Floods in Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta is still in danger of getting flooded this rainy
\nseason.<\/p>\n
Although it would not perhaps be as bad as last year's, utmost
\nvigilance should nonetheless be maintained to anticipate the
\nfloods.<\/p>\n
It would be impossible to stop the viciousness of the flood.
\nHowever, we could reduce its impact if all components of society
\nare ready as early as possible.<\/p>\n
As floods frequently hit Jakarta, the people should
\nautomatically be prepared to face the rainy season.<\/p>\n
Should the Jakarta administration and the people cooperate in
\nanticipating the flood, the result would be good.<\/p>\n
The people of Jakarta are eager to see the capital city become
\na convenient place to live in. This however will not come into
\nbeing without hard work. -- Republika, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The tanker oil spill<\/p>\n
The pitiful end to the poorly named Prestige has reopened the
\ndebate on sea and environmental laws -- or the lack thereof ...<\/p>\n
The raising of moral standards in maritime transport and
\ndefense of the environment appears to be an imminent affair for
\nthe European Union, and any progress in this area will be
\nwelcomed in Brussels.<\/p>\n
The fact that Greece is taking over the presidency of the
\nEuropean Union at the beginning of 2003, and that Cyprus and
\nMalta -- also major maritime powers -- are joining in 2004, gives
\nspecial meaning to the Prestige crisis.<\/p>\n
It's Athens' chance to show that a country with a historic
\ncommand of the sea will be able to impose strictness after too
\nmany years of unpardonable laxity.<\/p>\n
-- Le Monde, Paris<\/p>\n
NATO summit<\/p>\n
The gap between the United States and Europe grows every day.
\nThat's true not only when it comes to the military capability,
\nwhere Europe increasingly resembles a fly weight. It's also true
\nfor the view on when military force should be used. The result
\nhas been that the United States is losing interest in Europe and
\nNATO.<\/p>\n
Europe and the United States need each other. For the
\nsuperpower the European partnership within NATO offers not least
\npolitical legitimacy. But if NATO also is to be a military power
\nto be reckoned with the alliance must show that it has the
\ncapability to meet the threats of the new era.<\/p>\n
It's time for NATO to step up to the plate. If Europe accepts
\nthe challenge the NATO of the future can develop into an alliance
\na la carte in which 'coalitions of the willing' shoulder the
\nmilitary missions. Such a NATO would definitely have an important
\nrole to play.<\/p>\n
-- Expressen, Stockholm, Sweden<\/p>\n
China has new leaders
\nand old problems<\/p>\n
The People's Republic of China has come through the Asian
\ncrisis of the last years better than many other countries. ....
\nIt cannot be overlooked, however, that the economic development
\nin China will burden millions of people with hardships which will
\nprove insurmountable for many of them.<\/p>\n
For a large part of the population, factories in the public
\nsector still represent the employer and provider of everyday
\nneeds and pensions in one. Attempting to change this was one of
\nthe goals of the generation of leaders now stepping down.<\/p>\n
Admittedly, these leaders only ever knew what they did not
\nwant.<\/p>\n
They did not have a detailed plan outlining what would happen
\nto those who are deprived of the state's protection. Precisely
\nsuch a plan is urgently needed. ...<\/p>\n
How long the (Communist Party's) monopoly in power can be
\npreserved is one of many fascinating questions relating to
\nChina's future.<\/p>\n
The People's Republic of China, or whatever the country will
\ncall itself in the distant future, has the potential to be a
\ngreat power. It still rests, however, on shaky foundations.<\/p>\n
-- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt, Germany<\/p>\n
The child abuse campaign<\/p>\n
The global 16-day campaign against woman and child abuse is a
\nlaudable effort that demands, and indeed deserves, our
\nunqualified support. And President Thabo Mbeki's endorsement of
\nthe campaign therefore must be applauded. Coming from the
\npresident of this country, the endorsement amounts to more than
\njust weighty support for the fight against this social malady. It
\nsets an example we must all emulate.<\/p>\n
More than that it lends moral support, which will help build
\nthe necessary critical mass the campaign needs to succeed against
\nwoman and child abuse.<\/p>\n
However, no measure of moral support on its own can deliver an
\neffective response to this crime. crucial to ridding society of
\nthis scourge must be uncompromising law enforcement.<\/p>\n
It is not enough to simply have laws on our statute books.
\nThey must be enforced.<\/p>\n
Police, have, however, cited lack of human resources as one
\nreason why they have been less than decisive in protecting women
\nand children.<\/p>\n
This is not good enough.<\/p>\n
-- The Sowetan, Johannesburg, South Africa<\/p>\n
McDonald's<\/p>\n
McDonald's, the American burger-chain, which has proliferated
\nwith seemingly unstoppable vigor throughout 121 countries,
\nappears to be in retreat.<\/p>\n
Some days ago, the food chain announced that it was
\nwithdrawing from three Latin American and Middle Eastern
\ncountries. Now, it is also said to be "reviewing" the future of
\ncertain prestigious London branches, including those in Oxford
\nStreet and Regent Street.<\/p>\n
Critics frown upon McDonald's global empire as a culinary
\nexample of American imperialism, but its customers are simply
\ndelighted to obtain a Happy Meal, a plastic toy and use of a
\nclean lavatory for what seems an astonishingly low price. When
\none tastes McDonald's food, however, it becomes clear that the
\nprice is perfectly appropriate.<\/p>\n
The company's success in marketing itself to children -- with
\ngames, puzzles and Disney film tie-ins -- has been such that most
\nchildren, upon glimpsing that illuminated yellow sign, are
\nguaranteed to work themselves into a frenzy of wheedling and
\nnagging, which usually ends in craven adult capitulation.<\/p>\n
McDonald's "review" of select branches may be for many
\nreasons, but we prefer this one: in central London at least,
\nparents just might be regaining the upper hand.<\/p>\n
--Sunday Telegraph, London<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/floods-in-jakarta-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }