Wouter & Michael’s Solo Newsletter
Monday 14th January 2008
Local News
The Stolen Generation Hits Out.
Australia’s government recently rejected demands for a AUD1 billion (US$869 million) compensation fund for aboriginal children taken from their families, but said it would apologize for last century’s assimilation policies. As Prime Minister Kevin Rudd prepares an official apology from his new centre left Labor government when parliament returns next month, overturning a decade of conservative opposition, aboriginal leaders demanded a billion dollar repatriation fund.
”People get paid crimes compensation. You are looking at the gross violation and the genocide and all the inhumane things that have happened to our people,” Lyn Austin, head of Stolen Generations told local radio. Stolen Generations is an advocacy group for aborigines forcibly removed from their families under Australia’s old “White Australia Policy”.
Between the 1870’s and 1960’s, all native Australians with aborigine blood were controlled by the “White Australia Policy”. Children of mixed marriages were taken away from their families and forced into orphanages and institutions run by churches and charities, or were fostered out to European families. Their every move was controlled by the Protector of Aborigines, whose word was absolute law. They were not allowed to marry freely, and there was a deliberate but covert policy of trying to breed out their “inferior” blood.
Until 1967, Australian aboriginals were governed under flora and fauna laws.
SEA Flood Aid Goes On
The SEA effort to help victims of the Solo floods is ongoing. There are 3 teams: Hans & Ani Beuttenmuller, Rob and Emi Thorne, and Pak Irawan. They have spent a lot of time and effort, as well as their own money paying for transport, phones etc.
Kids at Semanggi give the “M for Metal” sign Sandbagged dyke on the Bengawan Solo River at Krajan
Hans charms the ladies again Hans with a Krajan resident
Krajan was suffered badly because this is one place where the levee bank broke, and the kampong was hit by the water like a tsunami wave. Most people were only able to save themselves. The old man with the sticks above was carried out by his son. There is still a great need for basic necessities. Many people have not received any food yet. They desperately need school exercise books and writing utensils for the new semester. And kerosene stoves – they cannot use the traditional anglo charcoal stoves because there is no charcoal, and the firewood is still wet.
Aid at Krajan Flood victims at Krajan
Krajan aid Terri with landslide victims, Jatiyoso
Landslides at Jatiyoso
Mega churches stir tourism in Nigeria
LAGOS, Nigeria (eTN) by Ikechi Uko
The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) has released its executive summary of tourism events during the Christmas period. To the surprise of some, big evangelical churches attracted over 15 million people to their retreat grounds generating N90 billion (approximately $890 million] during the seven-day holiday period. Nigerian evangelical churches are the fastest growing Christian organizations in the world. They are popular all over Africa and in the West. One of the churches, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, just opened a new headquarter in Floyd, Texas. These churches are so popular worldwide that they have branches even in countries without Nigerian embassies.
According to NTDC director general Otunba Segun Runsewe, the “Holy Ghost Congress” at Ibafon, near Lagos, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God [RCCG] attracted over 3 million people from 34 countries--14 African and 20 non-African countries, spending over $10 million on accommodation and feeding in seven days by foreign delegates and about N22 billion (approximately $200 million) by the domestic delegates on accommodation, transportation, food, souvenirs, etc.
NTDC director general also said that Shiloh 2007, a gathering by the Winners Chapel, another evangelical church attracted 4.5 million people for its annual congress at Otta, near Lagos in Nigeria’s southwest.
Shiloh 2007 attracted delegates from 35 countries 12 African and 23 non-African countries who spent eight days. Foreign delegates spent just $1.5 million, while the Nigerian delegates spent about $630 million during the course of the eight-day affair.
Meanwhile, figures from the retreat of another mega-church, The Deeper Life Bible Church and Christ Embassy were not made available by the agency. Another Christian organization, though not accepted by evangelicals as one of their own, Synagogue Church attracts about 60,000 foreigners every year from Korea, South Africa, and Scandinavian countries to its Lagos based center.
Winners Chapel has the largest church building in the world seating over 50,000 devotees. It also has a very modern Covenant University and its leader, Dr. David Oyedepo, flies around in a private jet.
What’s on
Wednesday 16th Jan, Music Night
New this week, a special acoustic band at Mama Titin’s. Join us 8.00 till 11.00 pm. Cold beer and hot music!
Thurs 17th Jan , SEA Social Night and Meeting
Backgammon, cold beer and free floor show by mine host Manir.
Fri 18th Jan, Par Four Pool Tournament
Due to popular demand and a bulging till last week, Gregg and Liz are holding another pool tournament. Jim the lucky Scot has disappeared in the direction of India. Who will be the winner this week?
Novotel
Lorin
Rewards for getting this far
Quote: ”If a man prepares dinner for you and the salad contains three of more types of lettuce, he’s serious.” American comedian Rita Rudner (1955- )
Thought for the week: “If pigs could fly, this town would be an airport”.
Contact: Michael or Wouter
Ph 0271 712344
Ph/Fax 0271 741824
Hp 0815 4841 8500
Email armadaor@indosat.net.id
copyright @2004 by Armada Orient