But no matter; issues don't die overnight.
Yesterday was May Day throughout the world.
Except in Indonesia. Oh, yes, there were union rallies protesting proposed changes to Act No.13, of 2003 Concerning Manpower, an Act which gives certain rights to employees which are acceptable elsewhere in the world. Other rights, such as severance pay, are contested by employers, but then there are few who have a genuine interest in the welfare of their human resources, a demeaning term of dehumanisation.
As sLesTa comments, everywhere in the world celebrates may 1 as a national holiday for labor day (except for US which has their own version of labor day on september 1). ironically, in indonesia, it's also not a national holiday and we're probably the only country in asia (at least, southeast asia) who doesn't commemorate the day as a national holiday. it kinda reflects how our government treat labors. what should be a biggest asset of this country, labor workers usually blindsighted as liabilities, especially when they stand firm to get what they are rightful to receive.
According to Tempo Interaktif, our esteemed VP, noted businessman Josef Kalla, had this to say about the demand for a public holiday on May 1st: "(This demand) is difficult to meet because labour is a profession. All professions, like farmers, soldiers and teachers (could) also ask for their own national holiday. Even journalists will ask for a holiday."
Could this be the most asinine remark he's ever uttered? Is it worth telling him that today is National Education Day?
Dave Jardine has referred the following article to me and I'd like to refer it to you.
Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the Clamshell Alliance, a group formed in 1976 that swelled in numbers in opposition to the construction of Seabrook Station nuclear power plant.Paul Gunter, a Clamshell Alliance founder and director of the Reactor Watchdog Project at the Nuclear Information and Resource Service in Washington, D.C., said nuclear power proponents are engaging in just another shell game effort to legitimize expansion.
“I guess they wore out the expression too cheap to meter and are trying a new spin that a second coming can save the world from climate change,” Gunter said. “It’s akin to Charlie Brown being offered the football by Lucy. How many times does he need to fall on his back?”
Gunter said it would be an expansion of an “incredibly risky business” in terms of finances, safety, the environment and security risks.
“Twenty-first century energy policy solutions will be conservation coupled with renewable energy, biofuel, use of the sun and wind,” he said. “We can cut 47 percent of our demand by 2055. We could have a policy to drastically cut emissions and improve our lifestyle with less consumption. It’s not time to burn more coal, guzzle more oil and fire up more power plants. The con is as clear today as it was then.”
Poor guy, he's just another rabid slime green who faces the brickbats of cliché-smitten moles* for the nuclear industry.
* Moles are small insectivores which burrow underground and destroy green swathes. Living in the dark, moles are generally blind to reality.
