7th Billionth Baby - The Philippines

Cheers and fears as world population hits 7 billion

31 October 2011

AFP

MANILA (AFP) - Asia welcomed the world's first symbolic "seven billionth" baby on Monday, but celebrations were tempered by worries over the strain that humanity's population explosion is putting on a fragile planet.

The United Nations says that by its best estimates the seven billionth baby will be born somewhere on October 31, and countries around the world have planned events surrounding the demographic milestone.

Zambia is throwing a seven billion song contest; Vietnam is staging a "7B: Counting On Each Other" concert; Russian authorities are showering gifts on selected newborns and the Ivory Coast is putting on a comedy show.

The Philippines was the first country to declare a seven billionth baby, in the form of a little girl called Danica May Camacho.

Weighing 2.5 kilos (5.5 pounds), Danica was delivered just before midnight Sunday under an explosion of media camera flashes at Manila's Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital.

"She looks so lovely," the mother, Camille Dalura, whispered as she cradled her baby girl.

"I can't believe she is the world's seven billionth."

Danica is the second child for Dalura and her partner, Florante Camacho, who stood quietly in a corner wearing a white hospital gown as television crews and photographers crowded to get a shot of his daughter.

UN officials presented the child with a cake. Other gifts came from local benefactors including a scholarship grant, and a financial package to help the parents open a general store.

Also on hand to witness the birth was 12-year-old Lorrize Mae Guevarra, who the Philippines declared as its own six billionth baby when the world reached that demographic landmark in 1999.

"I am very happy to see this cute baby. I hope like me she will grow up to become healthy and well loved by everyone," Guevarra said.

The UN named a Bosnian child, Adnan Mevic, as the Earth's six billionth inhabitant on October 12, 1999. The secretary general at the time, Kofi Annan, was pictured in a Sarajevo hospital with Mevic in his arms.

The Mevic family is now living in poverty, which is partly why no single baby will be put in the global spotlight this time. Instead Danica May Camacho is one of a number of children whose birth will be marked throughout the day.

The world has added a billion babies -- or almost another China -- since Adnan Mevic was born. Having taken millennia to pass the one-billion mark, the world's population has now doubled in 50 years.

Mounting concern over humanity's environmental impact and fears we may not be able to feed ourselves in 100 years' time have cast a cautionary tone over the buildup to the seven billion milestone.

Current UN chief Ban Ki-moon will not be seen cuddling a newborn. He has said the seven billionth baby will be entering a "world of contradiction", especially if the child is born on the wrong side of the poverty line.

"Plenty of food, but still a billion people going to bed hungry every night. Many people enjoy luxurious lifestyles, but still many people are impoverished," he said in an interview with Time magazine.

Addressing students at a New York school last week, he said: "This is not a story about numbers. This is a story about people."

"Seven billion people who need enough food. Enough energy. Good opportunities in life for jobs and education. Rights and freedoms. The freedom to speak. The freedom to raise their own children in peace and security.

"Everything you want for yourself -- seven billion times over," he said.

The UN chief will be taking his message to the Group of 20 summit this week, where leaders of rich and developing nations will discuss the threat of global recession and efforts to tighten rules on bankers' bonuses and tax havens.

With about two babies being born every second, the seven billion figure will keep racing ahead in decades to come -- to more than 10 billion by 2100, according to UN estimates.

The UN predicts that India will overtake China as the world's most populous nation by 2025, when it will have almost 1.5 billion people.

A new UN Population Fund (UNFPA) report highlights how the world will face growing problems finding jobs for the new army of young people, especially in poor countries.

It also sounds alarms over how climate change and population growth are adding to drought and famine crises; the management of megacities like Tokyo; and ageing populations such as Europe's.

"This is not a matter of space -- it's a matter of equity, opportunity and social justice," UNFPA executive director Babatunde Osotimehin said.

Van Da Man: Chelski 3-5 Arsenal

RVP Hat-trick Sinks Chelski

The Gunners enjoyed the glorious victory against their fiercest rival when they beat Chelski 5-3 at Stamford Bridge. The men in blue was beaten by  QPR in last week London derby. And now for the biggest London derby Chelski succumbed to Arsenal in pulsating game in front of their fans.

Again it was Van Persie who done the damaged. He is in great form. When he get the ball Arsenal seemed to score. Cool as you like he place the ball beyond the keeper.

Arsene now must fight to keep his talisman stayed at Emirates. Losing the Ducthman is the last thing he wants after losing many great players in Febragas, Nasri, Clichcy and Eboue.

Now with confidence wins against Chelski, the Gunners now set to face any team in England and Europe. So watch out United.

The Legend Continues: From United To Molde

World Football - Solskjaer leads Molde to title

Sunday, 30 October 2011

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led Molde to the Norwegian league title for the first time in their 100-year history when they drew 2-2 with Stromsgodset and rivals Rosenborg were humiliated at home by Brann.

Solskjaer, the former Manchester United striker, lifted Molde to 55 points with two rounds left to play, seven more than Tromso and nine ahead of Rosenborg.

On a dramatic day, Molde looked like securing the title with a victory over Stromsgodset until a last-minute equaliser from Anders Agnes Konradsen postponed the party at the Aker stadium.

Rosenborg kicked off against Brann knowing they needed a victory to keep their slim hopes alive, but they looked nothing like title contenders as they conceded three goals in the first 20 minutes on the way to a 6-3 defeat.

Founded in 1911, Molde had finished runners-up in the Tippeligaen on seven occasions but it took the return of the talismanic Solskjaer to deliver the title the club had craved.

Despite scoring 33 goals in 42 matches for Molde before moving on to a glittering career at Manchester United, Solskjaer had never won a major trophy in his native country.

He took over as manager at Molde in January 2011 following a successful stint as reserve team coach at United but suffered a rocky start on his return to Norway.

Molde lost his first league game to promoted Sarpsborg 08, before draws against Tromso and Viking left his side with just two points from a possible nine.

Solskjaer, famed for his ability to come off the bench and change a game as he did when he scored in stoppage time to secure United's dramatic Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in 1999, turned the team's fortunes around.

Victory at rivals Tromso on October 2 put Molde in pole position in the title race and draws against Odd Grenland, Stabaek and Stromsgodset secured the trophy.

Everton 0-1 United

Narrow Wins For United

United earned all three points thanks to Hernandez only goal. The Mexican brilliantly lost his marker to tap in a also brilliant cross by Evra. However United performance was far than convincing although the win is much needed to erase the last week humiliation.

Ferguson put up more adventurous team with Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck at the starting line up. Also in were Cleverly and Ji Sung Park. A little surprising when Evans also in team. Maybe to show Ferguson support on the young Northern Ireland. 

United attacked right from the beginning when Ji Sung Park managed to tap Welbeck pass but it was blocked by Howard. Clearly United wanted to forget the last week drubbing. With Cleverly pulling the strings in middle of midfield United seemed to have different look. But again United is not the same like we always see. However there were flash of old United where the players had quick and neat passing between them. Only we can't hardly see sweeping move of counter attack that usually ended with goal.

A lot of work to be done especially to match the mighty Barcelona..

BPL Matchday 10 Results

Saturday 29th October 2011
Everton	0-1	Manchester United
Chelski	3-5	Arsenal
Manchester City	3-1	Wolves
Norwich City	3-3	Blackburn Rovers
Sunderland	2-2	Aston Villa
Swansea City	3-1	Bolton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic	0-2	Fulham
West Bromwich Albion	0-2	Liverpool
Sunday 30th October 2011
Tottenham Hotspur	3-1	Queen Park Rangers

Indonesians Say Their Government Is Corrupt

9 Out of 10 Say Indonesian Government Corruptions Rampant

Ulma Haryanto & Anita Rachman | October 28, 2011

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/

A new survey by the Abu Dhabi Gallup Center paints a more dire picture of the state of corruption in Indonesia than indicated by previous studies.

Due to be officially released today, the study, “Corruption Continues to Plague Indonesia,” shows that Indonesians’ perception of how widespread corruption is in the country has worsened under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The Gallup survey found that 91 percent of Indonesians believe corruption is widespread throughout the government, as opposed to 84 percent in 2006.

And that negative perception does not stop at the government, with 86 percent of respondents saying corruption is extensive in the business sector, up from 75 percent in 2006.

“Gallup polling that began midway through Yudhoyono’s first term as president shows Indonesians are more likely now than in 2006 to say corruption is widespread throughout business and government,” the study says.

The results of the Gallup survey run counter to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, which saw Indonesia’s score improve from 2.4 in 2006 to 2.8 in 2010.

The Gallup survey also found that Indonesians were more likely than other Southeast Asians to say their government and business sectors were corrupt. “Only in 2009, the year of Yudhoyono’s re-election, were Indonesians less likely than now to day that corruption is widespread throughout the country’s leadership and businesses,” the report said.

The results were obtained from face-to-face interviews in Indonesia with 6,390 adult respondents, between 2006 and 2011. The center is a Gallup research hub based in the capital of the United Arab Emirates and focused on the attitudes and aspirations of Muslims around the world.

Febri Diansyah, from Indonesia Corruption Watch, agreed with the survey results. He added that Transparency International’s CPI did not necessarily reflect improvements in the public’s perception of the country’s most corrupt public sectors.

“Justice reform has been slow, and our corruption eradication is not that effective yet,” he said.

Gallup’s survey also found that only 56 percent of Indonesians say they have confidence in the judicial system, and 53 percent of people still believe in honest elections.

Perhaps surprisingly, it also found that 88 percent of Indonesians trust the police, compared to 56 percent for the judiciary.

It was also found that Indonesians who have completed their secondary education or higher are less likely to profess confidence in the local police and the country’s judicial system, compared to those with only an elementary education or less.

In the group, with less education, 92 percent declared confidence in their police, compared to 82 percent from those with more education. Fifty-two percent of secondary school graduates or higher still have faith in Indonesian courts, compared with 61 percent for people with less education.

Urban dwellers are also more sceptical of law enforcers, with 91 percent of people living in rural areas thinking the police can still be trusted, compared to 83 percent of city residents. A similar distinction was found for perceptions of the judicial system, with 62 percent of people living in rural areas being optimistic about the courts, compared to only 50 percent of urban residents.

Gallup’s main recommendation to the Indonesian government is to reform the judicial system and the police.

The polling center also says agencies such as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the yet-to-be-established Financial Services Supervisory Authority (OJK) should be kept independent.

“If Yudhoyono and other Indonesian officials want to eradicate corruption in their country, they should consider tougher action,” the report says.

In another recommendation, Gallup also says that a free press can help keep leaders in the government and private sectors accountable and honest

Fatal Accidents Involve Singaporean

More Than 30 Singaporeans Die Every Year in Malaysia

Teo Cheng Wee - Straits Times Indonesia | October 25, 2011

Kuala Lumpur. Some 30 to 40 Singaporeans die in fatal accidents in Malaysia every year, because they speed on the highways, are unfamiliar with roads there, or are not used to driving long distances.

Another 50 to 70 are injured in these accidents, over half of which take place in the state of Johor, just across the Causeway, and many of them on highways.

Road experts say many Singaporeans tend to "let loose" on Malaysian roads, in the mistaken impression that there is no speed limit on the highways - or that the chances of getting caught are very low.

The overall speed limit on the North-South Expressway, which runs the length of Peninsular Malaysia, is 110kmh, with the limit on certain dangerous stretches dropping to 80kmh or 90kmh.

The highest speed limit on Singapore's expressways, in contrast, is 90kmh.

The figures, which come from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros), show that the death toll of Singaporeans in Malaysia is about a quarter of that in Singapore, where 195 motorists lost their lives last year.

Some 17,500 Singapore vehicles, excluding motorcycles, enter Malaysia every day, either for work, holidays or as part of car clubs which head north regularly to make the most of Malaysia's long expressways.

The fatality and injury numbers for Singaporeans have been relatively constant over the last few years, added Miros.

Many of the accidents take place because many Singaporeans seem 'more tempted' to speed when driving here, its director-general Wong Shaw Voon told The Straits Times. Also, some are unfamiliar with high-speed driving and overtaking on smaller roads.

"Singaporeans seem more prone to speeding when driving on Malaysian highways," Wong said.

He added, however, that the statistics do not mean that Johor is the most dangerous place to drive in.

"Wherever Singaporeans want to travel to, whether it's Kuala Lumpur, Perak or Penang, they have to drive through Johor," he noted. "The increased frequency makes it more likely for accidents to happen there."

Overall, though, Singaporean motorists made up only a small proportion - less than 1 percent - of Malaysia's accidents and deaths. Last year, more than 6,800 Malaysians were killed on its roads, or about 18 each day.

Such fatalities have been rising steadily through the years, and are 20 percent higher than they were a decade ago.

Horrific accidents on Malaysia's highways often make headlines in both local and overseas media, reinforcing an image of the country's roads and motorists as unsafe.

Last year, 28 people - mostly Thai tourists - were killed when a tour bus overturned on its way down from Cameron Highlands, in one of the country's worst bus accidents in years.

But these figures tell only half the story, as Wong points out, even as he acknowledged that Malaysia needs to work harder to reduce the accidents.

The number of vehicles on Malaysia's roads has boomed, from 11 million in 2001 to 20 million last year, multiplying the likelihood of accidents.

Taking these numbers into account, Malaysia's fatality rate has actually fallen, said Wong. It dropped from 5.17 per 10,000 vehicles in 2001 to 3.43 last year, continuing a downward trend which first began in the mid-1990s.

In Singapore, the fatality rate among motorists is 2.03 per 10,000 vehicles.

Malaysia's authorities say they have taken measures to make the country's highways and roads safer, for instance by installing signages and improving visibility at accident hot spots and potentially dangerous bends.

In a bid to reduce accidents involving motorcyclists, who make up 60 percent of all fatalities, the government is also building the country's longest motorcycle lane. To be built in stages from now to 2020, it will run from Perlis to Johor along a main trunk road.

Singaporeans who drive in Malaysia regularly say the risks come mainly from speeding.

Civil servant Faizal Hassan, 31, who drives up to Kuala Lumpur at least five to six times a year, believes that with some common sense and precautions, it is not difficult to stay safe on Malaysia's roads.

He gives way to faster cars, and avoids traveling during peak hours, as well as on roads that he is not familiar with.

"I see at most one accident every five trips I take. That's not a lot, but then when it comes to accidents, you can say that even one is too much," said Faizal, who had just driven - incident-free - to Kuala Lumpur and back last weekend.

BPL Matchday 10 Fixtures

Saturday 29th October 2011
Everton	Manchester United	About 7.00pm (Malaysia)
Chelski	Arsenal	About 7.45pm (Malaysia)
Manchester City	Wolves	About 10.00pm (Malaysia)
Norwich City	Blackburn Rovers	About 10.00pm (Malaysia)
Sunderland	Aston Villa	About 10.00pm (Malaysia)
Swansea City	Bolton Wanderers	About 10.00pm (Malaysia)
Wigan Athletic	Fulham	About 10.00pm (Malaysia)
West Bromwich Albion	Liverpool	About 12.30am (Malaysia)
Sunday 30th October 2011
Tottenham Hotspur	Queen Park Rangers	About 11.00pm (Malaysia)
Monday  31th October 2011
Stoke City	Newcastle United	About 3.00am (Malaysia)

United again will have short trip to Merseyside to face The Toffee. United must win comfortable to erase horrible memory of City big win. However the match of the week will be another London derby between Chelski vs Arsenal. The Gunners seem to recover from the slump in the beginning of the season. Chelski was defeated by BPL new boys of QPR.  The defeats than follow with racial slur accusation by their captain JT would be the test of their characters. Many believed that JT is guilty based from the video from the game. I believed The Gunners will come on top.

For United 0-3 win would be the good medicine to be ruthless again.

More Story On West Papua

I  continued searching for more information regarding West Papuans struggle for independence. It was painful story how the tribal people there been treated. If this heartrending stories proved to be true as  it claimed then the world must not silence. In this modern era this kind of tyranny should not exist anymore. All people had their rights regardless their colour, race, religious and civilization level.

Below some excerpt from the two websites;

http://www.themonthly.com.au

Written By William Lloyd-George

As I stand next to a lively fruit market on my first day in West Papua’s biggest city, Jayapura, a local rushes across the road to greet me. He’s smartly dressed, as is his son whose hand he holds. “Hello, where are you from?” he says, wiping sweat from his forehead. Before I can answer he moves closer and whispers in perfect English. “I have no job and no future. The Indonesians have taken everything from us. I hope you can tell the world.” Without any further conversation, he thanks me for my time and disappears into the crowd. It’s a sentiment echoed throughout resource-rich West Papua, the last frontier of Indonesia – from the highland rainforests to the vast white coast and shabby streets of Jayapura.

General Richard Yoweni, commander of the TPN, at a hidden base in the jungle.

A TPN rebel at base camp in the jungle of West Papua.

A local stands with his map

Police arrest attendees of the Third Papuan People Congress in Abepura. Photo: Reuters

http://www.freewestpapua.org/

My name is Benny Wenda, I am a West Papuan independence leader and chairman of the Koteka Tribal Assembly. My village was bombed by Indonesia when I was a child and many of my family were killed. Later, I began to campaign peacefully to free my people. For this 'crime' I was arrested, tortured and threatened with death.

I managed to escape to Britain, where I now live in exile. Many of my people are still suffering. They have been killed, raped and tortured. Life is hard for them. All we are asking for is the freedoms that you enjoy every day - the freedom to speak your mind, to live without fear and to choose your own government.

West Papua Story

West Papuans Cry For Help

The-Diplomat.Com

27 October 2011

Despite facing a well-armed Indonesian Army, many West Papuans are determined to fight for a greater say in their future. William Lloyd George travels to the jungles of West Papua to meet the rebels.

Last week, thousands of natives gathered in West Papua to attend a congress to mark 50 years since Papuan people declared their independence. It was meant to be a peaceful meeting, but on the last day, to the surprise of the security forces waiting outside, several Papuan leaders read out a declaration calling for the independence of West Papua from Indonesia, raised their forbidden national flag, and installed a symbolic government.

Half way into the declaration the police stormed the congress in attempt to break up the meeting. The unarmed attendees fought back. While the number killed in the clash is yet to be confirmed, it is reported to be at least half a dozen. Dead bodies have been found scattered around the island. Some behind the police barracks, others in ditches. Hundreds were injured, and some are still missing.

In response to accusations of a heavy handed response, the island’s police chief said,‘The reason we broke in was because the Congress violated the permit. The permit was only to talk about the basic rights of Papuans.’

Human rights groups around the world were quick to chime in with criticism for the police response. Speaking over a crackly line, a West Papuan activist who wished to remain anonymous told The Diplomat: ‘We were just discussing our rights in a non-violent way, there was no reason to storm in like that, it was terrifying…All we want is our land back.’

The activist is referring to the inclusion of West Papua under Indonesia sovereignty. Although Indonesia gained independence in 1949, the Dutch government kept control over West Papua until 1961. Keen to get his hands on the resource rich region, Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno, made repeated attempts through the United Nations to gain ownership. Frustrated with a lack of progress, Indonesia deployed tens of thousands of armed troops to take the western half of New Guinea Island by force.

The Kennedy administration, keen to avoid confrontation and the loss of another Asian country to communism, brokered the New York Agreement between the Dutch and Jakarta in 1962.The agreement transferred control of the colony to Indonesia on the condition it committed to hold a referendum on independence, to be called the ‘Act of Free Choice.’

In 1969, 1,025 handpicked Papuans – out of a population of over 1 million – were chosen for the vote. These ‘representatives’ unanimously chose for West Papua to remain within Indonesian sovereignty. Amid allegations of threats to voters, a British Foreign and Commonwealth Office briefing that year found ‘the process of consultation did not allow a genuinely free choice to be made,’ while the US ambassador to Indonesia said, ’95 percent of indigenous Papuans wanted to have freedom.’

Across West Papua, the Act was seen as a complete sham, fuelling protests and inspiring parts of the population to take up arms. The Indonesian military launched widespread campaigns to quell dissent. Thousands of refugees fled the country and members of the resistance set up armed groups deep in the jungle, where they remain today still fighting for independence.

Foreign journalists are rarely granted permission to visit West Papua, and if they are, the trip is heavily restricted. Having arrived in Jayapura, the largest city on the island, I am whisked to the coast and into a boat. I am traveling to meet the rebels, but to avoid detection we take a lengthy boat trip along Papua’s pristine coastline.

Photo Credit: KC Ortiz