It is good to learn that Kenya's rose-growing industry has been transformed since we reported on its damaging impact
In a world of many bad news stories, it is good to learn that Kenya's rose-growing industry, worth $500m a year, has been…
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--Rather than pumping up a civil war, our government should be pushing for a ceasefire and international mediation
The attack on Libya by British, French and US forces is wrong and should be halted without any further delay or futile loss of life.…
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--Rather than pumping up a civil war, our government should be pushing for a ceasefire and international mediation
The attack on Libya by British, French and US forces is wrong and should be halted without any further delay or futile loss of life.…
Click here to read the full story
--The US 'does not seek regime change' but Gaddafi must go: that is typical of the Libyan intervention's woefully muddled strategy
In his speech on Monday night, President Obama articulated his rationale for the ongoing military campaign in Libya,…
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--Despite the Fukushima catastrophe, nuclear energy has green advocates. Low carbon it may be, but are they pricing it right?
George Monbiot caused quite a stir recently when he declared that the Fukushima Daiichi disaster had confirmed him as a…
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--In UK, US and Europe, the depletion of collective bargaining threatens workers' economic security and their human rights
Dr Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis on this day in 1968. He was there to support striking sanitation workers,…
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--I lost my husband on UA flight 175. The group of victims' families I belong to wants the rule of law and American justice restored
On 11 September 2001, I lost my husband. He was a passenger aboard United Airlines flight 175 when it was flown into…
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--Be the Best of Whatever You Are
by: Douglas Malloch
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill
Be a scrub in the valley, but be the best little scrub by the side of the rill
Be a bush if you can't be a tree
if you can't be a bush, be a bil of the grass
and same highway happier make
if you can't be a muskie then just be a bass
But the liveliest bass in the lakel
We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew
There's something for all of us here
There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do
And the task you must do is the near.
If you can't be a highway then be a trail,
If you can't be the sun be a star;
It is'nt by size that you win or you fail---
Be the best of whatever you are
Lake Toba is an immense volcanic lake covering an area of 1707 sq km (1,000 sq km bigger than Singapore) with an island in the center. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is probably the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Some studies say it might have been associated with causing previous ice age/climate change and the largest human population bottleneck ever. Genetic estimates suggests that there were only a few thousand individuals that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle - Pulau Samosir - was joined to the caldera wall by a narrow isthmus, which was cut through to enable boats to pass; a road bridge crosses the cutting. Samosir island is the cultural centre of Batak tribe who are mostly Christians in the modern days.
Lake Toba used to be popular tourist destination but now not many tourist come, which means many services, no crowds, cheap prices and friendly locals grateful for your business. It is a great laid back place to chill out for a few days after jungle trekking etc. The location is very popular with Chinese tourists around Chinese New Year, when availability drops dramatically and accommodation costs are known to sky rocket.
Prudential Potong 170% Dalam 2 Tahun ??
Dear all,
Jika saya belii polis Prudential dengan setoran 24 juta per tahun, betulkah saya akan kehilangan sebesar 170% x 24.000.000 dalam 2 tahun ?
Apakah dalam potongan 170% tsb , udah mencakup biaya premi asuransi ?
Apakah dalam potongan 170% tsb, udah mencakup biaya administrasi bulanan 27.500 ?
Thanks.
Saya pemegang polis Prudential no. 27167849. Pada April 2009 saya menjalani operasi polip saluran pernapasan dan rawat inap di RS Stella Maris Makassar selama 5 hari. Kemudian saya mengajukan klaim ke Prudential. Proses klaim Prudential benar-benar tidak profesional. Dari sinilah muncul masalah yang baru saya sadari amat fatal.
Setelah memproses klaim saya selama sebulan, Jumat sore (5/6) saya menerima Surat Keputusan Klaim melalui e-mail yang menyatakan Prudential menolak klaim saya.
Pernyataan di SK Klaim tsb al.:
"Keterangan, pernyataan atau pemberitahuan yang disampaikan kepada kami ternyata keliru atau tidak benar atau ternyata terdapat penyembunyian keadaan yang diketahui oleh Anda ..., maka: (i) dan (ii) Polis dan seluruh pertanggungan berdasarkan polis dengan sendirinya batal serta harus dianggap tidak berlaku dan, dalam hal demikian, Anda harus bertanggung jawab atas segala risiko, kerugian dan biaya (selain Biaya Asuransi) yang timbul sebagai akibat penerbitan polis ..."
Singkat kata, saya telah danggap berbohong/menyembunyikan kebenaran pada awal polis sehingga polis saya dianggap gugur. Pada awal pembuatan polis saya telah memberitahukan keadaan sesungguhnya bahwa saya pernah Operasi Sinusitis kepada YS, agen Prudential dari Surabaya.
Awal mula saya jadi nasabah Prudential pada tahun 2007, YS datang ke Makassar dan menginap di rumah teman saya. Teman itu memberitahu bahwa YS ke Makassar untuk mencari nasabah baru Prudential demi mengejar target omzet penjualan dan meminta saya menjadi nasabah Prudential. Saya katakan bahwa saya sudah punya asuransi komersil (AIG) dan Askes.
Terus terang saya merasa terpaksa mengambil Polis Prudential hanya demi pertimbangan pertemanan. Saya didesak mengambil polis dengan premi Rp1juta/bulan. Saya akhirnya setuju mengambil dengan premi Rp750ribu/bulan. YS mengisi semua kelengkapan formulir pendaftaran saya. Saya menceritakan riwayat kesehatan, termasuk pernah rawat inap di RS tahun 2003 untuk operasi Sinusitis. YS mengatakan bahwa hal itu tidak masalah. Dia membanding-bandingkan dan mengatakan asuransi Prudential punya kelebihan yakni memberikan biaya Operasi, selain biaya rawat inap di RS.
Saya juga tanyakan apakah perlu diadakan check up laboratorium? YS bilang: tidak perlu karena pertanggungan kecil dan bila diminta oleh pihak Prudential baru diadakan check up. Sewaktu saya memberikan keterangan ini ada saksinya.
Setelah mendaftarkan diri saya, saya diminta memberikan referensi kenalan saya kepada YS. Salah satu anggota keluarga saya juga turut menjadi nasabah Prudential, dan sekarang saya menyesalinya. Setelah YS kembali ke Surabaya, beberapa saat kemudian teman saya dan anggota keluarganya berhenti dari Prudential. Istrinya bercerita bahwa dia kecewa pada YS yang tidak bertanggung jawab dalam hubungan relasi usaha sehingga dia menutup semua polis Prudential keluarganya.
Saya merasa dijebak. Namun polis saya sudah berjalan beberapa bulan.
Saya telah menyampaikan ketidakpuasan saya kepada CSO Prudential melalui e-mail, termasuk melampirkan salinan polis asuransi lain (AIG no. 20543489) yang lebih dulu saya buat sebelum Prudential, sejak 12 April 2005, di mana di situ jelas tercantum riwayat saya pernah menjalani operasi Sinusitis. Lalu mengapa YS sampai tidak mencantumkan hal serupa di polis Prudential?
YS dalam percakapan telepon menyesali tindakan saya mengajukan klaim saya ke Prudential tanpa sepengetahuannya. Dia berkata bahwa dia dapat diminta datang ke Makassar untuk meminta dokter membuat Surat Keterangan Dokter sedemikian rupa sehingga klaim saya dapat dicairkan Prudential. Saya bertanya-tanya hingga kini, bisakah Surat Keterangan Dokter direkayasa YS untuk itu?
Saat saya mengurus Surat Keterangan Dokter, dokter THT yang menangani operasi saya dengan yakin mengatakan bahwa Polip Saluran Pernapasan saya tidak ada hubungannya dengan Operasi Sinusitis sebelumnya.
Saya menemukan kesalahan fatal dalam SK Klaim Prudential disebutkan: "Polis Bapak mulai diberlakukan pada tanggal 27 November 2008". Sementara di buku Polis saya, tertulis: "Tanggal mulai berlakunya Polis: 27 September 2007". Penulisan data yang tidak akurat menunjukkan ketidaktelitian yang amat fatal!
Dengan tetap menolak klaim saya, saya menganggap Prudential membenarkan cara-cara curang YS agennya dalam membuat polis nasabah secara tidak lengkap demi mengejar target, sekaligus bertindak sepihak (tidak komunikatif) dengan mengabaikan informasi nasabah maupun saksi.
Karena itulah sejak 1 Juli 2009 saya menyatakan berhenti sebagai nasabah Prudential. Sangat riskan memercayakan risiko kehidupan saya kepada lembaga asuransi yang tidak dapat dipercaya. Untuk itu saya harus menanggung kerugian dan hanya menerima pengembalian uang Rp 3.750.000,- dari jumlah Rp 15.750.000 seluruh premi yang telah saya bayar. Klaim rawat inap dan operasi saya tidak cair, ditambah kerugian premi. Duh, pelajaran yang sangat mahal dan berharga ini semoga tidak menimpa orang lain.
Mantan nasabah Prudential polis no. 27167849
This extraordinary image shows an ant trapped in a tiny perfect sphere of water, totally unable to escape, after being caught in a sudden heavy downpour.
The unlucky insect found itself literally caught in the rain after it decided to take a stroll outside in Noosaville, Queensland, Australia.
Photographer Adam Gormley, 34, was there at exactly the right moment to to snap the incredible image. He said: 'I had been using specialist close-up camera gear to snap spiders in his neighbour's garden.
'I wasn't having much luck because of a short but heavy shower of rain. So I decided to photograph the little water drops sitting on the leaves of the plants.'
With a first class English degree from Oxford University, he is the sort of chap you might expect to find sipping £18-a-pot tea at Fortnum & Mason.
But this weekend, Thom Costello was more interested in masterminding his hundreds of followers to storm the luxury grocer.
As the leader of protest group UK Uncut, the 22-year-old graduate set up the group that directed the mob of activists who broke through police lines.
UK Uncut is Britain’s newest campaign group and Mr Costello has created a remarkable following numbering more than 24,000 in just five months.
The middle class activist founded the anti-capitalist outfit after a brainstorming session with friends in a trendy pub in Islington, North London, last October.
His initial triumphs involved orchestrating sit-in protests at stores such as Topshop and Miss Selfridge, part of the Arcadia chain owned by Sir Philip Green which Mr Costello accuses of avoiding UK taxes.
LAUNDRY hands and cooks employed on offshore construction projects will potentially earn more than $420,000 a year, according to employers who claim the extraordinary rates will have a flow-on impact on mainland resources projects.New analysis by the Australian Mines and Metals Association finds the most recent wage agreement registered for offshore construction workers contains maximum annual pay packages for a four-week-on, two-week-off rostered employee of $423,000 for a laundry hand; $445,000 for a cook; $450,000 for a tradesperson; and $498,000 for a barge welder, The Australian reports.If the employee works a three-week-on, three-week-off roster for a year, the AMMA said, the maximum remuneration was $317,734 for a laundry hand; $334,408 for a cook; $337,484 for a tradesperson; and $373,701 for a barge welder.Steve Knott, the association's chief executive, said the pay rates were a "worrying precedent", particularly for Queensland employers competing for a dearth of skilled workers."There is a very real risk to resource employers. As offshore rates and allowances flow across to the onshore construction sector, many projects will face the risk of significant wage blowouts," Mr Knott said."I think most fair-minded people would start to think something is fundamentally wrong when a barge welder earns more than the Prime Minister, whose salary is $350,000."And Queensland's Chief Justice, Paul de Jersey, on $395,000, is only earning slightly more than a ship's laundry hand or cook."
Protesters converged on London with one clear message for David Cameron's coalition – the people are not happyELAINE BRIGGS
Operations manager, 52, from Cornwall
In Cornwall we've had 40% cuts. They've removed our £3m budget, leaving more than 1,000 vulnerable clients without support and more than 120 staff redundant – and that's just one service. We provide support to assist those who are vulnerable, to maintain their tenancies, get the benefits they are entitled to and to empower them to live independently. I'm out of a job next week and it's absolutely heartbreaking.
SASHA SIMMONS
Youth worker, 27, from Hackney
I'm concerned about my job, but I'm more concerned about the people we're working with. We need to make sure young people are safe in their communities and make sure they have the options of working and finding economic security. We're hearing very scary rumours about the cuts that will leave young people in a very scary position. We need a slower and steadier approach.
KATE ROTHWELL
Psychotherapist, 47, from St Albans
I'm furious. I've worked for over 20 years as an arts psychotherapist and myself and seven others have been made redundant. It's devastating. We work with extremely disturbed offender patients to help them make the transition to low-secure units and eventually out into the community. The government said they had to make cuts and save money, but it's a false economy because they'll just end up warehousing patients.
FIONA BATH
Teacher, from Leeds
I'm a teacher in special education and 3% of the population are taking 25% of the cuts and it's the weakest and the poorest. We have to tell the people in power that they are totally unfair and out of touch with ordinary people in society. I want the government to see that the public care about their country and they don't want the NHS taken apart. We don't want education taken apart and we don't want it all privatising.
ROBIN VAN MICKWITZ
Student, 19, from Huddersfield
I want to study engineering in a few years and I know I'm not going to be able to afford the tuition fees. I want to know why they're cutting all our services but not cutting Trident. There's a big movement, I think, it's definitely building. People are calling for revolution and I think it's possible now more than ever. I'm an anarchist, so I want to see a complete breakdown of state rather than politicians simply working for their own means.
KATE EWING
Lawyer, 31, from London
We're here to oppose the attack on public services. It's an assault on education, on childcare, on the provision of services that children need and on families. The effects on a young family like ours, the cutting of Sure Start centres, the loss of flexible working arrangements, makes a massive difference and it's going to lead to huge inequality. The atmosphere today is great, it's really positive. I think the point is to show the strength of feeling against the cuts.
When she was arrested in an FBI sting in a Manhattan coffee shop last June on charges of espionage, it looked like Anna Chapman would disappear into obscurity in Russia. Less than a year later she's the darling of the country's media, has her own TV show and is tipped as a rising star of the political right
Whites in America will be outnumbered by 2050 by rising numbers of ethnic minorities, according to official figures.
Hispanic, black and Asian people accounted for 90 per cent of all births in the U.S. between 2000 and 2010.
In 40 years’ time they will comprise more than half the population due to their higher birth rates and immigration.
Operation Odessey
Dawn dish washerRemember how the late musician Frank Zappa named his kids Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen? Have you noticed how the Pentagon's names for its wars have become more bizarre since the Mothers of Invention front man left us in 1993? Perhaps his spirit has touched the Defense Department. You can imagine them in the Pentagon basement a couple of weeks ago. "War with Libya coming -- we need a nifty name!" one chief deputy under-secretary for nomenclature said to his chief assistant. "How about naming it for a minivan and a dishwashing detergent?"
"Operation Sienna Palmolive?"
"Not quite."
Anyway, here's the true story of how the Pentagon names its operations. "It is evident that the military has begun to recognize the power of names in waging a public relations campaign," Army Maj. Gregory Sieminski wrote back in 1995, "and the significance of winning that campaign to the overall effort."
Families are downsizing their holidays in an attempt to save money.Many are cutting 14-night trips to ten, and one-week breaks to just four nights away, research shows.In fact there has been a 162 per cent rise in the number booking ten-night holidays so far this year, and the figure for four nights is up 50 per cent.
