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Hello fellow ASEAN citizens. Thank you for reading our blogs. You can feel free to participate with our activities. If you feel you want your article to be posted here or want to join our team, please send mail to: samsokrith@gmail.com.

2008-04-22

Saving Our Earth: Now Only One Click Away

Happy Earth Day!
Each passing day, our earth is suffering from our wrongdoings. Don't you think it's time for all of us to act? Now you can participate in fighting the effects of global warming by planting your own tree, and the best part of it, you can do this from the comfort of your own home!

Visit [url=http://www.mybabytree.org/]http://www.mybabytree.org/[/url] now to find out how easy it is to plant your own tree in the deep forest of Kalimantan (Borneo). You can even monitor your tree's growth with Google Earth! Now how cool is that!

You can do this either with your PayPal, or through your BCA ATM. Very cheap, very convenient, no more excuse. Plant your own tree, today!




2008-04-18

Olympic Flame Comes to SEA

Southeast Asian cities have played a vital role in the hosting of many successful international events in sports history. Bangkok, Manila and Jakarta has hosted editions of the Asian Games, most Southeast Asian cities hosted the SEA Games, Bangkok again hosted the Universiade, Hanoi for the Asian Indoor Games and Bali for the Asian Beach Games.

But the most prestigious of these has never been to Southeast Asia before. Though Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur had their intentions for it, they never won home the bacon.

In 2010, the fire will be lit in the young and vibrant nation in the South. The city of Singapore won the hosting rights for the first ever Youth Olympic Games.

In 2007, Singapore successfully bested out five cities (including Bangkok) in the bidding process and was proclaimed winner in 2008 against Moscow.

Everyone was happy including Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who stated that the Olympic flame has finally come to Southeast Asia.

The games is expected to take place from August 16 to August 24, 2010.

Goodluck Singapore!

2008-04-05

Bali 2008; Inspire the World


To moderate the increasing number of events in the Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia decided to create the Asian Beach Games, a bi-annual multi-sport event among athletes from the different countries of Asia. The sports included are those with strong television appeal such as windsurfing, kiteboarding, swimming, beach volleyball, beach handball, beach soccer, dragon boat racing and etc.

Without bidding, the Olympic Council of Asia awarded the hosting rights of the 1st Asian Beach Games to the resort island of Bali in Indonesia which is scheduled to open 18 October 2008. The Games shall feature Beach Handball, Beach Kabaddi, Beach Pencak Silat, Beach Sepak Takraw, Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Wrestling, Body Building, Dragon Boat Racing, Jet-Ski Sport, Marathon Swimming, Paragliding, Sailing, Surfing, Triathlon, Windsurfing and Woodball.

The Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC)is the principal organizing body for the Games, duly-supervised by the OCA.

The Logo of the 1st Asian Beach Games Bali 2008 represents the water element that embodies the sporting event.

The shining sun comes from the emblem of the Olympic Council of Asia and represents its vital role in Asia's sport development and spreading energy created by the solidarity of the OCA.

The selection of the light and deep blue effects the color of the Balinese waters at the beach.

The two vertical lines represent two "pura" (Balinese Hindu temple), an image of the gate to the Balinese house of worship which is signifies the ultimate hospitality of the Bali society in honoring and welcoming people from all over Asia.

The two big waves represent the commitment as well as the enthusiasm of the host city to run the 1st Asian Beach Games.

The letters "BALI 2008" are red to show the spirit of sportsmanship and that typeface selection emphasizes the pride of all athletes competing in Bali.

"Djalak" is the Mascot of the 1st Asian Beach Games Bali 2008.

The Concept of the Mascot is based on the Djalak Bali (Bali Starling), a bird that can only be found in Bali.

It symbolized that Bali, with its uniqueness will organize the Asian Beach Games to the best of standards.

An endangered species, the mascot serves a reminder to the world that the bird is beautiful but yet sacred.

The Bali Starling, Leucopsar Rothschildi, is a medium-sized, up to 25cm long bird, which is almost wholly white with a long, drooping crest, and black tips on the wings and tail.

In 1991, the Bali Starling was declared as the fauna symbol of Bali.

The Opening Ceremony for the 1st Asian Beach Games Bali 2008 will be held on October 18, 2008 at the GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) in Bukit in Jimbaran . The GWK Covers 239 hectares of land and boasts a statue that was planned to stand taller than the Empire State building in the USA, how ever due to economical reasons, the statue construction was halted in 2003. Wisnu or Vishnu is the Hindu God who is the protector-part of the Hindu trinity, which is Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. The unique statue of half man half bird will one day be a national landmark. In front of the head of the garuda bird which has already been completed is an open air stage and amphi-theater for various events and ceremonies. The area will comfortably fit about 5000 invitations only guests for the opening ceremony of the 1st Asian Beach Games. "The Opening Ceremony will be a grand opening to the 1st Asian Beach Games. We will present entertainment that will be uniquely Balinese and Indonesian", hints Mr. Ervan Ibrahim, Director of events and ceremonies for Babgoc. The Closing Ceremony for the Games will also be held at the GWK Venue.

The Games' slogan is "Inspire the World".

Goodluck to Bali! Goodluck Asian Beach Games!

Visit the Bali2008 Website

2008-04-03

"Freedom or Death"


After the notable story of Dith Pran, Asia's Perfect Ten brings you the force behind the Indonesian independence, Bung Tomo!

Born on October 3, 1920, Bung Tomo or Sutomo is well-known for his major participation in the Indonesian Revolution against the Netherlands. He was one of the responsible minds in the Battle of Surabaya when the British attacked the city in October and November 1945.

Bung Tomo was born in Kampung Blauran, Surabaya to Kartawan Tjiptowidjojo, who was then a clerk and an unknown mother of Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese descent. His family was economically challenged so he was forced to stop schooling at the age of twelve during the Great Depression. At seventeen, he joined the Indonesian Scouting Organization as the second Pramuka Garuda, a rank achieved by only three Indonesians before the Japanese occupation during World War II.

In 1944, Sutomo was chosen as the member of the Japanese-sponsored Gerakan Rakyat Baru (New People's Movement). During the early stages of the Indonesian National Revolution he played a central role when Surabaya came under British attack. Although the city was lost to the Dutch's European allies, the battle served to galvanise Indonesian and international opinion in support of the independence cause. Sutomo spurred thousands of Indonesians to action with his distinctive, emotional speaking-style of his radio broadcasts. His "clear, burning eyes, that penetrating, slightly nasal voice, or that hair-raising oratorical style that second only to Sukarno's in its emotional power".

"Hey Britain, as long as the wild ox, the youth of Indonesia, still have red blood that can make a white cloth red and white... as long as that we will not surrender. Friends, fellow fighters... especially the youth of Indonesia, we will fight on, will will expel the colonialists from our Indonesian land that we love... Long have we suffered, been exploited, trampled on. Now is the time for us to seize our independence. Our slogan: FREEDOM OR DEATH. GOD IS GREAT... GOD IS GREAT... GOD IS GREAT.. FREEDOM!"

-Sutomo's radio speech, November 9, 1945

His relationship with President Sukarno soured after Bung Tomo offended the president by asking about personal matters. Post 1950s, Sutomo emerged again as a national figure during the 1965 turbulent period. Initially, he supported Suharto to replace the left-leaning Sukarno government, but later opposed aspects of the New Order regime. On April 11, 1978, he was detained by the government for his outspoken criticism of corruption and abuses of power; upon his release five years later, however, Sutomo continued to loudly voice his criticisms. He said that he did not want to be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery because it was full of "fairweather heroes" who had lacked the courage to defend the nation at times of crisis, but when peace came appeared in public to glorify their achievements.

Bung Tomo, a true noble Southeast Asian!

photo and informations courtesy of wikipedia, the free encyclopedia