Poverty in Indonesia.
The World Bank says almost one in five people live in poverty.
In a series of comprehensive reports on the poverty situation in Indonesia the World Bank says, among many other things, that 17.8% of people are regarded as living in poverty currently, this being measured by those who have less than $1.55 in purchasing power parity terms per day.
However, the long term trend is good. In 1976 the poverty head-count was at 40%, declining to about 11% in 1996. The economic crisis which began in late 1997 saw the poverty rate jump up to 23% in 1999 but it began falling after that, and reached 16% in 2005. This year, 2006, has bucked the downward trend though, up to 17.8%.
Why did poverty increase from 2005 to 2006, by around 4 million people? The World Bank lays the blame squarely on the refusal of Indonesia to import rice. Rice prices went up and imports of the staple food would have calmed the market and kept the price steady or the increases smaller. The fuel price increases did not have an impact because the government’s unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program to 19 million poor people more than offset the fuel price hike.
42% of Indonesian households earn between $1 and $2 a day, putting them at the mercy of economic shocks and in danger of falling into “technical” poverty. There is a high level of movement in and out of poverty. While only 16.7% of Indonesians surveyed were poor in 2004, more than 59% had been poor at some time during the year preceding the survey. Over 38% of poor households in 2004 were not poor in 2003
Worked Cited
IndonesiaMatter.com
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Islamic Banking- Innovation in Islam
Recently MEMRI issued a report on Islamic banking and its rapid growth as an industry both within and outside the Muslim world. The report is an interesting read, particularly as it demonstrates, through the banking industry, how adaptive and flexible Islam can be. The report focuses on the role of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), which is based on “interpretation of the Koran, and secondarily, on ijma (consensus)” which offers a lot of room for innovation particularly with regard to Islamic rules that prohibit elements of financial transactions that are important for the banking industry to grow, prosper and connect to the global economy.
As Thomas Barnett has argued, that is the primary “purpose behind our Big bang strategy [to connect] the Middle East up to the global economy faster than the jihadists can disconnect it.”
According to the report, Islamic banking is a banking system that is “consistent with Shari’a and guided by Islamic economics,” and as such an important part of the system is the prohibition on collecting riba (interest or usury). The reason shari’a prohibits trading in financial risk is because it is seen as a form of gambling, something forbidden in Islam. Another prohibition under shari’a is that Muslims cannot invest in businesses that are considered haram such as those that sell alcohol, pork, engage in gambling or produce un-Islamic media.
Recently MEMRI issued a report on Islamic banking and its rapid growth as an industry both within and outside the Muslim world. The report is an interesting read, particularly as it demonstrates, through the banking industry, how adaptive and flexible Islam can be. The report focuses on the role of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), which is based on “interpretation of the Koran, and secondarily, on ijma (consensus)” which offers a lot of room for innovation particularly with regard to Islamic rules that prohibit elements of financial transactions that are important for the banking industry to grow, prosper and connect to the global economy.
As Thomas Barnett has argued, that is the primary “purpose behind our Big bang strategy [to connect] the Middle East up to the global economy faster than the jihadists can disconnect it.”
According to the report, Islamic banking is a banking system that is “consistent with Shari’a and guided by Islamic economics,” and as such an important part of the system is the prohibition on collecting riba (interest or usury). The reason shari’a prohibits trading in financial risk is because it is seen as a form of gambling, something forbidden in Islam. Another prohibition under shari’a is that Muslims cannot invest in businesses that are considered haram such as those that sell alcohol, pork, engage in gambling or produce un-Islamic media.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Why are Muslim behind now?
The Islamic Empire was leading the world from seventh century until the collapse of Alabasey Empire. The Islamic Empire was extending from Chinese broader East to Spine west and south France north to central Africa south. They were the super power in thee world in science, literature and military forces.
Islamic community started to going down once the Ottoman Empire was created. The rulers of the empire segregate between Arabs and Turks by giving the Turks the power over Arabs. After the defeat of Ottoman Empire, the West divided the Islamic world to each party to get a piece of the cake.
After the colonization era, the Islamic world turned to be cultural differences more than anything else so one in the Islamic World now thinks of himself as a citizen more than as a Muslim.
The Islamic Empire was leading the world from seventh century until the collapse of Alabasey Empire. The Islamic Empire was extending from Chinese broader East to Spine west and south France north to central Africa south. They were the super power in thee world in science, literature and military forces.
Islamic community started to going down once the Ottoman Empire was created. The rulers of the empire segregate between Arabs and Turks by giving the Turks the power over Arabs. After the defeat of Ottoman Empire, the West divided the Islamic world to each party to get a piece of the cake.
After the colonization era, the Islamic world turned to be cultural differences more than anything else so one in the Islamic World now thinks of himself as a citizen more than as a Muslim.
Reaction to the movie: The Message (1976)
If you are a muslim, you must see this, if you are interested in Islam, you must see this, and all others should still see this. It's an experience of a lifetime! It shows the true meaning of Islam, its roots, its basic beliefs, and so much more... When I first saw this film, it left me in tears and speechless for quite some time after. When I watch it today, it still does! I don't believe anyone can watch this film and not become moved or even shaken by what he/she sees and hears! If the movie has one shortcoming, it's that the main character, prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), is never actually seen or heard, as it would have been a deadly sin to have an 'imposter' playing Him in the movie. Although this takes some getting used to and creates some lengths (i.e. dialogs which are rather more monologues with pauses), the rest of the movie compensates in full! Watching this movie will probably not make you go out to become a muslim (although I have read that most of the cast/crew involved did so), but certainly put some thought and understanding into you. One of the must see movies or all time!!!
If you are a muslim, you must see this, if you are interested in Islam, you must see this, and all others should still see this. It's an experience of a lifetime! It shows the true meaning of Islam, its roots, its basic beliefs, and so much more... When I first saw this film, it left me in tears and speechless for quite some time after. When I watch it today, it still does! I don't believe anyone can watch this film and not become moved or even shaken by what he/she sees and hears! If the movie has one shortcoming, it's that the main character, prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), is never actually seen or heard, as it would have been a deadly sin to have an 'imposter' playing Him in the movie. Although this takes some getting used to and creates some lengths (i.e. dialogs which are rather more monologues with pauses), the rest of the movie compensates in full! Watching this movie will probably not make you go out to become a muslim (although I have read that most of the cast/crew involved did so), but certainly put some thought and understanding into you. One of the must see movies or all time!!!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Kuwait: Islam Is "Moderation, Peace and Understanding"..
Just when you thought the myth that Islam is a religion of peace had been buried, the Kuwaiti Minister of Justice and Minister of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs has decided to exhume it. Speaking in Washington, Abdallah Al-Maatouq said yesterday that only moderation could stop Islamic societies from succumbing to lawlessness and extremism.
"Destruction can take place when scholars and intellectuals let go of their duties, allowing extremists to take the initiative and letting them take over leadership to enforce their narrow, defective perspective," he said, according to Arab Times. "We came here to say that the true leaders of the Islamic nation are the sane scholars and intellectuals, rather than the crazy insolent people."
He was speaking at the second Islamic Moderation Conference. It seems surprising that there has never been a need for a conference on Christian or Buddhist moderation. But these religions do not have such bizarre scriptures as the following: "But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)." (Sura 9, verse 5).
"I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them," states the Koran, Sura 8, verse 12. And Mohammed himself waged war on those he considered to be unbelievers. So when Abdallah Al-Maatouq calls for "moderation", is he really calling for true Islam to be followed, or some secularized heresy?
Adel Al-Fallah is the under-secretary of the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs, and was the chairman of Saturday's conference. He stated: "Moderation is the core, banner and merit of Islam. We came from Kuwait, the dear country of moderation, with one message to the American Muslims, the American people and the residents in the United States saying 'let us all work together for spreading moderation and positive integration among the ranks of society'."
Dr Maasouma Al-Mubarak, Kuwait's Minister of Communications told the conference: "We as Muslims should tell others what real Islam is all about, a religion of moderation, peace and understanding." She appears to believe this. It is a shame that the holy book of Islam, the Koran, is so riddled with exhortations to violence. Moderate Islam is a lovely idea, but for it to work, parts of the Koran would have to be censored, along with a large portion of the Hadiths. With Islam stripped of its messages of global domination and bloodshed, there would be very little of substance left
Mahathir Mohamad is Defending Islam ..
In the visit to Kazakhstan a day earlier, Mahathir said there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim and US President George W Bush is mistaken in casting his war on terror in terms of a "struggle for civilisation".Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years and is known for his frequent barbs against what he has called Western double standards, said he believed even the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US were at root linked to Israel's occupation of Palestinian land."What is happening today has got nothing to do with religion. It has got to do with territorial disputes, mainly the dispute over Palestinian land," he said after a religious congress in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.He said Bush's description of America's "war on terror" as "a struggle for civilisation" on the fifth anniversary of the attacks was flawed, as was the West's hope that moderate Muslims would have a dominant voice."There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim," he said. "We are fundamentalists in Malaysia. We follow the true teachings of the religion and the true teachings do not teach us to bomb and kill people without reason."On Bush's comments, Mahathir, 81, said: "He's not civilised, he shouldn't be talking about civilising others." Mahathir - whom Israel has in the past dubbed anti-Semitic - said he saw the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands as the root cause of Islamist extremism."They (the hijackers) had no direct link but there is a great deal of sympathy for the sufferings of the people of Palestine," he said.
In the visit to Kazakhstan a day earlier, Mahathir said there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim and US President George W Bush is mistaken in casting his war on terror in terms of a "struggle for civilisation".Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years and is known for his frequent barbs against what he has called Western double standards, said he believed even the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US were at root linked to Israel's occupation of Palestinian land."What is happening today has got nothing to do with religion. It has got to do with territorial disputes, mainly the dispute over Palestinian land," he said after a religious congress in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.He said Bush's description of America's "war on terror" as "a struggle for civilisation" on the fifth anniversary of the attacks was flawed, as was the West's hope that moderate Muslims would have a dominant voice."There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim," he said. "We are fundamentalists in Malaysia. We follow the true teachings of the religion and the true teachings do not teach us to bomb and kill people without reason."On Bush's comments, Mahathir, 81, said: "He's not civilised, he shouldn't be talking about civilising others." Mahathir - whom Israel has in the past dubbed anti-Semitic - said he saw the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands as the root cause of Islamist extremism."They (the hijackers) had no direct link but there is a great deal of sympathy for the sufferings of the people of Palestine," he said.
Does Islam allow honor killings?
To make it clear, honor killings are FORBIDDEN by Islam. Honor killing is murder and must be punished accordingly. Honor killing was one of many abuses of women in pre-Islamic Arabia that Islamic teachings eradicated. It is terrible and sad how some Muslims act as though Islam had never come to them.
To make it clear, honor killings are FORBIDDEN by Islam. Honor killing is murder and must be punished accordingly. Honor killing was one of many abuses of women in pre-Islamic Arabia that Islamic teachings eradicated. It is terrible and sad how some Muslims act as though Islam had never come to them.
Islam needs a velvet revolution !!!
I'd like to call a moratorium on the genre of "Islam needs a Reformation" arguments.Contra Andrew Sullivan, the Protestant Reformation did not lead Christians to realize that "their best interests" lay "in forgoing the bromides of fundamentalist certainties for the messy, secular, banal success of liberal democracy." It left Europe filled with autocratic rulers, many of whom got to enjoy the additional benefits of controlling established churches.Sullivan's hand wringing about the coming sectarian storm in the Middle East also gives him an excuse to trot out the now-fashionable "I-used-to-support-the-war-but-now-I-know-better" argument that the US failed because those dratted Muslims just weren't ready for liberal democracy:
America's mistake is to believe it can impose this learning curve on another civilization - in a speed-reading course.Sullivan knows better: the US invasion teeters on the brink of total failure because it was ill-designed and incompetently executed. It destroyed a high-capacity authoritarian state and left in its place a barely functional government penetrated by the very forces currently intent on slaughtering one another. The fact that religious identities -- along with ethnic and clan membership -- play a key role in ongoing political violence should hardly surprise anyone. After all, religious worship was one of the only tolerated arenas of collective association under Hussein.But it is much easier to blame the whole mess on the "ripeness" of Islamic civilization for a great sectarian struggle based on some harebraned comparison to early modern Europe. So which of the two thousand-year old branches of Islam gets to play the role of "hodge-podge of Protestant movements that emerged after 1517" and which gets to be the "Catholic Church"? Personally, I think the radically decentralized Sunni faith makes a good proxy for the Papacy, and the Shia are sort of like the Calvinists, only different.
I'd like to call a moratorium on the genre of "Islam needs a Reformation" arguments.Contra Andrew Sullivan, the Protestant Reformation did not lead Christians to realize that "their best interests" lay "in forgoing the bromides of fundamentalist certainties for the messy, secular, banal success of liberal democracy." It left Europe filled with autocratic rulers, many of whom got to enjoy the additional benefits of controlling established churches.Sullivan's hand wringing about the coming sectarian storm in the Middle East also gives him an excuse to trot out the now-fashionable "I-used-to-support-the-war-but-now-I-know-better" argument that the US failed because those dratted Muslims just weren't ready for liberal democracy:
America's mistake is to believe it can impose this learning curve on another civilization - in a speed-reading course.Sullivan knows better: the US invasion teeters on the brink of total failure because it was ill-designed and incompetently executed. It destroyed a high-capacity authoritarian state and left in its place a barely functional government penetrated by the very forces currently intent on slaughtering one another. The fact that religious identities -- along with ethnic and clan membership -- play a key role in ongoing political violence should hardly surprise anyone. After all, religious worship was one of the only tolerated arenas of collective association under Hussein.But it is much easier to blame the whole mess on the "ripeness" of Islamic civilization for a great sectarian struggle based on some harebraned comparison to early modern Europe. So which of the two thousand-year old branches of Islam gets to play the role of "hodge-podge of Protestant movements that emerged after 1517" and which gets to be the "Catholic Church"? Personally, I think the radically decentralized Sunni faith makes a good proxy for the Papacy, and the Shia are sort of like the Calvinists, only different.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Terrorists in Saudi society!!
The closed nature of Saudi society encourages the outsider to believe that Saudis possess a phlegmatic temperament and do not feel the impact of change. An Arabic novel published in Lebanon The Cities of Salt Diaspora by a Saudi dispels this belief. The hefty novel 600 pages is in the form of an allegory. It describes an integrated idyllic tribal community living around an oasis. Oil is discovered Americans appear first as friends later as masters. The community begins to disintegrate sons kill and become insane. Life is beginning to imitate art. Depression paranoia drugs recently even AIDSone face of modern lifemay be glimpsed in Saudi society.Social scientists in the kingdom are concerned about the society within which they must live a society unfortunately with little time for their diagnosis. In sample studies they estimated that Saudi society had the highest VCR rate per set per person in the world. The impact on the closed society of Saudi Arabia of the filmsmany of them of the blue kindand their values can only be imagined.
The closed nature of Saudi society encourages the outsider to believe that Saudis possess a phlegmatic temperament and do not feel the impact of change. An Arabic novel published in Lebanon The Cities of Salt Diaspora by a Saudi dispels this belief. The hefty novel 600 pages is in the form of an allegory. It describes an integrated idyllic tribal community living around an oasis. Oil is discovered Americans appear first as friends later as masters. The community begins to disintegrate sons kill and become insane. Life is beginning to imitate art. Depression paranoia drugs recently even AIDSone face of modern lifemay be glimpsed in Saudi society.Social scientists in the kingdom are concerned about the society within which they must live a society unfortunately with little time for their diagnosis. In sample studies they estimated that Saudi society had the highest VCR rate per set per person in the world. The impact on the closed society of Saudi Arabia of the filmsmany of them of the blue kindand their values can only be imagined.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Muhammad is only a Prophet
Prophet Muhammad is only prophet in Islam and not holy under any concept. Muslims love Prophet Muhammad and think of him as the prefect example of a human being can be so they try hard to do his habits and this is called “Sunna”.
Muhammad was afraid that Islam will end up like Christianity and people will consider him as son of God and worship him. To prevent that to happen, Muhammad rejected to make painting of him or anything that gives a picture of how he looked like. Even in his life, he refused to write down the Hadueth so people won’t mix it with Holy Qur’an. “He does not talk out of his mind, he talks what he is told” this is what Allah said in Holy Qur’an about Prophet Muhammad’s behavior.
Muslims love Muhammad so much and refuse to see him humiliated it and that can explain what happened in Denmark last year.
Prophet Muhammad is only prophet in Islam and not holy under any concept. Muslims love Prophet Muhammad and think of him as the prefect example of a human being can be so they try hard to do his habits and this is called “Sunna”.
Muhammad was afraid that Islam will end up like Christianity and people will consider him as son of God and worship him. To prevent that to happen, Muhammad rejected to make painting of him or anything that gives a picture of how he looked like. Even in his life, he refused to write down the Hadueth so people won’t mix it with Holy Qur’an. “He does not talk out of his mind, he talks what he is told” this is what Allah said in Holy Qur’an about Prophet Muhammad’s behavior.
Muslims love Muhammad so much and refuse to see him humiliated it and that can explain what happened in Denmark last year.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Was Colonization Good for Southeast Asia?
Southeast Asia was colonized by Europe countries such as Portugal and Spain. The main purpose for the Europeans was to get the spices that the kings wish to have so that his Chef can cook their favorite dishes so Kings sent armies to invade countries and to kill the people for only their own pleasure nothing else. But the question is did people of Southeast Asia benefit from the colonization era?!
The Europe had put a good hand on the area they colonized. They brought a good education technology and started to distribute it to the local people. Secondly, they brought a new technology that advanced the agricultural business by increasing harvest. They also they built up cities and made it a safer community for both their own and the local people. Europe brought their language to wherever they colonize therefore the local people benefit from a new language and a new culture to experience.
However, People of Southeast Asia did suffer from the colonization era. As I mentioned before, Europeans were interested in the natural resources that this region deposits. Countries of Southeast Asia lost a huge percentage of their natural resource in favor of the Europeans so when the Europeans left the local people left with less resource, during the war between the two sides, many of Southeast Asia males were killed by the Europeans therefore the percentage of the male population decreased by a huge amount.
Most people argue about whether the people of Southeast Asia should thank the Europeans for the benefits that they brought to their countries or blame them for the damages those caused countries of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia was colonized by Europe countries such as Portugal and Spain. The main purpose for the Europeans was to get the spices that the kings wish to have so that his Chef can cook their favorite dishes so Kings sent armies to invade countries and to kill the people for only their own pleasure nothing else. But the question is did people of Southeast Asia benefit from the colonization era?!
The Europe had put a good hand on the area they colonized. They brought a good education technology and started to distribute it to the local people. Secondly, they brought a new technology that advanced the agricultural business by increasing harvest. They also they built up cities and made it a safer community for both their own and the local people. Europe brought their language to wherever they colonize therefore the local people benefit from a new language and a new culture to experience.
However, People of Southeast Asia did suffer from the colonization era. As I mentioned before, Europeans were interested in the natural resources that this region deposits. Countries of Southeast Asia lost a huge percentage of their natural resource in favor of the Europeans so when the Europeans left the local people left with less resource, during the war between the two sides, many of Southeast Asia males were killed by the Europeans therefore the percentage of the male population decreased by a huge amount.
Most people argue about whether the people of Southeast Asia should thank the Europeans for the benefits that they brought to their countries or blame them for the damages those caused countries of Southeast Asia
Saturday, September 30, 2006
09/28/2006
Is Sufism part of Islam?
Sufism has been grown in central and south Asia in the last decades. Sofiest consider themselves as Muslims, where the others don’t. Islam is very clear religion even though it might become hard to understand some concepts but most of its concepts are clear. You cannot invent new concepts which are called “Bedaih” in Islam. Sofies invented the sprite movement and dances which they think that when you do those you will reach Goddess and that is out of Islam.
You can not add or edit the religion as the time goes by unless you can prove that it’s based on Quran. You cannot worship anyone but Allah, can not be clearer than that. However, Sofies believe in power of human being as the started worship them without Allah. Some of them believe than certain people can be a messenger to be close to Allah which brings us to pre-Islam era when Arabs worshipped Alit, Osah and Obal. Sofies might have been influenced by other religion Hinduism and Budasim which share similar concepts.
Is Sufism part of Islam?
Sufism has been grown in central and south Asia in the last decades. Sofiest consider themselves as Muslims, where the others don’t. Islam is very clear religion even though it might become hard to understand some concepts but most of its concepts are clear. You cannot invent new concepts which are called “Bedaih” in Islam. Sofies invented the sprite movement and dances which they think that when you do those you will reach Goddess and that is out of Islam.
You can not add or edit the religion as the time goes by unless you can prove that it’s based on Quran. You cannot worship anyone but Allah, can not be clearer than that. However, Sofies believe in power of human being as the started worship them without Allah. Some of them believe than certain people can be a messenger to be close to Allah which brings us to pre-Islam era when Arabs worshipped Alit, Osah and Obal. Sofies might have been influenced by other religion Hinduism and Budasim which share similar concepts.
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