Wednesday, July 2, 2003

Water for People, Water for Life, For the Right Price by Hani Mumtazah



     Jakarta, February 7, 2003 (Islam Online) -  Mrs. Lan Tang Hok, 43, can start saving money to buy more food for her seven children since piped water from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PWSA) has reached her home.
      Lan Tang Hok, who lives in the Pra You Vong slum area in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, used to pay 1,000 riels a day for water she bought from private water vendors. Nowadays, she spends only about 5,000 riels per month for the water supplied by the PWSA, since the water authority has expanded its services to her poor neighborhood.

Thursday, May 22, 2003

Indonesia’s Natural Wealth: The Right of a Nation and Her People by Hani Mumtazah


Jakarta, May 22, 2003 (Islam Online - IOL) - Indonesia is blessed with the greatest and most diverse biological resources in the world, after Brazil. This natural wealth can be sustainably utilized for the welfare of the population. Unfortunately enough, however, the country has not been able to successfully use the enormous natural wealth to improve the welfare of her people.

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Air Bersih Datang, Si Miskin Pun Tertolong oleh Fardah

  Jakarta, 21 Mei 2003 (ANTARA) - Seorang wanita tua di sebuah desa di Punjab, Pakistan, mengungkapkan kegembiraannya bahwa kini keluarganya telah mendapat suplai air bersih yang memadai sehingga anak dan cucu wanitanya tidak perlu lagi menderita seperti halnya dia sewaktu muda.
        Nenek itu mengeluh bahwa kakinya hingga kini masih cacat akibat terjatuh ketika membawa beban air yang berat dari sebuah sungai yang terletak beberapa kilometer dari rumahnya.

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

World Health Day - Will Pledges Save Asia’s Children? by Hani Mumtazah



      Jakarta, Tuesday, April 15, 2003 (Islam online - IOL) -  Every year, more than 5 million children ages 0 to 14, mainly in the developing world, die from diseases directly related to their environments.  In Southeast Asia alone, more than 1.6 million children die before they reach the age of five. Children here and elsewhere die of diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, malaria and other vector-borne diseases, injuries, and other environmental threats in and around their homes.

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

WATER SUPPLY: EVERY BODY'S BUSINESS OR PURELY BUSINESS? by Fardah


    Kyoto, March 26 (ANTARA) - "Water is every body's business - women and men alike, the poor as well as the rich," said many experts in different sessions at the Third Water Forum.    However, for water industry and corporations attending the Forum, water can be a real good business. Water used to be treated as free good. The argument that water should be treated purely as an economic good originated in Dublin conference, Ireland, 1992.

Saturday, March 22, 2003

GORBACHEV: AKSI MILITER MELAWAN IRAK MERUPAKAN PUKULAN BAGI DEMOKRASI

     Kyoto, 22/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Mikhail Gorbachev, mantan presiden Uni Soviet, pada pembukaan pertemuan tingkat Menteri Forum Air Sedunia ke-3 di Kyoto, Sabtu, menegaskan bahwa serangan AS ke Irak merupakan pukulan bagi demokrasi dan bagi segala prinsip dan resolusi PBB. 
        "Kita harus menuntut dihentikan dengan segera cara-cara yang menggunakan aksi militer seperti itu," kata Gorbachev yang kini menjadi presiden Green Cross Internasional (Palang Hijau Internasional).

Friday, March 21, 2003

Atasi Krisis Air: Privatisasi atau Partisipasi Swasta? oleh Fardah

    Kyoto, 21/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Banyak istilah digunakan orang untuk menyebut fenomena tertentu. Mengenai serangan ke Irak misalnya, Presiden AS George Bush menyebutnya sebagai "Operasi Pembebasan Rakyat Irak", sementara pihak Irak menyebutnya sebagai "Invasi AS".
        Begitu juga dengan masalah pelayanan suplai air. Organisasi keuangan dunia dan perusahaan bisnis air menyebutnya sebagai "partisipasi sektor swasta", tapi pihak LSM menuduhnya sebagai langkah privatisasi perusahaan pelayanan suplai air.
      Sebagian besar masyarakat masih melihat air sebagai komoditi sosial yang harus bisa dinikmati secara cuma-cuma oleh setiap orang.

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

ADB CALLS FOR MORE INVESMENT IN WATER TO REDUCE POVERTY

     Kyoto, March 19, 2003 (ANTARA) - The potential of water investments as a tool for reducing poverty and building sustainable livelihoods has not been fully realized by many people, said Asian Development Bank President (ADB) President Tadao Chino when opening the "Water and Poverty" session at the 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto, Wednesday.
        Chino urged delegates to focus pro-poor water investments for the rural poor in three main areas "water supply, sanitation and hygiene; water for production and sustainable livelihoods, including pro-poor irrigation, watershed, and ecosystem management; and the prevention and mitigation of water-related disasters.

Pronk: Globalisasi Sisihkan Orang Miskin dan Lingkungan

   Kyoto, 19/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Banyak janji-janji dan komitmen telah dibuat untuk membantu penduduk miskin dan mengurangi jumlah kemiskinan sejak puluhan tahun terakhir, tapi hingga kini janji-janji tersebut belum terwujud, menurut Jan Pronk, mantan menteri kerjasana pembangunan Belanda.
    "Janji tinggal janji! Globalisasi merupakan salah satu faktor penyebab gagalnya mewujudkan janji dan komitmen membantu penduduk miskin tersebut," tegas Jan Pronk dari Dewan Kerjasama Sanitasi dan Suplai Air pada pertemuan tentang "Air dan Kemiskinan" di Forum Air Sedunia ke-3, di Kyoto, Rabu.

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

World Needs Clean Water, Not War: PSI, Youth Water Forum

       Kyoto, March 18, 2003 (ANTARA) - Union leaders from around the world attending the Third World Water Forum (WWF) in Kyoto, expressed their outrage and deep concern Tuesday as discussion on how to ensure safe, clean water for all were torpedoed by the announcement by the US President George Bush that war against Iraq is imminent.
        A similar concerned was also voiced by young people attending the Kyoto's Yoth Water Forum. "Water, not war was the central issue today at Kyoto's Youth Forum held at the 3rd World Water Forum," said a statement issued by the Youth Forum in Kyoto Tuesday.

Equal Participation of Women in Water Policy and Decision Making Called For

    Kyoto, March 18, 2003 (ANTARA) - Participants of the 3rd World Water Forum's session on Gender and Water Alliance has called for equal participation of women in water management.
        Good governance and an integrated approach to water management implies that women and their organizations can participate on an equal footing in policy and decision making at the implementation level, according to Maliha Hussein, Chairwoman of gender and water alliance, at a press conference in Kyoto, Japan, Tuesday.

DUNIA PERLU AIR BERSIH, BUKAN PERANG

     Kyoto, 18/3/2003 (ANTARA) - "Hentikan menghaburkan dolar untuk perang, belanjakan lah untuk air!" Begitu tulisan mencolok yang terpampang di dada wanita kulit putih yang mondar-mandir di dekat pintu masuk Balai Sidang Kyoto, Selasa.
        Wanita yang memakai ikat kepala berwarna biru dengan tulisang "Water for Life (air bagi kehidupan)" itu sedang berusaha menarik perhatian dunia untuk menyelamatkan jutaan nyawa yang terancam melayang karena tidak mempunyai akses untuk mendapatkan air bersih terutama di negara berkembang.

Pengelolaan Air Perlu Libatkan Partisipasi Perempuan

    Kyoto, 18/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Perempuan mesti diberi kesempatan untuk berpartisipasi secara setara dalam pengambilan keputusan dan kebijakan mengenai pengelolaan air, demikian rekomendasi yang dikeluarkan dalam sesi "Gender dan Air" dalam Forum Air Sedunia ke-3 yang sedang berlangsung di Kyoto, 16-23 Mater 2003.
     Pengelolaan air yang terpadu, transparan dan bersih berarti juga memastikan kesetaraan partisipasi perempuan dalam pengambilan keputusan dan kebijakan di tingkat implementasi, kata Maliha Hussein, yang mengetuai sesi tentang gender dan air, kepada pers di Kyoto, Selasa.

DIRJEN SDA: IPTEK SAJA TAK MAMPU HADAPI DAMPAK PERUBAHAN IKLIM

      Kyoto, 18/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Dirjen Sumber Daya Air (SDA) Depkimpraswil Dr.Roestam Sjarief mengatakan, dengan hanya mengandalkan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi (iptek), dampak perubahan iklim tak mungkin dapat dihadapi.
        "Perlu kemampuan adaptasi sosial untuk menghadapinya," kata Dr Roestam kepada ANTARA di sela-sela pertemuan ke-3 Forum Air Sedunia di Kyoto, Jepang, Senin, yang diikuti sekitar 10.000 peserta dan 150 menteri dari 100 negara di dunia.

Monday, March 17, 2003

ISLAND COUNTRIES TO GIVE TOP PRIORITY TO WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT



     Kyoto, March 17, 2003 (ANTARA) - Delegates of 40 small island countries of the Pacific and the Carribean have agreed that a top priority must be given to water resources management, capacity building in local water utilities an improved water governance.
     After having a two-day meeting since Sunday, the small island countries' delegates in Kyoto, on Monday, also called for a global action program at the on-going 3rd World Water Forum.

Negara Pulau Sepakat Memberikan Prioritas Pada Pengelolaan Sumber Daya Air

    Kyoto, 17/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Delegasi dari 40 negara-negara pulau di wilayah Pasifik dan Karibia sepakat untuk memberikan prioritas utama pada pengelolaan sumber daya air dalam Forum Air Sedunia ke-3 di Kyoto, Jepang, Senin.
        Negara-negara kecil ini dalam pertemuan dua hari mereka (sejak Minggu, 16/3), juga setuju untuk meningkatkan kemampuan mereka dalam pelayanan air dan melaksanakan pengelolaan air secara transparan, adil dan bersih, menurut Jeffry Stubbs dari ADB (Bank Pembangunan Asia).

Tidak Ada Masa Depan Jika Tidak Ada Air oleh Fardah

       Kyoto, 17/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Begitu pentingkah air bagi makhluk hidup sehingga Putra Mahkota Belanda Pangeran Willem-Alexander menegaskan di depan peserta Forum Air Sedunia (3rd World Water Forum - WWF) ke-3 di Kyoto, Jepang, bahwa tidak ada masa depan jika tidak ada air?
        Air yang merupakan "sumber" kehidupan tersebut kini sedang terancam berbagai masalah serius, dari pencemaran, kelangkaan air maupun bencana alam akibat dampak perubahan iklim.

Sunday, March 16, 2003

FRESHWATER ONE OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF 21ST CENTURY



     Kyoto, March 16, 2003 (ANTARA) - Freshwater is one of the greatest challenges of the twenty first century, according to Dr. Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, President of the World Water Council (WWC) which organizes the World Water Forum.
       One in four persons in this world lack access to clean drinking water and one in three lack adequate sanitation, he said in the opening ceremony of the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan, Sunday.

FORUM AIR SEDUNIA DIBUKA DENGAN SERUAN UNTUK MELAKUKAN TINDAKAN NYATA

    Kyoto, 16/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Forum Air Sedunia ke-3 dibuka secara resmi di Kyoto, Jepang, pada hari Minggu dengan seruan yang dikumandangkan antara lain oleh tiga pangeran, masing-masing dari Jepang, Maroko, dan Belanda, untuk melakukan tindakan nyata guna menangani krisis air.
        Putera Mahkota Kekaisaran Jepang Naruhito dalam pidato pembukaannya mengatakan, air yang merupakan kebutuhan pokok bagi manusia, baik untuk penyediaan pangan maupun transportasi, sekarang ini sedang terancam masalah, seperti pencemaran, bencana alam dan kelangkaan, seiring dengan meningkatnya jumlah penduduk dunia.

Saturday, March 15, 2003

TWO INDONESIAN MINISTERS ATTEND WORLD WATER FORUM IN KYOTO

   Kyoto, March 15, 2003 (ANTARA) - Two Indonesian ministers have confirmed their presence at the third World Water Forum's ministerial meeting due to be held here on March 22-23, the forum's committee said Saturday.
        They are Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Soenarno and Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih.

MENKIMPRASWIL, PERTANIAN HADIRI FORUM AIR SEDUNIA

      Kyoto, 15/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Menteri Pemukiman, Prasarana dan Wilayah Soenarno dan Menteri Pertanian Bungaran Saragih akan menghadiri pertemuan tingkat menteri pada Forum Air Sedunia ketiga, yang akan berlangsung di Kyoto, Jepang, 22-23 Maret 2003, demikian penjelasan yang diterima ANTARA, Sabtu.
        Pada pertemuan tingkat Pejabat Senior yang berlangsung mulai tanggal 16 hingga 21 Maret 2003, Indonesia diwakili antara lain oleh Dirjen Sumber Daya Air (Depkimpraswil) Roestam Sjarief, Dirjen Penggunaan Air Irigasi (Deptan) Simon Himawan, Dirjen Bina Sarana Pertanian (Deptan) Ato Suprapto, Dirjen Ekubang (Deplu) Susanto dan Deputy 7 Menneg LH Masnellyati.

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

MINISTERS TO DISCUSS WATER CRISIS IN KYOTO



     Jakarta, March 12, 2003 (ANTARA) - More than 100 ministers are expected to discuss a water crisis at the Third World Water Forum (WWF) to be held in Kyoto, Japan, from March 16 to 23, 2003, the World Bank said here Wednesday.         The Forum, which will be participated in by around 8,000 people consisting of, among others, scientists, NGO activists, academicians and government officials, will focus on a global water crisis and other related issues, for instance, water and gender, energy, food, agriculture, environment, poverty, sanitation, pollution, climate change and cultural diversity.

Wednesday, March 5, 2003

Empat Dekade Hubungan Indonesia-Kamboja Dibahas

  Phnom Penh, 5/3/2003 (ANTARA) - Kedubes RI di Phnom Penh bekerjasama dengan Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), pekan lalu, menyelenggarakan seminar sehari "Indonesian Cambodian Diplomatic Relations: Four Decades of Achievements and Future Directions".
       
Seminar sehari tersebut digelar dalam rangka memperingati 40 tahun hubungan diplomatik Indonesia - Kamboja (1962 - 2002).

Friday, February 28, 2003

Semua Orang Berhak Dapat Air Bersih, Tapi Tidak Gratis oleh Fardah

     Jakarta, 28/2/2003 (ANTARA) - Ny. Len Tang Hok (43 tahun) kini mulai bisa menyisihkan uang untuk membeli makanan yang lebih bergizi bagi ketujuh anaknya, sejak rumahnya mendapat pelayanan air dari Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum di Phnom Penh (PWSA).
        Sebelum mendapat layanan PWSA, wanita yang tinggal di perkampungan kumuh Pra You Vong, di ibu kota Kamboja itu, dulu harus membeli air dari penjaja keliling senilai 1.000 riels (sekitar Rp2.300) setiap hari.

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

WATER FOR ALL, BUT NOT FOR FREE by Fardah Assegaf


     Phnom Penh, Feb 25, 2003 (ANTARA) - Mrs Lan Tang Hok, 43, can start saving money to buy more food for her seven children since piped water from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PWSA) has reached her home.         Lan Tang Hok, who lives in the Pra You Vong slum area in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, used to pay 1,000 riels a day for water she bought from private water vendors.         Nowadays, she spends only about 5,000 riels per month for the water supplied by the PWSA, since the water authority has expanded its services to the poor neighborhood.

Thursday, February 6, 2003

Egyptian Ambassador Asks for Return of Egyptian Citizen

    Jakarta, February 6/2003 (ANTARA) - Egyptian Ambassador to Indonesia Ezzat Saad has asked Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra to send an Egyptian national back to Egypt after being detained by the Indonesian Immigration Office.
        The Egyptian national, Moataz Attia Mohamed alias Abu Quaessy, has been put into custody by the Indonesian Immigration Office for a suspected involvement in people smuggling to Australia.
        The suspect was arrested last year.

Thursday, January 16, 2003

DUBES TUNISIA HARAPKAN VOLUME DAGANG DENGAN INDONESIA MENINGKAT


    Jakarta, 16/1/2003 (ANTARA) - Dubes Tunisia untuk Indonesia Mohamed Mouldi Kefi mengatakan di Jakarta, Kamis bahwa pihaknya akan berusaha meningkatkan volume perdagangan antara Indonesia dan Tunisia.
    Tanpa memandang siapa yang lebih diuntungkan, volume perdagangan antara Indonesia dan Tunisia harus ditingkatkan, kata Dubes Tunisia yang baru kepada wartawan di kediaman resminya.

TUNISIA TO INCREASE TRADE WITH RI: NEW ENVOY


    Jakarta, Jan 16/2003 (ANTARA) New Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed Mouldi Kefi has expressed his intention to increase trade volume between Indonesia and Tunisia.
        "No matter in whose favor the trade balance, we need to increase the volume of trade. We export among others phosphate and dates to Indonesia. We hope that we can also export our olive, wine and fruits to Indonesia," Ambassador Kefi told the press at his residence here Thursday.