has voiced opposition to the discourse on letting the Sultan of Yogyakarta hold the automatic governorship of the province. He apparently wants Yogyakarta governorship filled by someone elected through a direct election, just like in all the republic`s 32 other provinces.
In his response, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X has said that he will tender his resignation as governor of the province if the central government regards him as an obstacle in the restructuring of the province`s administrative arrangement.
Citing relevant articles of the Indonesian 1945 Constitution, Mahfud said both President Yudhoyono and Governor Hamengkubuwono were constitutionally correct in their stances vis a vis the discourse.
Article 18 point 4 of the Constitution, Mahfud said, stipulates that governors, district heads and mayors are respectively the heads of provincial, district and city governments. They are all democratically elected leaders who get their term in office through direct elections.
Whereas, just underneath that very article of the Constitution, Article 18B stipulates that a special status is granted to Yogyakarta. This article clearly points out that the state acknowledges and respects the certain units of regional governments which enjoy special status, or of special characters, though remain being governed by the laws.
"I just want to say that both (leaders) have their constitutional views which must be respected," said Mahfud in a clear tone of balancing his position in the debate, in contrast to the positions taken by some political and public figures who indicate their pro- or contra ideas.
Mahfud added that there are five regions in Indonesia that hold special status. Aceh province was made a special region due to its Islamic law system implemented in the province; Jakarta became special because it was the capital of the country and Yogyakarta has special status because of its historical heritage.
Mahfud, however, let both camps, those in support of the specialty of Yogyakarta and therefore back the Sultan as an automatic governor, and those with a contrary opinion and deem that a democratic political process a necessity, to debate their arguments openly in the parliament.
Monarchy System
The national discourse has been developing fast since earlier this week after President Yudhoyono made a comment related to the issue.
"There should not be a monarchy system which contradicts our Constitution or democratic values," the president said, adding that the nation "need to find a system that represents all considerations, including the special status of Yogyakarta and the implementation of democratic values."
This statement was then followed by a comment by Sultan Hamengkubuwono in which he said ready to resign from the Yogyakarta governorship. He hinted that his being on the governorship seat of the province might have been seen as an obstacle to include the province in the direct election systems applied nationally.
However, a Presidential aide, Velix Wanggai, said to the media that President Yudhoyono has always "respected" Yogyakarta`s special status as a province and a sultanate. And that he would consider the long history of the Yogyakarta sultanate as the central government works to implement democracy in all regions.
"The President still takes into account the special status of Yogyakarta, the existing system there and the history of the kingdom`s merger into the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," Velix said on Sunday.
Airlangga University sociologist Hotman Siahaan said that it was wrong to consider Yogyakarta a monarchy. Yogyakarta was a "symbolic" monarchy for the Javanese - and not a true political monarchy.
"The government of Yogyakarta has applied all the principles of democracy and the administration functions just like other provinces. It would be wrong if the President did not immediately affirm Yogyakarta`s special status," he said on Monday.
New Law
The government has been asked with preparing a new law on the status of Yogyakarta after the old one prepared by the previous House of Representatives was suspended following a deadlock over the main issue of whether the province`s governor was to be elected or appointed.
All nine House factions have proposed the automatic appointment of the Yogyakarta king or sultan to governor, but the government represented by former home minister Mardiyanto wanted the governor to be elected through a public direct election.
Indonesia owed its Independence to Yogyakarta Sultanate when the highly respected Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX stood decisively in defense of the fledgling republic after declared that the sultanate merged into the republic. President Sukarno then awarded a province status, a special one, including the sultan`s privilege to be governor.
A survey conducted by Kompas daily in April 2007 showed that 74.9 percent of residents in the province agreed that their governor should be someone from the sultanate. Another survey conducted in the same year showed a similar result.(*)
Source: Vicki Febrianto - Antara
"No, there`s no way for any referendum to determine the status of Yogyakarta. That`s would be unconstitutional as there will be no legal basis for holding a referendum in this regard," said Constitutional Court chief Mahfud M.D. who spoke to the media here Tuesday afternoon.
Yogyakarta is a province within the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. Yet, Yogyakarta is steeped in royal culture inherited from the long history of the Javanese sultanate which resulted in the sultan becoming automatically the governor of the province since the birth of the republic in the mid 1940s.
Mahfud, who built his teaching career at the Yogyakarta-based Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) before moving into politics a decade ago in Jakarta, tried his best to stand in between the seemingly open conflict between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Yogyakarta province governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X.
President Yudhoyono has voiced opposition to the discourse on letting the Sultan of Yogyakarta hold the automatic governorship of the province. He apparently wants Yogyakarta governorship filled by someone elected through a direct election, just like in all the republic`s 32 other provinces.
In his response, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X has said that he will tender his resignation as governor of the province if the central government regards him as an obstacle in the restructuring of the province`s administrative arrangement.
Citing relevant articles of the Indonesian 1945 Constitution, Mahfud said both President Yudhoyono and Governor Hamengkubuwono were constitutionally correct in their stances vis a vis the discourse.
Article 18 point 4 of the Constitution, Mahfud said, stipulates that governors, district heads and mayors are respectively the heads of provincial, district and city governments. They are all democratically elected leaders who get their term in office through direct elections.
Whereas, just underneath that very article of the Constitution, Article 18B stipulates that a special status is granted to Yogyakarta. This article clearly points out that the state acknowledges and respects the certain units of regional governments which enjoy special status, or of special characters, though remain being governed by the laws.
"I just want to say that both (leaders) have their constitutional views which must be respected," said Mahfud in a clear tone of balancing his position in the debate, in contrast to the positions taken by some political and public figures who indicate their pro- or contra ideas.
Mahfud added that there are five regions in Indonesia that hold special status. Aceh province was made a special region due to its Islamic law system implemented in the province; Jakarta became special because it was the capital of the country and Yogyakarta has special status because of its historical heritage.
Mahfud, however, let both camps, those in support of the specialty of Yogyakarta and therefore back the Sultan as an automatic governor, and those with a contrary opinion and deem that a democratic political process a necessity, to debate their arguments openly in the parliament.
Monarchy System
The national discourse has been developing fast since earlier this week after President Yudhoyono made a comment related to the issue.
"There should not be a monarchy system which contradicts our Constitution or democratic values," the president said, adding that the nation "need to find a system that represents all considerations, including the special status of Yogyakarta and the implementation of democratic values."
This statement was then followed by a comment by Sultan Hamengkubuwono in which he said ready to resign from the Yogyakarta governorship. He hinted that his being on the governorship seat of the province might have been seen as an obstacle to include the province in the direct election systems applied nationally.
However, a Presidential aide, Velix Wanggai, said to the media that President Yudhoyono has always "respected" Yogyakarta`s special status as a province and a sultanate. And that he would consider the long history of the Yogyakarta sultanate as the central government works to implement democracy in all regions.
"The President still takes into account the special status of Yogyakarta, the existing system there and the history of the kingdom`s merger into the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," Velix said on Sunday.
Airlangga University sociologist Hotman Siahaan said that it was wrong to consider Yogyakarta a monarchy. Yogyakarta was a "symbolic" monarchy for the Javanese - and not a true political monarchy.
"The government of Yogyakarta has applied all the principles of democracy and the administration functions just like other provinces. It would be wrong if the President did not immediately affirm Yogyakarta`s special status," he said on Monday.
New Law
The government has been asked with preparing a new law on the status of Yogyakarta after the old one prepared by the previous House of Representatives was suspended following a deadlock over the main issue of whether the province`s governor was to be elected or appointed.
All nine House factions have proposed the automatic appointment of the Yogyakarta king or sultan to governor, but the government represented by former home minister Mardiyanto wanted the governor to be elected through a public direct election.
Indonesia owed its Independence to Yogyakarta Sultanate when the highly respected Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX stood decisively in defense of the fledgling republic after declared that the sultanate merged into the republic. President Sukarno then awarded a province status, a special one, including the sultan`s privilege to be governor.
A survey conducted by Kompas daily in April 2007 showed that 74.9 percent of residents in the province agreed that their governor should be someone from the sultanate. Another survey conducted in the same year showed a similar result.(*)
Source: Vicki Febrianto - Antara
Kompasiana To Get Asia Achievement Level
Kompas --In the age of two, Kompasiana (www.kompasiana.com) managed to establish itself as one of the best social media in Asia by Asian award winning Digital Media Awards (ADMA) 2010. Award given by the association of newspapers world WAN-IFRA in Digital Media Asia conference in Singapore a few days ago.
"It's a pride for us all, because Kompasiana no longer at the national level, but also Asia," said Edi Taslim in front of hundreds who attended the celebration kompasianer Kompasiana second anniversary at United Cafe & Bar on Saturday (11/27/2010) morning .
This award complements two national awards achieved Kompasiana few weeks earlier, namely the award for Best Channel Citizen Journalism Blog of Pesta Blogger 2010 and Marketeers Marketeers Netizen Champion of the magazine.
At the awards event that was held for the first time that, Kompasiana won the Silver Award (second place) Best Digital Content User-Based Content category (Best in Digital Content Award - User Generated Content) along with two other social media sites, namely Oknation (www.oknation. net) in the first rank and Stomp (www.stomp.co.sg) ranked third.
Kompasiana's Admin Pepih Nugraha express, rewards the best content is evidence that the presence Kompasiana was very calculated, not only at national level, but also Asia.
"This award is certainly dedicated to all kompasianer, because they not only fill in the content but also jointly maintain beneficial for the incoming content to Internet users," said Pepih.
Pepih further explained, could be a place Kompasiana circulation of good content because it does not apply moderation. Any content that was written people can start running, so that every Netizen free to post news and aspirations they had.
However, freedom of Kompasiana can not be misused by the user to publish content that is unlawful because behind the scenes there is a team that monitors the contents to ensure no violation of rules. "Kompasiana also do not accept the results of Copas content especially plagiarism," added Pepih. (JET)
"It's a pride for us all, because Kompasiana no longer at the national level, but also Asia," said Edi Taslim in front of hundreds who attended the celebration kompasianer Kompasiana second anniversary at United Cafe & Bar on Saturday (11/27/2010) morning .
This award complements two national awards achieved Kompasiana few weeks earlier, namely the award for Best Channel Citizen Journalism Blog of Pesta Blogger 2010 and Marketeers Marketeers Netizen Champion of the magazine.
At the awards event that was held for the first time that, Kompasiana won the Silver Award (second place) Best Digital Content User-Based Content category (Best in Digital Content Award - User Generated Content) along with two other social media sites, namely Oknation (www.oknation. net) in the first rank and Stomp (www.stomp.co.sg) ranked third.
Kompasiana's Admin Pepih Nugraha express, rewards the best content is evidence that the presence Kompasiana was very calculated, not only at national level, but also Asia.
"This award is certainly dedicated to all kompasianer, because they not only fill in the content but also jointly maintain beneficial for the incoming content to Internet users," said Pepih.
Pepih further explained, could be a place Kompasiana circulation of good content because it does not apply moderation. Any content that was written people can start running, so that every Netizen free to post news and aspirations they had.
However, freedom of Kompasiana can not be misused by the user to publish content that is unlawful because behind the scenes there is a team that monitors the contents to ensure no violation of rules. "Kompasiana also do not accept the results of Copas content especially plagiarism," added Pepih. (JET)
4,000 Indonesian Islands May Disappear Due to Global Warning
Jakarta(ANTARA-News) - Around 4,000 islands in Indonesia may disappear when the sea surface rises due to global warming, a government official said.
"Global climate change could cause the sea level to rise high enough submerge 4,000 islands in Indonesia," William Suhandar, deputy to the head of the Presidential Work Unit for Development Management and Supervision (UKP4), said here Saturday.
As many as 4,000 of Indonesia's 17,500 islands might disappear if the sea level rose by two meters, he said.
"This will be unavoidable if global warming continues causing the sea level to keep rising as happened thousands of years ago when ice bergs melted," he said.
The earth's surface temperature had risen 0.7 degrees Celsius over the last 100 years, he said, adding that this was tangible and reasonable evidence of climate change.
Moreover, the period 1995-2010 had been recorded as the hottest in the last 150 years since 1850, he said.
"There has been an unusual shift in rainfall patterns so that it is now difficult to distinguish the seasons, to differentiate the rainy from the dry season," he said.
Extreme weather and temperatures which occur every year could lead to or trigger natural disasters, he said.
He aid there were two major causes of climate change. One was mismanaged land utilization, deforestation and carbon emission from fossil fuels that exacerbate the green house effect in the atmosphere leading to rising global temperature.
The increasing global temperature could cause the sea level to rise and this posed a threat to around 4,000 islands in Indonesia, he said.
Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change could be advantageous to minimize the effect of global warming and climate change, he said.
Source: Antara
"Global climate change could cause the sea level to rise high enough submerge 4,000 islands in Indonesia," William Suhandar, deputy to the head of the Presidential Work Unit for Development Management and Supervision (UKP4), said here Saturday.
As many as 4,000 of Indonesia's 17,500 islands might disappear if the sea level rose by two meters, he said.
"This will be unavoidable if global warming continues causing the sea level to keep rising as happened thousands of years ago when ice bergs melted," he said.
The earth's surface temperature had risen 0.7 degrees Celsius over the last 100 years, he said, adding that this was tangible and reasonable evidence of climate change.
Moreover, the period 1995-2010 had been recorded as the hottest in the last 150 years since 1850, he said.
"There has been an unusual shift in rainfall patterns so that it is now difficult to distinguish the seasons, to differentiate the rainy from the dry season," he said.
Extreme weather and temperatures which occur every year could lead to or trigger natural disasters, he said.
He aid there were two major causes of climate change. One was mismanaged land utilization, deforestation and carbon emission from fossil fuels that exacerbate the green house effect in the atmosphere leading to rising global temperature.
The increasing global temperature could cause the sea level to rise and this posed a threat to around 4,000 islands in Indonesia, he said.
Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change could be advantageous to minimize the effect of global warming and climate change, he said.
Source: Antara
Angklung receives world recognition
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Angklung, Indonesia`s traditional bamboo musical instrument, which has been frequently played before international audiences in Indonesia as well as overseas, has finally received world recognition.
Angklung was one of 47 nominations from 29 countries, which had been examined by the UNESCO Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC-ICH) in its fifth session in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday (Nov 17), for inscription into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"The inclusion of angklung in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list will contribute positively to the preservation (of angklung) nationally and regionally," Tjetjep Suparman, director general of film, art and cultural values at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said in a press statement, Thursday.
UNESCO had concluded Indonesia`s angklung has met criteria of world intangible cultural heritage because it had basic values of cooperation, mutual respect and social harmony, which are main elements of the cultural identity of West Java and Banten people.
With the support of UNESCO, Indonesia would intensify angklung`s preservation and promotion, said Tjetjep Suparman, head of the Indonesian delegation to the Nairobi meeting being held until Nov 19.
He hoped that the younger generation would be more interested in learning and playing angklung in schools in Indonesia and overseas.
Angklung consisting of two to four bamboo tubes suspended in a bamboo frame, bound with rattan cords is originally from West Java.
The tubes are carefully whittled and cut by a master craftspersons to produce certain notes when the bamboo frame is shaken or tapped. Each Angklung produces a single note or chord, so several players must collaborate in order to play melodies.
Traditional Angklungs use the pentatonic scale, but in 1938 West Java musician Daeng Soetigna introduced Angklungs using the diatonic scale.
The Angklung is closely related to traditional customs, arts and cultural identity in Indonesia, played during ceremonies such as rice planting, harvest and circumcision.
In the old time, angklung voice believed to invite the attention of Goddess Dewi Sri (Nyi Sri Pohaci) who brought fertility to rice farmers and happiness and prosperity for mankind.
The oldest angklung in history is called "Angklung gubrag" and was made in Jasinga, Bogor. It has reached 400 years old. Some old angklungs are currently stored in the Museum angklung Sri Baduga, Bandung, West Java.
Over time, Angklung is not only known throughout the archipelago, but has spread to various countries in Asia such as in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
The special black bamboo for the Angklung is harvested during the two weeks a year when the cicadas sing, and is cut at least three segments above the ground, to ensure the root continues to propagate.
Angklung education is transmitted orally from generation to generation, and increasingly in educational institutions.
"Because of the collaborative nature of Angklung music, playing promotes cooperation and mutual respect among the players, along with discipline, responsibility, concentration, development of imagination and memory, as well as artistic and musical feelings," UNESCO wrote on its official website, Wednesday.
In order to be inscribed, the elements must comply with a series of criteria, including contributing to spreading the knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and promoting awareness of its importance. Nominees for the inscription must also justify protective measures taken to ensure their viability, according to UNESCO.
the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meets annually to evaluate nominations proposed by State Parties to the 2003 Convention, and decide whether or not to inscribe those cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage on the Convention`s Lists.
Indonesia has become a State Parties after ratifying the 2003 Convention in 2007.
The Committee incorporated 90 elements, including `Keris` (traditional dagger) and wayang puppet theater of Indonesia, in 2008; and inscribed 76 elements, including `Batik` from Indonesia, in 2009.
In 2010, 47 elements, including angklung, have been added to the list. This year`s list also included acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine; Al-Bar?ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleys; Daemokjang, traditional wooden architecture of South Korea; and Flamenco of Spain; and Gingerbread craft from Northern Croatia.
Welcoming the inscription of angklung in the world cultural heritage list,West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, in Bandung, West Java, recently, said his province would intensify promotion and innovation of angklung.
"After being recognized by UNESCO, the next step is to develop further angklung through various means, and to continue promotion of the traditional music instrument," Ahmad Heryawan said.
In the future, angklung would be made a compulsory musical instrument to be played by students and more angklung cultural centers would be set up, according to the governor.
For those wanting to know better about angklung, they could visit an exhibition of angklung being organized by Saung Angklung Udjo at Bentara Budaya in Jakarta from November 18 to 27, 2010.
The exhibition called "Awi-Awi Mandiri - Anglung for the World" is supported by PT Bank Mandiri, Satria Yanwar Akbar, operational director of Saung Angklung Udjo, said in Bandung Thursday (Nov 18).
Angklung was one of 47 nominations from 29 countries, which had been examined by the UNESCO Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC-ICH) in its fifth session in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday (Nov 17), for inscription into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
"The inclusion of angklung in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list will contribute positively to the preservation (of angklung) nationally and regionally," Tjetjep Suparman, director general of film, art and cultural values at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said in a press statement, Thursday.
UNESCO had concluded Indonesia`s angklung has met criteria of world intangible cultural heritage because it had basic values of cooperation, mutual respect and social harmony, which are main elements of the cultural identity of West Java and Banten people.
With the support of UNESCO, Indonesia would intensify angklung`s preservation and promotion, said Tjetjep Suparman, head of the Indonesian delegation to the Nairobi meeting being held until Nov 19.
He hoped that the younger generation would be more interested in learning and playing angklung in schools in Indonesia and overseas.
Angklung consisting of two to four bamboo tubes suspended in a bamboo frame, bound with rattan cords is originally from West Java.
The tubes are carefully whittled and cut by a master craftspersons to produce certain notes when the bamboo frame is shaken or tapped. Each Angklung produces a single note or chord, so several players must collaborate in order to play melodies.
Traditional Angklungs use the pentatonic scale, but in 1938 West Java musician Daeng Soetigna introduced Angklungs using the diatonic scale.
The Angklung is closely related to traditional customs, arts and cultural identity in Indonesia, played during ceremonies such as rice planting, harvest and circumcision.
In the old time, angklung voice believed to invite the attention of Goddess Dewi Sri (Nyi Sri Pohaci) who brought fertility to rice farmers and happiness and prosperity for mankind.
The oldest angklung in history is called "Angklung gubrag" and was made in Jasinga, Bogor. It has reached 400 years old. Some old angklungs are currently stored in the Museum angklung Sri Baduga, Bandung, West Java.
Over time, Angklung is not only known throughout the archipelago, but has spread to various countries in Asia such as in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
The special black bamboo for the Angklung is harvested during the two weeks a year when the cicadas sing, and is cut at least three segments above the ground, to ensure the root continues to propagate.
Angklung education is transmitted orally from generation to generation, and increasingly in educational institutions.
"Because of the collaborative nature of Angklung music, playing promotes cooperation and mutual respect among the players, along with discipline, responsibility, concentration, development of imagination and memory, as well as artistic and musical feelings," UNESCO wrote on its official website, Wednesday.
In order to be inscribed, the elements must comply with a series of criteria, including contributing to spreading the knowledge of intangible cultural heritage and promoting awareness of its importance. Nominees for the inscription must also justify protective measures taken to ensure their viability, according to UNESCO.
the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meets annually to evaluate nominations proposed by State Parties to the 2003 Convention, and decide whether or not to inscribe those cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage on the Convention`s Lists.
Indonesia has become a State Parties after ratifying the 2003 Convention in 2007.
The Committee incorporated 90 elements, including `Keris` (traditional dagger) and wayang puppet theater of Indonesia, in 2008; and inscribed 76 elements, including `Batik` from Indonesia, in 2009.
In 2010, 47 elements, including angklung, have been added to the list. This year`s list also included acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicine; Al-Bar?ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleys; Daemokjang, traditional wooden architecture of South Korea; and Flamenco of Spain; and Gingerbread craft from Northern Croatia.
Welcoming the inscription of angklung in the world cultural heritage list,West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan, in Bandung, West Java, recently, said his province would intensify promotion and innovation of angklung.
"After being recognized by UNESCO, the next step is to develop further angklung through various means, and to continue promotion of the traditional music instrument," Ahmad Heryawan said.
In the future, angklung would be made a compulsory musical instrument to be played by students and more angklung cultural centers would be set up, according to the governor.
For those wanting to know better about angklung, they could visit an exhibition of angklung being organized by Saung Angklung Udjo at Bentara Budaya in Jakarta from November 18 to 27, 2010.
The exhibition called "Awi-Awi Mandiri - Anglung for the World" is supported by PT Bank Mandiri, Satria Yanwar Akbar, operational director of Saung Angklung Udjo, said in Bandung Thursday (Nov 18).
Kama Sutra gets modern makeover
Melbourne (ANTARA News/AAP) - The Kama Sutra is getting a modern makeover, with the new edition set to be more of a lifestyle guide to love and relationships than a "pornographic sex book".
The erotic drawings and sexual illustrations that have accompanied various translations of the ancient Hindu text are gone from the new Kama Sutra published by Penguin, Britain`s Sunday Telegraph reports.
Instead, the Kama Sutra will be a text-only, pocket-sized classy manual presented as a "lifestyle guide for the modern man and woman".
"Until now the Kama Sutra has always been presented as a scandalous, `60s, hippie-influenced pornographic sex book," said Alexis Kirschbaum, the editorial director at Penguin Books.
"But it was originally written as advice to a courtly gentleman on how to live a well-rounded life, not just a passionate life."
The Kama Sutra is believed to have been written in the third century by Indian sage Vatsyayana.
Previous English versions of the Kama Sutra have been widely based on the 19th century translation by explorer and orientalist Sir Richard Francis Burton, often featuring erotic
illustrations to accompany the old-fashioned language.
The new edition, written by AND Haksar, an Indian scholar and translator of Sanskrit texts, will include updated chapter headings such as Making A Pass, Why Women Get Turned Off, Girls To Avoid, Is He Worthwhile, Getting Rid of Him, Easy Women, Moves Towards Sex and Some Dos and Don`ts.
"The common perception of the Kama Sutra is that it is only about sex, but any honest reading of the book shows that it is about lifestyle and social relations between human beings," Haksar said.
"My effort with the new translation has been to stay as close as possible to the original text but to present it in a contemporary language which reflects the contemporary issues within the book."
The new edition will be published by Penguin in February next year.
The erotic drawings and sexual illustrations that have accompanied various translations of the ancient Hindu text are gone from the new Kama Sutra published by Penguin, Britain`s Sunday Telegraph reports.
Instead, the Kama Sutra will be a text-only, pocket-sized classy manual presented as a "lifestyle guide for the modern man and woman".
"Until now the Kama Sutra has always been presented as a scandalous, `60s, hippie-influenced pornographic sex book," said Alexis Kirschbaum, the editorial director at Penguin Books.
"But it was originally written as advice to a courtly gentleman on how to live a well-rounded life, not just a passionate life."
The Kama Sutra is believed to have been written in the third century by Indian sage Vatsyayana.
Previous English versions of the Kama Sutra have been widely based on the 19th century translation by explorer and orientalist Sir Richard Francis Burton, often featuring erotic
illustrations to accompany the old-fashioned language.
The new edition, written by AND Haksar, an Indian scholar and translator of Sanskrit texts, will include updated chapter headings such as Making A Pass, Why Women Get Turned Off, Girls To Avoid, Is He Worthwhile, Getting Rid of Him, Easy Women, Moves Towards Sex and Some Dos and Don`ts.
"The common perception of the Kama Sutra is that it is only about sex, but any honest reading of the book shows that it is about lifestyle and social relations between human beings," Haksar said.
"My effort with the new translation has been to stay as close as possible to the original text but to present it in a contemporary language which reflects the contemporary issues within the book."
The new edition will be published by Penguin in February next year.
Harry Potter blamed for India`s owl crisis
New Delhi (ANTARA News/AFP) - Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has blamed fans of Harry Potter for the demise of wild owls in the country as children seek to emulate the boy wizard by taking the birds as pets.
The hit books and films, which are popular in India, feature a snowy owl called Hedwig who is a feathered sidekick for the Potter character and used to deliver mail.
"Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls," Ramesh said Wednesday, according to comments reported by the BBC.
His remarks came as wildlife group Traffic presented a report called "Imperilled Custodians of the Night" which warned about the declining owl population in India.
Researchers found that a growing number of owls were being trapped, traded or killed in black magic rituals.
Traffic called for tougher measures to protect the bird ahead of Diwali, one of the biggest Hindu festivals, which starts on Friday. It said owls were sometimes sacrificed on auspicious occasions.(*)
The hit books and films, which are popular in India, feature a snowy owl called Hedwig who is a feathered sidekick for the Potter character and used to deliver mail.
"Following Harry Potter, there seems to be a strange fascination even among the urban middle classes for presenting their children with owls," Ramesh said Wednesday, according to comments reported by the BBC.
His remarks came as wildlife group Traffic presented a report called "Imperilled Custodians of the Night" which warned about the declining owl population in India.
Researchers found that a growing number of owls were being trapped, traded or killed in black magic rituals.
Traffic called for tougher measures to protect the bird ahead of Diwali, one of the biggest Hindu festivals, which starts on Friday. It said owls were sometimes sacrificed on auspicious occasions.(*)
32 countries to participate in Tehran Short Film Festival
Tehran (ANTARA News/IRNA) - Some 86 films from 32 countries will participate in the international cinema section of the 27th International Tehran Short Film Festival to be held from November 19-24.
Participating countries at the event include the US, Ukraine, Holland, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Germany, France, Venezuela, Cuba, Taiwan, Croatia, Australia, Scotland, Belgium, Romania, Canada, Bulgaria, India, China, Denmark, Britain, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Norway, Sweden and Greece.
Some 14 Iranian films will also be present in the international cinema section of the festival.
The US will take part in the event with four films.
Participating countries at the event include the US, Ukraine, Holland, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Germany, France, Venezuela, Cuba, Taiwan, Croatia, Australia, Scotland, Belgium, Romania, Canada, Bulgaria, India, China, Denmark, Britain, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, Norway, Sweden and Greece.
Some 14 Iranian films will also be present in the international cinema section of the festival.
The US will take part in the event with four films.
Indian fm in Sri Lanka amid growing Chinese influence
Colombo (ANTARA News/AFP) - Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna was due in Sri Lanka Thursday to shore up bilateral relations amid growing Chinese influence on the island.
Krishna is due to call on President Mahinda Rajapakse and also open two Indian consulates in the southern and northernmost parts of the island before leaving on Sunday, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said.
The Indian minister will travel to the southern town of Hambantota on Friday to open an Indian Consulate General office, eight days after the government launched the first stage of a 1.5-billion-dollar Chinese-funded port there.
New Delhi is believed to be concerned that Hambantota is part of a Chinese policy to throw a "string of pearls" geographical circle of influence around India.
China is also developing port facilities in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan, and has plans for rail projects in Nepal and Sri Lanka.
A diplomatic source said India was keen to speed up some of its own port, power and railway projects in the island which is emerging after 37 years of ethnic conflict following the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May last year.
Krishna is also expected to travel to the island`s northern tip of Jaffna to open another consulate in an area where Tamil Tiger rebels once ran a de facto state between 1990 and 1995.
The minister will hold bilateral meetings with, among others, his counterpart G. L. Peiris as part of India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said in a statement.
"This will provide the two countries an opportunity to review the growing ties between Sri Lanka and India; monitor implementation of bilateral understandings and further enhance the bilateral relations," the ministry said.
It said the two sides will follow up on the understandings reached during Rajapakse`s visit to New Delhi in June when Indian nudged the island to move towards national reconciliation after crushing Tamil rebels last year.
India, which has some 62 million Tamils in its southern Tamil Nadu state, wields considerable diplomatic influence over Colombo and has been urging the Sinhalese-majority government to share power with minority Tamils. (*)
Krishna is due to call on President Mahinda Rajapakse and also open two Indian consulates in the southern and northernmost parts of the island before leaving on Sunday, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said.
The Indian minister will travel to the southern town of Hambantota on Friday to open an Indian Consulate General office, eight days after the government launched the first stage of a 1.5-billion-dollar Chinese-funded port there.
New Delhi is believed to be concerned that Hambantota is part of a Chinese policy to throw a "string of pearls" geographical circle of influence around India.
China is also developing port facilities in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan, and has plans for rail projects in Nepal and Sri Lanka.
A diplomatic source said India was keen to speed up some of its own port, power and railway projects in the island which is emerging after 37 years of ethnic conflict following the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels in May last year.
Krishna is also expected to travel to the island`s northern tip of Jaffna to open another consulate in an area where Tamil Tiger rebels once ran a de facto state between 1990 and 1995.
The minister will hold bilateral meetings with, among others, his counterpart G. L. Peiris as part of India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said in a statement.
"This will provide the two countries an opportunity to review the growing ties between Sri Lanka and India; monitor implementation of bilateral understandings and further enhance the bilateral relations," the ministry said.
It said the two sides will follow up on the understandings reached during Rajapakse`s visit to New Delhi in June when Indian nudged the island to move towards national reconciliation after crushing Tamil rebels last year.
India, which has some 62 million Tamils in its southern Tamil Nadu state, wields considerable diplomatic influence over Colombo and has been urging the Sinhalese-majority government to share power with minority Tamils. (*)
UN launches "stop violence against women" campaign
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Secretary-General`s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women campaign to reduce the increasing number of reported cases commemorates the world day on violence against women on every November 25.
"The campaign activity will be done in various forms with one objective, namely stop violence against women and children," said the Indonesian UN Resident Coordinator El-Mostafa Banlamih here Thursday.
The campaign is done in cooperation from the UNIFEM (United Nation Development Fund for Female), the Indonesian Women and Children Empowerment Ministry and the National Commission for Women.
The program was internationally initiated in 2008 and scheduled to end by 2015 which aimed to prevent and erase any violence acts against women and child all over the world.
UNiTE Campaign is a collaboration of several UN agencies that cooperating with the central and regional governments, private sectors, schools and universities.
Benlamih emphasized on the importance of this program by mentioning that based on the UN member countries data that shows more than 70 percent of women in the world has experienced physically and mentally violence.
The campaign also considered as a joint act that must be done immediately in Indonesia considering the high number for such cases.
According to the Indonesian National Commission for Women, there are some 143,586 violence cases recorded in 2009.
Despite the fact of increasing cases number, Benlamih praised on Indonesia`s improvements development in this case, by the issuance of domestic violence law number 23/2007, the establishment of women and children integrated counseling center and improving data by the national commission for women (Komnas Perempuan).
To achieve the goals, there are other things that hurdles the violence against women handling which is different situation in every country.
Some of the matters that hamper violence handling are the absence of punishment for perpetrators, lack of counseling services for victims, attitudes and behavior that strengthens the negative stereotypes and violence against women, also the lack of resources.
In 2015 the UNiTE`s global target consisting of adopting and apply national laws to punish every form of women and children violence act, multi-sector action plan for the national level, reinforcing data collection on every cases, increase people`s awareness and social mobilization, along with handling sexual violence in conflicts.(*)
"The campaign activity will be done in various forms with one objective, namely stop violence against women and children," said the Indonesian UN Resident Coordinator El-Mostafa Banlamih here Thursday.
The campaign is done in cooperation from the UNIFEM (United Nation Development Fund for Female), the Indonesian Women and Children Empowerment Ministry and the National Commission for Women.
The program was internationally initiated in 2008 and scheduled to end by 2015 which aimed to prevent and erase any violence acts against women and child all over the world.
UNiTE Campaign is a collaboration of several UN agencies that cooperating with the central and regional governments, private sectors, schools and universities.
Benlamih emphasized on the importance of this program by mentioning that based on the UN member countries data that shows more than 70 percent of women in the world has experienced physically and mentally violence.
The campaign also considered as a joint act that must be done immediately in Indonesia considering the high number for such cases.
According to the Indonesian National Commission for Women, there are some 143,586 violence cases recorded in 2009.
Despite the fact of increasing cases number, Benlamih praised on Indonesia`s improvements development in this case, by the issuance of domestic violence law number 23/2007, the establishment of women and children integrated counseling center and improving data by the national commission for women (Komnas Perempuan).
To achieve the goals, there are other things that hurdles the violence against women handling which is different situation in every country.
Some of the matters that hamper violence handling are the absence of punishment for perpetrators, lack of counseling services for victims, attitudes and behavior that strengthens the negative stereotypes and violence against women, also the lack of resources.
In 2015 the UNiTE`s global target consisting of adopting and apply national laws to punish every form of women and children violence act, multi-sector action plan for the national level, reinforcing data collection on every cases, increase people`s awareness and social mobilization, along with handling sexual violence in conflicts.(*)
Lapan developing rockets to put satellites in orbit
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) is building a rocket named RX-550 with a cruising capacity of more than 200 kilometers in the initial phase of a project to make one capable of putting a satellite in orbit, a spokesman said.
LAPAN spokesman Soewarto Hardhienata said here on Thursday the RX-550 rocket would undergo a static test in December this year and a flight test in 2012.
"This one, which will consist of four stages, will be part of an RPS-01 rocket to put a satellite in orbit," Soewarto said.
He said LAPAN had earlier successfully tested the flights of RX-320 and RX-420 rockets whose components would be used to build a RPS-01 rocket to carry a satellite to an orbit around earth.
The rockets, he said, would be the prototypes of satellite carrying rockets to be launched in 2014.
"Besides developing home-made rockets, we are also doing a satellite making project. The aim is to have home-made rockets and satellites," Soewarto said.
He said LAPAN had in the past three years been implementing a project to make an earth surface monitoring satellite as part of its efforts to master satellite technology.
"The result was our Polar LAPAN-TUBSAT (LAPAN-A1) satellite created in cooperation with Germany," he said, adding that the satellite was successfully placed in orbit and until now still functioning well.
Source:http://www.antaranews.com
LAPAN spokesman Soewarto Hardhienata said here on Thursday the RX-550 rocket would undergo a static test in December this year and a flight test in 2012.
"This one, which will consist of four stages, will be part of an RPS-01 rocket to put a satellite in orbit," Soewarto said.
He said LAPAN had earlier successfully tested the flights of RX-320 and RX-420 rockets whose components would be used to build a RPS-01 rocket to carry a satellite to an orbit around earth.
The rockets, he said, would be the prototypes of satellite carrying rockets to be launched in 2014.
"Besides developing home-made rockets, we are also doing a satellite making project. The aim is to have home-made rockets and satellites," Soewarto said.
He said LAPAN had in the past three years been implementing a project to make an earth surface monitoring satellite as part of its efforts to master satellite technology.
"The result was our Polar LAPAN-TUBSAT (LAPAN-A1) satellite created in cooperation with Germany," he said, adding that the satellite was successfully placed in orbit and until now still functioning well.
Source:http://www.antaranews.com
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