Ecological gains from returning to use of bamboo By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): The increasing need to find alternative materials to wood is gaining momentum in Indonesia and throughout the world as the once abundant forest resource grows scarce. One of the most viable solutions might be the use of bamboo, which has actually been utilized by the local people for hundreds of years. Never a day in the life of many Indonesians passes without bamboo being used.

Ananda in Bologna Motor Show JAKARTA (JP): Following his successful finish in the top 10 in Italy's Formula 3 race, Ananda Mikola of Indonesia has been invited to participate in the Bologna Motor Show, Italy, from Dec. 6 to Dec. 14. Ananda is among eight racers who will take part in the week- long motor exhibition. The others are Formula 3 champion Oliver Martini, runner up Nicola Cadei, Michele Gasparini, Maurizio Mediani and Gabriel Gardel.

Why clouds 'kiss' volcanoes JAKARTA (JP): In Hindu philosophy, Leela is the "cosmic sport", the playful spirit in which the Gods created the universe. We see it all around us -- the exuberance of children, bees flitting from flower to flower, the bubbling brilliance of a sun- drenched morning, the prancing waves on a long sandy beach. But cosmic sport took on a new meaning as I began to observe clouds kissing volcanoes with gleeful abandon.

Big bucks up for grabs in ad industry Like it or not, the tempting tag lines and seductive images of advertisements hold sway over many aspects of our lives. The Jakarta Post reporters, Budiman Moerdijat, Devi M. Asmarani, Edith Hartanto, Oka Budhi Yogaswara, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Stevie Emilia, Dwi Atmanta and Ridwan M. Sijabat, look at what it takes to get ahead in the burgeoning local advertising industry. More stories are on Page 3 and Page 11.

Energetic Poppy Darsono a woman of substance By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): Her delicate, finely manicured hands are up in the air, and her big bright eyes are fluttering as rapidly as the words she fires. She is a slight, gentle but talkative woman, this Poppy Darsono, with a small, high-pitched voice which sometimes cracks in heated dialog.

Question mark over Asiad preparation BANGKOK (AFP): Fears lingered over Bangkok's readiness to host the troubled 1998 Asian Games, exactly a year ahead of the planned opening here, a Thai newspaper said yesterday, calling for speedy action. "A big question mark still hangs over the games complex" at one of the three main sites for the prestigious event, which is due to kick off on Dec. 6 next year, the Nation daily said. "The technical committee ...

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. TVRI News 6:25 Morning News 6:45 Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:15 Healthy and Fit 7:30 Children's Program: Arena Kami 8:00 Brudy and Family 8:30 Cartoon Film 9:00 People and Event 9:30 Indonesian Food 10:00 TVRI News 10:30 Music: Album Minggu 11:30 Teenagers' Program: Temu Remaja 12:15 p.m.

Guess What? Anwar Nasution revels in pushing people's buttons. The professor at the University of Indonesia's School of Economics believes it pays to be provocative, especially in bringing out the best in students. "We need to stir them up. These young people have great potential which should be exploited," he said in an internal discussion at The Jakarta Post's office Thursday. Students need to be provoked so they become "fired up" and have the guts to tap into their potential, Nasution said.

Do advertisements hold sway over the public? JAKARTA (JP): It is almost impossible to escape, even for a day, the resounding blitz of advertising messages. What do people think of locally produced ads, and do they really influence their purchasing choices? Ida Karunia, a housewife: I spend most of my time at home with my children. Sometimes, I watch TV while cooking or taking care of my children.

France's reel deal at second Jakarta French Film Festival By Nicolas Colombant JAKARTA (JP): The poster for the second Jakarta French Film Festival on Dec. 10 - Dec. 14 has a bajaj pedicab veering onto the Carre Richelieu in Paris with the pyramids of the Louvre in the background. The scene to be played out at the festival is actually the other way around, as French cinema arrives on a turf dominated by the fists of action-packed Hollywood movies and by Tinseltown's big names in bright lights.

River tourism flows in Kalimantan By Hasan Zainuddin BANJARMASIN (Antara): The armada of small ferries on the Barito and Martapura rivers and locals bathing and doing their laundry make intriguing sights for people from land-locked areas. "Banjar people have since time immemorial been close to rivers," said Muhammad Abdullah, a community elder.

Big wigs on parade at 'Sinetron' awards night By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): Shown live on all six stations across Indonesia, Thursday's Festival Sinetron Indonesia (FSI) was undoubtedly a big affair. Or should it have been called a wig affair? Framing the faces of young personalities like Shahnaz Haque to seasoned actresses like Ira Wibowo, wigs were the show's big fashion statement.

'Bisnis Indonesia' to hold golf meet JAKARTA (JP): Top business and government executives will compete today in Bisnis Indonesia's Top Executive Golf Tournament at Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang. The one-day tournament is being held to commemorate Bisnis Indonesia's 12th anniversary. Organizer Cyrillus said yesterday that the tournament is the ninth annual golf competition held by the newspaper. "We hope about 150 executives will participate in the tournament.

Novotel Coralia Lombok opens a well-kept secret ALTHOUGH blessed with the natural beauty of its coastline, crystal-clear waters and a picturesque landscape, south Lombok's Kuta Beach has been a well-kept secret until now. But, Novotel Coralia Lombok, one of the latest additions to the Accor Asia Pacific network, is letting the secret out with its grand opening in mid-December 1997.

Canadian expat stabbed to death in South Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): A Canadian expatriate was killed Friday in his South Jakarta house in Cilandak district allegedly by his brother-in-law, police said yesterday. Chief of the Cilandak police subprecinct, Capt. Nurhayati, said the victim, identified as Jon Joseph Mitchon, 38, died from a stab wound to his heart Friday night. A quarrel between the victim and his wife may have preceded the incident.

Ad firms told to cross creative front By Budiman Moerdijat JAKARTA (JP): Enhancing creativity and developing more professional personnel are the most formidable challenges lying ahead for the advertising industry, a noted executive believes. Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Advertising Agencies, Yusca Ismail, said these elements were necessary to boost the quality of locally produced advertisements.

Fitting the village into development Gerakan Kembali ke Desa (Back to Village Movement) and Antum A'lamu Bi Umuuri Dunyaakum -- Engkau Lebih Tahu Tentang Duniamu (You Know Better About Your World) both by H. Moch. Basofi Soedirman Lembaga Kajian Masyarakat Pedesaan, Surabaya, 1997 232 pages and 302 pages JAKARTA (JP): It is unusual to find serving government officials writing books or articles in the mass media.

Privileged few pump iron in privacy of home JAKARTA: The fitness revolution has had Indonesians devotedly heading off to gyms to build muscles and get in shape since the 1980s. In the past decade, improvements in distribution of fitness equipment and its availability enhanced the facilities at health centers and public gyms, and led to soaring membership numbers.

Executives battle boredom with arduous war games Text and pictures by Mulkan Salmona GUNUNG PUTRI, West Java (JP): Bang, bang, bang! The sound of gunfire breaks the silence around a small hilly area at Gunung Putri, Citeureup, West Java. Only one or two shots at first but later there are more gunshots, louder and more intensified. Suddenly some people in green uniform appear from behind a tree.

Superficial values muddly local art market By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): Tentacles of the global art market began to reach into Asia and the Asia-Pacific region several years ago. Indonesia has been part of this trend, with some classifying the development as a second art boom. Art dealers, galleries and hotels here have displayed works of internationally recognized painters. In September, the Darga Gallery in Ubud exhibited paintings by Picasso, Renoir, Matisse and other greats.

Advertising executives don't live the high life By Edith Hartanto JAKARTA (JP): Good pay, daily dealings with the beautiful people and inclusion in the trendy loop is the commonly held perception of the lives of those in advertising. The reality, according to those who have succeeded in the industry, falls far short of the glamorous images. Persistence, enterprise and creativity are key for both success and survival in the competitive industry, insiders say.

Top 10 advertising spenders by brand (in billions Rp) No. Brands 1996 Jan.-June 1997 -------------------------------------------- 1. Pepsodent 35 16 2. Sunsilk 35 15 3. Suzuki 27 19 4. Sampoerna 24 9 5. Honda 22 6 6. Lifebuoy 21 7 7. Walls 17 10 8. Rinso 16 8 9. PT Telkom 16 9 10. Susu Bendera 15 10 Sources: AC Nielsen SRI from Cakram advertising industry magazine.

Gallic love, thrillers and royal courts a la carte JAKARTA (JP): At next Wednesday's opening of the Jakarta French Film Festival, an invitation-only ceremony at the Taman Ismail Marzuki theater in Cikini, Minister of Information R. Hartono is expected to make a speech on the merits of cooperation to help revive the national film industry. The festival's godmother, Jajang C.

Yayuk says yes to Asian Games JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's top women's tennis player, Yayuk Basuki, has ended speculation by announcing her intention to play in the Asian Games in Bangkok next December. The Yogykarta native made her intention known in a statement received by the Indonesian Tennis Association Friday. But she declined to compete in upcoming Fed Cup women's team ties. "Yayuk's intention is to take part in the Asian Games.

Stress levels rising in most of crisis-hit Asia: Survey SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asians are finding life much more stressful this year as regional economic crises pinch pay packets and make many work harder, a survey by a Hong Kong-based consulting firm says. "This year Asia is widely considered to be a much more stressful place in which to live than was the case as recently as 1996," the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) said in its latest newsletter.

Fashion Parade 1997 passes by with barely a whimper JAKARTA (JP): This week saw the city's second attempt at launching itself as Asia's fashion capital. Unfortunately, however, the two-day Jakarta Fashion Parade 1997 passed with hardly a whimper.

Top 25 advertisers 1996 -- *1st semester 1997 (in billions Rp) No. Companies Total Ad spending Growth Products 95-96(%) 1995 1996 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1. PT Unilever Indonesia 23 173.4 281 149 62 2. Indofood SM + Fritolay 7 24.3 58 21 139 3. PT HM Sampoerna 4 26.7 38 26 42.3 4. PT Borobudur 6 8.5 37 9 335 5. PT Dinokao Indonesia 4 13.1 36 6 175 6. PT Indomobil 3 41.9 34 17 -23 7. PT Sinde Budi Snetosa 5 16.8 34 6 102.4 8.

Busy bee business sweetens lot of traditional farmers By Ahmad Solikhan TEMANGGUNG, Central Java (JP): Thousands of honey bees streamed out from the 100 hives each measuring 180 square centimeters. The humming convoy made a natural chorus as they swooped down on a cornfield just over 100 meters away. In a few seconds, the yellowish cornflowers on the stalks were bedecked in brown.