Educational Barrier in the Tropics

One of the goals of sustainable development is education. Through education, it is hoped that the future generations could solve today’s problems of climate change. But, a study conducted by University of Maryland published on April 15th 2019 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed that exposure to extreme heat contributes a significant barrier for children to attain school.

Children living in the tropics are the first ones to feel the intensifying effects of climate change. According to the study, exposure to temperature that is higher than average and humidity during prenatal and early childhood associates with fewer years of school attendance. The study links the two subjects in 29 countries in the global tropics, including Southeast Asian countries, and provides more evidence on social impacts of climate change.

"If climate change undermines educational attainment, this may have a compounding effect on underdevelopment that over time magnifies the direct impacts of climate change… As the effects of climate change intensify, children in the tropics will face additional barriers to education," wrote the two authors, Heather Randell and Clark Gray.

This does not only applies to children coming from low-income families, but also those from well educated households. Supposedly, educated households would buffer their children from such effects as climate change. Yet as stated in the study, “these children tend to experience the greatest educational penalties when exposed to hotter early-life conditions and, in some regions, to drier conditions.”

This problem also magnifies the effect of climate change as linked to a country’s development, since education is one of the parameter of a developed country. In other words, climate change can undermine socio economic progress, especially to the third world populations.

A problem of such scale could quickly (though perhaps not significantly) be reduced through policy making. For example, policies to make sure pregnant women and young children can be privileged to avoid heat and humidity in public facilities.

Marriage as a Solution to Avoid 'Zina'

Commonly known, dating is forbidden for the Muslims. Although this view is not entirely obeyed by all its followers, even in Muslim dominated Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei), but some are driven to make a movement based on the prohibition. One of them is La Ode Munafar, founder of Indonesia Tanpa Pacaran (Indonesia Without Dating) Movement.

Shortly, the movement encourages its members and fellow young, unmarried Muslims around Indonesia to avoid dating and get straight to marriage. In a way, they keep reminding their members through social media, especially women, that waiting for the right man is worthwhile. In addition, they also encourage the young men to propose the women they (by faith) believe in. However, this movement (and more minor movements similar to this one) raised counter-opinions from feminists, women empowerment media and open-minded news media. The movement is seen to be narrow-minded with logical fallacy solutions by simplifying the marriage itself.

Marriage has long been an ‘exit’ and ‘goal’ for most women. They foresee themselves having an identity as someone’s wife and have a man to lean on. Simply, marriage is a woman’s path to Happily Ever After. A famous term for this is Cinderella Complex. Modern women may ignore this concept, but they would still get jitters as they’re approaching the age of 30 and still not married.

Questions are also raised on what is the proper age to get married in Islam. Some refer to Baliqh, when a woman starts her period. But some also add that Baliqh is not only about physical, but also mental maturity. The interpretation is biased. Yet, we can be sure of one thing: women have to be physically ready to not only lay with her husband, but to also bear a child (or children) and give birth.

In a way, the argument that the movement put forward could be considered as a logical fallacy. “Being married at a very young age is better than dating (zina)” somewhat leads to say that “people cannot contain themselves from zina”. It is as if the young Muslims are only given two polar opposite choices without an alternative between postponing marriage and not performing zina. Aside from this, the movement may seem to empower Muslim women to protect and respect themselves, but taking a closer look, there are still gender oppressing contents. Women in this community are guided to become a certain way,

Reverse Freedom of Book Shaming

Are you an avid or regular reader? Has it ever crossed your mind when you see someone’s reading list, “That? Such a shallow read.”

Reading was a privilege, if we go way back in time. Now that books are freely and widely published with most people in the world are literate, book shaming could be said as a history depreciating act. It’s absolutely a human’s right (even though not formally and specifically stated) to voluntarily read any type of books as one prefers. Yet, when one is an avid reader of all the popularly noted as ‘brilliant works’, it’s almost unavoidable to judge others’ reading preferences. Not reading, say, Austen or Fitzgerald does not make anyone less of a reader.

Book shaming is a newly emerging term for an act of underestimating somebody based on their reading preferences. For example, genres such as young adult, teenlit, chicklit and fan fiction stories are most likely to be a book shaming object due to their low level of difficulty and seemingly lack of research. Also, these genres are based on romantic and illogical fantasies. These genres are initially aimed for teenagers and the main purpose is to entertain rather than giving a certain historical depiction or harsh reality. If book-shamed, the readers of these genres would feel somewhat embarrassed of reading such novels instead of highly-thought-of classic literature. Especially, if the readers are no longer teenagers. For them, reading such genre would either depict how simple-minded they are or a pitiful escape from reality (even if books ARE meant to give our minds to explore a whole new world or life beyond ours). This also happens with adults who still likes reading children’s books.

We have been bombarded with mandatory readings at school or perhaps even at work. Those are books we have to finish despite our tendency or mood. So, voluntary reading should entertain and, most importantly, tickle our curiosity. Everyone will find that they have certain genre(s) to meet such criteria.

It’s a common knowledge that reading is seen as an attempt to free the mind. If the emergence of books are so, then why do we act the opposite way? None should feel embarrassed for their way of freedom.

Press Release Sample

Jakarta, ID - Along with the Unicorn Day of April 9th 2019, Pond's launches a series of products inspired by the hyped unicorn glow, Pond's Glitter Glow. Collaborating with a Thailand beauty vlogger, Archita, Pond's wants to enhance the consumers' inner radiant self expression through the Glitter Glow four hybrid products of skin care and makeup. The Glitter Glow mission is summarized in #BornUnicorn.

The launch begun with a talkshow session with Amaryllis Esti Wijono, Head of Marketing Face Care Unilever Indonesia. She gave a piece of Pond's commitment to keep releasing surprising in-trend products that meet the consumers' needs. Wijono also encouraged them to express their inner "unicorn" which we often forget to have had as we grow older. 

The Glitter Glow series consists of:

• Pond's Glitter Glow Duo Powder: a holographic glitter powder in Purple and Yellow that gives a long lasting glowing look.
• Pond's Glitter Glow Cream: a potion mix of moisturizer and illuminating cream to help brightens a dull skin and gives an instant natural glow effect on the skin. 
• Pond's Glitter Glow Mask: a black peel-off mask which contains glitter particles within to make the skin feels supple, tight, subtle and glowing.
• Pond's Glitter Glow Moisture Stick: a glitter moisturizer to give a blushing holographic effect. The stick applicator makes it easier to use on the highlights of the face, such as the cheekbone, nose, and around the eyes. 

The launch was also attended by Indonesian beauty influencers who share their #BornUnicorn self-discovery stories. Moreover, the attendees and KOL expressed themselves through makeup demo class and interactive games. 

Brexit: Deal or No Deal

written for a class assignment, around October 2018

Kurang lebih 3 bulan jelang keluarnya Inggris dari EU, banyak anggota Parlemen Inggris yang menentang perjanjian Perdana Menteri Inggris dengan EU. Para menteri bersiap akan keputusan tidak diterimanya persetujuan tersebut oleh parlemen. Sementara sebagian anggota Parlemen juga tidak setuju Inggris keluar tanpa perjanjian dengan EU, sebab berpotensi menyulitkan ekonomi negara.

Pemungutan suara pada Juni 2016 memenangkan pilihan Inggris untuk keluar dari European Union (EU) atau ‘Brexit’ sebanyak 52 persen. Peresmian Inggris keluar dari EU dijadwalkan pada Maret 2019. Setelah hasil pemungutan suara diumumkan, diskusi berlanjut tentang bagaimana Inggris akan keluar dari EU.

Perbedaan hasil suara yang tipis membuat warga Inggris masih pro dan kontra sampai sekarang. Perjanjian yang dibuat Perdana Menteri Inggris Theresa May dan EU pun tidak meredakan ketidakpuasan warga Inggris. May telah mendapat persetujuan (withdrawal agreement) dari 27 negara anggota EU terkait hubungan Inggris dengan EU setelah keluar.

Namun, persetujuan itu dianggap tidak memuaskan, baik bagi warga maupun Parlemen Inggris. Warga Inggris yang pro terhadap Brexit tidak menyukai perjanjian tersebut karena tidak memberi perpisahan yang jelas dengan EU. Sementara warga yang kontra tetap ingin Inggris bertahan di EU.

Sementara itu, May masih harus mendapat persetujuan dari Parlemen Inggris terkait persetujuan yang dibuatnya dengan EU. Pekerjaan ini hampir ‘tidak mungkin’ bagi May melihat partainya sendiri, Partai Konservatif, yang terpecah dalam pro dan kontra. Sementara Partai Buruh menolak Brexit. Pimpinan Partai Buruh Jeremy Corbyn bahkan menyebut May telah menggiring Inggris pada krisis nasional.

Masa Depan Inggris tanpa Perjanjian

Tanpa perjanjian dan jaminan akan perdagangan di masa mendatang dengan EU, masa depan setelah Brexit menjadi lebih kabur. NBC News melaporkan bahwa tanpa perjanjian, Inggris bisa mengalami kesulitan ekonomi, kekacauan di pelabuhan-pelabuhan, penerbangan tertahan, dan lainnya. Sebab, hukum dan kebijakan EU berpengaruh pada perdagangan, keamanan, obat-obatan, perjalanan, pekerjaan dan lain-lain.

Bahkan kini, National Health Services (NHS) Inggris sudah mengalami kekurangan stok dan lonjakan harga beberapa jenis obat. Dilansir BBC, kemungkinan Brexit tanpa perjanjian sudah berdampak pada peredaran obat-obat generik, serta merugikan apoteker dan NHS.

Referendum Kedua

Pemungutan suara Parlemen telah dijadwalkan pada tengah Januari tahun depan. Jadwal ini mundur dari rencana awal yaitu 11 Desember. May menjelaskan penundaan dilakukan karena ia belum mendapat dukungan cukup atas perjanjian dengan EU.

Meski begitu, warga Inggris tetap meminta referendum kedua atau pemungutan suara publik ulang. Gerakan seperti People’s Vote UK mendesak agar publik ikut memberi suara. Pemungutan suara bukan hanya mengulang pilihan di tahun 2016. People’s Vote UK mengusulkan pilihan untuk menyetujui Brexit dengan perjanjian yang telah ditetapkan EU dan Perdana Menteri Inggris atau pembatalan Brexit. Dengan kata lain, Brexit tanpa perjanjian bukanlah pilihan.

Di tengah pro dan kontra, para menteri Inggris telah bersiap jika Parlemen menolak withdrawal agreement dengan EU. Alternatif lain adalah penundaan tenggat Brexit yang dijadwalkan pada 29 Maret 2019. Pengadilan Eropa bahkan menyatakan Inggris bisa membatalkan Brexit tanpa persetujuan negara-negara lain.

Weekly News Tabloid - UrbaNow

This was my first group assignment for media publishing. I was mainly in-charge as designer, but I also concurrently became a reporter. I wrote for Hiburan, Resensi and Agenda. I designed the all the pages using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign.

Rekreasi Seru di Setu Babakan

A feature radio news program where I was in-charge as the radio announcer and audio editor.