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World’s oldest person dies at 114
World’s oldest person, Kama Chinen, dies aged 114.
Guinness World Records has reported the death of the world’s oldest person aged 114 years and 357 days, a week shy of her 115th birthday.

Kama Chinen, a resident of a sub-tropical island in Okinawa, Japan, died on May 2, 2010. She lived to see three different centuries, the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) commented.

“Though confined to a wheelchair in her later years, Chinen enjoyed the wonders of nature and being outside,” the organization said.

Okinawa has a reputation for its long-lived residents, put down to the local diet of green tea, miso soup, vegetables, rice and fresh fish.

The title of oldest human now passes to 114-year-old Frenchwoman Eugenie Blanchard, who was born in February 1896. She lives on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, GRG said.

Chiyono Hasegawa, 113, in southern Japan’s Saga prefecture is now the country’s oldest person.

Japan has the world’s highest life expectancy, and Okinawa has been home to many centenarians, a fact variously attributed to the healthy diet and environment of the island.

According to the study, old Okinawans also have lower rates of cancer, in part due to a generally low caloric, low-fat and high-fiber diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits, as well as to their physical activity.

Average life expectancy in Japan climbed sharply after World War II. In 2008, life expectancy at birth was 86.05 years for women and 79.29 years for men, according to official statistics.

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Matur Suwun Richard

ALI SYARIF

This is a tribute to Bapak Ali Syarif, his vision, his energy, his enthusiasm and his openness to and acceptance of other Peoples, other Cultures, other Religions and other points of view.

I have known Ali since my appointment as an Australian Business Volunteer for an assignment at Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) Mukti Mandiri in Cirebon from March to June in 2006. He is the quintessential Indonesian, the embodiment of all I find most attractive about Indonesian Adat-Istiadat and Culture. He is calm and patient and his friendliness, willingness to help and understand, and his openness to new People and new ideas exhibits the Indonesian Mind and World View at its best. As the Australian Business Volunteers’ Representative in Indonesia at the time of my appointment in Cirebon Ali was a Person I instinctively felt I could trust and rely on totally.

Ali is a person of high integrity and this is recognized by all those who know him well. He is a trusted Confidant of many Indonesians at the highest level of Politics, Business and Commerce, Education, the Armed Forces and other Sectors of Indonesian Life. He has a very sincere and very well-developed common touch and he has and makes time to listen to and help those who are striving for a better life, striving for a better/higher Education for themselves, striving for a place in the Indonesian sun, a place which is at present denied them by self-seeking and greedy richer echelons in Indonesian Society. He seeks to instil in all levels of Indonesian Society the ideals of service and sacrifice which were so evident in the Revolutionary Years when all Indonesians cooperated in striving to achieve a common goal.

Ali is an Idealist in the best sense of the word – always seeking practical measures to bring into reality his vision of Indonesian Society. This is evidenced by his wholehearted support for endeavours to ensure that ethics and ethical considerations inform all Indonesian Political Life, all sectors of Indonesian Society. This is evidenced by his emphasis on bringing into reality the deepest-felt aspirations of Indonesians – in his emphasis on HANURA – Hati Nurani Rakyat.

At a time when many Indonesians consider that the way forward can be achieved by the abandonment of Traditional Indonesian Values (a blog will follow on the projection of negative or anti- attitudes towards Traditional Indonesian Values by many Indonesians who perceive themselves as “movers and shakers”, in line with the disastrous environmental and economic policies of the West ( One could cite as an example members of various Yayasans), Ali stands out as a bastion, as an outstanding example, for those who are striving and yearning for a return to Traditional Indonesian Values. These values include the principles of the Pancasila (more honoured in the breach than in the observance), and of the 1945 Constitution, the traditional values of gotong-royong, musyawarah, the return to a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the good of the Nation and of one’s Fellow Citizens. This is the Spirit given life and brought into the reality of human affairs by those 8,000+ Heroes (including my Brother-in-Law) who are interred in Taman Pahlawan Kalibata, a Spirit belittled and dishonoured in public life by many who seek only to enrich themselves at the expense of others and of their sacred duty.

Ali is involved/the main driving force in a number of projects, the aim of which is to produce a better Indonesia for so many of its poorer disadvantaged Citizens, the wong cilik who have nothing and who have nothing to hope for, and whose welfare is completely ignored by many of those in power today and by definition in a position to take measures to relieve their suffering and sense of hopelessness. The reversal of this process is Ali’s principal objective which Insy’Allah will be achieved as more and more Indonesians, particularly those at the highest level, devote themselves to this noble cause.

Ali is the prototype of the Indonesian who will effect a recovery of the Indonesian National Spirit and Identity and will return Indonesia to being the envy of all other Nations for the strength power and authority of its National Character which will carry over into an intense desire and drive to create the “masyarakat adil dan makmur” aspired to by President Soekarno and all the Indonesian People but which has so far proved extremely elusive.

It is beyond comprehension why and how it happened that Ali was replaced as the Australian Business Volunteers’ Representative in Indonesia. Australian Business Volunteers deserves to be represented by People of the highest integrity and character, with a vision for the Indonesia of the future.

Richard J Whittington OAM

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Tanggung Jawab Pemimpin Kepada Generasi Penerusnya

100,000 Young People to Be Trained Overseas

A total of 100,000 young Koreans will go overseas for subsidized internships and training by 2013.

The Ministry of Labor said Tuesday said about 4 million won ($4,000) will be given to each person undertaking three to 12 months training.

Internships will be available for college graduates and university students who will also get airline tickets and daily stipends, it said.

The beneficiaries include 50,000 job trainees, 30,000 interns and 20,000 volunteers overseas.

Labor Minister Lee Young-hee said the program will motivate the young to get global experience as well as reduce the jobless rate.

However, the plan is yet to get an approved budget, and no jobs will be guaranteed for people on their return.

Kapan SBY punya tanggung jawab seperti Pemimpin Korea?! Tolong komentar anda bagaimana?

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A Strange Man

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Before and After Surgery

Dede Bukan Lagi “Manusia Akar”

JULUKAN manusia akar mungkin sudah tidak pas lagi ditujukan untuk Dede (38) warga Kampung Bunder RT01 RW06 Desa Tanjung, Kecamatan Cihampelas, Kabupaten Bandung. Kutil yang bertahun-tahun tumbuh di tubuhnya hingga kedua tangan dan kakinya menyerupai akar pohon kini “lenyap” sudah. Tidak ada lagi, kutil panjang yang memberatkan kakinya saat melangkah. Kini Dede sudah tampil hamper sama dengan orang normal lainnya.

Setelah 9 bulan menjalani perawatan di RS Hasan Sadikin Bandung, serta menjalani 8 kali operasi dan satu kali proses biopsy, Dede akhirnya diperkenankan pulang oleh tim dokter , Senin (25/8). Ditemani beberapa kerabatnya, Dede meninggalkan ruang RBB RSHS dengan senyum malu-malu.

Mengenakan kemeja lengan pendek bergaris warna cokelat dan dipadu celana panjang hitam, Dede tampak tampil sangat jauh berbeda dibanding pertama kali dating di RSHS. Ditambah kacamata yang menempel di wajahnya, Dede semakin terlihat lebih “rapih”. Bukan hanya wartawan yang “pangling”, tapi sejumlah pengunjung yang mengikuti berita Dede di media juga seakan tidak percaya dengan tampilan Dede yang baru. Bahkan seorang wartawan dengan celetukannya meneriakan, “Dede jadi mirip AA Gym euy,” cetusnya.

Sembilan bulan lalu, Dede masih berambut panjang tak terurus dan tubuh kurus. Kutil banyak menempel di wajah serta kepalanya serta kutil memanjang yang memenuhi tangan dan kakinya. Saat itu orang yang melihat tentu bukan hanya iba, tapi ada perasaan “jijik”. Namun itulah kenyataan yang dihadapi ayah dua anak ini. Bertahun-tahun ia hidup dengan kutil yang tumbuh liar di tubuhnya, hingga ia harus kehilangan hari-harinya termasuk istrinya yang menggugat cerai karena tak tahan dengan kondisinya.

Hari-hari Dede sempat dilalui dengan kegiatan yang tak menyenangkan mulai dari mengemis di depan Gedung Asia Afrika hingga harus menjadi tontonan warga saat tampil di acara “manusia-manusia ajaib” di Dezon, alun-alun Bandung. Namun kegiatan terakhir itulah yang membawa perubahan pada nasib lelaki berkulit hitam ini.

Di acara tersebut, seorang professor dari Amerika , Anthony Gaspari menemuinya dan tertarik untuk mengetahui penyakit yang dideritanya. Sejak itu, Dede tampil disebuah stasiun televise asing hingga tersebar di media nasional dan lokal. Efeknya tentu disatu sisi membawa keuntungan. Menkes RI Siti Fadilah Supari langsung meminta Dinkes Jabar untuk segera menangani Dede di RSHS. Tepat 23 November 2007, Dede dijemput di rumahnya dan di rawat di RSHS hingga sembuh.

“Alhamdulilah, sekarang saya sudah bisa pulang. Rasanya senang, karena bisa kumpul lagi dengan keluarga,” kata Dede saat ditanya perasaanya, ketika jumpa pers dengan wartawan di ruang rapat Ilmu Penyakit Dalam RSHS, Senin (25/8).

Ia mengaku setelah ini, akan bertemu lagi dengan tetangga dan teman-temannya. Ia sudah sangat ingin kumpul dan ngobrol bareng tetangganya di rumahnya yang berada di dekat hamparan sawah tersebut. Untuk rasa syukurnya, Dede juga berniat mengadakan acara syukuran. “Kalau itu keluarga emang sudah niat. Mungkin syukuran biasa saja paling motong kambing,” ujarnya.

Ditanya kondisinya setelah “kutil-kutil” lenyap dari tubuhnya, lelaki yang berta tubuhnya naik setelah perawatan ini mengaku lebih “enteng” saat berjalan dan beraktivitas. Ia mengaku bisa melakukan kembali kegiatan-kegiatan yang sebelumnya sulit dilakukan. Ia pun mencontohkan dengan menulis di secarik kertas dengan tangannya. Di kertas tersebut, Dede menuliskan kata-kata terima kasih untuk Ibu Any Yudhoyono, Menkes serta Dirut RSHS.

Saat seorang wartawan bertanya apakah Dede akan menikah lagi? Lelaki yang berniat ingin bertani ini hanya tersenyum dan menggeleng. “Ngga, saya ngga akan nikah lagi,” ujarnya sambil menundukan wajah.

Sementara itu, menurut Ketua Tim Penanganan Dede, dr Rachmat Dinata, secara medis kondisi Dede sudah jauh membaik. Penyakit TBC nya juga sudah sembuh, dan berat tubuhnya sudah bagus, Dan yang terpenting juga, kutil-kutil yang tumbuh di tubuh Dede sudah 90 persen berhasil dibuang oleh tim dokter.

““Seperti yang pernah kami sampaikan. Dede tidak mungkin 100 persen sembuh. Kami hanya memberikan obat untuk menekan virus yang mengakibatkan pertumbuhan kutil di tubuhnya. Diharapkan obat cidovovir dari Amerika ini bisa menahan virusnya ini,” kata Rachmat, usai mendampingi Dede.

Rachmat mengatakan, masih tersisa sedikti kutil terutama di bagian tangannya. Namun sisanya ini adalah lapisan tanduk yang memang sudah sulit untuk dilepaskan karena sudah menyatu dengan kulitnya. Meski begitu, dokter memberikan obat salep salisilat 40 persen untuk membantu menipiskan lapisan kulit yang tebal-tebal tersebut.

Ia juga mengatakan, Dede masih tetap menjalani rawat jalan. Untuk ke depan hanya dijadwalkan satu minggu sekali, tapi setelah itu cukup sebulan sekali. Dan bila tidak ada halangan, Dede juga akan menjalani operasi kecil di tangannya usai lebaran nanti. “Kita akan tetap pantau, dan evaluasi dari rawat jalan ini, Semoga, kondisi Dede tetap sehat dan kutil-kutil ini tidak lagi tumbuh. Karena tentunya Dede ingin menjalani hidupnya sebagaimana orang normal lainnya,” kata dr Rachmat.

Direktur Utama RSHS, dr Cissy Rachiana Sudjana pada kesempatan tersebut juga menyatakan terima kasih atas perhatian Depkes, Dinkes serta bangga dengan hasil operasi tim dokter RSHS. Tak lupa ia juga menyatakan terima kasih untuk media yang juga turut membantu Dede melalui publikasinya.

Disinggung biaya yang dihabiskan untuk pengobatan dan perawatan Dede? Dr Cissy mengatakan, , selama 9 bulan dirawat dan beberapa kali menjalani operasi, sudah dihabiskan dana sebanyak Rp 500 juta lebih. Dari jumlah tersebut, Rp 340 juta dihabiskan untuk membeli peralatan yang membantu dalam proses operasi atau pengangkatan kutil Dede. “Meski cukup besar untuk peralatan, tapi kan alat ini bisa menjadi investasi dan berguna untuk kepentingan operasi lainnya,” kata Cissy

Terkait kabar bahwa biaya sebesar Rp 500 juta tersebut belum sepeser pun dicairkan oleh Departemen Kesehatan RI, Cissy menanggapi bahwa biaya bukannya belum turun, tapi sedang dalam proses. “Biaya ini memang ditanggung, tapi bukan berarti belum turun dananya, kan harus direkap dan dilaporkan. Sekarang sedang proses,” tandasnya. (TRIBUN JABAR/tif)