To commemorate its 25th year of establishment in Indonesia, The Jakarta Post held an educational seminar embracing the vision of ”Enlightening the Life of the Nation”, last May 9th in Jakarta. The one-day seminar consisted of four sessions: Session 1. Comparing Notes - The Experience of Singapore and South Korea; Session 2: The Role of the Business Sector in Education; Session 3: Best Practices in Primary and Secondary Schools; Session 4: Best Practices in Tertiary Education.

List of speakers:
H.E. Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Minister of Education and Finance of Singapore)
H.E. Kim Shinil (Former Deputy of Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Human Resources Development of South Korea)
James T. Riady (Founder and Chairman of Pelita Harapan University)
Yani Panigoro (Board of Trustees, Medco Foundation)
Father Baskoro Poedjinoegroho (Principal of Kanisius College Jakarta)
Antarina S.F. Amir (Managing Director of High Scope Indonesia)
Niken Asih Santjojo (Principal of SMAN 10 Malang)
Prof. Dr. Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri (Rector of University of Indonesia)
Anies R. Baswedan, PhD. (Rector of Paramadina University)
Prof. Dr. Gerardus Polla M.App.Sc. (Rector of Binus University)

Here are several (amateur and hurried) snapshots from the event. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2%

Even after Slank’s controversial lyrics of their song, Gosip Jalanan, have caused a stir amongst the government higher ups [Link], Dewi Persik’s banned stage performance [Link], and Julia Perez’ condom giveaways along with her banned album [Link], Indonesia’s moral-preaching wall of fame is expected to be further vandalized with splatters of political incorrectness here and there. Be it yet another marketing strategy or not, the popular media and its audience would have to be ready for a fresh taste for controversiality in the scene. One that could provide such taste is Pandji Pragiwaksono [Blog]. As a hip-hop rapper also popularly known as a local TV and radio presenter, Pandji has engaged a mission to uplift the pride of the nation, one word, one beat at a time. In his debut album, Pandji raps his way in presenting various social issues in the country such as piracy, social injustice, violence, patriotism, and the media while clutching a handful of nationalistic pride, making him sound like Eminem in comparison to those listed in the local’s Top 10 chart.

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Popularity: 5%

Video originally titled Famous Failures and produced by BluefishTV.

Popularity: 4%

Kompas Cyber Media [Link] might’ve received a surprise gift on World Press Freedom Day. Rumours have been going around concerning the deface of the news portal last 3rd May around noon time, eventhough it has been actively functioning for the last couple of days. One of the site’s visitor reported the occurence on mediacare mailing list and taken a screenshot of the presumably defaced web page.

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Popularity: 10%

Blogbrary 2008: the Library for the Indonesian Child is a non-profit social campaign encouraging local bloggers in Indonesia to promote the increase of literacy and love of reading amongst children living in poor and disadvantaged living areas. Blogbrary 2008 was launched just last 26th April in Jakarta and presently undergoing a process in building localized libraries in each appointed areas.

Blogbrary expectedly would aid Indonesian children in acquiring good and appropriate reading materials, also in having greater opportunity to expand their intellectual horizon and to reach for higher education. It targets children living in communities that lacks adequate supply of books and volunteers are mainly outsourced from bloggers themselves. Blogbrary 2008 is also one of the very first social campaigns that introduce the concept of Blogger Social Responsiblity (BSR) in the local new media environment.
 

How to help? Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 10%