Lebay, parno or even mak nyuss are some Indonesian words that you will not find yet in a formal Indonesian dictionary, but many use them in daily conversation. The words are Indonesian street language for exaggerating, paranoid and yummy, and here the media is playing an important role in familiarizing such words. Professor of Indonesian literature Harimurti Kridalaksana said that such things happened naturally in communities, either in the archipelago or across the universe.

Your comments:

Language is part of our identity. It reflects mood, style and, to many of us choosing the language we use means showing others who we are. So it is true, as Harimurti said, that we have to pay attention on when and where we use it.

Aris Kurniawan

Language is an asset, a part of culture and language is utilized to maintain and convey culture and cultural ties.

Therefore, teachers should instruct their students on the cultural background of language usage.

Wiwi Rosaria

It means that Indonesia will be like the United States, and speak in Indonesian slang.

Sometimes, I hear Indonesian slang that derived from English, such as "freak", "so what", etc.

It's just an example of cultural amalgamation.

Anthony Alvin

Global warming is here --June 20, p. 4

Irregular rain patterns, more thunderstorms and higher temperatures are heralding the advent of global warming that Riau is now experiencing, says the provincial Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). "Our analysis over the past 25 years, between 1980 and 2005, shows that Riau has experienced a rise in the minimum temperature, from 21.5 to 23.5 degrees Celsius, as well as irregularities in rainfall patterns in the past five years," BMKG head Blucher Doloksaribu said Monday at a press conference in Jakarta.

Your comments:

It is not global warming. It is a local climate pattern shift caused by deforestation.

Tropical forests create their own climate and weather patterns. Remove the forests and it will alter the local climate. Sumatran land temperatures have consistently risen because cloud patterns have changed due to deforestation.

The tropical forests will never grow again while human habitation is encroaching into the virgin areas or cutting them down for commercial reasons.

Indonesian tropical rain forests rely on the peat underfoot. Remove the tree cover, the peat dries out and burns off. It will take thousands of years for the peat layer to build up again to sustain a tropical rain forest. Indonesia's burgeoning population is one of the reasons for the clearance.

Horasman

Grim outlook for Jakarta --June 22, p. 18

Environment and development experts claim Jakarta's 482nd anniversary Monday will be marred by the fact the city administration has not taken sufficient measures to ensure better public services and a focus on sustainable development.

Your comments:

There is a great opportunity for a visionary approach to Jakarta development aimed at the 500 year anniversary. Such an approach, if managed properly, could provide a blueprint for the future success of the capital and an example of opportunity for infrastructure development in Indonesia.

Is there any group or individual, who has sufficient visionary direction and care for the nation, prepared to develop and be accountable for a plan that actually works rather than just pay lip service, as usual, to the normal short-term political gains? In 2027, we shall see whether 500 years of history in Jakarta is about opportunity and delivery or self-serving and internal-looking people, which, unfortunately, is such a hallmark of Indonesian political and business life. If that process proceeds, we shall always need to remember to never to confuse activity with progress.

Terry Liddy

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