Gary Dean - Posts
Script: Defining Dharma
– A Journey to the West
# Introduction *Visual opens with a montage of diverse cultures, ancient texts, and historical figures associated with the concept of dharma.* **Narrator (Gary Dean):** "Dharma—a word rich in history, yet often misunderstood, especially in the Western world where it remains a relative newcomer. Despite its profound significance across various Eastern philosophies and religions, its true essence often eludes clear definition in the West. "What is 'dharma'? What is 'a' dharma'? What is 'the' dharma'? What do we truly mean when we use this word? "These questions have driven my exploration for many years. As an anthropologist, I've delved into the depths of human evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, anthropology, and sociology to unravel the complexities of this concept. "My journey has been guided and enriched by the insights of numerous thinkers and schola
…Bizarre YouTube Censorship
– wtf? SRSLY? :facepalm:
Some friends and I have a YouTube channel called ['a secular dharma?'](https://youtube.com/@aseculardharma). This channel has long -- often boring -- discussions about the nature and definition of dharma, and about life in general. In Sept 2024, YouTube removed a video entitled "Metaphysical Thinking - Father Xmas - Cargo Cults", _posted more than 4.5 years ago_, claiming that it violated their **"Violent extremist or criminal organisations policy"**. This is a transcript of the section deemed "problematic" by YouTube: --- And that is the basis of a collective vision of a collective belonging to something. And I mean, and the QAnon phenomenon is pretty much the same thing. It's a cargo cult in some ways. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, it's relief from their suffering because I mean, obviously the people who believe this are the ones who are suffering in America. And
…Defining Dharma
– ways, paths, cultures, outlooks
## The Etymology of 'Dharma' The word 'dharma' carries profound significance in various philosophical, religious, and cultural traditions. Understanding its etymology provides valuable insights into its multifaceted nature and enduring relevance in human thought and behavior. ### Origins in Sanskrit The term **'dharma'** originates from the ancient Sanskrit language, one of the oldest Indo-European languages. It is derived from the root **'dhṛ'** (धृ), which means "to hold," "to maintain," or "to support." From this root, the noun **'dharma'** (धर्म) emerged, translating to "that which upholds" or "that which sustains." At its core, the etymological meaning of dharma reflects its role as a sustaining force, whether in the cosmic sense or in social and ethical contexts. Dharma signifies the underlying principles or laws that uphold the universe, ensurin
…My Current Media Reading & Listening
– media that I consider worthy of my time
This is a list of books I have read over the past years; most in audio form. The subject matter for all the media displayed I consider to be important in some manner, and cover areas including biology, ethics, group theory, evolutionary theory, among others. The titles appear in the order that I last read/heard them, not in the order than I first read/heard them. So the first book on the list is probably the one I am reading/hearing at this moment. I have given each book a crude rating: 5\* means highly recommended, 4\* recommended, 3\* worth reading, 2\* possibly problematic, 1\* save your time and money. If a book appears here at all, then it is generally a 3\* or higher. The 'blurbs' on each book are taken directly from the audible.com site; they are not my words. 3*
…Indonesia 2020: Consolidate, and Respond
– An open letter to my friends and clients in Indonesia.
The global economy has taken a blow, with volatility in exchange rates and commodity prices and mass unemployment. National monetary authorities have adjusted their predictions for economic growth in 2020-2021, with negative growth expected in 2020 and 2021. Many governments are implementing exceptionally large stimulus packages. As the international response continues to develop, we know that small and medium sized businesses in particular are facing significant challenges, to which they need to respond appropriately. No business in Indonesia will escape completely unscathed as a result of the pandemic. Businesspeople are planning and taking defensive actions in order to protect their customers, clients, employees, and themselves. Economic stimulus measures being implemented by the Indonesian government are targeting the economically weakest in the population, and this shou
…Where is my compassion?
– Reflections 14 years after the Asian Tsunami
In 2004 and 2005, in addition to running my consultancy firm, I also moonlighted – quite literally – as a copy editor at The Jakarta Post. This meant my work day averaged 16 hours at that time. I totally didn’t need this additional workload, but it was an opportunity to learn more about Indonesia by being at the centre of Indonesia’s only English-language media outlet. Being affiliated with Indonesia’s largest newspaper, Kompas, meant that great volumes of news and information flowed constantly through the newsrooms, with unending discussion and banter about what was going on at any moment. This included a lot of information that could never be published for various reasons. On the 26th of December 2004 – 14 years ago today – a massive earthquake hit western Indonesia. I was asked to come into the newsroom before my scheduled time because it was surmised that there wer
…2017: a return to kyoto
this is a video from a point-of-view perspective that i took while walking around the kyoto imperial palace grounds. it was during a solo visit to japan at the end of 2017. it was cold and snowing. i had visited japan in the [northern hemisphere] spring of 2013; during the cherry blossom season. though i was not solo at that time. my supposed purpose in going to kyoto in 2017 was to undertake the rakuyo 33 pilgrimage route. to this end, before i went, i roughed up a little web site to help guide me around the densely packed city of kyoto (rakuyo33.info if you are interested). i completed this pilgrimage, on foot, and often in snowy conditions, over a period of six days. however, my actual reason for going to kyoto was a bit different. i wanted -- or perhaps, needed -- to revisit the grounds of the kyoto imperial palace. in search of someone. i guess. thi
…Escape at 14
– A nothing story
I was 14, a quiet boy living in an outer suburb of a small and isolated city called Perth1, in a large and remote state called Western Australia, in a large and isolated continent called Australia.
…Beringharjo Traditional Market, Yogyakarta
– a way of trading that will soon disappear
A walk through the Beringharjo traditional market on Jalan Malioboro in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using a chest height POV camera.
…Circumcision Celebration for Rama Dean
This is a video of a circumcision celebration for my son Rama Dean, which took place on 19 December 2014 at Graha Okusi, Jakarta, Indonesia.
…Gary Dean
– From the West, Northward to the East
I was born and raised in [Perth, Western Australia](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth), in the pre-[Sputnik](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_1) era, and brought up in a mono-cultural English/British suburban environment. I am a Gemini and a Rooster. My MBTI is INFJ, my blood type B-, and I’m an Aspie. Here’s a snapshot of my genome. My life has largely unfolded across South East Asia. I emigrated to Indonesia in 1996, and I am an Indonesian citizen. My role models include Robert Sapolsky, Gotama, Germaine Greer, and Pa Kettle, among many others, each shaping my perspe
…Meet Gary Dean
– A Jakarta Expat interview with Gary Dean
Parts of this interview were published in Jakarta Expat, March 2013 Jakarta Expat: So Gary, where do you come from, where did you grow up? Gary Dean: I was born in Perth, Western Australia in the pre-Sputnik era. I grew up in the northern suburbs of Perth. JE: How long have you been living in Indonesia and what brought you here in the first place? GD: I've lived in Indonesia continuously since 1996. Why did I come to Indonesia? Firstly and principally, because it was not Australia. Psychologically, Australia was choking me; it is an orderly, over-regulated, self-satisfied country that is in love with its own image. I desperately needed some disorder in my life; and Indonesia delivers this in truckloads! In Indonesia, absolutely nothing can be taken for granted. JE: So how did you get from studying Animal Husbandry to becoming the director and senior consultant for Ok
…Indonesian Land Law and Foreign Ownership of Land
Indonesian Land Law is quite different indeed to the laws that apply in most Western or developed countries. Foreigners wishing to use or purchase land for whatever purpose need to be aware of these differences and not assume that legal conventions that apply in their home countries necessarily apply in Indonesia. Legal certainty in Indonesia has always been rather precarious, not least in the realm of land ownership. However, secure land title for foreigners is possible if correct procedures are observed. Background There are two important "phases" when discussing Indonesian land law, that is, the phase before September 1960, and the phase after this date. Before September 1960 Indonesian land law comprised a mind-boggling cacophony of traditional adat law, Dutch colonial laws, Western civil law, and laws enacted by the Indonesian government from the time of indepen
…An Ungrateful Australian
On Tuesday, 17 December 2002, BM wrote: I think, on balance, that if I am to be ruled, I would much rather be ruled by complete fucking moron civilians than by clever army generals, or religious fanatics for that matter. A friend, who had been a lifelong Marxist until the collapse of the Soviet Union, in a moment of possibly alcohol-induced candour, said to me once that to him a slightly corrupt, partially inept ‘liberal democracy’ is far preferable to a ruthlessly efficient and thoroughly honest socialist dictatorship. Oh shit, I think I feel a polemic coming on… Or maybe it’s that dodgy rendang I ate for lunch… I quite agree, living under a liberal democracy is probably preferable to living under a socialist dictatorship. However, your statements are loaded with some highly contentious and suspect presumptions concerning the alleged relative superiority of lib
…dikotomi
– digital music experiments from 2002
dikotomi is a collection of atmospheric midi music, best experienced whilst sailing through the open air in a solar-powered airship, at moderate altitude, under a clear, high sky, and with no particular destination. synthesized over a period of months a long, long time ago, these are essentially my experimentation with fully computerised and notated compositions. absolute uncertainty sky cruising
…Doing Business in Indonesia
– From a Western Perspective
This is a modified version of a report commissioned by the East Asia Analytical Unit of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in July 2000, as part of a book entitled Indonesia: Facing the Challenge published in December, 2000. Views contained within this report are entirely my own and do not necessarily reflect views of EAAU, DFAT or any of its officers, past or present. Indonesia is not the easiest place in the world in which to do business. The 'World Competitiveness Scoreboard' currently ranks Indonesia at 45, only two places ahead of Russia (47), and in stark contrast to countries such as Australia (13), Singapore (2) and the US (1). Clearly, in terms of the measures used by the producers of this scoreboard, Indonesia at the moment is found severely wanting, with its potent brew of traditional cultures, bureaucracy, legal uncertainty and social instabi
…Culture Matters in Indonesia
– An email exchange with Dennis De Tray, Indonesia country director, World Bank 1997-1999
The views contained within this article are entirely my own and do not necessarily reflect past or present opinions or policies of any other person or organisation. Culture really matters when doing business, especially in Indonesia. An understanding of the cultures, outlooks, perceptions of the people with whom we do business, as well as an understanding of our own cultures and values, has enormous real practical application and value. What follows is an email reply I sent to Mr. Dennis De Tray, the former country director of the World Bank in Indonesia at the time of the economic crisis. It briefly discusses why "culture matters". ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Dean" <xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx> To: "de Tray, Dennis" <xxxxxxx@xxx.xxx> Subject: RE: Your "Analysing the end of Suharto's Indonesia" Date: Wed, 1
…Ethno-Religious Conflict in Maluku
– A manufactured war
"Tragically again, of the approximately 20 Christians who were killed [by Muslims] in the village of Benteng Karang, 15 of them were them were burnt alive. One of them was Mrs Rina Serpiela, a six-month pregnant woman who was killed by having her belly ripped open and the foetus pulled out and burnt alongside her. This event was witnessed by her husband, Yopy Serpiela. Meanwhile her two-year old child was kidnapped and used as a shield by the attackers from the rocks thrown by the defending Christians." [1] In the absence of any other facts, the above passage would -- for most normal people -- inflame the emotions to the point of hatred towards the perpetrators of this violence. In this case, the perpetrators are called "Muslims". It has been said that the first casualty of war is the truth. This is no less true for the int
…Australia's Place and Influence in Asia
Since the very beginning of a notion called 'Australia' some 200 years ago the European occupiers of this continent have rarely felt at peace with its geography. As a transplanted, predominantly European, society situated within Asia,[1] far from the homelands-of-the-heart in Europe, Australians have always felt an acute sense of threat from the north. In nearly every respect, Australia is profoundly differences with the nations of Asia: race, history, culture, social structure, and population size and density, just to name a few. Australia is truly an oddity within its region; it doesn't really fit. Separated by vast distances from the other rich, English-speaking, mainly-white, 'Echelon' nations (Britain, the US and Canada), Australians feel an acute sense of isolation in this region, like a 'continent adrift'.[2] It has only been these past few decade
…The Myth of the Jakarta Lobby
Brian Toohey's article, "Time to rout the Jakarta Lobby", was published in The West Australian on 27 September 1999, just four weeks after the East Timorese autonomy plebiscite. During this period East Timor was in the process of being laid waste by vicious anti-independence militias backed by the Indonesian military. In this article Toohey rampages against a perceived "Jakarta lobby" that allegedly directs Australian foreign policy towards Indonesia. He accuses it, among many other things, of siding with anti-democratic forces in Indonesia and of being apologists for heinous crimes committed by the Indonesian military against East Timorese. Toohey, in fact, has a long history of hostility towards Indonesia, and towards any policy approach that attempts to view the region through anything else but the eyes of the jaundiced and parochial Australia n
…The role of FDI in the development of Singapore
– A model development path?
The rapid economic development of the NIEs (Hongkong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan) over the past three decades has necessitated the utilisation of external resources, principally foreign capital.[1] Without such resources, industrialisation and development on the scale undertaken could simply not have occurred. These external capital resources have taken the form of aid, grants, borrowing, and direct foreign investment (FDI). Of the NIEs that have taken conscious control of the national economy -- which is to say, all of them with the exception of Hongkong -- only Singapore chose to use FDI as its principal source of external capital. Taiwan and South Korea, by stark contrast, chose a completely opposing route and in the main relied upon external borrowings and aid to support their developmental agendas. Consequently, 'technological deepening' and
…The New Order State and the Tempo Affair
– A conflict of values
The sun began to set upon Indonesia's corporatist 'New Order' state starting in the early 1990's. Speculation about the presidential succession was rife, mainly due to President Soeharto's increasing age and frailty, and such speculation was especially destabilising and damaging given Indonesia's historical propensity to rather messy changes in leadership. Added to this was the ever-increasing seething discontent within the intellectual elite and some sections of Indonesia's small middle class. Despite all this, the New Order state itself remained formidable, or at least gave an excellent impression of being so. The banning of three weekly news magazines in 1994 marked the end of a short period of relative openness in the media in Indonesia. One magazine in particular, Tempo, wielded great influence amongst a section of the urban elite, representing
…East Asia and the Roots of the Economic Crisis
– From a Western perspective
The past two decades or so has witnessed the increasing dominance of neoliberal perspectives within international political, social and economic thinking. This has particularly been the case since the end of the Cold War, which seems to have triggered a decline of alternative social and economic perspectives. The fall of the Soviet Union was viewed as the triumph of individualist market systems over collectivist state-managed systems of economic organisation, at the same time sweeping away all alternative perspectives which may have lain somewhere in between these polarities. An equally triumphalist neoliberal tenor was also to be heard at the outset of the East Asian economic crisis. Once again, the superiority of individualism and 'free markets' were proclaimed over the perceived deficiencies of Asian cultural collectivism and state-assisted economic development. Sta
…Indonesia's Economic Development
– in comparison to South Korea and Taiwan
The rapid pace of economic development in East Asia over the past few decades has awed the world. This is particularly so for the so-called Newly Industrialising Countries (NICs) which include South Korea and Taiwan, together with the city-states of Singapore and Hongkong. Since the 1980's, these states have experienced very rapid growth rates, especially South Korea and Taiwan, which have recorded annual GDP growth of 9.7% and 8.3% respectively during the period 1980 to 1990. By comparison, Indonesia during this same period recorded 5.4% annual GDP growth, which whilst still a fast rate of economic growth, comes nowhere near that of South Korea and Taiwan.[1] This paper shall focus on the recent economic development in Indonesia, and attempt to contrast it with that of Korea and
…Javanese Santri Islam
– Same, but very different
The Western aversion and distrust towards Islam runs deep, in contrast to how 'friendlier' religions such as Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism are often considered.[1] Even Westerners better informed about Islam can have their concerns, so it is probably not simply a case of a 'misunderstood' religion. Many see Islam as an inherently undemocratic religion, placing restrictions on, for example, women's rights or freedom of religion.[2] To assert that understanding leads to tolerance is not necessarily true. Islam confronts many of the foundations of Western liberal-democratic culture, and by its very nature does not lend itself to being co-opted into the pluralistic, 'tolerant' frameworks of liberal Western societies. Islam in Java is extremely diverse in the manner of its expression, and highly variable in terms of depth of commitment to the religion.&
…Security and Australia's involvement in the world
Australians have always felt uncertain about their place in the world. As a transplanted, predominantly European, society situated within Asia, Australians have always felt a sense of threat from the north. Profound differences with the nations of East Asia exist in nearly every respect: race, history, culture, social structure and population density. Within this region, Australia is truly an oddity. It should be no surprise, therefore, that security issues have always dominated Australian foreign policy. Separated by vast distances from other rich, English-speaking, and predominantly white, nations such as Britain, the US, and Canada, Australians feel an acute sense of isolation in this region, like a 'continent adrift'[1], or a mere 'province of the English-speaking world'.[2] An Australia highly threatened and highly desired, militarily defenceless a
…The Development of Australian Foreign Policy
It only been these past few decades that Australia has begun to pursue a relatively independent foreign policy, from under the shadows Britain and the US. Australia's unique historical circumstances have led to the development of a certain set of attitudes and characteristics that underlie its foreign relation's behaviour. Among other characteristics there has been a dependency syndrome, first with Britain, and then with the US, an acute sense of geographic isolation from the European cultural hearthlands and a corresponding sense of threat from Asia, and an attempt to identify and project an Australian identity to the outside world. Australia's early history was dominated by British outlooks and interests, reflecting the immigrant population that was overwhelmingly of British stock. Australia was a mere home away from home, a far-flung outpos
…Joint Venture, or 100% Foreign-Owned?
[First published in OzIndo Vol 5 No 1, magazine of the Australia-Indonesia Business Council] Joint ventures (JVs) have long been the working foundation upon which foreign investment has entered many developing countries. In fact, in many countries JVs are the only way that foreign capital can be invested. A foreign company is therefore compelled to 'match up' with an appropriate local partner in order to smooth entry into that business environment. The thinking behind JVs is of course one of mutual benefit; benefit to the foreign company in terms of market access and access to the local conditions which make the country attractive to investment, and benefit also to the local participant, who is able to scale up their operation to world standards and gain tangible benefits such as profits, technology and international business experience. Until very recently JVs were
…The development and future of the nation-state
Humanity's political 'state of nature' has characteristically been defined in terms of small, nomadic family groups with little need for complex organisational structures. Continuously moving across the landscape with tenuous attachment to the land upon which they walked, organisational requirements were simple and perhaps often instinctive. To go to one place or to another was a choice often dictated by environmental or seasonal factors, and upon the limited accumulated generational knowledge of the small collective. That Homo sapiens is a social animal is clear enough; s/he functions poorly and unhappily as an isolate. The family-sized collective group is his/her natural home. From this group there is sufficient mass to successfully perform the full range of survival tasks, such as hunting, gathering, shelter construction. There is also sufficient m
…The Importance and Consequences of Trade in Southeast Asia
– until 1870
To trade is human. Like the ability to communicate abstract ideas, trade is one of those activities that differentiates Homo sapiens from the rest of the animal world. And trade is more than just a mere exchange of surplus; its social and political impact is profound binding both families, tribes and nation-states into intricate webs of human intercourse. These ever widening circles of trade interaction encompass the world within a vast network of patronage, obligation and interdependency. It is not possible to separate economics from its social and political consequences. Throughout history trade has been an important driving force, impacting upon societies - for better and for worse - throughout the entire world. Perhaps more than any other region on Earth, Southeast Asia has felt the driving force of economics transform its social and po
…Globalisation and the Nation-State
It is frequently alleged that the nation-state in the 1990's is at a precarious moment of history, poised to somehow inevitably disintegrate under the pressure of globalisation. It has been a mere decade since this word 'globalisation' started to infiltrate the everyday language of nations worldwide. And like many new catchwords which suddenly enter a language, it's precise meaning can be lost or obscured in amongst the new, exciting and often stimulating concepts which orbit about it; Internet, Free Trade, Borderless World, Information Superhighway, and many others. In fact, globalisation as a process of world economic integration and interdependency is far from being new, and it could be argued that this process has its roots in time immemorial when humanity first found it advantageous to trade surpluses of goods with one another. It is sometime
…Karl Marx's The Origins and Development of Capitalism
– a review
In 1867, a few years after the establishment of the International Working Men's Association, Karl Marx presented his thoughts on the emergence of capitalism in an essay entitled The Origins and Development of Capitalism, as part of his wider discussion on the sociology of capitalism. Marx identified the 16th and 17th centuries as being periods of intense capital accumulation as a direct consequence of the discovery, colonisation and exploitation of the Americas, and the development of maritime trade with the East Indies and China. Thus began a process in the development of commercial capitalism, in contrast to the feudal capitalism that preceded it. So also began the rise of a new class within medieval European society, that is, the capitalist class, or as Marx liked to call them, the bourgeoisie. Medieval society consisted of feudal landowners, a peasantry and a middle level o
…Some thoughts surrounding the Milgram Experiment
"I like ideas about the breaking away or overthrowing of established order. I am interested in anything about revolt, disorder, chaos, especially activity that seems to have no meaning. It seems to me to be the road towards freedom." -- Jim Morrison 'Obedience to the Law is Freedom'. Thus declared a sign hung over a gateway to a US army base in New Jersey in 1969. Of course, such a statement could be critically analysed on many levels and given a wide variety of interpretations. At its crudest, in the context of the Cold War environment of that time, one interpretation could go like this: "You must Obey Our Law. Disobedience to Our Law means you are a Communist, and Communists are the Enemies of Freedom". (In the contemporary context "communist" could be replaced with "muslim".) Obedience to authority was the theme of Milgram's experiment, which clearly demon
…Rumahku Yogyakarta 1998
– My house in Yogyakarta in 1998.
my merc 8-} oh, there's the merc again the back of my house in yogyakarta my laundry and water tanks and well wife. wife. again. there she is again. my tiger-proof house the road into my house. nother boring picture of my house, showing tiger-proof southern wall. The inside of my modest palace, showing wife walking towards the tiger-proof southern wall.
…Analysing the end of Suharto's Indonesia
– The role of culture in Indonesian politics
The incantations and vocabulary of the new era are rapidly taking hold in Indonesia since the fall of Suharto and his New Order regime. KKN, reformasi and transparansi have replaced UUD'45, Pancasila and pembangunan as catch phrases of the emerging order. As the heavy New Order fog lifts, new possibilities for Indonesian society are being discussed, dampened however by severe economic conditions. It is commonly recognised that ways of seeing and interpreting events are often coloured by the outlook and prejudices of the observer, irrespective of the efforts of that observer to remain `objective'. As a broad example, journalists and political scientists will often interpret political events in Indonesia very differently from, say, the sociologist or anthropologist. Why is this so? Suharto resigned on the 21st of May, 1998, the culmination of months of i
…A few notes on my life in Yogyakarta, March-May 1998
– Reformasi and the Fall of Soeharto
The period March to May 1998 was an interesting time in Indonesian history. This journal reflects some of the things that happened in my life over this period. Some of it is perhaps rather too personal, but that was the nature of my encounter with Indonesian culture over that time. It is by no means comprehensive; a great many important events -- both personal and public -- I chose not to write about. Some names have been changed to protect peoples privacy. Like most journals, it starts strangely and ends abruptly. 12 Mar 98 I called Yuni tonight. My lack of a religion is causing her great problems. For some reason she doesn’t want to talk to anyone else about this problem, which is to say, the problem of my religion, or more precisely, my lack of one. This is Indonesia, after all. Not having a religion means you’re a communist. Simple really. 13 Mar 98 Yuni
…Globalisasi, Kedaulatan Nasional dan Konflik Masa Depan
Gary Dean (Universitas Gadjah Mada, NIM 96/111909/EK/13500) Yogyakarta, Desember 1997 Selama dasawarsa belakangan ini kata 'globalisasi' secara berangsur-angsur masuk ke dalam bahasa sehari-hari di negara-negara di seluruh dunia. Tetapi, apa sebenarnya artinya kata 'globalisasi' ini? Seperti banyak kata-kata baru lain yang secara tiba-tiba masuk ke dalam sebuah bahasa, arti sesungguhnya bisa dihilangkan atau dikaburkan di antara konsep-konsep baru yang kedengaran lebih enak dan merangsang, yang berkaitan dengannya; misalnya Internet, Perdagangan Bebas (Free Trade), Dunia tanpa batas (Borderless World), Jalan Raya Informasi (Information Superhighway), dan sebagainya. Thomas Freidman -- seorang penganjur awal gagasan globalisasi -- mendefinisikan globalisasi sebagai "integrasi perdagangan, keuangan, dan informasi yang sedang menciptakan satu pasar global dan kebudayaan tunggal".
…Siapa yang pantas menjadi Presiden Indonesia Tahun Depan?
– Satu Pandangan
Negara Indonesia adalah suatu negara besar kalau dilihat dari segi jumlah penduduknya. Catatan sejarah telah menunjukkan bahwa karena kekayaan alamnya yang besar telah menarik keinginan banyak bangsa asing untuk menguasai negara ini. Setelah 350 tahun di bawah penjajahan Belanda, 52 tahun yang lalu negara ini secara resmi memproklamirkan kemerdekaannya. Hakiki dari kemerdekaan itu sendiri bagi rakyat Indonesia adalah suatu kemerdekaan akan kebebasan dari kemiskinan, dan belenggu kebodohan dan kekuasaan yang secara tersirat termuat dalam pembukaan UUD 1945. Pada dasarnya hal ini telah menunjukkan esensi bangsa Indonesia akan pentingnya realisasi prinsip-prinsip demokrasi dalam tatanan kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. Sehingga secara tegas dinyatakan bahwa negara Indonesia adalah negara Republik dan demokrasi; yang mengandung arti bahwa kekuasaan pemerintahan adalah
…Madu Tri
– suatu kisah asmara
Alkisah beberapa masa yang lalu hiduplah seorang laki-laki dan seorang perempuan. Nama dari si laki-laki itu adalah Ari. Pada waktu cerita ini mulai dia merupakan seorang pemimpin dari suatu perusahaan yang sangat berhasil di suatu kota di bagian selatan di suatu negara. Namun demikian, Ari tidak begitu puas dengan pekerjaannya itu. Dan dibalik keberhasilan dan harta kekayaannya, dia tidaklah bahagia. Nama perempuan itu adalah Tri. Sesungguhnya, Tri membenci nama ini. Hal ini membuat dia merasa sebagai orang awam yang kurang gengsi. Dalam kenyataannya, setiap orang yang mengenal Tri memanggilnya Madu Tri. Dia juga sungguh-sungguh tidak menyukai nama ini, tetapi paling tidak nama ini bukanlah nama kebanyakan. Selama hidupnya, Madu Tri suka sekali minum madu. Tanpa madu, hidup tidaklah punya arti baginya. Madu adalah hakikat dari eksistensinya. Suatu hal yang tidak bisa d
…Hukum Agraria Indonesia
– (Indonesian Land Law)
Gary Robert Dean (Universitas Gadjah Mada NIM 96/111909/EK/13500) Dalam pembahasan tentang sejarah Hukum Agraria Indonesia ada dua fase penting yang harus dipertimbangkan, yaitu fase sebelum September 1960, dan fase sesudah tanggal itu. Dalam fase sebelum September 1960 Hukum Agraria Indonesia terdiri atas bagian-bagian dari Hukum Perdata Barat, Hukum Adat orang Indonesia asli, Hukum Antar Golongan dan hukum sesudah proklamasi merupakan pengaruh dari Hukum Tata Negara. Dari semua hal di atas yang paling penting dijadikan landasan Hukum Agraria Indonesia pada zaman penjajahan Belanda adalah Pasal 51 I.S. tahun 1870, juga dikenal dengan nama bahasa Belanda Agrarische Wet. Sebagai pelaksanaan daripada Agrarische Wet adalah Penyataan Domein (Domein Verklaring) yang berbunyi bahwa: "Semua tanah yang orang lain tidak dapat membuktikan, bahwa itu eigendomnya adalah tanah d
…Haruskah Indonesia menggunakan Tenaga Nuklir?
Keinginan Indonesia untuk membangun Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Nuklir (PLTN) menimbulkan kegelisahan di seluruh kawasan Asia Tenggara dan Australia. Pemerintah Indonesia sudah memesan beberapa studi kelayakan untuk pembangunan PLTN berkapasitas 1.800 MW yang mungkin akan dibangun di desa Ujungwatu di Semenanjung Muria. Menurut laporan Kompas 31 Januari 1996, Pembangunan PLTN di sana akan dimulai tahun 1998 dan diharapkan mulai berproduksi tahun 2003. Kepulauan Indonesia — terutama pulau Jawa — dikenal mempunyai ketidakmantapan geotektonik. Oleh karena ini banyak orang di negara-negara tetangga Indonesia prihatin akan akibat-akibat yang mungkin timbul kalau ada kecelakaan yang disebabkan oleh gempa bumi atau letusan gunung berapi. Kecelakaan PLTN Chernobyl beberapa tahun lalu membuktikan bahwa debu radioaktip dari suatu kecelakaan PLTN bisa menyebar hingga beribu-ribu
…Airship Over Occussi
– Songs from 1983
Songs recorded "live" on a cheap cassette recorder at various locations in Fremantle, Western Australia during 1983 (or was it 1984?). The recording quality in all cases is extremely poor, but the spirit remains audible. These recordings marked the end of my creative musical life; not long after I gave it away, deciding deliberately and consciously that I had nothing to say. Whilst all the compositions below are original creations, I feel that all creation is a synthesis of past and present experience. For an individual to take credit for any creation is a silly notion, notwithstanding copyright notices! Whilst my compositions may be unique, they nevertheless represent syntheses of my experiences and interactions with a particular set of people, circumstances and social environments at a particular time and place. I have l
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