|
(Continued from page 5) back
to page 1 gust have forced local producers to lower production in order to survive during this difficult time," he said. Indra Ibrahim, the API executive director, said earlier that the country's 2001 textile exports would decline by 25 percent from US$8.2 billion last year due to the economic slowdown in the main U.S. market.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
 | SOCIAL/EDUCATION AFFAIRS
|
SUMATRAN RHINO BORN IN US ZOO, FIRST IN 112 YEARS The first Sumatran rhinoceros was born in captivity since 1889 at the Cincinnati Zoo on Sept. 13, an event hailed by officials as monumental for the rapidly vanishing species. The birth of the rhino, which is indigenous to Indonesia, prompted euphoria in the international zoo-keeping community. Officials said it has been 112 years since the last Sumatran rhino was born in captivity -- in Calcutta, India -- capping intensive efforts to reproduce an endangered species reduced to fewer than 300 survivors worldwide. Sept 14 (Reuters)
U.S. GROUP SPREADS ISLAMIC MUSIC IN INDONESIA JAKARTA, Oct. 18 (Reuters) - An Islamic message of peace has found a champion in the music of an American singing group which has adopted Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, as its home. "Our music is just a message about Islam, we're not out here for political reasons," singer Najib Ali said. "We are not here for the demonstrators or to be political activists." Najib, from Washington D.C., said the group would not be deterred by radical Indonesian Muslim groups threatening to round up foreigners for expulsion in protest against U.S.-led military strikes on Afghanistan. "We all want to stay here... we want to become Indonesian citizens." Many in Indonesia's mainly moderate Muslim population are opposed to the U.S. air strikes but say the radical groups are only hurting Indonesians by scaring off investors and tourists. "The message of our music is calling non Muslims to Islam and calling Muslims back to Islam," Najib said. The Dust contacted an Islamic group on the Internet who arranged for them to settle in Ujung Padang, Sulawesi. Dust follows a spiritual teacher who dream guided them to settle in Indonesia.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
 | TRAVEL AND TOURISM
|
IS BALI SAFE FOR AMERICANS? An old AICC friend, Jack Daniels, writes from Bali: "Here's the deal: book a Bali holiday and if you so much as see an anti-foreigner demonstration during your holiday, we'll refund the cost of your holiday. Conditions apply: Making grandma and your kids march around the tour van with home made signs does not constitute a demonstration. Bali is safe and peaceful and now you can even bank on it." J.M. Daniels - Bali Discovery Tours http://www.balidiscovery.com
INDONESIA MAY LOSE US$ 1.62 BILLION IN TOURISM REVENUE Indonesia could potentially lose $1.62 billion in revenue from tourist industry this year following the US strike on Afghanistan, Kompas reported citing Tourism and Culture Minister I Gde Ardika. Ardika said the government has targeted 2001 tourist arrivals of 5.4
mln but after the US strike, around 30 pct of the target with potential revenue of $1.62 billion may not be met. "Many tourists do not want to visit Indonesia due to flight safety concerns as well as security problem in Indonesia following the strike on Afghanistan," he said. The report said in the eight months to August, total tourist arrivals reached 2.88 million people with revenue of $2.9 billion. AFX October 12, 2001
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
(Continued on page 7)
|
|