Helping tsunami victims<\/p>\n
As someone who feels deeply connected to Indonesia and its
\npeoples, I am deeply saddened by the awful death and destruction
\nthat the earthquake and tsunami has wreaked upon so many in North
\nSumatra and in other parts of South and Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
For nearly 20 years, I have been traveling to South Sulawesi
\nto carry out ethnographic research in a small island
\nvillage, studying and writing about local knowledge and practice
\nof navigation and fishing. Even so, when I hear reports that
\nwhole coastal villages were swept away, it is impossible to
\ncomprehend.<\/p>\n
As an anthropologist, I claim no expertise in the area of
\ndisaster relief, but as someone who has spent many days and weeks
\nsailing with Bugis traders aboard their perahu, I would like to
\nmake what, I admit, might be a naive suggestion.<\/p>\n
With the largest fleet of petty trading ships in the world and
\nwith much of coastal Aceh inaccessible except for by sea or air,
\nwould it not make sense to mobilize many of the small trading
\nships from across the country to deliver needed food, water, and
\nother supplies to those in need?<\/p>\n
The areas affected do not have large harbors and are thus best
\naccessed by perahu in any case, and I imagine it would not be
\nhard for the government to develop a plan to contract such ships
\nand their crews. Moreover, beyond the practical aspects, it would
\nalso offer seafarers from many parts of Indonesia the opportunity
\nto contribute to the effort and build solidarity with the people
\nof Aceh.<\/p>\n
Again, I do not know how feasible this would be, but as I sit
\nhere in the U.S. listening to the news reports and wanting to
\nhelp in any way that I can, I appreciate the opportunity to
\nexpress my thoughts.<\/p>\n
My thoughts and prayers are with the afflicted.<\/p>\n
GENE AMMARELL, Arhens, Ohio, USA<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/helping-tsunami-victims-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }