26 May 08
1 edit
Originally posted by WajomaHere in Indonesia, the government is just about to raise the price of fuel for the 4th time in a couple of years. I ride a motorbike most of the time and I suppose I put about $3 in it every week. It's going to be $4. Two years ago that would have been $1. Not a problem for me, of course, but that is not to say that these amounts of money are insignificant to many people. The price of fuel affects the price of everything.
What's happening in Indonesia with the fuel price rise? I guess there may be trouble once they rises really bite.
Inflation is running at about 9% and is likely to reach 12% next month, when the governmnet will raise the price of subsidised fuel by between 25 and 30%. Indonesia's central bank has nudged up interest rates this year. But they have not kept pace with inflation, so real rates have fallen and are now negative. Food prices are soaring (the price of subsidised rice to the poor was jacked up 60% in April).
Indonesia is a major importer of rice and could suffer if international supplies are constrained for long. In efforts to stabilise the market, the Indonseia government announced in May that it would set aside 1m ha to boost rice production.
The government's plan to end fuel subsidies will make social protection and subsidised rice more affordable. Half the population lives on less than $2 a day! Yes. People are feeling the pinch. And there have been protests. I really do not know how gritty these protests are going to get. But it's surely not going to be like it was with Suharto in 1998 when a combination of hungry protesters, a Jakarta elite with cold feet, and the "international community" pulling the plug, brought the New Order to an abrupt end. I don't see an abrupt end to anything happening here at the moment. This country's democracy is becoming more and more sturdy as each year passes. But protests will continue to be common fayre on the TV news, for sure.
26 May 08
2 edits
Originally posted by zeeblebotYou haven't raised a topic for a debate, you daft clot.
FMF waves the white flag, again ....
"Pilots run out of fuel, pray, land near Jesus s..." isn't a debate topic. Your link, whatever it is, is of no interest. Presumably it isn't to you either, as you couldn't be bothered to summarize what's to be found there. Why should anyone else bother?
Wajoma asked me a question.
And as for me waving a white flag? Have you got a cut and paste from wikipedia to back that up?
26 May 08
Originally posted by zeeblebotNot at all, mate.
you want me to supply BOTH sides of the debate?
I think that rather to propose a debate, you sent a beautiful message of hope and love, based on our Lord Jesus Christ. And that is something worth of respect.
No matter some may disagree with your faith, the truth is that life is not only about facts, numbers, statistics, percentages, money, loans, mortgages, years and days. It is also about rejoicing in those things with no explanation, through the unexplicable beauty of our heart's words.
Thanks for such a good post!
🙂