Edisi 03 Desember 2010 | International Bali Post

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Serangan Island Festival: Lacking of visitors, criticized by local committee

In a picture taken on November 26, 2010 Chinese use binoculars for a closer glimpse into North Korea from the end of the Broken Bridge as a truck passes across the Yalu River from Siniuju in North Korea along the SinoKorean Friendship Bridge to Dandong in northeast China’s Liaoning province on the border with North Korea.

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Eminem caps comeback year with 10 Grammy nods PAGE 12

AFP PHOTO / FREDERIC J. BROWN

UN atomic watchdog chief ‘concerned’ over North Korea Agence France Presse VIENNA - UN atomic watchdog chief Yukiya Amano expressed “great concern” Thursday over reports that North Korea has built a state-of-the-art uranium enrichment facility. “It was with great concern that I learned of recent reports about a new uranium enrichment facility, as well as the construction of a new light water reactor, in the DPRK” or Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Amano said in his opening address to the 35-member board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

WEATHER FORECAST

Earlier this month a US scientist revealed he had been shown a new uranium enrichment plant equipped with at least 1,000 cen-

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Agence France Presse

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SYDNEY – An Aboriginal activist seeking to establish a political party for Australia’s native people Thursday said he hoped to give the country’s disadvantaged “first people” a voice.

Indigenous rights campaigner Maurie Ryan has applied to have the “First Nations” party registered with Australia’s electoral commission to address what he feels is a lack of real advocacy for the country’s native tribes.

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tional concern that the reclusive stalinist state — which has conducted two nuclear weapons tests — could produce highly-enriched weapons-

Continued on page 6

Australia’s Aborigines to launch political party

CITY

SUNNY

trifuges at the North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex outside the capital Pyongyang.

The news heightened interna-

grade uranium on top of the plutonium already in its possession.

IAEA inspectors have been barred from North Korea since they were ordered out of Yongbyon last year.

“To ny regret, the agency has not had inspectors in the DPRK since April last year, and the DPRK has not permitted the agency to implement safeguards in the country since December 2002,” Amano said Thursday.

“The reason why we created the political party is because we don’t have a voice,” Ryan told AFP. “There are around 27 political parties and none of them represent the interest of Aboriginal people.” Ryan, the grandson of well-known land rights activist Vincent Lingiari, accused both major parties of perpetrating “racism at its highest level” with a controversial 2007 crackdown on social disorder in remote Aboriginal camps.

Continued on page 6

AFP/File

File photo shows an Aboriginal child standing against a wall painted with traditional art in Sydney

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International

Friday, December 3, 2010

Bali News HPI recommends tightening supervision at tourist objects Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Endeavor of the Bali Government Tourism Office (Diparda) to trace the existence of foreign citizens with profession as tour guides escorting visitors to tourist objects was responded positively by the Association of Indonesian Tour Guides (HPI) of Bali Chapter. HPI Bali recommended the Bali Government Tourism Office tightening the supervision in the field, especially in the tourist resorts across Bali Island.

“We strongly support the endeavor of Bali Government Tourism Office. Because, it is not only us rejecting the existence of foreign tour guides, the Conference of the Federation of World Tour Guide Associations followed by 36 countries had also agreed to prohibit any foreign nationals to take the profession in their respective countries,” said Chairman of HPI Bali, Made Sukadana, in Denpasar on Wednesday (Dec 1).

Sukadana asserted, the people allowed to run the profession as tour guides should be Indonesian citizens and have ID cards pursuant to the Regional Regulation No. 5/2008 setting firmly about the tour guides in Bali.

“The existing rules should be complied by travel agencies, especially those operating Bali. There will be no more reasons to use foreign guides. We think it sufficient with the existing number of tour guides to handle the arrival of for-

eign tourists to Bali,” he said.

The presence of foreign nationals taking side job as a tour guide was clearly detrimental to the licensed tour guides. “They clearly did not understand properly about the culture of Bali.

Error in describing about Bali will have a bad impact on the imaging of Bali tourism,” he added.

According to him, it was not difficult to distinguish between foreigners making a visit with those practicing as a tour guide.

The difference was evident from their movements and gestures while in the field. “As long as they gather travelers and present something, they must be a tour guide,” he said.

Chairman of the National Executive Board of HPI, Nyoman Kandia, when asked for his confirmation related to the presence of foreign tour guides stated that many foreigners other than the locals taking the opportunity to

become tour guides at tourist objects in Bali. They looked like tourists or tourists in general, but actually they did guiding profession.

“The presence of foreign tour guides had once been disciplined, but in fact many foreigners remain to work as tour guides. They often reasoned to bring friends or relatives because it is difficult to recognize their existence,” he revealed.

Meanwhile, based on the recent data in HPI Bali, the number of registered tour guides in the HPI is more than 8,000 people. However, the active members are recorded to reach 5,800 only. They are divided into 14 language divisions including the domestic division (Indonesian). Most of them are Englishspeaking tour guides and then followed by Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Italian, German, Russian, French and others. (par)

Estimated, foreign tourist visit to Bali in 2010 reaches 2.4 Million Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The number of tourist visit to Bali within the period of 2010 is estimated to exceed the target set by the provincial government of Bali amounting to 2.3 million tourists.

The Head of Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) of Bali Province, Gede Suarsa, was optimistic that tourist arrival until the end of this year would reach 2.450 million.

“The arrival of foreign tourists from January to October has reached 2,149,030 people, or showed an increase by 8.66 percent from the same period in the previous year reaching 1,977,773 people. With such a regular increase, we are optimistic that their arrival will exceed the target set,” said Suarsa in Denpasar on Wednesday (Dec 1).

Suarsa also mentioned that the number of foreign tourist up to the yearend celebration would certainly increase more significantly. Compared to the period of 2009 coming to 2.259 million, the target of this year rose about 1.8 percent. Such an improvement marked the world economic situation was more stable and the situation in Bali was relatively safe.

“Tourism promotion remains to be required in order to bring more tourists. Because, the strategy has been proved effective to draw more foreign tourists coming to Bali,” he said.

For the period January to October, foreign tourists by nationality namely Australia, Japan, China,

Malaysia and Taiwan occupied the largest number with their respective percentage of 24.44 percent, 9.91 percent, 8.14 percent, 5.51 percent, and 5.08 percent. “The arrival of foreign tourists in October only reached 229,904 people, where some of them came through the airport as many as 229,651 people and through the harbor amounted to 253 people,” he said.

Head of Bali Government Tourism Office, IB Kade Subhiksu, stated the target could be achieved if the efforts to improve the infrastructure and tourism development were not focused on the South Badung region.

“Achieving the above targets is not impossible, provided there is a commitment and concrete measure to pursue the same target. Endeavor to repair the infrastructure and equitable tourism development may not only be focused on the South Badung to bring the tourism growth of Bali,” he said.

Meanwhile, the room occupancy rate of five-star hotels in October 2010 reached 64.56 percent with the length of stay of 3.59 days both for foreign and domestic tourists. Compared to the previous month, the room occupancy rose by 2.50 points, with an average stay increased by 0.19 points. In the meantime, the occupancy rate of non-star hotels reached 33.87 percent with the length of stay of 2.20 days. If compared to September, the occupancy rate decreased by 2.50 points and the average stay increased by 0.19 points. (par)

If ignoring environment, hotel establishment will be compounded Jakarta (Bali Post)—

Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik confirmed that his party would compound the construction of new hotel if it did not pay serious attention to the environmental sustainability. “In the future, hotel should be oriented towards the environmental sustainability. Otherwise, the licenses will be made difficult,” he said before the opening of the National Coordinative Meeting of Culture and Tourism Development in Jakarta on Wednesday (Dec 1).

According to Wacik, there were a number of development strategies that should serve as guidelines namely the increase of growth (pro-growth), provi-

sion of employment opportunities (pro-job), reducing poverty (pro-poor) and preserve the environment (proenvironment). “All development programs should be oriented to these strategies,” he said.

One thing needed serious attention was, said Wacik, that every development program had to be free from corruption. It had become a national agenda because if the funds were not corrupted, then funds allocated for the development would be larger and it would end on the improvement of people’s welfare.

Wacik explained that the development of cultural affairs remained to

become a priority in the working program of Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Culture was more important because it concerned with the national identity. “Cultural development is given more priorities than tourism because the culture concerns with the entire people of Indonesia to embed the sense of nationality for the country, while tourism only concerns with some people,” Wacik said.

In recent years, continued Wacik, there were symptoms indicating the less polite society and appeared to be others that did not comply with the national identity. Therefore, the development of culture should give priority to the de-

velopment of character building.

Earlier, Director General of Marketing, Sapta Nirwandar, said that Ministry of Culture and Tourism had prepared some leading tourist packages such as music concert, jazz, golf, yachts, and great sale to attract more foreign tourist visits at the end of injury time or 2010. “We are targeting 24,200 tourists during this injury time,” said Sapta.

Sapta also added that the 2010 yearend packages were intended for tourists from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and Russia. Based on the experience last year, the tour packages such as golf, yachts, music concert,

jazz, and great sale were most demanded by tourists the from four countries. For example, jazz music events held in Batam would attract about 2,500 tourists from Singapore and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, golf and yacht tourism packages to Bali were expected to attract about 5,000 tourists from Australia. “To attract foreign tourists visit from the Kangaroo country, the tourism industry makes cooperation with the Qantas Airlines,” said Sapta while adding that at the end of this year approximately 2,500 tourists from Russia would visit Bali and Jakarta by using Aeroflot Airlines. (son)

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Bali News

International

Enter End of Year, Denpasar Inflation Reach 0,57 Percent Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The increasing prices of some items in the year end of 2010 have affected the consumers’ index price or inflation. Denpasar City has inflated as much as 0,57 percent until November and looking at November 2009 it has increased 7.70 percent.

Head of Bali Statistic Center Board (BPS), Gede Suarsa, on Wednesday (1/12) stated the inflation happened on items and services such as for raw food has increased 2,10 percent; ready food, cigarettes and tobacco reached 0,14 percent; estates, water, electricity, gas and fuel reached 0,03 percent; clothes 1,83 percent; health 0,01 percent; and transport, communication and money service 0,03 percent, “We expected until December there will be an inflation between 7,60 to 7,80 percent and will happen on raw food as there will be some religious days com-

ing up such as Galungan, Kuningan, Christmas and New Year.”

From the 66 cities in Indonesia, it is noted 61 is experiencing inflation.

The highest inflation happens at Lhokseumawe with 2,64 percent and lowest at Probolinggo 0,06 percent.

While Denpasar is at the 39th place from the 61 cities, “The group that will have its lowest index is the education, recreation and sports with 0,05 percent. And the highest deflation happens at Maumere with 0,29 percent and lowest at Balikpapan with 0,04 percent.”

Connecting to the affects of a number of nature disasters such as earthquake, mountain eruption and tsunami that happened in Indonesia, it doesn’t affect to the food prices in Bali as these disasters don’t affect the food distribution, “Raw food that are distributed to Bali are mostly coming from East Java, West Tenggara Islands and a number of areas in the east, so it’s not affecting.” Suarsa thinks this high inflation happens in Denpasar City was due to the Tourist City phenomena if compared to Jakarta with 0,33 percent and Surabaya 0,44 percent. (par)

Remembering World AIDS Day Next Five Years, No More Negative Stigma Denpasar (Bali Post)-

Every year of 1st December became the day of to remember of HIV/AIDS. Many activities were done to remember it such as giving out flowers and putting ribbons on. Although, what’s more important as stated by Head of Medical Services Special Treatment Section for Sanglah Hospital, dr. IA Miswarihati, on Wednesday (1/12) is to keep socialization going on HIV/ AIDS to the public especially teenagers. With this understanding, in the next five to ten years HIV/AIDS sufferers won’t be afraid to be in public as there’s no more negative stigma seen on them, “At this time those who has risk factors are scared to check themselves voluntarily because they are afraid to be excommunicated by the public as they have a negative stigma on HIV/AIDS sufferers. The negative stigma is caused by lack of understanding.”

With the opened acceptation from the public, HIV/AIDS sufferers will

have their confident to admit that they are sufferers and so those who have high risks of having HIV/AIDS will have their own test without being scared excommunicated. So in the next five to ten years, HIV/AIDS will be seen as a general infection disease and the treatment can be done openly.

Miswarihati clarified that the public should understand that HIV spreads through two ways which are shared narcotic injection needles and sexual intercourse. The understanding of these spreading needs to be known by teenagers as right now it starts to spread within them. The minim knowledge on HIV is one of the causer so there’s no defense against HIV. Based on the AIDS patient data treated and died at Sanglah Hospital were teenagers around 1516 years old. It can be seen that if they died due to AIDS it is predicted that they had the HIV since 10-12 years old remembering it takes 5 years for

HIV to develop as AIDS. Sadly it wasn’t because of their parents, but because of sexual intercourse. It is admitted the HIV/AIDS tackling from sexual intercourse factor is still pro contra as condom socialization towards teenage seems to support free sex when actually condom socialization is to give a knowledge on how to protect themselves from HIV especially from sexual intercourse.

Also the suggestion to localization seems to legalized prostitutes when actually it’s to ease prostitutes spreading and their health.

According to Miswarihati, the only one way to tackle HIV/AIDS is to give an understanding to the public, “Right now the medium that is targeted to give understanding on HIV are local villages and schools.”

Until August 2010 it is noted 223 patients are HIV positive through blood test while 700 people are active using ARV. (san)

Nini Luak Coffee Breed Raw Material Crisis Bangli (Bali Post)

The spreading luak (badger) coffee business in Bangli turns out were less supported by its raw materials of handpicked red coffee beans.

This was felt by Nini (Nikmat Kintamani/Enjoy Kintamani) Coffee at Demulih Village, Susut Sub district, Bangli as in the past two months there has been raw materials crisis and so the business which exports to England has been delayed.

Owner of the Nini Coffee, Santosa, last Wednesday (1/12) stated that in the past two months there have

been this crisis and his company has been trying to find the raw materials as far as Kintamani to fulfill target of feeding the badgers 50 kg per day as market demands have increased fantastically. Yet it did not give hope as it could’ve been caused by coffee harvesting happens April to October only. And so, only 3-4 kg of red coffee beans can be fed, far from what’s needed to feed the 75 badgers there are as from November to December, coffee plants are still nguudin (not harvest season).

For 1 kg for any kind of coffee are now priced from IDR 4000 to 5000

per kg when usually it would be IDR 15.000 per kg. It is hoped to all the Bali people that has coffee beans to sell it to his company with notes those beans to be not more than 24 hours picked and genuinely red colored not artificial colored like what’s found before, “ As it’s so hard to get handpicked red coffee beans, there was a resident coming with it one time. The colors were red but it turns out it was dyed red. These coffee beans will not be eaten by the badgers.” One of the most favorite and expensive luak coffee kind is pear berry or one seed coffee. (kmb17)

Friday, December 3, 2010

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Information and Entertainment Has to Educate Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The programs shown from broadcasting institutes either its information or entertainment better be educative. Not only just something to watch, but also a guider. And the balance to information must always be an interest. These were the things revealed during Program Pattern Dialog Forum 2011 Indonesian Republic Television (TVRI) Bali at Warung Bendega last Wednesday (1/12) which was attended by artists, culturist, intellectual, experts and government institutes.

Great Lecturer of Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Denpasar, Prof.

Wayan Dibia, stated that besides serving great programs, it could also be the one to build nationalism realization. The various Bali cultures are important to be broadcasted. Dibia also thinks that there should be a documentation arrangement as documentation that’s owned by broadcasting institute is something valuable now and for the future.

Head of Indonesia Religion Ministry Representative Office, IGAK Suthayasa stated that broadcasting program could be on increasing sradha and bhakti (faith and piety) towards Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa – God almighty, also on variety and multi culture has to be arranged and packed more interesting.

Head of Indonesia Broadcasting Commission (KPI) for Bali, Komang Suarsana stated, the program materials that are broadcasted should be educative also the information that will be broadcasted has to get its interest,

“A good government program needs to be broadcasted but critical control from the public to that program needs to be in the same space.” North Bali artist Putu Satria stated, a broadcast institution should at least show Balinese language program and so Balinese language is preserved. Also culture and literature studies should be spread around.

Head of TVRI Bali Public Broadcasting Board, Kemas A. Tolib, ST, accompanied by Head of News Gusti Oka Budiarta stated this dialog forum was held in purpose to form an openness in receiving suggestions due to repairing shows quality and so TVRI Bali is not only just something to watch but also a guider for the coming year 2011 and golden year 2012.

With that TVRI Bali could be a broadcasting station that is pro to the public, healthy and secure for the family also still be the one to unite nation culture.

As part of the Public Broadcasting Board, TVRI Bali will give efforts in providing shows that have values of the public, the public importance, and prioritizing essential rather than sensational. In starting the public’s importance, TVRI Bali at this time has only got limited allocated time which is 5 hours. To fill this in, TVRI Bali will try to fill this in with the public’s essential. Through the programs shown, TVRI Bali is trying to dig, build and strength of us also to develop a social culture life of the Balinese inside the Indonesian Republic frame. (08)

Missing fisherman struck by lightning Negara (Bali Post) -

Tragic experienced by Saefudin (38), a fisherman from Hamlet Munduk, Yeh Kuning Village, Negara, Jembrana. When going to sea in a sea of Yeh kuning on Tuesday (30/11) evening, Saefudin missing after being struck by lightning. Until Wednesday (1 / 12) yesterday afternoon, the body was not recovered .

According to information gathered yesterday, the victims Tuesday afternoon around 16:00 pm went to sea with his colleague Nursuhud (50) citizens of Middle Village, Yeh kuning, Negara using the boats. The plan they’ve come back Wednesday morning to look for fish Parch. But at night, the weather is less friendly. Within a few hours they get a dozen pounds of fish.

Suud survivors of the disaster said that around 22:00 pm the weather suddenly getting ugly. The wind was very strong with heavy rain. Suud confess that moment sitting with repair nets on the front of boats. While his colleagues are trying to improve the display boats. When Saefudin stood suddenly lightning struck the victim until the bounce. Suud who

sat close to the position of the victim was not hit by lightning. But a few seconds later she passed out.

Suud did not realize how long he was unconscious. Once conscious, he had not seen his partner. He was also directly ask for help via cell phone to his family on land. Suud then passed out again and realized when it was on land. According to several residents at the site, along Suud’s boat rescued by other fishermen who happened to be passing.

When found, only Suud discovered while Saefudin was not in the boats.

They were until yesterday afternoon still looking for the presence of the victim The boat used by Suud and victim were in Yeh Kuning, but in a damaged condition due to a lightning strike. The headman of yeh kuning, Samanhuri justify one of its citizens are missing. Until yesterday the team from Polairud, SAR and local fishermen are still searching for the presence of fishermen who were struck by lightning. Suhud itself is still visible in shock after the incident. Dozens of residents gathered yesterday afternoon is still visible on the beach waiting for the results of the search victim. (Kmb26)

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News

Friday, December 3, 2010

International

Japan, US to hold massive military drill from Friday Agence France Presse

TOKYO – Japan will demonstrate its ties with the United States in huge joint military drills, just days after a US and South Korean show of force amid tensions on the Korean peninsula, officials said Thursday. The previously announced “Keen Sword” drills, which were planned before North Korea’s artillery barrage of a South Korean island last week, will take place from Friday to December 10, a defence ministry spokeswoman confirmed.

To demonstrate solidarity with Seoul, the Pacific allies will for the first time invite South Korean military officers to observe the drills, Japanese media reports said.

“It turns out to be good timing to show the bond between Japan and the United States,” a senior ministry official told the Yomiuri Shimbun daily, with the drill following US-South Korea exercises that ended Wednesday. Around 34,000 Japanese military personnel with 40 warships and 250 aircraft will join more than 10,000 US personnel with 20 warships and 150 aircraft in the drill, defence officials said.

The biggest US-Japanese exercises since 2007 will take place in Japanese waters off its southern islands, close to the southern coast of South Korea, officials said.

By having South Korean military officers observe the Japan-US exercises, Tokyo hopes to demonstrate solidarity among the three countries, Japan’s Kyodo and Jiji Press news agencies said. Japan sent soldiers in

an observer capacity to take part in joint US-South Korean military exercises in July, held after the sinking of the Cheonan, a 1,200-tonne South Korean naval vessel, the Japanese defence ministry said.

An international probe blamed North Korea for the sinking, which left 46 South Korean sailors dead. The joint manoeuvres will be much bigger than a naval exercise staged by Washington and Seoul this week in a show of force after Pyongyang stunned the world with the deadly artillery strike on a South Korean border island.

Japan has been on high alert since the attack, with Prime Minister Naoto Kan instructing his ministers to stay in Tokyo during the USSouth Korea drill in the Yellow Sea to prepare for any emergencies.

Japan relies heavily on the United States for its security as under its pacifist constitution, its military is not allowed to attack enemy territories. “This training between Japan and the United States has been a routine, recurring event for many years,”

REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT NO ARCHIVES NO INTERNET AFP PHOTO/YONHAP

A South Korean soldier aims his rifle at a guard post at the South border line of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Cheorwon, 80 km northeast of Seoul on December 2, 2010.

a US Air Force statement said, adding that the exercise was aimed at improving cooperation between US and Japanese forces.

Following Pyongyang’s November 23 attack on Yeonpyeong island,

Taiwan former leader meets son as jail looms Agence France Presse

TAIWAN OUT AFP PHOTO / TONY HUANG

Taiwan’s former president Chen Shui-bian (2nd L) is escorted by policemen as he walks into a car at Tucheng detention center in Taipei county on December 2, 2010. Chen Shui-bian had an emotional meeting with his son on December 2 as he awaited his transfer from a detention centre to the jail where he will serve a 19-year graft conviction.

TUCHENG, Taiwan – Taiwan ex-president Chen Shui-bian had an emotional meeting with his son Thursday as he awaited his transfer from a detention centre to the jail where he will serve a 19-year graft conviction.

While the island’s disgraced former leader met with his son, Chen Chih-chung, dozens of supporters gathered outside the Tucheng Detention Centre on the outskirts of Taipei, protesting his innocence. “A-Bian isn’t guilty!” the crowd chanted, affectionately referring to Chen by his nickname.

Some also held up placards claiming that Taiwan is an independent country, in support of Chen’s lifelong political project, the creation of an island republic formally separate from China. “He was very much worried about the health of my mother,” Chen’s son said after emerging from the meeting with his father.

Chen Shui-bian’s wheelchair-bound wife Wu Shuchen has also been sentenced to 19 years in jail for corruption, but it remains unclear if she will actually serve the sentence, given her frail health. Chen Chihchung himself is embarking on a political career after he was elected at the weekend to the city council in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second-largest weekend and a bastion of anti-China feelings.

The Supreme Court last month sentenced Chen and his wife to 19 years in prison on two bribery charges in the first final verdict of a string of corruption cases implicating them. Chen, who has been detained since late 2008, says his prosecution is a vendetta carried out by the island’s current administration in retaliation for his pro-independence stance during his 2000-2008 term.

Reports have indicated that Chen will soon be moved to a regular prison, where he will be allowed fewer visitors than at the detention centre, while he may also have to share a cell with another inmate. The High Court and the detention centre told AFP they could not say when Chen might be transferred.

which killed four people, China has proposed that the six nations involved in long-stalled North Korean denuclearisation talks hold an emergency meeting on the crisis.

But instead the United States, Ja-

pan and South Korea have agreed to hold their own talks in Washington on December 6 in an apparent snub to China. The other members of the six-party process are China, North Korea and Russia.

War crimes court: arrest Sudan’s al-Bashir Agence France Presse

AMSTERDAM – The International Criminal Court has urged the Central African Republic to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, a war crimes suspect, if he makes his planned visit to the country on Wednesday. The court said the country should arrest al-Bashir, who is scheduled to attend the country’s independence day celebrations, on suspicion of war crimes and alleged genocide in Darfur, or explain why it cannot.

Several nations have previously declined to carry out the court’s international warrant, citing fears it could derail efforts to end the sevenyear conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region. The conflict has left up to 300,000 people dead and forced 2.7 million to flee their homes, according to U.N. figures.

The Central African Republic is, however, a signatory to the international treaty establishing the Hague, Netherlands-based court — a formal promise to abide by its rules.

Al-Bashir denies wrongdoing and rejects the authority of the Hague, Netherlands-based court known as the ICC. The U.N. Security Council granted the ICC jurisdiction over Sudanese war crimes in 2005, but the court has no police force or ability to enforce its orders without cooperation from governments.

The Central African Republic has previously supported the court’s arrest of Congo’s former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, now on trial at the ICC. Bemba allegedly allowed militias under his command to carry out rapes on a wide scale in Central African Republic in 20022003. He has pleaded not guilty.

Fellow ICC treaty signatories Chad and Kenya passed on previous opportunities to arrest al-Bashir. Kenya in particular faced heavy international criticism for failing to arrest al-Bashir in August, including from U.S. President Barack Obama. Kenya then ducked out of hosting an event al-Bashir was to attend in October.

Al-Bashir has continued to visit countries where he is not likely to face arrest, such as Ethiopia, which is not a member of the ICC. He traveled to Saudi Arabia last month on a Muslim pilgrimage.

Hotel Activities

International

Friday, December 3, 2010

5

Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center

The First Four Star Hotel in Denpasar has Halal Certificate from MUI IBP

DENPASAR - As one of the hotel which have a MICE market basis supporting with the largest convention facility at Denpasar area, food and beverage is one of strong selling point which also become the biggest revenue for a hotel, especially for a hotel which sell a MICE facilities as well as Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center.

Until now, the domination of domestic market on MICE sector at Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center is quite high, both originating from Bali and the surrounding areas or from other metropolis cities such as Surabaya, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung and another big city.

Domestic markets are dominated by an Indonesian Citizen which most of them are Moslem. Observe from the market composition above, then Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center is committed to providing halal food and beverages to customers, instead the costumer doesn’t have to doubt the safety and halalness.

Form of Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center commitment are realized with the “Press Conference Aston Denpasar

Hotel & Convention Center as the first four star hotel in Denpasar are halal certified from the MUI.” Halal Certification itself is not odd things in culinary world, considered halal food and beverages has become one of international culinary standard. And for Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center, halal food is also one of the unique selling point, because the customer could enjoy the food and beverages with the the best taste and quality and they don’t have to doubt the safety and halalness.

And get the MUI‘s Halal Certification is become of our own substantiation. Remind that at Denpasar and Bali area; there still a few restaurants or hotels which had the Halal certificate.

Therefore Jempiring Restaurants represent Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center want to be a pioneer as a four star hotel with the restaurant with halal certification that serves dishes with the best taste and quality also assured for halalness.

With the halal certificate from MUI is expected to increase public trust in quality of products and services of Aston Denpasar Hotel & Convention Center.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for December 1st through December 13th 2010 December 1st

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Bhatara Kawitan Pura Agung Bangli, downtown of Bangli - Pura Pasek Gelgel, Pedungan village, south of Denpasar - Pura Kertha, Banyuning village, downtown of Singaraja ( north Bali) - Pura Taman, Bubunan village, district of Seririt, Buleleng regency ( north Bali) December 2nd

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Puseh and Desa Silakarang village district of Sukawati village, Gianyar regency - Pura Dalem Pulasari Samprangan village, district of Blahbatuh, Gianyar regency - Pura Natih, banjar kaloh batuan village - Pura Dalem petitenget, Kerobokan village, district of Kuta, Badung regency December 3rd

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Dalem Puri, Besakih village, Karangasem regency - Pura Dalem Puri, Batuan village, Gianyar regency - Pura Dalem, Singakertha village, district of Ubud, Gianyar regency - Pura Dalem Agung, downtown of Bangli - Pura Dalem, Ketewel village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency - Pura Desa, Downtown of Denpasar - Pura Puncak Payogan, Kedewatan village, district of Ubud, Gianyar regency December 8th

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Merajan Agung, Batuyang village, district of

Sukawati, Gianyar regency - Pura Tanjungsari, Padangbai village, Karangasem regency.

December 8th Galungan

This is the most important holiday symbolizing the victory of Virtue (Dharma) upon Evil (Adharma). The holiday is specialized by the fitting of ‘penjor’, a tall bamboo pole splendidly decorated with woven young coconut leaves, fruit, cakes and flowers, on the right side of every house entrance. People are attired in their finest clothes and jewels this day.

December 11th

Temple ceremony on this day: - Segara Temple, Jembrana Regency - Dalem Gede Temple, Losan – Klungkung Regency December 12th

- Redite Wage Kuningan, Ulihan. Balinese do believe, this day is the return of all mighty spirit back to heaven after leaved a prosperity and longevity to the worshipers.

Temple ceremony on this day:

- Dalem Tegal Tamu Temple, Sekarmukti, Batubulan - Gianyar Regency - Kubayan Umagunung Temple, Sempidi – Badung Regency December 13th

Temple ceremony on this day: - Dasar Gelgel Temple, Gelgel – Klungkung Regency - Pasek Tohjiwa Temple, Sawah, Selemadeg – Tabanan Regency - Pemerajan Agung Temple, Benawah Kangin – Gianyar Regency - Panti Pasek Gelgel Temple, Pelapuhan, Busungbiu - Buleleng Regency - Kahyangan Tulus Temple, Apuan – Tabanan Regency

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Friday, December 3, 2010

News UN...

From page 1 “I urge the DPRK to fully implement all of the relevant resolutions of the (IAEA) general conference and of the (UN) Security Council.

As the only multilateral organisation for nuclear verification, the IAEA has an essential role to play in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme,” he said.

Russia envoy

AP Photo/Benoit Tessier, Pool

France’s first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy speaks during a news conference for World AIDS Day at the Marigny hotel in Paris, Wednesday Dec. 1, 2010.

France’s Carla Bruni lauds pope for condom comments

Australia’s Aborigines...

Agence France Presse

Paris – France’s first lady Carla Bruni not only agrees with Pope Benedict XVI’s new statements on condom use, she is “astonished, surprised, and grateful.” Ms. Bruni lauded Pope Benedict on World AIDS Day after the pontiff last month said using condoms was acceptable in cases that risked the spread of disease.

“A certain number of African countries are Christian and listen a lot to the word of the pope. I think that this is a giant step toward something very new, â € The celebrity endorsement is the latest example of positive headlines for the Vatican in a year of devastating child abuse scandals. Moreover, despite controversy in and out of the Roman Catholic Church over the pope’s remarks (he used a prostitute as an example of condom use), it’s further evidence that his comments are being popularly read as an important shift on a deeply unpopular teaching.

Last year, Bruni offered blistering criticism of the pope, who said while on a trip to Africa that condoms were not a solution to the Continent’s devastating AIDS crisis. He also said that their use could worsen the problem.

Yet in a book of interviews with German Catholic writer Peter Seewald released last month, the pope called condom use by prostitutes “a first step in the direction of a moralization, a first assumption of responsi-

A senior Russian envoy stated Thursday that North Korea had violated UN resolutions with its new uranium enrichment programme, a South Korean foreign ministry official said. The deputy envoy to stalled talks on North Korean nuclear disarmament, Grigory Logvinov, made the remark in a meeting with South Korea’s top nuclear negotiator Wi Sung-Lac, said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.

“Russia takes a clear position that the North’s uranium enrichment is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions” and its past pledges to denuclearise in return for aid, Logvinov was quoted saying.

North Korea boasted Tuesday it has “many thousands of centrifuges” running at a new uranium enrichment plant which it

showed last month to visiting US scientists, raising fears it wants to make more fuel for atom bombs. World powers fear that the regime of Kim Jong-Il, which has twice tested atom bombs, is seeking to produce weaponsgrade uranium on top of the plutonium it already possesses to use in a game of nuclear brinkmanship.

Pyongyang issued its first report on the facility, which it says is for peaceful purposes, a week after launching an artillery attack against the South, which killed four people and brought international condemnation.

Moscow, unlike Beijing, has criticised Pyongyang, with which it usually has friendly ties, over the November 23 strike on a border island.

Russia has called for dialogue to ease tensions, but Logvinov expressed no position on China’s proposal for an emergency meeting of the six members of the talks on the nuclear disarmament of North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

Three members — the United States, South Korea and Japan — have been cool to the proposal from host China and they instead are planning their own threeway talks Monday in Washington, without China, Russia and North Korea.

bility….”

The Vatican insists the pope’s comments do not change basic church teaching against condoms as a form of contraception and dehumanization of sexual relations. Yet Federico Lombardi, head of the Vatican office of communications, has stressed the pope’s bravery as the first pontiff to publicly talk about condoms.

Mr. Lomabardi stated the pope’s position this way: “… If you’re a man, a woman, or a transsexual….

The point is it’s a first step of taking responsibility, of avoiding passing a grave risk onto another.”

The pope’s book-length interview, “Light of the World,” released Nov. 23 in Italy and Germany, has led to a deluge of analysis and reporting.

Journals and columns promise “the real” meaning of the pope’s condom comments (for some it means nothing; for others it is revelatory). Bishops have debated doctrine, bioethics, and morality; some conservative Catholics worry if the pope has indulged in the “cultural relativism”

that he has long fought against.

Still other voices argue the scholarpope – the shy, self-sequestering German whose best friends are Aquinas and Augustine – has done a theological “Nixon in China.” In this view, the conservative pope put out an informal new position on condoms – jumping over church doctrinal apparatus in a way that may be irreversible – that suggests protection is important and has a place.

William Saletan in Slate offers that: “This isn’t an endorsement of condoms.

It’s more than that. It’s an explication of the morality of condom use. It’s an analysis of how prophylactic sexual conduct can honor the principles – responsibility, care for one’s partner, enduring moral standards….” Pope biographer David Gibson argued in the Sunday New York Times that “Benedict has clearly changed course.”

Media analysts and some liberal Catholic thinkers argue that what makes the new papal direction most comprehensible is that, intentionally or not, it does what all successful politics does in time of crisis: It changes the subject.

From page 1 The so-called intervention, initially enforced using troops, was launched by the conservative government of John Howard and continued by the ruling centre-left Labor party.

It has been condemned as racist by the United Nations.

“They (Aboriginal people) are like prisoners in remote communities,” said Ryan of the policy, which quarantined welfare payments and imposed alcohol and pornography bans.

While First Nations would focus on uniquely Aboriginal issues including sovereignty and land rights, Ryan said he also hoped to offer a real alternative to the major Liberal/National and Labor parties on more mainstream issues.

“We want to be able to give an alternative to the wishy-washy policies of Labor and Liberal, who have done nothing,” said Ryan.

Once thought to number more than one million, Aborigines now account for just 470,000 people out of Australia’s total population of 22 million, and suffer disproportionately high rates of disease, imprisonment and unemployment.

Aboriginal men have a life expectancy 11.5 years shorter than their non-Aboriginal counterparts, while Aboriginal women die 9.7 years sooner.

Next February will mark three years since former prime minister Kevin Rudd delivered a historic apology to Aborigines for wrongs committed since white settlement in 1788. His successor, Julia Gillard, has announced a referendum on constitutional recognition for the country’s native people, who have a deep cultural tradition stretching back some 40,000 years.

International

Indonesia Today

Friday, December 3, 2010

7

Inflationary pressure to continue in 2011 Antara

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) Governor Darmin Nasution predicted that inflationary pressure in 2010 would continue in 2011.

“The inflationary pressure would continue in 2011 from the beginning of the year but it would not exceed 6.0 percent,” the BI governor said here on Wednesday after attending a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR)’s Commission XI on financial affairs.

Nasution said that next year’s inflation would not reach 6 percent as far as there was no extraordinary event that would trigger inflation.

He said that BI had since the beginning predicted that the inflation in 2010 would slightly above the 6 percent level.

This is because in July 2010 a

FOTO ANTARA/Agus Bebeng

MPR Vice Chairman calls for wise handling of Yogyakarta issue Antara

JAKARTA - People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Vice Chairman Lukman Hakim Saefuddin said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should be wise in relation with the special status of Yogyakarta province.

Lukman expressed hope that President Yudhoyono’s explanation about the case at the cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon could mitigate and resolve the polemics.

“What we need at present is the wisdom of the president, and we hope he will resolve the situation this afternoon by showing his commitment to maintaining Yogyakarta’s special status,” Lukman said.

According to the politician of the United Development Party (PPP), a referendum on Yogyakarta’s special region status was not necessary because it would jeopardize the Unitary State of the Indonesian Republic (NKRI).

Moreover, it was clear that the people of Yogyakarta wanted Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X to remain governor.

“It is quite clear that the majority of Yogyakarta people want Sri Sultan to remain governor, and a referendum would be a threat to the NKRI,” Lukman said.

Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono held a special meeting with Vice President Boediono before he was to issue a statement about the bill on Yogyakarta’s special status.

The meeting with Boediono

started at 11 am at and was also attended by six other ministers.

After the special meeting with the vice president, the head of state was scheduled to chair a limited cabinet meeting at 2 on Thursday afternoon before issuing a statement about the bill on Yogyakarta’s special status which had triggered polemics over the past few days.

Earlier, there had been an unconfirmed report that Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X would be summoned by the president to the State Palace at 2 pm on Thursday but the report was denied by presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha.

“No, it is not true that Sri Sultan has been summoned by President Yudhoyono,” Julian said.

Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) Governor Darmin Nasution (right) predicted that inflationary pressure in 2010 would continue in 2011.

number of cases had boosted the inflation such as the increase in the basic electricity tariff and bad weather that caused agricultural product to weaken.

However, Darmin refused to mention the exact level of the inflation rate in 2011. In BI’s assumptions, inflation was set at 6.5 percent for 2010 and 5.3 percent for 2011.

Darmin expressed concern that inflationary pressure would occur if supplies were no longer able to balance demand.

The Central Board of Statistics (BPS) has reported that inflation in November stood at 0.60 percent. Rice prices which continued to increase in November contributed to the November inflation of 0.12 percent.

“The inflation rate was relatively high and had been predicted before,” BPS chief Rusman Heriawan said.

Indonesian police defuse bombs Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesian bomb disposal experts defused two bombs Wednesday just before they were about to explode in police posts on Java island, officials said.

Each device was placed in a box containing plastic bottles filled with gasoline, police spokesman Iskandar Hasan told reporters.

“When we found them around 8:00 am this morning the timers were already on, but our anti-terror squad managed to defuse them,” he said.

The bombs were placed in police posts in Klaten district of Cen-

tral Java province, he added.

Police have not identified any suspects but suspicions immediately fell on religious extremists who are battling to turn the mainly Muslim democracy into an Islamic caliphate.

Groups linked to or inspired by Al-Qaeda have regularly targeted foreigners in Indonesia but police say they are now on the extremists’ hitlist along with government leaders and other security forces.

Police have killed or arrested hundreds of alleged terrorists since the 2002 bombings of tourist night spots on the resort island of Bali which killed more than 200 people, mainly foreigners.

Bengkulu offers tourism object to Netherlands Antara

BENGKULU - Lebong district Cultural Tourism and Transportation Services in Bengkulu province will offer the Netherlands tourism object and cooperation in the development of ancient history.

“We will offer cooperation with the Netherlands to their ancestral heritage in Lebong district, district Cultural Tourism and Transportation Services spokesman Yustin Hendri said here on Thursday.

The site of former gold mining heritage, mined by the Dutch from 1902-1938 at Lebong district, is at

present a potential object attracting both domestic and foreign tourists.

Yustin said that as a compensation of thousands of tons of gold which had been mined by the Dutch for 36 years in Lebong, it was necessary to cooperate with the Netherlands to promote various natural and historic heritages in the district.

According to him, Lebong district government would not ask for cash money but instead offer cooperation with Dutch investors to develop various tourism objects in Lebong.

Yustin said it was necessary to offer the Dutch investors to operate at tourism sector in Lebong district

because the area was the former activities of their ancestors.

The former Dutch mining sites which still exist today are among others Tambang Sawah, Lebong Simpang, Lebong Sulit, and Lebong Tandai in North Bengkulu district.

Meanwhile, Lebong district head Rosjohan Syah said he would fully support the cooperation with the Dutch investors to develop the natural and historical sites in the area into tourism objects.

“To restore our friendship with the grand children of the Dutchmen miners in Bengkulu, we will support such cooperation,” Rosjohan said.

FOTO ANTARA/Fanny Octavianus

Students using facility in the United States Cultural Center, the first in the world, that called “@america” after its inauguration at Jakarta on Thursday, December 2, 2010. The place that being inaugurated by the Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Judith A. McHale equipped with high technology.

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Internationa

Friday, December 3, 2010

Bali Today Many illegal foreign workers exist in Bali Antara

Denpasar – The increasing number of illegal foreign workers in Bali is because the conduct of the local businessmen. They don’t select the workers properly but just hire the foreigners. The owner of Bounty Cruise, Gede Wiratha, said “many business owners in Bali hire foreign workers without going through the proper mechanism. This condition is very different with abroad where foreign workers must go through a tight selection process. Once, my company also used foreign workers.”

He explained that his company recruited the foreign workers through the proper procedures.

Nowadays, many business owners who hire the workers ignore the process. In many occasion, the owners even give job to the foreigners they just meet.

“It is not correct. There is should be job interview and some tests before they hire somebody. It

is not like shopping in the market where you just buy what you like,” Wirata said. The problems caused by the foreign workers are also the responsibility of the local businessmen.

This can not continue because it will make bad effect on the economic condition in Bali. Wirata said that the process of recruiting foreign workers must be similar with the

process of Indonesian workers who want to work abroad. “If they use visa for tourists then they can not work in Indonesia. This is the responsibility of the immigration department,” he added.

Wirata admitted that it is necessary to use foreign workers because Bali as international tourist destination needs the people who understand international market.

Mayadanawa: Feeling Superiority Results in Destruction When penjors paraphernalia are erected throughout the island, they epitomize that Galungan festivity has come.

Every single devotee is in blooming heart welcoming it with joy. This six monthly celebration in Balinese calendar encourages people to make earnest preparation whole day and night.

It’s time to glorify God and ancestors.

Based on the mythology, Galungan delineates the triumph of dharma (truth) against adharma (untruth). According to Tatwa Mayadanawa transliterated by Made Gambar said that Bedaulu kingdom in Bali was once ruled

by Mayadanawa. He was very powerful and proud of his power and feels to have more sovereign power than that of gods.

This arrogance until forbids all subjects to worship God together with the celebration to glorify all God’s manifestations.

The non-existence of freedom to worship and other religious activities caused many subjects greatly suffered where diseases spread and harvests failed. Seeing this condition, Lord Mahadeva in heaven feels disappointed. Having organized an assembly session with other gods, it is decided to attack Mayadanawa. Under the leadership of Lord Indra, the target can

be timely destroyed. In short, the troops of the gods won the battle.

This does not only stand for the triumph of the gods, but also of the whole mankind on earth.

Afterwards, Galungan then can be re-celebrated after the triumph of Indra. Many subjects felt to regain their enlightenment as they were able to practice their religious life. This festivity lasts for ten days and ends in the day called Kuningan. Aside from paying homage at village temple, it is also intended to appreciate the ancestors at family shrine. Similarly, devotees thank for the prosperity bestowed and maintain the relationship with their ancestors. Though they have left for the beyond, hopefully they could illuminate their descendants.

Another version about Galungan is mentioned by the manuscript Jaya Kasunu. It is said that the king Jaya Kasunu (AD 1204), meditated (held dewa sraya) to invoke guidance. His problem was that not one of his predecessors could rule longer.

Through his solemn meditation he was inspired that he should re-organize religious activities, such as Galungan.

No matter what the version is, the essence of these mythologies implies that a devotee or creation should maintain their persistent contact to his Creator. The âtman dwelling within the human self should maintain his contact to Brahman, the Cre-

ator. By doing so humans can continuously obtain the illumination to walk in the path of dharma.

As manifestation of gratitude, devotees express it through worship at temples, garden, rice field and so forth. Everything that has given prosperity is also offered an oblation, including the means of transportation. If you happen to take an excursion on that day you of course will rub up against many cars affixed with young coconut paraphernalia.

Hopefully, the festivity does not come to an end at the vibrant fiesta marked with grandiose oblation, assorted delicious food or luxurious paraphernalia. All the times it should help the spiritual development. Anything achieved in this life either tangible or intangible entities, should not make us arrogant. Sometimes, when having abundance of wealth or higher educational background, a human feels superior or more powerful than others. Even, it is not employed as a milestone to improve his devotion to God. It’s here where the achievement drags human to sluggish condition or gorge of destruction. Like Mayadanawa, he forgot that there is a vast sky above him. His power has led him to his dissolution. If we do not want to become the next Mayadanawa, consistent devotion must be established. (BTN/punia)

http://3.bp.blogspot.com

The view of Serangan Island. The activity of Serangan Island Festival (FPSS) ending on Sunday (Nov 28) is now even criticized by the local committee.

Serangan Island Festival:

Lacking of visitors, criticized by local committee Bali Post

DENPASAR - The activity of Serangan Island Festival (FPSS) ending on Sunday (Nov 28) is now even criticized by the local committee. Because, the activity managed by the Denpasar Environment Agency (BLH) drew minimal visitors. In addition, it also considered to lack of coordination among the agencies in Denpasar Municipality, so the implementation of this annual activity was less impressive. Even, the purpose of implementing the festival was considered to have not produced optimal results.

This matter was conveyed by one of the local committees, Ketut Arya Saputra, in Denpasar, on Tuesday (Nov 30). In his opinion, if compared to the implementation of last year, the activity of this year showed a decrease in visitors. “I think the publication of this year to general public outside Serangan Island was not optimal. As a result, it could only attract very small number of visitors,” said Arya Saputra, who is also a member of Commission B in the Denpasar House.

Arya Saputra assessed, a number of agendas organized this year in the Serangan Island Festival did not reflect the main purpose of festival. It was merely caused by the lacking of socialization. As consequence, many people did not know about such a big event organized on Serangan Island. “I think it is merely a matter of lacking of coordination between the agencies serving as the leading sector with relevant regional apparatus unit (SKPD),” said Arya Saputra.

This politician of Democratic Party considered the lack of socialization and coordination caused the events held in the festival widely unknown to the public attracted very little visitors to come to the venue of festival. As a matter of fact, local communities were very enthusiastic

to welcome the festival and hoped many visitors would be coming. But, the recent festival seemingly did not have any magnets to draw visitors.

This condition was very different from the administration last year.

As a form of seriousness of Serangan residents to welcome the festival, it had been shown by preparing joint committee taken from Serangan Customary Village. All measures were intended to achieve the objectives of the festival namely to raise the entire potential of the Serangan Island.

“Serangan Island was quite disappointed with the implementation of such festival,” said Arya Saputra.

Therefore, his party suggested the need for evaluation for the next festival to make it more passionate. “Our citizens are ready to take over the administration. However, they must be still backed up by the Denpasar Municipality,” observed Arya Saputra.

Separately, the Head of Denpasar Environment Agency, AA Bagus Sudharsana, said the success of the Serangan Island Festival could not be seen from the number of visits. However, what presented more referred to the potential existing at the village. In other words, the quality of materials presented was much better than the previous similar activities. ”What we show now poses the potential owned by the local community. So, the number of visits is not a benchmark for the success of the festival,” he said.

Related to the small number of visitors, it all depended on the materials displayed. In other words, the potential existing on Serangan Island such as coral reefs, as well as variety of typical local culinary were unable to attract more visitors.

“Probably, if in the event was held a motorcycle modification contest, I have great confidence there will be a lot of visitors. However, it is not our goal. In essence, we want to promote and introduce the potential owned by Serangan Island,” he said. (kmb12)

al

Friday, December 3, 2010

Barong Bangkung Keeps on Pursuing Its ”Prey” Ciiiiiiiiiiiit tah Cit ...., Cit ...., Citah barong bangkung !!!!!!!

On hearing these expressions, children then run helter-skelter regardless of the danger impeding in front them. There is a child jumping over the wall compound, running into the house and then lock the door, while some others climb up the trees nearby as they are so scared. Meanwhile, the barong bangkung (barong in the form of huge she-pig) does not want to lose its target and keeps on pursuing them.

When the children are missing from its presence, this black barong is only grunting and occasionally showing off while luring the children to go out. In the meantime, its gamelan music accompaniment named batel keeps on being played so that the show becomes more attractive. If the barong bangkung often chases the children, so the barong bangkung is also hunted by many organizers for a show.

Thus, the uniqueness of barong bangkung art show held during the

period of Galungan to Kuningan festivity. By and large, the barong show is habitually performed for 15 days starting from two days prior to Galungan (penyajaan) until Manis Kuningan (December 5-9, 2010). In its show, the art of barong bangkung is really different from other traditional Balinese performing arts. It does not require special stage, but it performs the show from one house’s entrance to another commonly known as ngelawang or gallivanting show.

Virtually every single region in Bali has an art tradition of barong bangkung. By performing the barong bangkung, the Hindu communities in Bali believe they will be free from evil forces. Barong bangkung has function to neutralize (nyomya) the evil forces into good forces. Yet, there are also people organizing the show just to please their grandchildren at the feast of the victory of dharma (truth) against adharma (untruth).

However, most people in the re-

gion of Tabanan believe that by performing barong bangkung show, their pregnant she-pig cattle will give birth to many piglets. In the region of Ubud Gianyar, the presence of barong bangkung will become an interesting spectacle for tourists.

Meanwhile, in the region of Badung and Denpasar, the art of barong bangkung is usually danced by adults. Then, at Gulingan Village the barong bangkung is played by two generations, namely children and the adults.

In the gallivanting show, people do not only present the barong bangkung, but also other barongs like barong macan (barong in the form of tiger), barong landung (tall Chinese couple) and some others.

These days, the gallivating show is also commonly undertaken at hotels specifically intended for tourists. Bali Provincial Government through the annual Bali Arts Festival (BAF) regularly organizes the gallivanting show as an effort to preserve the tradition. (BTN/015)

Balinese Culture Babi Kecap

(Pork Cooked in Soya Sauce) Though Indonesia is an Islamic country, there is some pork available. It is hard to find and most restaurants don’t serve it because any restaurant that cooks pork would have to have completely separate facilities and equipment to prepare it or the restaurant would not be considered halal (clean).

Ingredients o 1/2 kg (1 1/4 lb) fillet of pork -or leg of pork o 1 tb Clear soya sauce o 2 tb Plain flour o 1/2 ts Powdered ginger o 20 g (4 oz) button mushrooms o 4 Cloves garlic o 1 sl of root ginger, about 2 cm -(1") across and 1/2 cm -(1/4") thick o 3 tb Dark soya sauce o Pepper or a pinch of chilli -powder o 2 tb water o 2 tb Medium dry sherry or rice -wine (optional) o 2 ts Lemon juice o 6 tb Oil or pork fat

Directions This, as its name suggests, is pork cooked in soya sauce. It is a particular favourite with my own husband and children, who always know when it is about to appear on the table because the ginger and garlic frying in the sauce smell so deliciously savoury.

Cut the pork into small cubes. Put the flour into a bowl and add the clear soya sauce and ginger powder, mixing them well together. Coat the pork with the mixture and then let it stand for at least 30 minutes.

Clean and slice the mushrooms. Peel the garlic and ginger and slice them very thin; you can use these thin slices as they are, or cut them again into very tiny sticks.

Heat the oil or fat in a wok or thick frying pan and fry the meat, half of it at a time, turning it from time to time, for 5 minutes.

Repeat the process for the remaining half of the meat.

The flour that coated the meat will tend to stay in the pan or stick to the bottom of it, but leave it there-it will thicken the sauce later. Now take most of the oil out of the pan, leaving only about two tablespoons which you then heat again. In this, fry the tiny slices of garlic and ginger and the mushrooms, stirring continuously, for i minute. Add the soya sauce, the water and the meat. mix well, season with pepper or chilli powder, and stir continuously for 1 or 2 minutes. just before serving, add the sherry or rice wine and the lemon juice. Serve hot.

http://img508.imageshack.us

This dish keeps extremely well in the freezer, and it is worth making a large quantity from, say, half a leg-of pork, which is much cheaper than buying pork fillet. If you are going to freeze your Babi Kecap, however, do not add the sherry or lemon juice at the time of cooking.

To serve from the freezer, thaw the meat out completely and heat quickly on a high flame for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring or shaking the pan well all the time. Add the sherry or rice wine and lemon juice just before serving. (http://asiarecipe.com)

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Friday, December 3, 2010

Destinations

International

Tanah Lot IBP

Tanah Lot is a famous destination in Bali Island. It is located on coastal side of Beraban village, Tabanan Regency. Besides being famous for its beautiful scenery, Tanah Lot also famous with its temple. The temple located on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip.

This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali with spectacular view of sunset. At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple there are holy tame snake in black and white color where according to the local society believe that it as a deity property and as the guard of the temple from the bad influence.

The word of Tanah Lot is consisted of two words that are Tanah word interpreted as a reef looking like gili or isle. Lot or Lod word has meaning the sea. So Tanah Lot is meaning the small island floating on the sea. The location is now called as Tanah Lot has been used at a Megalithic period as a place that

looked into holy, proven from the existence of menhir. Pursuant to environmental condition, hence the structure of Tanah Lot Temple is built at irregular reef plain of its angle which is only consisted of one plain yard as Jeroan.

The function of this temple can be realized from the function of the main temple building which is located in the temple main area. In this place, there is a main temple to worship the god in form of Dewa Baruna or Bhatara Segara, the sea power.

The media of worship to this god is the temple building with 5 storied meanwhile the 3 storied temple building in north part of this area is purposing to worship to Dang Hyang Nirartha.

In order to know the status of Tanah Lot Temple can be realized from the temple history, function and also incoming devotee existence pray when temple ceremony is held.

In this case can be realized as follows: Tanah Lot Temple as dang Kahyangan (the big Holy Temples in Bali), because the history and the Penyiwi (The people taking care of

the temple) are from the local people from Tabanan regency and surrounding area Tanah Lot temple as Segara Temple, because its function as sanctum to worship the Bhatara Segara,

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the God with manifestation as the ocean Power Deity The unique animal can be seen in this temple area is the snake which are generally can be met in the coast. Part of its stomach there

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Friday, December 3, 2010

11

BUSINESS Asia-Pacific’s investment banking revenues hit all-time high Agence France-Presse AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY

HONG KONG - Asia-Pacific’s investment banks have posted record revenues in 2010, skyrocketing about 33 percent over last year, industry data showed Thursday, as the region benefits from soaring investor interest.

The sector’s revenue excluding Japan has reached an all-time high of 9.17 billion US dollars so far this year, overtaking the previous peak of 9.09 billion US dollars in 2007, industry data providers Dealogic told AFP. The region’s latest revenues also increased by about a third over last year’s 6.91 billion US dollars, according to Dealogic figures.

China’s growth contributed significantly to total investment bank-

ing revenue in Asia Pacific, with the country accounting for 51 percent of the region’s total income, up sharply from 35.5 percent last year.

China was followed by Australia, India, Hong Kong and South Korea, Dealogic said, adding that the data include revenue from deals in the equity and debt markets as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Asia-Pacific’s revenues still lag behind that of investment banks in the United States and Europe, but it

was the only region among the three to post a year-on-year increase as of Wednesday.

US investment-banking revenues in the year-to-date stand at 20.58 billion US dollars, slightly below 21.02 billion US dollars last year.

In Europe, investment-banking revenues dropped sharply to 13.16 billion US dollars from 18.61 billion US dollars in 2009 as the eurozone’s debt problems dent investor confidence.

Fed lifts lid on crisis lending to non-US banks Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday lifted the lid on the vast scale of help given to foreign banks during the financial crisis, publishing details about trillions of dollars’ worth of loans.

Unleashing a flood of information about its moves to keep the financial system afloat, the central bank unveiled data on more than 21,000 transactions, many involving non-US firms.

Britain’s Barclays and Bank of Scotland emerged alongside US banks as major beneficiaries.

Barclays borrowed more than 200 billion dollars through one tool alone — the Term Auction Facility — via two subsidiaries in New York and one in Delaware.

In total, the facility was used over 4,200 times by dozens of firms from around the world between December 2007 and March 2010, when it was closed.

The dates span one the most volatile periods in financial history, as banks from Brazil to Japan struggled with fallout from the subprime crisis and looked to the Fed for help.

The Term Auction Facility had been established to allow banks confidential access to low-cost Fed loans while avoiding rumors of poor

liquidity that could have sparked panic or a run.

France’s Societe Generale, Switzerland’s UBS, Belgium’s Dexia, and Germany’s Bayerische Landesbank, Dresdner Bank and its now-partner Commerzbank were all frequent users, each drawing down billions of dollars.

Many major US banks also used the facility, but the scale of use by non-US banks is likely to fuel anger that US cash aided foreign firms.

Watchdogs have already criticized the Treasury Department’s parallel relief program; because much of the 700 billion dollars doled out to firms like US insurer AIG went to European counter-parties.

The Fed had released the data only after a demand from Congress and stressed Wednesday that the tool was open “only to institutions that are financially sound.”

Fed critic Bernie Sanders said the disclosure, which he fought for, showed the government bailouts were “pocket change compared to the trillions and trillions of dollars in near zero interest loans and other financial arrangements the Federal Reserve doled out to every major financial institution in this country.

“Perhaps most surprising is the huge sum that went to bail out for-

eign private banks and corporations including two European megabanks — Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse — who were the largest beneficiaries of the Fed’s purchase of mortgage-backed securities.”

But other data released Wednesday served to underscore the depths of the financial crisis, and the central role the Fed played to prop up the economy.

Another Fed lending tool — the Commercial Paper Funding Facility — allowed companies to tap driedup money markets and helped keep the gears of industry rolling.

The facility was used by household names like General Electric, Caterpillar, Harley-Davidson, Verizon, McDonald’s and BMW. It was also used repeatedly by entities related to the Bavarian and South Korean governments.

As financial conditions have improved the Fed has moved to close most of the facilities, but with data covering transactions taken this year, investors will be poring over the files for signs of frailty.

The Fed tried to allay any concerns.

“Participation in (these facilities) reflected the severe market disruptions during the financial crisis and generally did not reflect participants’ financial weakness,” it said.

People shop at the Times Square Toys “R” Us for the day after Thanksgiving “Black Friday” sales in New York on November 26, 2010. Black Friday is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year and kicks off the holiday shopping season for retailers.

US automakers report jump in November sales Agence France-Presse

NEW YORK - US carmakers on Wednesday reported a jump in November sales as they reap the fruit of promotions and a rise in consumer confidence, in a sign of improving times for the embattled industry.

General Motors reported US car sales for November jumped 11.4 percent from a year ago in a month marked by GM’s historic return to Wall Street as it sheds government ownership following its massive bailout last year.

Ford also reported US sales rose 24.3 percent in November from the same period in 2009, with 147,338 vehicles sold on the back of a 34 percent rise in truck sales.

And Chrysler, which was also salvaged by a massive taxpayers’ bailout, also reported US sales rose 17 percent in November from last year, in the eighth straight month of year-to-year sales increases.

Chrysler sold 74,152 vehicles last month, it said.

The robust sales results, which exceeded most expectations, were due to “strengthening sales of large trucks and big SUVs, in part, because of attractive incentives, heavy promotions and a gradually improving economy,” said Edmunds.com analyst Michelle Krebs.

GM, the largest US automaker said sales of its four brands — Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac — totaled 168,704 vehicles in November, up 11.4 percent from November 2009.

“Each brand came to the party in November,” said Don Johnson, US sales operations vice president.

“These results show that our brands continue to gain momentum with consumers who want stylish, fuel-efficient vehicles,” he said in a statement.

GM returned to public trading on November 18, marking a dramatic turnaround for the embattled company.

The Detroit, Michigan-based automaker was forced into bankruptcy protection in June 2009 amid massive debts and a 50-billion-dollar government bailout.

The IPO, which raised more than 23.7 billion dollars, lowered the government stake in the company below 50 percent and recouped 11.7 billion dollars for US taxpayers.

Krebs praised the results from Ford, the only car maker to avoid bankruptcy and government control.

“Every new model introduced has been a marketplace hit, most recently, the redesigned Ford Edge whose sales were up 55 percent this month. And Ford has more on deck, notably the new Ford Focus and the promising Ford Explorer,” Krebs said.

“Ford’s broad range of high-quality, fuel-efficient vehicles is driving one of our best years ever and positioning Ford to deliver improved results in the future,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president of sales and marketing.

GM shares were up 1.9 percent and Ford stocks rose 3.45 percent following the monthly US sales report.

12

Entertainment

Friday, December 3, 2010

International

Ben Affleck wants to make movie about DRCongo Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Oscar-winning screenwriter, actor, director and now Africa advocate Ben Affleck wants to make a movie about the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of Congo but has found no Hollywood taker yet. “I would love to make a movie about Congo, but unfortunately I’ve asked Hollywood folks and they always say, ah, nobody wants to see a movie about Africa,” said Affleck, who earlier this year founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) advocacy group.

“I think that points to this general sense that people sort of tune out, that it doesn’t matter,” he said in an interview. “It’s also a function of trends and conventional wisdom: if it comes down to a movie with fighting robots or a movie on what’s happening in eastern Congo, you’re not going to win.”

Affleck was speaking Tuesday after launching a report by his advocacy group, which calls for the United States to lead an international effort to bring stability to the troubled eastern Congo or risk the Great Lakes region becoming “another failure of humanity.” “In eastern Congo, conflict and insecurity continue while the guns

have fallen silent in other parts,” the report said. The Congo was riven by devastating back-to-back wars that began in the 1990s and ended early this century after claiming some 3.5 million lives.

“The international community — and the US in particular — must do more to address the challenges in eastern Congo if another failure of humanity is to be averted in central Africa,” the ECI report said.

Affleck directed, wrote and costarred in bank heist movie “The Town” and has a slew of awards to his name, including a 1998 Oscar for the screenplay of “Good Will Hunting.” He is among a growing number of stars who use their celebrity to raise awareness of global crises.

George Clooney has advocated for Sudan, “Avatar” and “Alien” star Sigourney Weaver voiced a documentary film about ocean acidification and “Avatar” director James Cameron has spoken out for the Amazonian rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Affleck has already made two short documentaries about eastern Congo, collaborating last year with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger on a 23-minute video called “Gimme Shelter,” shot in the NordKivu region and featuring the Stones’ hit song by the same name.

FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2010 file photo, rapper Eminem performs at Yankee Stadium in New York.

AP Photo/Jason DeCrow, file

Eminem caps comeback year with 10 Grammy nods Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES - Eminem earned 10 nominations Wednesday for the annual Grammy music awards, capping a comeback year for the once-troubled rap star, while Lady Gaga and Jay-Z also scored big.

Eminem got a Best Album nod for his album “Recovery,” as well Best Song nomination with Rihanna for “Love the Way You Lie,” at the 53rd Grammys show, set to take place in Los Angeles on February 13.

AFP/Getty Images/File/Kris Connor

Actor Ben Affleck speaks at the discussion of US policy in the Democratic Republic of Congo in November 2010. Affleck wants to make a movie about the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of Congo but has found no Hollywood taker for the project, he told AFP.

Hawaiian-born singer Bruno Mars, who performed twice during an hourlong concert to announce the Grammy prize shortlists, came second to Eminem with seven nominations including Best Male Pop Vocal. US rap megastar Jay-Z, Nashville-born country trio Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga each earned six nods at the show.

Katy Perry, who opened the show with her catchy “California Gurls,” is also in the running for Best Album along with Lady Gaga, Arcade Fire and Lady Antebellum.

Best New Artist nominees were Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber, quirky

British singer Florence Welch’s Florence and the Machine, country-tinged Brits Mumford and Son, as well as Drake and Esperanza Spalding.

Eminem — real name Marshall Bruce Mathers III — dropped out of music-making in the middle of the past decade as he battled with drug problems. He returned with the album “Relapse” in 2009, before “Recovery” this year.

As well best album and record nods, he is also tipped for best song, best pop collaboration with vocals, best rap solo, best rap song (twice), best rap/sung collaboration, best rap

album and best short form video.

While all the attention focuses on pop, rap and rock music for the young, Grammy organizers also select nomination lists for more than 100 categories, including classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal and others.

Some of the less-noticed nominees who could be called to the stage in February include Barry Manilow and Johnny Mathis in the best traditional pop vocal album, and talent show sensation Susan Boyle for best pop vocal album.

British actress Emma Thompson should pencil February 13 in her diary as she is nominated for best children’s spoken word album for “Nanny McPhee Returns,” while Woody Allen is in the running for best spoken word album.

Comic Robin Williams is among the five nominated for best comedy album, along with “Daily Show” host and Tea Party scourge Jon Stewart.

Tom Hanks to star in controversial Latino film Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES – Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks is to star in a new film

by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow which has sparked fury in Latin America, the movie’s producer was quoted as saying Wednesday. Argentina and Paraguay are refusing to cooperate in the production of the movie “Triple Frontier,” which focuses on a border region between the two countries and Brazil thought to be a center for terror financing.

“Tom Hanks is starring in the film,” producer Charles Roven told the ComingSoon.net online movie

news website. “We’re still looking to cast the other roles. We’re hoping to start shooting the movie sometime in mid-March.”

There was no immediate response from publicists for Hanks, famous for roles in “Sleepless in Seattle,” “Forrest Gump,” “Saving Private Ryan” and “Castaway.”

Bigelow, whose movie “The Hurt Locker” won multiple Oscars this year, including best picture, wants to examine the area where Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil meet.

But the focus on the region has angered the tourism ministers of Argentina and Paraguay, who fear the

movie could damage their countries’ reputation with foreign visitors.

The border region has long been associated with trade in contraband items and the US government has also said it is a center for terror financing, a claim denied by the three countries involved.

Hollywood veteran Tom Hanks, seen here in August 2010, is to star in a new film by Oscarwinning director Kathryn Bigelow which has sparked fury in Latin America, the movie’s producer was quoted as saying Wednesday.

AFP/Getty Images/File/Alberto E. Rodriguez

Life Style

International

Friday, December 3, 2010

13

Study says even being a bit overweight is risky Associated Press Writer

AFP PHOTO / ESO L.CALCADA

A handout released on November 29, 2010 by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) shows an artists impression of the atmosphere around a super-Earth exoplanet, the name given to rocky exoplanets only a few times larger than our own, that has been analysed for the first time by an international team of astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope.

First super-Earth atmosphere analysed: study Agence France Presse

PARIS - Astronomers have for the first time analysed the atmosphere of a “super-Earth,” the name given to rocky exoplanets only a few times larger than our own, according to a study released Wednesday. The breakthrough is a key step in the quest to identify planets in other solar systems that could potentially host forms of life we might recognise, the researchers said.

“We’ve reached a milestone on the road toward characterising these worlds,” said lead author Jacob Bean, a professor at the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The exoplanet in question, dubbed GJ 1214b, is some 42 light years — four hundred trillion kilometers, or 250 trillion miles — from our corner of the universe, with a radius about 2.6 times that of Earth.

Discovered last year, GJ 1214b circles a small, faint star, making it that much easier for scientists to

tease out data about the atmosphere by analysing starlight as it passes the rim of the planet on its way to us. Depending on the chemical composition and weather of the atmosphere, specific signature wavelengths of light are absorbed.

Using the European Space Agency’s Very Large Telescope in Chile, Bean and colleagues were able to narrow the range of possibilities from three to two. The first is that GJ 1214b is shrouded by water which — given the nearness to its

star — would be in the form of steam.

It could also be a rocky world with an atmosphere consisting mostly of hydrogen, but with high clouds or haze obscuring the view. What the exoplanet is not, the observations prove, is a “mini-Neptune” with a small rocky core and a deep, hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

“Although we can’t say yet exactly what that atmosphere is made of, it is an exciting step forward to be able to narrow down the options for such a distant world to either steamy or hazy,” said Bean. In either case, it is more than unlikely that GJ 1214b hosts life forms.

“This planet is much too hot to be considered habitable,” Bean told AFP. “In the regions of the atmosphere with pressures similar to what are seen at sea level on Earth, the temperatures are estimated to be more than 500 degree Celsius (930 degrees Fahrenheit).”

five to 28 years.

They focused on people who were healthy at the beginning of the studies, excluding smokers and those with heart disease or cancer because those affect death rates and researchers wanted to see the impact of weight alone.

The lowest death rate for healthy women who had never smoked was in the high end of the ideal body mass index range — between 22.5 and 24.9. Compared with that group, those who were overweight had an increased risk of death of 13 percent.

The increased risk ranged from 44 to 88 percent for those who were obese.

The morbidly obese were 2 1/2 times more likely to die prematurely. The results for men were similar.

Most of the participants in the studies were white so the research focused on them. Results may be different in other ethnic and racial groups, Berrington said. She said evidence suggests that for the same BMI level, African-Americans might have a lower risk of death and Asians a higher risk.

Two-thirds of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese. Overweight begins at a BMI measurement of 25, obese at 30 and morbidly obese at 40. A 5-foot-6 person is considered overweight at 155 pounds, obese at 186 pounds and morbidly obese at 248 pounds.

NEW YORK – Lugging around a few extra pounds? One of the largest studies to look at health and weight finds that you don’t have to be obese to raise your risk of premature death. Merely being overweight carries some risk, too.

Obesity increases the risk of death from heart disease, stroke and certain cancers. But whether being merely overweight contributes to an early death as well has been uncertain and controversial.

Some research has suggested being a little pudgy has little effect or can even be a good thing.

The latest research involving about 1.5 million people concluded that healthy white adults who were overweight were 13 percent more likely to die during the time they were followed in the study than those whose weight is in an ideal range.

“Having a little extra meat on your bones — if that meat happens to be fat — is harmful, not beneficial,” said Dr. Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society, senior author of the study. The study’s conclusions, published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine, are similar to three other large studies, said the lead author, Amy Berrington of the National Cancer Institute.

“Now there’s really a very large body of evidence which supports the finding that being overweight is associated with a small increased risk of death,” Berrington said.

For their government-funded analysis, the researchers pooled 19 long-term studies of mostly white adults. They used each person’s body mass index — a measure of height and weight — and checked to see who died during the folAP low-up periods, Graphic shows how to calculate your body which ranged from mass index and includes a BMI chart

Thousands of men grow mustaches for cancer effort Associated Press Writer

CLEVELAND – The scraggly patch of blond hair on Zak MacDonald’s upper lip is a source of mockery among his co-workers in this testosterone-laden office, where the art of growing a mustache has become a full-blown competition.

Scanning the cubicles, there are several handlebars and respectably bushy mustaches. The most promi-

AP Photo/Tony Dejak

This Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 photo shows Doug Hardman, left, as he stands with his co-workers in Cleveland.

nent even rival the collage of famous ‘staches displayed on the wall, including Tom Selleck’s iconic facial hair. Much to his chagrin, though, MacDonald’s is not among them.

“As you can tell, we’re 22 days in and there’s not a whole lot happening up in the ‘stache area,” he admitted, rubbing a hand over his lip. “But you know, God knows I’m trying.”

These men are among the more than 500,000 eager participants in “Movember,” which inspired men all over the world to grow mustaches last month to raise money for prostate and testicular cancer. Since it was founded by a bunch of beerdrinking Australians in 2005,

Movember has raised more than $100 million, with men collecting sponsorships and earning more money as those mustaches grow.

Movember’s founders say they are shedding light on a very real health threat. While breast cancer awareness has turned half the world pink, they say, cancers targeting men are rarely talked about. “They’re silent killers,” says Movember spokeswoman Lisa Potter.

About 32,000 men will die of prostate cancer in 2010, according to estimates by the American Cancer Society. That’s not far behind the nearly 40,000 women who will die of breast cancer this year.

14

Friday, December 3, 2010

Sport

International

Schalke keep faith with Magath Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Tim Hales

Manchester City’s Jerome Boateng, ground, vies for the ball against Salzburg’s Joaquin Boghossian, center, during their Europa League soccer match at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England, Wednesday Dec. 1, 2010.

Slick City sweep into Europa League knockout round Agence France Presse

PARIS - Manchester City soothed their domestic woes with a resounding 3-0 defeat of FC Salzburg to book their place in the knockout round of the Europa League on Wednesday.

Roberto Mancini side have slipped steadily down the Premier League standings in recent weeks and they came into this penultimate round in Europe’s second-tier competition looking to perform after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Stoke last weekend.

Salzburg had yet to win any of their four Group A matches, and the Austrians ultimately failed to improve those statistics in a match which looked decidedly onesided. Italian striker Mario Balotelli, a summer signing from Inter Milan, opened the scoring in the 18th minute, doubling his tally just after the hour mark to take his goals tally to five in what has been an injury-delayed campaign for City.

England winger Adam Johnson made it 3-0 for the hosts in the 78th minute. “I like coming inside on my right foot to try and get shots off, and luckily tonight I got another goal,” said Johnson. “It was tough, in Europe it’s slower than the Premier League and that showed tonight, but we got the result we wanted.”

Elsewhere in Group A Italian

giants Juventus remained winless after being held 1-1 by Lech Poznan, a result which handed the Polish side entry to the next round. There was more woe for Italy’s Serie A when PSV Eindhoven’s Ola Toivonen produced two second-half goals to give the Dutch a 2-1 away win at Sampdoria.

The Dutch league leaders thus waltz into the last 32 with 13 points from four games, with Metalist Kharkov joining them from Group I, in which Sampdoria, on five points, have been eliminated.

Sampdoria opened the scoring in timely fashion when Giampaolo Pazzini headed home five minutes before the interval. PSV, however, rose to the challenge and Toivonen levelled only six minutes after the restart when he headed home Ibrahim Afellay’s cross when alone at the far post.

Sampdoria suffered a blow late on when Guido Marilungo was dismissed following a second yellow card, and the Dutch giants duly forged ahead with Toivonen sweeping home a 90th minute winner For drama, Young boys took top honours, following VfB Stuttgart

into the knockout round thanks to a thrilling, five-minute display of attacking football which handed the Swiss a 4-2 win over their German opponents.

The Berne-based side opened the scoring thanks to David Degen in the 34th minute and led until early in the second half when Pavel Pogrebnyak levelled four minutes after the restart. The Germans looked to be heading for a victory that would have maintained their 100 percent group record after taking the lead through Sven Schipplock, until Scott Sutter produced a 78th-minute equaliser.

Emmanuel Mayuka then scored a late double to hand the Swiss side a superb home win.

Elsewhere Bayer Leverkusen and Sporting Lisbon progressed after 10 wins over Rosenborg and Lille respectively.

For holders Atletico Madrid meanwhile it will all come down to their final Group B fixture after the Spaniards were shocked 3-2 at home

by Aris Thessaloniki. With Bayer already qualified from Group B on 11 points, Aris and Atletico both have seven, four more than Rosenborg.

BERLIN – Schalke 04 are to keep faith with embattled coach Felix Magath, the Bundesliga club confirmed after crisis talks late Wednesday.

Magath’s future was in question after the Royal Blues were hammered 5-0 by Kaiserslautern last Saturday with one report suggesting former Tottenham boss Christian Gross was being lined up as a replacement. But Schalke directors emerged from a two hour meeting with Magath to confirm they were sticking by their manager.

“Felix Magath explained to us what he has planned to improve our situation and he convinced us,” Schalke president Clemens Tonnies said.

The directors also denied the report in the Die Zeit weekly of approaching Gross. Despite having

AFP/File/Johannes Eisele

Schalke 04 are to keep faith with embattled coach Felix Magath, seen here in November 2010, the Bundesliga club confirmed after crisis talks late Wednesday. qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League, Schalke are 15th in the league table. Schalke face Bayern Munich on Saturday in the German league.

Decision day for World Cup hopefuls Agence France Presse

ZURICH - The marathon race for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups reaches its climax here Thursday as corruption-tainted global body FIFA votes to decide who will stage the footballing extravaganza. Years of intense campaigning and days of lastditch lobbying will finally come to an end when 22 members of FIFA’s executive committee hold a secret ballot to choose the hosts for the two tournaments.

England, Russia, Spain/Portugal and Netherlands/Belgium were to make one last formal presentation for their 2018 bids before FIFA delegates begin voting behind closed doors at 2:00pm local time (1300 GMT).

Rounds of voting will continue until one bid receives an absolute majority of ballots. Final results are expected to be announced at around 4:00pm (1500 GMT) at Zurich’s Messezentrum conference hall.

The vote will bring the curtain down on the most controversial World Cup votes in years, with FIFA facing myriad allegations of corruption which led to two executive commitee members being suspended.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has acknowledged that the decision to stage votes for two tournaments at the same time was a mistake, making illegal horse-trading between bids inevitable.

The 2018 race has seen England, Russia and Spain-Portugal vying for supremacy in an increasingly acrimonious bidding war. The Dutch-Belgian campaign is regarded as an outsider. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin raised the stakes on Wednesday when he issued a thinly veiled attack on the English bid, saying media reports alleging FIFA corruption were part of an orchestrated “smear campaign.”

England 2018 officials, who have distanced themselves from reports critical of FIFA, did not respond to

Putin’s comments. Privately however, England officials believe Putin’s decision not to travel to Switzerland suggests that the Russian bid, seen as the clear favourite earlier this week, may be vulnerable.

British bookmakers William Hill installed England as joint favourites late Wednesday after Putin’s announcement that he would not be in Zurich. However an outbreak of crowd trouble at an English League Cup match between Birmingham and Aston Villa late Wednesday threatened to tarnish England’s bid.

Five people were arrested and fourteen injured, including four police officers in the trouble, as the spectre of hooliganism reared its head.

Both the English and Spain-Portugal bids have sent heavyweight delegations in a show of support for their respective campaigns.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, heir to the throne Prince William and football icon David Beckham are pushing the English bid.

The Iberian bid will be boosted by the presence of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Portuguese counterpart Jose Socrates.

Holland and Belgium launched Thursday’s final presentations by promising to host the greenest World Cup ever, touting plans to make two million bicycles available to fans attending the tournament. Russia, Spain-Portugal and England were to make presentations later Thursday.

On Wednesday, the bidders for the 2022 tournament — Australia, the United States, Qatar, South Korea and Japan — laid out their final pitches.

The favourites are the United States, Australia and Qatar, with Japan and South Korea seen as rank outsiders.

But the chances of Asia getting the World Cup in 2022 were dealt a potential blow when China’s top football official said his nation should bid for the 2026 edition, according to state press Thursday.

Sport

International

Friday, December 3, 2010

15

Worst stuns first as lowly Clippers rip NBA-best Spurs Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES – In a stunning reversal of fortune for the best and worst clubs in the NBA, the Los Angeles Clippers upset San Antonio 90-85 on Wednesday, snapping an 18-game losing streak to the Spurs.

Blake Griffin scored 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Eric Gordon added 21 points for the Clippers, who remained the NBA’s worst club at 4-15 despite the shocking triumph.

The NBA-best Spurs, who fell to 15-3, suffered their first road loss of the season. They were bidding for a 9-0 road start that only four teams in NBA history have achieved, all of them having gone on to win a season championship. Baron Davis, who missed the past 10 games with an injury, contributed seven points

and 10 assists for the Clippers, who had stunned the New Orleans Hornets 10 days earlier when they owned the league’s top mark.

San Antonio’s George Hill scored 17 points while Manu Ginobili added 15 and Richard Jefferson contributed 13 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs.

Tim Duncan produced only eight points for the Spurs while Tony Parker managed only two points for the Southwest division leaders, who saw their edge over second-place Dallas trimmed to only half a game.

Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin, top, is fouled by San Antonio Spurs forward Tiago Splitter as he goes up for a basket during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010. Watching at right is San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili. The Clippers won 90-85.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Davis Cup dream in reach for Serbia’s Djokovic Agence France Presse

BELGRADE Novak Djokovic will carry the hopes of Serbia in the Balkan nation’s first ever Davis Cup final against ninetimes former winners France at the 16,000 capacity Belgrade Arena this weekend. The world number three is seen here as a solid bet to win both his singles rubbers, leaving his team-mates free to add the clinching point in one of the three remaining ties.

But with both captains in two minds about their choice of a second singles player and the doubles scenario too close to call, it could go all the way on Sunday. Djokovic has been the driving force behind Serbia’s rise as a Davis Cup power and this year he has a perfect five wins out of five played as the Serbs stormed past the United States, Croatia and the Czech Republic.

In so doing, he has forged rocksolid ties with the rest of the Serb team - Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor

AFP PHOTO / GLYN KIRK

Troicki, who will contest the second singles slot, and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic. The 2008 Australian Open champion has been in fine form of late after a stuttering start to the year and his semi-final loss to Roger Federer at the ATP Tour finals in London last week means that he will reach Belgrade relatively refreshed.

The hugely-patriotic Djokovic has left it in no doubt that his top priority this year is leading his country to what would be an historic Davis Cup triumph. “We all know that the Davis Cup is a very special competition,” he said.

“Playing in a Davis Cup final is the biggest success that my country ever had. Maybe it’s a unique opportunity to have the Davis Cup finals played at home. Maybe we’ll never have this opportunity again.”

The chances of France bagging a 10th Davis Cup title to draw level with Britain as third most-successful nation in the 110-year history of the competition received a body blow at the start of November when top player Jo-Wilfried Tsonga put an end to his season due to a knee injury.

But stepping into the breach has been flamboyant Gael Monfils, who won the ATP tournament in

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts during his singles tennis match against Andy Roddick (not pictured), on the sixth day of the ATP World Tour Finals, at the O2, in south-east London on November 26, 2010.

Montpellier and then reached the final of the Paris Masters to rise to world number 12, one place ahead of Tsonga. Monfils, known for his showmanship but also for his inconsistency, will lead the way for the French with Gilles Simon and Michael Llodra in competition for the second singles spot and Llodra linking up with Arnaud Clement in

the doubles.

Experienced France captain Guy Forget, a Davis Cup winner both as a player and as skipper, will be hoping that his team can reproduce the kind of form they showed in July when, despite the absence of Tsonga, they pulled off a stunning 5-0 win over holders Spain.

Lithuania says no evidence Balciunaite doped Agence France Presse

VILNIUS - The Lithuanian athletics federation (LAF) said Wednesday it had found no evidence to prove that European women’s marathon champion Zivile Balciunaite was guilty of doping. Balciunaite was provisionally suspended by her federation in October after a urine sample — taken after her European title win in Barcelona — revealed abnormal levels in the ratio between the male sex hormone testosterone and epitestosterone.

The Lithuanian athlete claimed the results could be explained by Duphaston, a drug prescribed to her by her gynaecologist.

The LAF said Wednesday it had looked into the case and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to serve a ban. “The Federation’s disciplinary commission unanimously decided there are not enough arguments to prove the runner’s guilt and disqualification,” the federation said in a statement.

While the federation ruled against a maximum two-year ban, it upheld her provisional suspension pending the completion of an investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The federation said it would ask the IAAF and its anti-doping commission to consider information provided by Balciunaite, who has flatly denied doping allegations.

“No decision was taken and we will report that to international federation (IAAF). We need more evidence and more time,” Ieva Lukosiute Stanikuniene, of Lithuania’s anti-doping agency, told Lithuanian radio.

Both testosterone and epitestosterone occur naturally in women but an increased level of testosterone can indicate it has been administered artificially.

The IAAF is set to complete its investigation in early December. If found guilty, Balciunaite faces a two-year ban from the sport and losing her European crown.

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Friday, December 3, 2010

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Sport

Alonso buoyed by gap to Massa FERNANDO Alonso says he took great satisfaction from his margin of superiority over Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa this season, with the Spaniard seeing the gap as evidence that he was in his best form yet. In an interview with Onda Cero radio, Alonso said that beating Massa by the margin that he did - with Alonso qualifying in front 15 times in 19 races and out-scoring his team-mate by 108 points - showed he had raised his game in 2010.

“It’s probably the biggest gap that I have ever had to a team-mate and that makes me happy because of the results that I’ve had over the past years,” said Alonso. “My level of driving is better than ever and I hope I can keep it up next year.”

The former world champion added that he had put the disappointment of his last-gasp defeat in this year’s title

race behind him, and was now only thinking about the successes that he had achieved in his first season with Ferrari. “Over the first few days you always think about the race,” he said of the Abu Dhabi result.

“Then you start to focus on your next goal. In any case, the balance of my first year with Ferrari is unbeatable. “In 2009 I was on the po-

dium once and Ferrari was only average with a car that was not too competitive. In 2010 we started pretty strongly in the first race, we won five grands prix and we scored a good amount of points.

“Everything has gone better than expected in this great family that is Ferrari. It has been a wonderful year for me.”

Williams sign Venezuela’s Maldonado Agence France Presse

PARIS - Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who won this year’s GP2 title, was on Wednesday named as Rubens Barrichello’s teammate at Williams for the 2011 Formula One season, the British team announced. The 25-year-old, who replaces German Nico Hulkenburg, cut his racing teeth in karts, following a tradition set by his father and uncles.

He won seven national titles, moving into grand prix racing in 2003 with his previous achievements including a win at Monaco in his debut GP2 season in 2007, a performance that caught the eye of Williams’ Team Principal Frank Williams. “He drove a masterful race at Monaco,” commented Maldonado’s new boss.

“Since then, he has regularly reminded us of his unquestionable talent with some skilful wins, particularly during this year’s GP2 championship, taking an unsurpassed record of six successive victories.”

Maldonado got the nod to partner veteran Brazilian Barrichello after shining in four days of testing for Williams in Abu Dhabi last month.

He said: “2011 will be the first time in nearly thirty years that a Venezuelan has driven a Formula One car so I will be looking to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.”

The Williams team, who have lost several sponsors, were in need for a driver who could pay for his seat with Maldonado reported to be bringing

in around 15million dollars. The Williams team, once the dominant force in F1, won the last of their nine constructors championships in 1997 and finished sixth in the season just ended.

Barrichello, racing in his 18th

season, garnered 47 points in 2010 whilst 23-year-old Hulkenberg finished with 22 points but also secured the team’s first pole position for five years in the penultimate race of the season the Brazilian Grand Prix.

AP Photo/Alberto Saiz

Ferrari F1 driver Fernando Alonso before a news conference during the Fanali Mundiali Ferrari event at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Cheste, near Valencia, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010.