Jatropha Oil and Sea Water as Alternative Fuel

Jatropha curcas, Barbados nut or Physic nut is just a plain old castor oil which was used long before the kerosene or any other form of petroleum product was known to Indonesians. However it is being touted as an alternative source of fuel as it is renewable and relatively cheap for tropical countries like Indonesia.

The head of the Bandung Institute of Technology’s Biotechnology Research Center said everybody knows we will run out of fossil fuels in the next 50 or 100 years which is a short period of life for the earth. Therefore we should start using alternative fuels now. He said among other alternative energy available in the country such as coal and nuclear power, jatropha was the best option as it offered not only renewable sources but also ensured the rehabilitation of over 59 million hectares of critical land across the country.

Jatropha could be planted in critical or abandoned land and it needs only sustainable sunlight and water to keep it alive. Such a condition surely makes it the best environmentally friendly fuel alternative. Experts believe increasing the consumption of biofuel would reduce greenhouse gas emissions mainly produced by fossil fuels which have worsened global warming increasing temperatures and raising sea levels.

Jatropha plantation projects would also create jobs for some 11 million unemployed people in the country and raise the livelihoods of the more than 60 million poor people living on less than US$2 per day and unlike oil, gas or coal businesses, jatropha plantations could be owned by anyone and not only by the government or companies

To help promote the use of castor oil the ITB in collaboration with National Geographic Indonesia and a local authorized Mitsubishi dealer PT Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors plans to hold the 2006 Jatropha expedition.

The expedition will test-drive a Mitsubishi Strada car fueled with 100 percent castor oil. The sport utility vehicle will travel from Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara to Jakarta from July 12 to July 20. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to greet the car upon its arrival in the capital.

Unfortunately, a mass production of this green fuel will have exactly the same impacts as that of other alternative fuel: Palm oil which has been recently criticised by environmental activists like Green Peace and Friend of Earth for deforestation of tropical rain forests. Therefore, Indonesia which is considered as one of the lungs of the world, should never think of using this fuel by sacrificing the rainforests.

Well, Indonesia actually still has a lot of mineral fuel underneath its thousands of islands, but I think it is better to leave the secret lockup or else other nations would like to come and rob it by force if necessary, just like the Iraq case.

Hold on, a team of researchers at Yogyakarta’s Muhammadiyah University (UMY) has just patented their invention Banyugeni, which literally means “firewater”. Rector Khoiruddin Bashori said by mass producing Banyugeni, Indonesia would be able to allocate its annual fuel subsidy of Rp 50 trillion (US$5.50 billion) to pay off foreign debts.

Khoiruddin said the invention was the result of about a year of research, involving five researchers at the university’s Center for Regional Energy Development Studies: Drs Purwanto, Ir Bledug Kusuma Prasadja MT, Ir Tony K Haryadi MT, Ir Lilik Utari MS, dan Dra Nike Triwahyuningsih MP., tasked with researching and developing alternatives to fossil fuels. Banyugeni, according to Khoiruddin, currently has four different product variants — hydro-kerosene, hydro-diesel, hydro-premium and hydro-avtur. He said these were equivalent to their fossil-fuel counterparts kerosene, diesel, gasoline and airplane fuel. “In the future, we will also develop other product variants that are superior to existing variants,” Khoiruddin said. The newly invented fuel had been tested by PT CoreLab Indonesia, an independent international laboratory, and had been subsequently declared to meet the standards of the Directorate General of Oil and Gas at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. The test result, Khoiruddin said, was convincing. Hydro-premium, for example, proved to be non-corrosive, non-residual and to show low-emission rates. Hydro-avtur is similarly non-corrosive, low in emission rates and has a low freezing temperature of minus 45 degrees Celcius. “The test on aero-modeling crafts shows that hydro-fuel can be categorized as jet fuel,” said Purwanto, adding that this particular variant ran cool with an initial boiling point of 164 degrees Celcius. Similar results were shown from tests on hydro-diesel and hydro-kerosene variants, Khoiruddin continued. An experiment at the Surakarta aviation education and training institute Tutuko using an ultra-light Jora aircraft with a Rotax 582 engine on Feb. 11, 2008, according to Khoiruddin, confirmed Banyugeni’s variant of hydro-avtur could satisfactorily start the craft’s engine and achieve maximum take-off power.

Hydro-fuel was produced using so-called “mechano-thermal-electro-chemical” technology involving four processes: mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical, all using water as the raw material.“Water is basically flame. It comprises explosive hydrogen and flammable oxygen,” said Purwanto. The process of turning the water into hydro-fuel, he said, was basically keeping the two atoms in the water in such a position where the water could revert to its constituent elements, hydrogen and oxygen.“The results are fuel products that are not polluting and are environmentally friendly,” said Purwanto, adding that the products’ elements and characteristics had made it possible for them to be directly applied on machines without any modification to the machines’ components.Hydro-kerosene, for example, can be directly used in kerosene stoves or lamps. Hydro-diesel, similarly, can be directly used to start a diesel engine while the hydro-premium can be used to run motorcycles or cars. The hydro-avtur, according to Purwanto, has also been tested on jet-fuel machines such as the ones propelling aero-modeling aircraft.

Researcher Nike Triwahyuningsih said for further processing of hydro-fuel, the water needed to be purified. Once processed, Nike said, a liter of pure water could produce about the same volume either of hydro-premium, hydro-kerosene or hydro-diesel, according to the desired results.“We used seawater for the research, but basically any water including liquid waste can be processed into hydro-fuel,” said Nike. Nike said the decision to use seawater was mainly made with a consideration that ground water was for human consumption. Thus, mass production of hydro-fuels would not disturb clean water supplies for humans, she said.“That way we create a good synergy between the people and the government for the prosperity of all, and not just for particular groups or parties,”

At about the same time, claiming to have the idea from the Qur’an, Joko Suprapto, a villager of Ngadiboyo, Rejoso, Nganjuk, East Java, invented Blue Energy - which was exhibited at the United Nation Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2007 in Nusa Dua, Bali. Just like Banyugeni, Blue Energy uses seawater as its raw material and 100% compatible with conventional petrol engine. Moreover a diesel variant of Blue Energy significantly reduce the vibration of tested diesel engine. Blue Energy is created by splitting the water molecules into H+ and O2-. Some catalysts and processing are needed to turn seawater into a specific carbon chained fuel. To prove the reliability of Blue Energy and to show the alternative fuel to the UNFCCC attendants, two double cabin Ford Ranger trucks, one Mazda 6 saloon car, one bus, and one Blue Energy tanker truck, were driven from Cikeas, Bogor, West Java to Nusa Dua, Bali.

There are some reservations from experts with regards to Banyugeni or Blue Energy mass production and costs. In my opinion, the energy required for the production can be sourced directly from the sea, utilising the OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion) technique. Of course, the government, via PT PLN must build its rather expensive infra structure while charging the hydro fuel producing company e.g. PERTAMINA for the energy used. Technology wise, OTEC was invented in 1880s by a French physicist, Jacques Arsene d’Arsonval. As early as 1930, Cuba built OTEC plant with a low-pressure turbine generating 22kW of electricity. The work was led by Georges Claude who was d’Arsonval’s student. In 1974, The United States became involved in OTEC research, when the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority was established at Keahole Point on the Kona coast of Hawaii. The laboratory has become one of the world’s leading test facilities for OTEC technology. Japan also continues to fund research and development in OTEC technology. India piloted a 1 MW floating OTEC plant near Tamil Nadu. Its government continues to sponsor various research in developing floating OTEC facilities.

Investing in OTEC and hydro fuel, the government will definitely reap the benefits of (1) cheaper fuel price which can pull down inflation (2) increase export of oil products as we no longer need them domestically (3) diversifications of PLN (now selling OTEC electricity) and PERTAMINA (now selling hydro fuel) will significantly reduce their business risks and guarantee profitability. With a very prospective project proposal like this one, ADB or even IBRD will definitely offer funding, if not grants. Come on Mas Langgeng, use PIP to start this energy revolution!

 

Some Shariah (Divorce Proceedings) are Unavoidable

Welshman Dr Williams, 57, spent 24 years as an academic at Oxford and Cambridge before being appointed Bishop of Monmouth in 1992, then the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury in 2002, is now under fire after his intellectual observation on the need of implementing Shariah for Muslims in Britain.

Three months ago he gave an interview to a Muslim magazine called Emel in which he compared Muslims in Britain to the Good Samaritans, and praised the Muslim ritual of praying five times a day, but attacked “Christian Zionists” and claimed “the United States wields its power in a way that is worse than Britain during its imperial heyday”.

He also angered victims of 9/11 by saying that Al Qaeda terrorists “can have serious moral goals” and arguing that the 9/11 terrorists should not be called evil.

Dr Williams said it “seems inevitable” that elements of Islamic law, such as divorce proceedings, would be incorporated into British law.

Dr Williams backs adopting parts of Islamic Sharia law

Dr Williams said the UK had to “face up to the fact” that some citizens do not relate to the British legal system, and argued that officially sanctioning Sharia law would improve community relations. “Nobody in their right mind would want to see in this country the kind of inhumanity that has sometimes been associated with the practice of the law in some Islamic states,” he told the BBC’s World at One programme.
“But there are ways of looking at marital disputes, for example, which provide an alternative to the divorce courts as we understand them.”
Dr Williams said the argument that “there’s one law (British which initially based on Christian law) for everybody” was “a bit of a danger” and called for “a constructive accommodation” with some aspects of Muslim law.

He said the Church of England was allowed to operate its own courts, as were Orthodox Jews, and the anti-abortion views of Roman Catholics and other Christians were taken account of within the law.
“We already have in this country a number of situations in which the internal law of religious communities is recognised by the law of the land as justifying conscientious objections in certain circumstances,” Dr Williams said. He continued: “It would be quite wrong to say that we could ever license a system of law for some community which gave people no right of appeal, no way of exercising the rights that are guaranteed to them as citizens in general.

But Dr Williams said people needed to look at Islamic law “with a clear eye and not imagine, either, that we know exactly what we mean by Sharia and just associate it with… Saudi Arabia, or whatever….
“I do not think we should instantly spring to the conclusion that the whole of that world of jurisprudence and practice is somehow monstrously incompatible with human rights just because it doesn’t immediately fit with how we understand it,” he added. Sharia law was originally more enlightened in its attitude to women than other legal systems, Dr Williams pointed out, but did now have to be brought up to date. “But you have to translate that into a setting where that whole area of the rights and liberties of women has moved on,” he said. “The principle and the vision which animates the whole Islamic legal provision needs broadening because of that.”

Responding to comments by one of his senior bishops that Islamic extremism was creating communities with “no go areas” for non-Muslims, he said it was “not at all the case that we have absolute social exclusion. But we do have a lot of social suspicion, a lot of distance and we just have to go on working at how that shared citizenship comes through”. The Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, said last month that non-Muslims faced a hostile reception in places dominated by the ideology of Islamic radicals. He has since faced death threats. Dr Williams said the use of the phrase “no go areas” had sparked controversy because it reminded people of Northern Ireland. “I don’t think that was at all what was intended; I think it was meant to point to the silo problem, the sense of communities not communicating with each other,” he said. “Many Muslims would say that they feel bits of British society are no-go areas for them.” Dr Williams’s comments were welcomed by Mohammed Shafiq, the director of the Ramadhan Foundation, who said: “Sharia law for civil matters is something which has been introduced in some western countries with much success.”

Despite the rows, as a Muslim, I am struggling to understand how an intellectual Christian leader supported the Shariah as being better for women than the British law appearing to have benefited women from wealth split (in most cases the woman gets the house) and monthly allowance (alimony). There must be something he learned in the Quran before stating such opinions. Not to be partial, preventing my own misinterpretation here is a quote from another website detailing what God said in the Quran about divorce (slightly wider than divorce proceedings) which specifically mentioned by the Archbishop as being unavoidable:

From a reading of the Quran we learn that God does not favour divorces and in fact encourages the continuation of marriage. God has imposed prohibitions on certain category in marriage. However for those who comes to know of these prohibitions afterwards are commanded not to break existing marriages - see 4:22-23.

Divorce must be resorted to only in exceptional circumstances. The laws relating to divorce together with the relevant verses from the Quran are given below:

Appoint an arbitrator
[4:35] If a couple fears separation, you shall appoint an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family; if they decide to reconcile, GOD will help them get together. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.

Wait 4 months cooling off before divorce
[2:226-227] Those who intend to divorce their wives shall wait four months (cooling off); if they change their minds and reconcile, then GOD is Forgiver, Merciful. If they go through with the divorce, then GOD is Hearer, Knower.

If the estranged couple chooses separation they must go through with it equitably. There must be two equitable witnesses witness the divorce before GOD

[65:2] Once the interim is fulfilled, you may reconcile with them equitably, or go through with the separation equitably. You shall have two equitable witnesses witness the divorce before GOD. This is to enlighten those who believe in GOD and the Last Day. Anyone who reverences GOD, He will create an exit for him.

Divorced women to observe an interim period

[2:228] The divorced women shall wait three menstruations (before marrying another man). It is not lawful for them to conceal what GOD creates in their wombs, if they believe in GOD and the Last Day. (In case of pregnancy,) the husband’s wishes shall supersede the wife’s wishes, if he wants to remarry her. The women have rights, as well as obligations, equitably. Thus, the man’s wishes prevail (in case of pregnancy). GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.

[65:4-5] As for the women who have reached menopause, if you have any doubts, their interim shall be three months. As for those who do not menstruate, and discover that they are pregnant, their interim ends upon giving birth. Anyone who reverences GOD, He makes everything easy for him. This is GOD’s command that He sends down to you. Anyone who reverences GOD, He remits his sins, and rewards him generously.

Exception for observing interim period

[33:49] O you who believe, if you married believing women, then divorced them before having intercourse with them, they do not owe you any waiting interim (before marrying another man). You shall compensate them equitably, and let them go amicably.

After the fulfilment of the interim the divorced women is free to do whatever she wants

Although the following verse is in context of widows, it appears to be applicable to a divorcees too.

You Shall Observe the Pre-Marriage Interims

[2:234] Those who die and leave wives, their widows shall wait four months and ten days (before they remarry). Once they fulfill their interim, you commit no error by letting them do whatever righteous matters they wish to do. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.

[2:235] You commit no sin by announcing your engagement to the women, or keeping it secret. GOD knows that you will think about them. Do not meet them secretly, unless you have something righteous to discuss. Do not consummate the marriage until their interim is fulfilled. You should know that GOD knows your innermost thoughts, and observe Him. You should know that GOD is Forgiver, Clement.

Divorced women have to be provided for.
This is probably one of the abused laws in the Quran. But God holds us responsible for our innermost thoughts. If one observes God’s laws then God makes it easy for him / her.

[65:7] The rich husband shall provide support in accordance with his means, and the poor shall provide according to the means that GOD bestowed upon him. GOD does not impose on any soul more than He has given it. GOD will provide ease after difficulty.

Alimony For Widows and Divorcees

[2:240] Those who die and leave wives, a will shall provide their wives with support for a year, provided they stay within the same household. If they leave, you commit no sin by letting them do whatever they wish, so long as righteousness is maintained. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.

[2:241] The divorcees also shall be provided for, equitably. This is a duty upon the righteous.

Compensation when marriage is not consummated

Breaking the Engagement

[2:236] You commit no error by divorcing the women before touching them, or before setting the dowry for them. In this case, you shall compensate them - the rich as he can afford and the poor as he can afford - an equitable compensation. This is a duty upon the righteous.

[2:237] If you divorce them before touching them, but after you had set the dowry for them, the compensation shall be half the dowry, unless they voluntarily forfeit their rights, or the party responsible for causing the divorce chooses to forfeit the dowry. To forfeit is closer to righteousness. You shall maintain the amicable relations among you. GOD is Seer of everything you do.

Divorced women entitled to stay in the same house she stayed before divorce

Do Not Throw the Divorcees Out Onto the Streets

[2:231] If you divorce the women, once they fulfill their interim (three menstruations), you shall allow them to live in the same home amicably, or let them leave amicably. Do not force them to stay against their will, as a revenge. Anyone who does this wrongs his own soul. Do not take GOD’s revelations in vain. Remember GOD’s blessings upon you, and that He sent down to you the scripture and wisdom to enlighten you. You shall observe GOD, and know that GOD is aware of all things.

[65:6] You shall allow them to live in the same home in which they lived with you, and do not make life so miserable for them that they leave on their own. If they are pregnant, you shall spend on them until they give birth. If they nurse the infant, you shall pay them for this service. You shall maintain the amicable relations among you. If you disagree, you may hire another woman to nurse the child.

Divorce can be retracted

In other words, if the couple reconciles after the first divorce and wish to be husband and wife again, they can re-marry. This is allowed for two divorce only. If the couple divorces third time they have to observe God’s commandment in 2:230 (quoted below.) God makes it not-so-easy for the couple to divorce. This law serves as a deterrent for those who want a divorce for the third time and they would be very careful to take this step.

[2:229] Divorce may be retracted twice. The divorced woman shall be allowed to live in the same home amicably, or leave it amicably. It is not lawful for the husband to take back anything he had given her. However, the couple may fear that they may transgress GOD’s law. If there is fear that they may transgress GOD’s law, they commit no error if the wife willingly gives back whatever she chooses. These are GOD’s laws; do not transgress them. Those who transgress GOD’s laws are the unjust.

[2:232] If you divorce the women, once they fulfil their interim, do not prevent them from remarrying their husbands, if they reconcile amicably. This shall be heeded by those among you who believe in GOD and the Last Day. This is purer for you, and more righteous. GOD knows, while you do not know.

[2:230] If he divorces her (for the third time), it is unlawful for him to remarry her, unless she marries another man, then he divorces her. The first husband can then remarry her, so long as they observe GOD’s laws. These are GOD’s laws; He explains them for people who know.

Also note the words “It is not lawful for the husband to take back anything he had given her.” in 2:229.

In case there is a baby during the interim: If during the observation of the interim period it is discovered that the divorced women is pregnant then as stated in 65:4 the interim ends upon giving birth. God has decreed the following law dealing with the infant:

[2:233] Divorced mothers shall nurse their infants two fullyears, if the father so wishes. The father shall provide the mother’s food and clothing equitably. No one shall be burdened beyond his ability. No other shall be harmed on account of her infant, nor shall the father be harmed because of his infant. (If the father dies), his inheritor shall assume these responsibilities. If the infant’s parents mutually agree to part, after due consultation, they commit no error by doing so. You commit no error by hiring nursing mothers, so long as you pay them equitably. You shall observe GOD, and know that GOD is Seer of everything you do.

Conditions where a woman can divorce her husband.

Whichever party chooses for divorce must obey the laws as aforesaid. Normally divorce is mutually decided by the couple. If the aforesaid laws are observed, there could be a situation where either of the spouse may not give their consent but if the arbitrators from both the families decide that divorce is the best solution for the estranged couple then they would, nevertheless go through divorce. The divorce laws are applicable to both man and woman (4:35 and 2:237 indicate this) except that there are certain additional laws which a divorced woman has to observe.

The following seem to be the only conditions where a believing women leaves her husband without observing the above laws. In fact, I think in this case even a formal divorce is not required under Quran. However if the law of the land requires a formal divorce then one must follow suit.

[60:10] O you who believe, when believing women (abandon the enemy and) ask for asylum with you, you shall test them. GOD is fully aware of their belief. Once you establish that they are believers, you shall not return them to the disbelievers. They are not lawful to remain married to them, nor shall the disbelievers be allowed to marry them. Give back the dowries that the disbelievers have paid. You commit no error by marrying them, so long as you pay them their due dowries. Do not keep disbelieving wives (if they wish to join the enemy). You may ask them for the dowry you had paid, and they may ask for what they paid. This is GOD’s rule; He rules among you. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

As an ending to this writing, I believe there will be more and more intellectuals who cannot hide their supports towards God’s teaching revealed in the Qur’an. Islamic economics, banking and finance will be the next field which can amaze related experts about God’s existence and His true guidance in the Qur’an. The problem is that there are millions Muslims out there who don’t even believe in the trueness of Qur’anic teaching, especially in the implementation of shariah. Most of them think that shariah is too strict, if not brutal and barbaric. They forget that crime deterrent is much more effective than any crime prevention. In China, a corruptor will definitely be given capital punishment. In Indonesia or even in Saudi Arabia, many corruptors still live peacefully. Is it a tragedy or this is just one of sign of the coming of the promised doomsday.

 

Need for More Economical Vehicles

Despite the achievement of Indian motor industry Tata in creating a small economical and affordable (only USD2500 new) car of its Nano, the world currently still needs a more petrol efficient car.

Decades ago, in reaction toward 1956 Suez oil crisis, the world had witnessed such engineering achievement of many motorcar industries which have already answered the challenge of increasing oil price, now reaching more than USD100 per barrel.

BMW for example introduced Isetta 300 following the Iso Rivolta’s success.
Messerschmitt introduced KR175 earlier in 1954 which subsequently replaced by a bigger engine KR200 in 1955.Its original specification (in German) is still available here.

The picture below shows the roadster version with the glass hardtop removed enhancing its aerodynamics.

These pictures are just a taster, you can have a long but not exhausted list of microcars at Wikipedia. In brief the smallest petrol engine ever used was 38cc (Fend Flitzer) and the biggest one was 700cc (Reliant Bond Bug).

My ideas of the future world involve smaller cars or microcars apart from smart buses and lorries which auto-off their engines after a couple of seconds(I will write about this at a later time).

The main characteristics of these microcars are their small engines mostly modified from motorcycle engine (exclude the electric motor please) and air cooled, with small wheels like those of scooters. Such characteristics were not able to be kept out in Tata Nano using a twin-cylinder, 623cc petrol engine powering it drives the rear wheels. The Tata Nano weighs around 600kg.

Developing 32bhp at 5500rpm, its parallel twin petrol engine delivers only modest performance – Tata claims 0-44mph in 14secs and between 66- and 70mph flat out.

And with high-profile 12in wheels as standard, and unas

sisted drum brakes at each corner, braking performance should be similarly modest.

Without modern cars comforts such as air conditioning, power steering and electric window at the moment Tata Nano gives 57mpg. Compared to Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid giving 60-70mpg, Tata Nano fuel efficiency can still be improved.

Forget about Acabion (below left) which looks too motorcycle giving 342mpg at efficient slow mode or 100mpg at 100mph high-speed mode,

the world needs a car more than a motorcycle. I don’t think the answer to the prayer would be Aptera (below right) by Accelerated Composites, San Diego, which prototype gives 330mpg with acceleration and handling similar to Honda Insight as it sells just under USD20,000, almost 8 times of Tata Nano.

In order to achieve the balance between the price, the mpg and the usability (transporting 4 people, rather than just one or two), we have to considers all influencing factors. Factors of price include R&D cost, production scale and materials used.

Factors of mpg include mass, aerodynamics, and engine used. Factors of usability include space size, access doors, and boot/compartments.

To cut the R&D cost, my suggestion is to use existing designed like EV1 from GM (see

picture below) or Honda Insight (further below), yet we need to ensure that they are four seats models.

EV1 offers drag coefficient of just 0.195, while Insight Cd=0.25. These are acceptable to my laymen understanding.

The materials should be composite with aluminium frame to minimise its weight. The engine size and type should match the final gross weight including 4 adult medium weight passengers. If possible, use an existing engine either 2 (from big motorcycles) or 3 (from small cars) cylinders petrol, water cooled and lightweight (e.g. ceramic or

intermetallic-alloys one).

Having said that, I would not neglect the need for one person car like those bubble cars for commuting to work.

These bubble cars would help cut the traffic jams and the pollution. But what sort of bubble-cars would be acceptable for today’s need.

In my opinion if becak (see below) can be enhanced, we can have a motorised tricycle which will look like the Isetta, but allow 3 people instead of only 1 person.

To enhance its efficiency, the size of the wheel needs to be reduced. The front opening needs a proper tempered glass door and the body needs to be made by resin, instead of heavy wood. Hmm maybe it won’t look like becak anymore.

Last but not least, we need to promote the green diesel. Not only for its less pollution, but also for the state’s balance of payment. We have been importing loads of fossil fuel products, much more than our crude oil export. Forget about habitat, ecosystem etc.; a palm tree is as good as other tree in absorbing carbon dioxide at daylight. Alternatively, we can use methanol for petrol engine. With current development of lithium ion battery, electric engine is equally good alternative to the green diesel. To mention one, ZAP (Zero

Air Pollution) 3 wheeler cars have been mass produced by a public company based in Santa Rosa, California, since May 2006.

The top speed of the Xebra is 40 mph (65 km/h), with a range of about twenty five miles with the standard batteries, or forty miles (64 km) with the optional extended range batteries. The sedan version can carry up to 4 people. The listed cargo weight for both the SD sedan and the PK pickup is 500 lb (230 kg), although PK owners have carried more weight than that. The SD sedan lists for US$10,500, and the PK pickup truck model with dump bed for US$11,900 in December 2006.

Of course, the government needs to influence the population for example by exempting the bubble cars, especially the electric ones from road tax or even 3-in-1 zone.

Well, see you in your cool bubble car!

 

Non, je ne regrette rien

Non ! Rien de rien
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien qu’on m’a fait
Ni le mal tout ça m’est bien égal !

Non ! Rien de rien
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
C’est payé, balayé, oublié
Je me fous du passé !

Avec mes souvenirs
J’ai allumé le feu
Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs
Je n’ai plus besoin d’eux !

Balayées les amours
Et tous leurs trémolos
Balayés pour toujours
Je repars à zéro

Non ! Rien de rien
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
Ni le bien, qu’on m’a fait
Ni le mal, tout ça m’est bien égal !

Non ! Rien de rien
Non ! Je ne regrette rien
Car ma vie, car mes joies
Aujourd’hui, ça commence avec toi !

No Regrets, the song which originally was written in French and sung by Édith Piaf, is now being used in a Specsaver commercial on British TVs. Édith dedicated the song to the French Foreign Legion who in April 1961 helped the Premier Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes in Algerian independence conflict. I’m not going to praise her for supporting the Legion against the Algerian Muslims, nor to criticise the Legion over-actingly taking Edith’s video off YouTube. What I want you to remember is that the same song had inspired Johan Cornelis Princen - ex KNIL soldier - who joined the Indonesian guerillas against the Dutch Colonial Goverment. It is not clear whether he reverted to Islam before joining the Indonesians fighting for their independence, but it is crystal clear that Princen is a true hero who always fights for what he believes is right - a sort of the Islamic principle of social responsibility based on the concept of amar bi al-maruf wa nahi an al-munkar (commanding right and prohibiting wrong).

He was initially imprisoned by German Nazi for trying to flee to Spain, to sneak to the UK, in order to enlist to the British Allied Army who was fighting against the Hitler’s Germany. He was later imprisoned (at Schoonhoven) by the Dutch for deserting the KNIL. He later on was also imprisoned by President Soekarno for criticising his policies, e.g. the unequal division of national resources and income between the central island of Java and the outlying islands, being an MP for IPKI. Finally, he was also imprisoned by President Soeharto for criticising his human right abuses, especially on those communist supporter victims in Purwodadi, Central Java.

He is a real hero who can never be allured with gold and silver (unlike Soeharto) or pretty faces (unlike Soekarno). Yet, all heroes must suffer, including him. Laksamana.net stated that Princen’s work as a lawyer never earned him much in the way of material wealth. Unlike other prominent human rights lawyers whose careers benefited from their high profile on the human rights front, Princen remained a figure whose only interest was in defending the rights of the small. Visitors to his succession of poky offices in the early ’90s remember calling on him to find themselves welcomed by Princen resting in his underwear, and his close friends recall that it was seldom that they were able to leave before parting with a contribution to help pay his driver or his phone bill.

Well, to close today’s blog, I’d like to quote a French song for my big sister who I assume has forgotten the French language which we learned at Jakarta’s CCF about two decades ago. This romantic song was her favourite one, unfortunately at that time her French native speaker teacher could not jot down the lyrics in full.

Aline (by Christophe)

J’avais dessiné
Sur le sable
Son doux visage
Qui me souriait
Puis il a plu
Sur cette plage
Dans cet orage
Elle a disparu

Et j’ai crié, crié, Aline!
Pour qu’elle revienne
Et j’ai pleuré, pleuré
Oh, j’avais trop de peine

Je me suis assis
Auprès de son âme
Mais la belle dame
S’était enfuie
Je l’ai cherchée
Sans plus y croire
Et sans un espoir
Pour me guider

Et j’ai crié, crié, Aline!
Pour qu’elle revienne
Et j’ai pleuré, pleuré
Oh, j’avais trop de peine

Je n’ai gardé
Que ce doux visage
Comme une épave
Sur le sable mouillé

Et j’ai crié, crié, Aline!
Pour qu’elle revienne
Et j’ai pleuré, pleuré
Oh, j’avais trop de peine

 

The Passing of the 5-star General

Kudos to Wikipedia voluntary editors, when the BBC TV news only gives 5 second for the news, they wrote:

His death was noted widely, and condolences were offered by a number of regional heads of state. Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared a week of mourning^[42]. Furthermore, all Indonesian government offices and departments will fly their flags at half-mast for one week, in respect for Soeharto’s passing. Antara Media reported two metric tons of jasmine flowers and 100 kilograms of red roses had been prepared for the funeral ceremony.

Residents of Kemusuk in Bantul, Yogyakarta, lowered flags and went into mourning Sunday for former president Soeharto, who was born in the village. Soeharto’s nephew Aryo Notosuwito said villagers, “admired and loved the former president for the concern he showed for their welfare during his life”. Residents gathered Sunday evening at the house of Soeharto’s late younger brother R. Notosuwito to pray .^[43]

It is difficult for any Indonesian to comment on his contributions to the nation, because as most of us, there are two sides of him: good and bad. The good side include the attention towards farmers with his Inpres program (he was from a farmer family); towards education when he promoted the compulsory education; towards public health by building Puskesmas in all nooks and crannies of the vast country; and towards technology (he helped Habibie with IPTN when his own Berkeley’s economists opposed it). But , his bad side ranges from corruption to human right abuses. He did not do the corruption himself, but he recruited Sudono Salim (Lim Sioe Liong) to do his dirty jobs of state  embezzlement. He did not oppress and torture Muslim preachers dare to criticise him as a Muslim leader, but he ordered Sudomo (retired Admiral) to do his nasty jobs. Therefore it is difficult to proof that he is guilty of these misconducts, NOT.

The problem is not that our law graduates are substandard intellectually (as most choose other better professions), nor that our law books are not enough. I believe the problem is because all of us (sorry, most of us) were involved in the corrupt environment, including the judicial bodies. So, if we are serious in leaving corruption behind - this is the best time - we have to reorganise our legal system. Trust me, no big countries exist without a strongly established legal system and furthermore they keep on updating the seemingly perfect system with full transparency.

I can only urge President SBY to use this momentum to straighten the people of the country into the right path, the path that is blessed by our Creator. Tell the people that we mourn for the goodness that Suharto brought to the country, but we celebrate his passing for the badness that will no longer have a place in the country.

 

As-shura Day

Last Friday, the Imam of Bath - br Rashad Azami, reminded us about As-Shura Day which is commemorated by Muslims on the 10th of Shura (or formally called as Muharram) the first month of Islamic Hijra calendar. While the Shiites are practising exagerration (bid’ah) in celebrating the holiday by hurting themselves until they are unconcious of losing blood, Sunnites are remembering it by 2 days fasting, either on the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th of Muharram. Sunnites celebrate the day as the Prophet SAW did so, believing that Muslims deserve to commemorate the day when Prophet Moses pbuh and his followers escaped from Egypt and the Pharaoh and his army by crossing the Red Sea, more than the Jews or the Christians, due to the fact that it was Moses pbuh who kept on advising him to ask for God’s concession from 50 times a day prayers until only 5 times a day - until the Prophet SAW himself felt shy to ask for more reduction.

I remember when I was young, back in Jakarta, my mum’s ustadzah (female teacher) taught us about this day of Orphans to remember the unjust killing of Hussain pbuh -the grandson of the Prophet SAW through his daughter Fatimah pbuh in the Karbala desert of year 680. Based on this, I would argue that Muslims in Indonesia are not a strict practicing Sunnism and opened to any of the Shiite’s tradition. In fact, I would argue that they are not strictly adhered to any of the mazhabs, even though As-Syafii is widely known as the major mazhab there.

Why it is important for Muslims not to be tied into one grouping or sect? History shows from Spanish Andalusia to the recent Iraq case, Muslims are not strong (maybe not blessed as well) when they are not united. It is crucial that Muslims start to forget about their differences and get together to work hand in hand solving their own problems from poverty to moral decadency. Furthermore, it is high time to upgrade the OIC (Organisation for Islamic Conference) to IEC (Islamic Economic Community) and promote using gold and silver dinar as a common curreny among the Muslim Nations.

Wallahu alam bis sawab …

 

Hello world!

Peace be upon you guys!

Well, I’m writing this as a realisation of my 2008 new year’s resolution. I hope I can continue with other resolutions as well. So, please keep your fingers crossed.