'Yellow window' to knowledge opens in Indonesia<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A window has been opened through which people can look at the
\nbeauty and uniqueness of Indonesia's diverse nature.<\/p>\n
The window is National Geographic Indonesia, the Indonesian-
\nlanguage version of the famous National Geographic magazine,
\nwhich was launched here on Monday.<\/p>\n
Terrence B. Adamson of the Board of Executive Vice Presidents
\nof the U.S.-based National Geographic Society said the trademark
\nyellow border on the cover of the magazine represents a window to
\nthe world.<\/p>\n
\"It is a window to find new places and to tell readers around
\nthe globe about the world, its culture, its science and its
\nnature,\" he said at the launch.<\/p>\n
With National Geographic Indonesia, National Geographic
\nmagazine is now printed in 27 different languages every month.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian edition is the fifth in Asia after Mandarin in
\nclassical Chinese scrip, Japanese, Korean and Thai.<\/p>\n
The local version will follow closely the editorial content of
\nthe English-language original, and will include local content in
\nevery issue. National Geographic Indonesia will also be produced
\nto the exacting standards of the National Geographic Society --
\nand of course, will appear with the famous yellow-border cover
\nthat is familiar throughout the world.<\/p>\n
National Geographic is being brought to the Indonesian
\nreadership by Jakob Oetama's Kompas-Gramedia publishing group,
\nand Tantyo Bangun, a veteran freelance photographer, is its
\neditor-in-chief.<\/p>\n
Jakob emphasized that the credibility and the long history of
\nthe magazine had made the launch ceremony different from that of
\nother publications.<\/p>\n
The main feature in the first edition of National Geographic
\nIndonesia is the discovery of \"Flores man\" -- a species of homo
\nsapien. A report on the condition in Suwak Indrapuri, Meulaboh,
\nAceh, six days after the catastrophic tsunami is also published
\nin this edition, accompanied by a breakdown on how an earthquake
\ncreates a tsunami.<\/p>\n
Jakob hopes the publication of National Geographic Indonesia
\nwould promote an effort to reinvent Indonesia.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped the magazine would help the Indonesian people
\nbecome more aware of their homeland and its rich biodiversity
\nacross more than 17,000 islands -- about 8,000 of which are
\nuninhabited -- and learn more about its flora and fauna, ancient
\nheritage and spirit of social harmony.<\/p>\n
\"An effort to reinvent Indonesia would be an impossible aim
\nwithout including its social and cultural aspects,\" he said.<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who autographed the front
\ncover of the first National Geographic Indonesia and symbolically
\nlaunched the magazine, hoped the magazine could contribute
\nknowledge and scientific information toward improving national
\neducation.<\/p>\n
\"It will be invaluable for us to understand our geography.
\nThrough the geologic sciences, we can anticipate earthquakes,
\ntsunamis and droughts. The more we understand geography, the more
\nwe will understand the secret of nature,\" he said, and gave his
\nfull support to developing the magazine in the country.<\/p>\n
National Geographic magazine was first published in 1888 as an
\ninternal magazine of the National Geographic Society in
\nWashington D.C. The magazine became available to the public
\nbecause of great demand, and is the world's longest-standing
\nmagazine.<\/p>\n
National Geographic is also known for pioneering the use of
\nphotographs to illustrate magazine articles.<\/p>\n
As part of the launch, National Geographic Indonesia has
\norganized a photo exhibition that will run from March 29 through
\nApril 3 at the National Archive building on Jl. Gajah Mada No.
\n111, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Archeologists Association (IAI)
\nTruman Simanjuntak was enthusiastic about the launch of the
\npublication in Bahasa Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"It will enrich the source of information for Indonesian
\nscholars and for Indonesian society as a whole,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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