Endorsing MUI smoking ban

Sat, 08/30/2008 6:26 PM  |  Opinion

ADPARA>Good to see someone at least thinking about taking the lead on this major social and health issue. But where is the government's leadership? Why isn't the health minister taking the lead? Or, better still, the President?

The health and social impacts of tobacco is an issue for all Indonesians and should not be left solely to a religious group to take the lead.

The economic and social costs of smoking will always far exceed the economic benefits from tobacco. Furthermore, the immorality of allowing, and even facilitating, the avoidable death of 450,000 Indonesians from tobacco every year ought to deliver the coup de grace to any cost benefit analysis.

Wake up Indonesia. Tobacco is a deadly drug and is killing your citizens -- your fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and your children. HADRIAN
Jakarta

Better English teaching Aug. 23, p. 7

Well, I couldn't agree more with your ideas. Teachers must be smart and creative so that the students in the class will not get bored to learn it. In Japan, teachers are busy making teaching aids after school hours, but in Indonesia they are busy moonlighting and teaching somewhere else.

I happen to be an English teacher at public school. I can browse the Internet to search for interesting materials and games for the students in the class. I know the methods TPR, Silent ways, audiolingual, suggestopedia, CTL, and the like.

But I am not going to kill my time like you do. If we only teach in one school, we will only live for two weeks. In other words, our salary is not enough to make ends meet. And it still won't be enough when the Indonesian government increases the national budget for education to 20 percent.

The money will only be projected to the betterment of school facilities and bureaucracy. It is not for the sake of the teachers' welfare at all. My school's principal warned the school teachers not to protest nor demand our rights to better pay.

This repressive government will no longer afford us the fringe benefits. In my opinion, the government must take charge of the lag in English teaching in Indonesia. So, when will students find it easier and be more confident to learn English in higher grades? That'll be the day. Heaven knows. RONALDI
Jakarta

Nightspots during Ramadan Aug. 26, p. 4

Slowly but surely, without the authorities and people recognizing, Indonesia is becoming a future Iran. Mullahs will rule the country and Indonesia's wonderful culture will disappear. What is bad about entertainment?

What is bad with Indonesia's heritage of uniting different cultures of the 15,000 islands. History can not be deleted, unless by violence, as it was and is in Iran. Be careful, Indonesia.

Keep your freedom. Once you lose it, you will never get it back again. G. GUPTA
Jakarta

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Jatining Siti (not verified) — Fri, 09/05/2008 - 1:49pm

HADRIAN, I agree with you. The government ignore this issue because it isn't popular. If they ban cigarette, they might have lost support from people in the general election.

Iain (not verified) — Wed, 09/03/2008 - 8:08am

Well done G. Gupta... exactly my thoughts. However, I don't think people and governments aren't recognising it, I think they are just in denial. Concentrating on the short-term gains.

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