Salary Negotiation Etiquette

Tips from your friends at Hospitality Talent Scouts!

During the interview process, salary discussions and negotiations are
usually, if not always, the last thing discussed. This is often after
numerous interviews that may be rigorous in nature. When you think about it,
how the whole thing works really is kind of humorous.

Hotel and restaurant managers spend all day long figuring out, and talking
about, how they can enhance the guest experience so they can make more
income for their owners or shareholders. There is nothing wrong with that,
after all, because hotels and restaurants are businesses, and businesses are
in business to make money, right?

Then why is it taboo to talk about salaries up front in an interview? What's
wrong with discussing early in an interview how much income the candidate
can make for themselves or their family to support the necessities that come
with living or having the funds to support education, retirement, etc.?
Aren't these good and reasonable questions?

Is it really an issue of tradition or etiquette, or is it an issue of an
individual's motivation? Is wanting to earn more money and talking about it
up front considered shallow? Individually, it might be considered that way,
although a business has the same aspirations. So what's the difference?

The difference is that businesses are looking for individuals who are
passionate in what they do, and therefore money is a reward, not the primary
driver. Businesses want people who are motivated to be of service to others.
In the hospitality industry, this is what drives guest satisfaction and, in
the end, what drives profits.

Proper etiquette says that if you want the job, and if you want a better
chance at getting the salary you want then first do a good job of showing
your value to the business and let salary be the last item on the agenda!

Weda Sumber Ajaran Agama Hindu

Pengertian Weda

Sumber ajaran agama Hindu adalah Kitab Suci Weda, yaitu kitab yang berisikan
ajaran kesucian yang diwahyukan oleh Hyang Widhi Wasa melalui para Maha Rsi.
Weda merupakan jiwa yang meresapi seluruh ajaran Hindu, laksana sumber air
yang mengalir terus melalui sungai-sungai yang amat panjang dalam sepanjang
abad. Weda adalah sabda suci atau wahyu Tuhan Yang Maha Esa.

Weda secara ethimologinya berasal dari kata "Vid" (bahasa sansekerta), yang
artinya mengetahui atau pengetahuan. Weda adalah ilmu pengetahuan suci yang
maha sempurna dan kekal abadi serta berasal dari Hyang Widhi Wasa. Kitab
Suci Weda dikenal pula dengan Sruti, yang artinya bahwa kitab suci Weda
adalah wahyu yang diterima melalui pendengaran suci dengan kemekaran intuisi
para maha Rsi. Juga disebut kitab mantra karena memuat nyanyian-nyanyian
pujaan. Dengan demikian yang dimaksud dengan Weda adalah Sruti dan merupakan
kitab yang tidak boleh diragukan kebenarannya dan berasal dari Hyang Widhi
Wasa.


Bahasa Weda

Bahasa yang dipergunakan dalam Weda disebut bahasa Sansekerta, Nama
sansekerta dipopulerkan oleh Maharsi Panini, yaitu seorang penulis Tata
Bahasa Sensekerta yang berjudul Astadhyayi yang sampai kini masih menjadi
buku pedoman pokok dalam mempelajari Sansekerta.

Sebelum nama Sansekerta menjadi populer, maka bahasa yang dipergunakan dalam
Weda dikenal dengan nama Daiwi Wak (bahasa/sabda Dewata). Tokoh yang
merintis penggunaan tata bahasa Sansekerta ialah Rsi Panini. Kemudian
dilanjutkan oleh Rsi Patanjali dengan karyanya adalah kitab Bhasa. Jejak
Patanjali diikuti pula oleh Rsi Wararuci.


Pembagian dan Isi Weda

Weda adalah kitab suci yang mencakup berbagai aspek kehidupan yang
diperlukan oleh manusia. Berdasarkan materi, isi dan luas lingkupnya, maka
jenis buku weda itu banyak. Maha Rsi Manu membagi jenis isi Weda itu ke
dalam dua kelompok besar yaitu Weda Sruti dan Weda Smerti. Pembagian ini
juga dipergunakan untuk menamakan semua jenis buku yang dikelompokkan
sebagai kitab Weda, baik yang telah berkembang dan tumbuh menurut tafsir
sebagaimana dilakukan secara turun temurun menurut tradisi maupun sebagai
wahyu yang berlaku secara institusional ilmiah.

Kelompok Weda Sruti isinya hanya memuat wahyu, sedangkan kelompok Smerti
isinya bersumber dari Weda Sruti, jadi merupakan manual, yakni buku pedoman
yang sisinya tidak bertentangan dengan Sruti. Baik Sruti maupun Smerti,
keduanya adalah sumber ajaran agama Hindu yang tidak boleh diragukan
kebenarannya.

Agaknya sloka berikut ini mempertegas pernyataan di atas:


Srutistu wedo wijneyo dharma

sastram tu wai smerth,

te sarrtheswamimamsye tab

hyam dharmohi nirbabhau. (M. Dh.11.1o).


Artinya:

Sesungguhnya Sruti adalah Weda, demikian pula Smrti itu adalah dharma sastra
keduanya harus tidak boleh diragukan dalam hal apapun juga karena keduanya
adalah kitab suci yang menjadi sumber ajaran agama Hindu. (Dharma)


Weda khilo dharma mulam

smrti sile ca tad widam,

acarasca iwa sadhunam

atmanastustireqaca. (M. Dh. II.6).


Artinya:

Seluruh Weda merupakan sumber utama dari pada agama Hindu (Dharma), kemudian
barulah Smerti di samping Sila (kebiasaan- kebiasaan yang baik dari
orang-orang yang menghayati Weda). dan kemudian acara yaitu tradisi dari
orang-orang suci serta akhirnya Atmasturi (rasa puas diri sendiri).


Srutir wedah samakhyato

dharmasastram tu wai smrth,

te sarwatheswam imamsye

tabhyam dharmo winir bhrtah. (S.S.37).


Artinya:

Ketahuilah olehmu Sruti itu adalah Weda (dan) Smerti itu sesungguhnya adalah
dharmasastra; keduanya harus diyakini kebenarannya dan dijadikan jalan serta
dituruti agar sempurnalah dalam dharma itu.


Dari sloka-sloka diatas, maka tegaslah bahwa Sruti dan Smerti merupakan
dasar utama ajaran Hindu yang kebenarannya tidak boleh dibantah. Sruti dan
Smerti merupakan dasar yang harus dipegang teguh, supaya dituruti ajarannya
untuk setiap usaha.

Untuk mempermudah sistem pembahasan materi isi Weda, maka dibawah ini akan
diuraikan tiap-tiap bagian dari Weda itu sebagai berikut:


SRUTI

Sruti adalah kitab wahyu yang diturunkan secara langsung oleh Tuhan (Hyang
Widhi Wasa) melalui para maha Rsi. Sruti adalah Weda yang sebenarnya
(originair) yang diterima melalui pendengaran, yang diturunkan sesuai
periodesasinya dalam empat kelompok atau himpunan. Oleh karena itu Weda
Sruti disebut juga Catur Weda atau Catur Weda Samhita (Samhita artinya
himpunan). Adapun kitab-kitab Catur Weda tersebut adalah:


Rg. Weda atau Rg Weda Samhita.

Adalah wahyu yang paling pertama diturunkan sehingga merupakan Weda yang
tertua. Rg Weda berisikan nyanyian-nyanyian pujaan, terdiri dari 10.552
mantra dan seluruhnya terbagi dalam 10 mandala. Mandala II sampai dengan
VIII, disamping menguraikan tentang wahyu juga menyebutkan Sapta Rsi sebagai
penerima wahyu. Wahyu Rg Weda dikumpulkan atau dihimpun oleh Rsi Pulaha.


Sama Weda Samhita.

Adalah Weda yang merupakan kumpulan mantra dan memuat ajaran mengenai
lagu-lagu pujaan. Sama Weda terdiri dari 1.875 mantra. Wahyu Sama Weda
dihimpun oleh Rsi Jaimini.


Yajur Weda Samhita.

Adalah Weda yang terdiri atas mantra-mantra dan sebagian besar berasal dari
Rg. Weda. Yajur Weda memuat ajaran mengenai pokok-pokok yajus. Keseluruhan
mantranya berjumlah 1.975 mantra. Yajur Weda terdiri atas dua aliran, yaitu
Yayur Weda Putih dan Yayur Weda Hitam. Wahyu Yayur Weda dihimpun oleh Rsi
Waisampayana.


Atharwa Weda Samhita

Adalah kumpulan mantra-mantra yang memuat ajaran yang bersifat magis.
Atharwa Weda terdiri dari 5.987 mantra, yang juga banyak berasal dari Rg.
Weda. Isinya adalah doa-doa untuk kehidupan sehari-hari seperti mohon
kesembuhan dan lain-lain. Wahyu Atharwa Weda dihimpun oleh Rsi Sumantu.


Sebagaimana nama-nama tempat yang disebutkan dalam Rg. Weda maka dapat
diperkirakan bahwa wahyu Rg Weda dikodifikasikan di daerah Punjab. Sedangkan
ketiga Weda yang lain (Sama, Yayur, dan Atharwa Weda), dikodifikasikan di
daerah Doab (daerah dua sungai yakni lembah sungai Gangga dan Yamuna.

Masing-masing bagian Catur Weda memiliki kitab-kitab Brahmana yang isinya
adalah penjelasan tentang bagaimana mempergunakan mantra dalam rangkain
upacara. Disamping kitab Brahmana, Kitab-kitab Catur Weda juga memiliki
Aranyaka dan Upanisad.

Kitab Aranyaka isinya adalah penjelasan-penjelasan terhadap bagian mantra
dan Brahmana. Sedangkan kitab Upanisad mengandung ajaran filsafat, yang
berisikan mengenai bagaimana cara melenyapkan awidya (kebodohan),
menguraikan tentang hubungan Atman dengan Brahman serta mengupas tentang
tabir rahasia alam semesta dengan segala isinya. Kitab-kitab brahmana
digolongkan ke dalam Karma Kandha sedangkan kitab-kitab Upanishad
digolonglan ke dalam Jnana Kanda.


SMERTI

Smerti adalah Weda yang disusun kembali berdasarkan ingatan. Penyusunan ini
didasarkan atas pengelompokan isi materi secara sistematis menurut bidang
profesi. Secara garis besarnya Smerti dapat digolongkan ke dalam dua
kelompok besar, yakni kelompok Wedangga (Sadangga), dan kelompok Upaweda.


Kelompok Wedangga:

Kelompok ini disebut juga Sadangga. Wedangga terdiri dari enam bidang Weda
yaitu:

(1).Siksa (Phonetika)

Isinya memuat petunjuk-petunjuk tentang cara tepat dalam pengucapan mantra
serta rendah tekanan suara.

(2).Wyakarana (Tata Bahasa)

Merupakan suplemen batang tubuh Weda dan dianggap sangat penting serta
menentukan, karena untuk mengerti dan menghayati Weda Sruti, tidak mungkin
tanpa bantuan pengertian dan bahasa yang benar.

(3).Chanda (Lagu)

Adalah cabang Weda yang khusus membahas aspek ikatan bahasa yang disebut
lagu. Sejak dari sejarah penulisan Weda, peranan Chanda sangat penting.
Karena dengan Chanda itu, semua ayat-ayat itu dapat dipelihara turun temurun
seperti nyanyian yang mudah diingat.

(4).Nirukta

Memuat berbagai penafsiran otentik mengenai kata-kata yang terdapat di dalam
Weda.

(5).Jyotisa (Astronomi)

Merupakan pelengkap Weda yang isinya memuat pokok-pokok ajaran astronomi
yang diperlukan untuk pedoman dalam melakukan yadnya, isinya adalah membahas
tata surya, bulan dan badan angkasa lainnya yang dianggap mempunyai pengaruh
di dalam pelaksanaan yadnya.

(6).Kalpa

Merupakan kelompok Wedangga (Sadangga) yang terbesar dan penting. Menurut
jenis isinya, Kalpa terbagi atas beberapa bidang, yaitu bidang Srauta,
bidang Grhya, bidang Dharma, dan bidang Sulwa. Srauta memuat berbagai ajaran
mengenai tata cara melakukan yajna, penebusan dosa dan lain-lain, terutama
yang berhubungan dengan upacara keagamaan. Sedangkan kitab Grhyasutra,
memuat berbagai ajaran mengenai peraturan pelaksanaan yajna yang harus
dilakukan oleh orang-orang yang berumah tangga. Lebih lanjut, bagian
Dharmasutra adalah membahas berbagai aspek tentang peraturan hidup
bermasyarakat dan bernegara. Dan Sulwasutra, adalah memuat
peraturan-peraturan mengenai tata cara membuat tempat peribadatan, misalnya
Pura, Candi dan bangunan-bangunan suci lainnya yang berhubungan dengan ilmu
arsitektur.


Kelompok Upaweda:

Adalah kelompok kedua yang sama pentingnya dengan Wedangga. Kelompok Upaweda
terdiri dari beberapa jenis, yaitu:

(1).Itihasa

Merupakan jenis epos yang terdiri dari dua macam yaitu Ramayana dan
Mahabharata. Kitab Ramayana ditulis oleh Rsi Walmiki. Seluruh isinya
dikelompokkan kedalam tujuh Kanda dan berbentuk syair. Jumlah syairnya
sekitar 24.000 syair. Adapun ketujuh kanda tersebut adalah Ayodhya Kanda,
Bala Kanda, Kiskinda Kanda, Sundara Kanda, Yudha Kanda dan Utara Kanda.
Tiap-tiap Kanda itu merupakan satu kejadian yang menggambarkan ceritra yang
menarik. Di Indonesia cerita Ramayana sangat populer yang digubah ke dalam
bentuk Kekawin dan berbahasa Jawa Kuno. Kekawin ini merupakan kakawin tertua
yang disusun sekitar abad ke-8.

Disamping Ramayana, epos besar lainnya adalah Mahabharata. Kitab ini disusun
oleh maharsi Wyasa. Isinya adalah menceritakan kehidupan keluarga Bharata
dan menggambarkan pecahnya perang saudara diantara bangsa Arya sendiri.
Ditinjau dari arti Itihasa (berasal dari kata "Iti", "ha" dan "asa" artinya
adalah "sesungguhnya kejadian itu begitulah nyatanya") maka Mahabharata itu
gambaran sejarah, yang memuat mengenai kehidupan keagamaan, sosial dan
politik menurut ajaran Hindu. Kitab Mahabharata meliputi 18 Parwa, yaitu
Adiparwa, Sabhaparwa, Wanaparwa, Wirataparwa, Udyogaparwa, Bhismaparwa,
Dronaparwa, Karnaparwa, Salyaparwa, Sauptikaparwa, Santiparwa,
Anusasanaparwa, Aswamedhikaparwa, Asramawasikaparwa, Mausalaparwa,
Mahaprastanikaparwa, dan Swargarohanaparwa.

Diantara parwa-parwa tersebut, terutama di dalam Bhismaparwa terdapatlah
kitab Bhagavad Gita, yang amat masyur isinya adalah wejangan Sri Krsna
kepada Arjuna tentang ajaran filsafat yang amat tinggi.

(2).Purana

Merupakan kumpulan cerita-cerita kuno yang menyangkut penciptaan dunia dan
silsilah para raja yang memerintah di dunia, juga mengenai silsilah
dewa-dewa dan bhatara, cerita mengenai silsilah keturunaan dan perkembangan
dinasti Suryawangsa dan Candrawangsa serta memuat ceitra-ceritra yang
menggambarkan pembuktian-pembuktian hukum yang pernah di jalankan. Selain
itu Kitab Purana juga memuat pokok-pokok pemikiran yang menguraikan tentang
ceritra kejadian alam semesta, doa-doa dan mantra untuk sembahyang, cara
melakukan puasa, tatacara upacara keagamaan dan petunjuk-petunjuk mengenai
cara bertirtayatra atau berziarah ke tempat-tempat suci. Dan yang terpenting
dari kitab-kitab Purana adalah memuat pokok-pokok ajaran mengenai Theisme
(Ketuhanan) yang dianut menurut berbagai madzab Hindu. Adapun kitab-kitab
Purana itu terdiri dari 18 buah, yaitu Purana, Bhawisya Purana, Wamana
Purana, Brahma Purana, Wisnu Purana, Narada Purana, Bhagawata Purana, Garuda
Purana, Padma Purana, Waraha Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Lingga
Purana, Siwa Purana, Skanda Purana dan Agni Purana.

(3).Arthasastra

Adalah jenis ilmu pemerintahan negara. Isinya merupakan pokok-pokok
pemikiran ilmu politik. Sebagai cabang ilmu, jenis ilmu ini disebut
Nitisastra atau Rajadharma atau pula Dandaniti. Ada beberapa buku yang
dikodifikasikan ke dalam jenis ini adalah kitab Usana, Nitisara, Sukraniti
dan Arthasastra. Ada beberapa Acarya terkenal di bidang Nitisastra adalah
Bhagawan Brhaspati, Bhagawan Usana, Bhagawan Parasara dan Rsi Canakya.

(4).Ayur Weda

Adalah kitab yang menyangkut bidang kesehatan jasmani dan rohani dengan
berbagai sistem sifatnya. Ayur Weda adalah filsafat kehidupan, baik etis
maupun medis. Oleh karena demikian, maka luas lingkup ajaran yang
dikodifikasikan di dalam Ayur Weda meliputi bidang yang amat luas dan
merupakan hal-hal yang hidup. Menurut isinya, Ayur Weda meliptui delapan
bidang ilmu, yaitu ilmu bedah, ilmu penyakit, ilmu obat-obatan, ilmu
psikotherapy, ilmu pendiudikan anak-anak (ilmu jiwa anak), ilmu toksikologi,
ilmu mujizat dan ilmu jiwa remaja.

Disamping Ayur Weda, ada pula kitab Caraka Samhita yang ditulis oleh Maharsi
Punarwasu. Kitab inipun memuat delapan bidang ajaran (ilmu), yakni Ilmu
pengobatan, Ilmu mengenai berbagai jens penyakit yang umum, ilmu pathologi,
ilmu anatomi dan embriologi, ilmu diagnosis dan pragnosis, pokok-pokok ilmu
therapy, Kalpasthana dan Siddhistana. Kitab yang sejenis pula dengan
Ayurweda, adalah kitab Yogasara dan Yogasastra. Kitab ini ditulis oleh
Bhagawan Nagaryuna. isinya memuat pokok-pokok ilmu yoga yang dirangkaikan
dengan sistem anatomi yang penting artinya dalam pembinaan kesehatan jasmani
dan rohani.

(5).Gandharwaweda

Adalah kitab yang membahas berbagai aspek cabang ilmu seni. Ada beberapa
buku penting yang termasuk Gandharwaweda ini adalah Natyasastra (yang
meliputi Natyawedagama dan Dewadasasahasri), Rasarnawa, Rasaratnasamuscaya
dan lain-lain.

Dari uraian di atas, maka jelaslah bahwa kelompok Weda Smerti meliptui
banyak buku dan kodifikasinya menurut jenis bidang-bidang tertentu. Ditambah
lagi kitab-kitab agama misalnya Saiwa Agama, Vaisnawa Agama dan Sakta Agama
dan kitab-kitab Darsana yaitu Nyaya, Waisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa dan
Wedanta. Kedua terakhir ini termasuk golongan filsafat yang mengakui
otoritas kitab Weda dan mendasarkan ajarannya pada Upanisad. Dengan uraian
ini kiranya dapat diperkirakan betapa luasnya Weda itu, mencakup seluruh
aspek kehidupan manusia. Di dalam ajaran Weda, yang perlu adalah disiplin
ilmu, karena tiap ilmu akan menunjuk pada satu aspek dengan sumber-sumber
yang pasti pula. Hal inilah yang perlu diperhatikan dan dihayati untuk dapat
mengenal isi Weda secara sempurna.


Tuntunan Dasar Agama Hindu (milik Departemen Agama)

Disusun oleh Drs. Anak Agung Gde Oka Netra

The Cook Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Te Atua Mou E
God is Truth

The Cook Islands are a self-governing parliamentary democracy in free
association with New Zealand. The fifteen small islands in this South
Pacific Ocean country have a total land area of 240 square kilometres (92.7
sq mi), but the Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers 1.8
million square kilometres (0.7 million sq mi) of ocean.

The main population centres are on the island of Rarotonga (14,153 as of
2006), where there is an international airport. There is also a much larger
population of Cook Islanders in New Zealand, particularly the North Island
in the 2006 census, 58,008 self-identified as being of ethnic Cook Island
Māori descent.

With over 90,000 visitors travelling to the islands in 2006, tourism is the
country's number one industry, and the leading element of the economy, far
ahead of offshore banking, pearls, marine and fruit exports.

Defence is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook
Islands and at its request. In recent times, the Cook Islands have adopted
an increasingly independent foreign policy.

Politics of the Cook Islands

The politics of the Cook Islands takes place in a framework of a
parliamentary representative democratic associated state, whereby the Queen
of New Zealand, represented in the Cook Islands by the Queen's
Representative, is Head of State and the Chief Minister is the head of
government. There is a pluriform multi-party system and the islands are
self-governing in free association with New Zealand and fully responsible
for both internal and external affairs. New Zealand no longer has any
responsibility for external affairs. As of 2005, it has diplomatic relations
in its own name with eighteen other countries. Executive power is exercised
by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and
the Parliament of the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands are not United Nations full members but participate in WHO
and UNESCO, and are an associate member of the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Geography

The Cook Islands are in the South Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand,
between French Polynesia and Fiji. There are fifteen major islands, spread
over 2.2 million square kilometres of ocean, divided into two distinct
groups: the Southern Cook Islands, and the Northern Cook Islands of coral
atolls. The islands were formed by volcanic activity; the northern group is
older and consists of six atolls (sunken volcanoes topped by coral growth).
The climate is moderate to tropical.

The 15 islands and two reefs are grouped as follows:

* Southern Cook Islands:

o Nga-pu-Toru ("Three Roots", the group name for the easternmost
islands of Southern Group)
+ Atiu (Enua Manu or Island of Birds)
+ Ma'uke (Akatokamanava)
+ Mitiaro (Nukuroa)

o Remaining islands of the South:
+ Aitutaki (Araura Enua)
+ Mangaia (Auau Enua)
+ Rarotonga (Tumutevarovaro) and also with the capital,
Avarua.
+ Palmerston Island (Pamati) (sometimes grouped with the
Northern Group)
+ Manuae
+ Takutea
+ Winslow Reef (submerged)

* Northern Cook Islands:

o Manihiki (Te Fuinga O niva)
o Nassau ( Te Nuku o Ngalewu )
o Penrhyn Island (Tongareva or Mangarongaro)
o Pukapuka (Te Ulu o te Watu)
o Rakahanga (Tapuahua)
o Suwarrow also called Suvorov
o Tema Reef (submerged)

Administrative subdivisions

There are island councils on all of the inhabited outer islands (Outer
Islands Local Government Act 1987, with amendments up to 2004 and Palmerston
Island Local Government Act 1993) except Nassau, which is governed by
Pukapuka (Suwarrow, with only one caretaker living on the island, also
governed by Pukapuka, is not counted with the inhabited islands in this
context). Each council is headed by a mayor.

The ten Outer Islands councils are

Aitutaki (including uninhabited Manuae)
Mangaia
Atiu (including uninhabited Takutea)
Ma'uke
Mitiaro
Manihiki
Penrhyn
Rakahanga
Pukapuka (including Nassau and Suwarrow)
Palmerston

Districts of Rarotonga.

The three vaka councils of main island Rarotonga established in 1997
(Rarotonga Local Government Act 1997), that were also headed by mayors, were
abolished in February 2008, despite much controversy.

The three Vaka councils on the main island Rarotonga were

Te au o tonga (equivalent to Avarua, the national capital of the Cook
Islands)
Puaikura
Takitumu

On the lowest level, there are village committees. Nassau, which is governed
by Pukapuka, has an island committee (Nassau Island Committee), which
advises the Pukapuka Island Council on matters concerning its own island.

History of the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands were first settled in the 6th century A.D. by Polynesian
people who migrated from nearby Tahiti, to the southeast.

Spanish ships visited the islands in the sixteenth century; the first
written record of contact with the Islands came with the sighting of
Pukapuka by Spanish sailor Álvaro de Mendaña in 1595 who called it San
Bernardo (Saint Bernard). Portuguese-Spaniard Pedro Fernández de Quirós,
made the first recorded European landing in the islands when he set foot on
Rakahanga in 1606, calling it Gente Hermosa (Beautiful People).

British navigator Captain James Cook arrived in 1773 and 1777 and named the
islands the Hervey Islands; the name "Cook Islands", in honour of Cook,
appeared on a Russian naval chart published in the 1820s.

In 1813, John Williams, a missionary on the Endeavour (not the same ship as
that of Cook), made the first official sighting of the island of Rarotonga.

The first recorded landing on Rarotonga by Europeans was in 1814 by the
Cumberland; trouble broke out between the sailors and the Islanders and many
were killed on both sides.

The islands saw no more Europeans until missionaries arrived from England in
1821. Christianity quickly took hold in the culture and many islanders
continue to be Christian believers today.

The Cook Islands became a British protectorate at their own request in 1888,
mainly to thwart French expansionism. They were transferred to New Zealand
in 1901. They remained a New Zealand protectorate until 1965, at which point
they became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand.
In that year, Albert Henry of the Cook Islands Party was elected as the
first Prime Minister. Sir Albert Henry led the country until he was accused
of vote-rigging. He was succeeded in 1978 by Tom Davis of the Democratic
Party.

Today, the Cook Islands are essentially independent ("self-governing in free
association with New Zealand") but New Zealand is tasked with overseeing the
country's defence.

On June 11, 1980, the United States signed a treaty with the Cook Islands
specifying the maritime border between the Cook Islands and American Samoa
and also relinquishing its claim to the islands of Penrhyn, Pukapuka,
Manihiki, and Rakahanga.

Culture

The languages of the Cook Islands include English, Cook Islands Maori, or
Rarotongan," and Pukapukan. Dialects of Cook Islands Maori include Penrhyn;
Rakahanga-Manihiki; the Ngaputoru dialect of Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke; the
Aitutaki dialect; and the Mangaian dialect. Cook Islands Maori and its
dialectic variants are closely related to both Tahitian and to New Zealand
Māori. Pukapukan, by contrast, is considered closely related to the Samoan
language. Both English and Cook Islands Maori are considered official
languages of the Cook Islands.

Art

Carving - Woodcarving is a common art form in the Cook Islands. Sculpture in
stone is much rarer although there are some excellent carvings in basalt by
Mike Tavioni. The proximity of islands in the southern group helped produce
a homogeneous style of carving but which had special developments in each
island. Rarotonga is known for its fisherman's gods and staff-gods, Atiu for
its wooden seats, Mitiaro, Ma'uke and Atiu for mace and slab gods and
Mangaia for its ceremonial adzes. Most of the original wood carvings were
either spirited away by early European collectors or were burned in large
numbers by missionary zealots. Today, carving is no longer the major art
form with the same spiritual and cultural emphasis given to it by the Maori
in New Zealand. However, there are continual efforts to interest young
people in their heritage and some good work is being turned out under the
guidance of older carvers. Atiu, in particular, has a strong tradition of
crafts both in carving and local fibre arts such as tapa. Mangaia is the
source of many fine adzes carved in a distinctive, idiosyncratic style with
the so-called double-k design. Mangaia also produces food pounders carved
from the heavy calcite found in its extensive limestone caves.

Weaving - The outer islands produce traditional weaving of mats, basketware
and hats. Particularly fine examples of rito hats are worn by women to
church on Sundays. They are made from the uncurled immature fibre of the
coconut palm and are of very high quality. The Polynesian equivalent of
Panama hats, they are highly valued and are keenly sought by Polynesian
visitors from Tahiti. Often, they are decorated with hatbands made of
minuscule pupu shells which are painted and stitched on by hand. Although
pupu are found on other islands the collection and use of them in decorative
work has become a speciality of Mangaia. The weaving of rito is a speciality
of the northern island of Penrhyn.

Tivaevae - A major art form in the Cook Islands is tivaevae. This is, in
essence, the art of making of tropical Island scenery handmade patchwork
quilts. Introduced by the wives of missionaries in the 19th century, the
craft grew into a communal activity and is probably one of the main reasons
for its popularity. The Cook Islands make some of the most beautiful
displays of tivaevae the eye can see.

Contemporary Art - The Cook Islands has produced notable and internationally
recognised contemporary artists and the main island of Rarotonga has an
exceptionally vibrant contemporary arts scene. Those born of Cook Islander
heritage include painter (and photographer) Mahiriki Tangaroa, sculptors
Eruera (Ted) Nia (originally a film maker) and master carver Mike Tavioni,
painter (and Polynesian tattoo enthusiast) Upoko'ina Ian George,
Aitutakian-born painter Tim Manavaroa Buchanan, Loretta Reynolds, and
multi-media, installation and community-project artist Ani O'Neil, all of
whom currently live on the main island of Rarotonga. New Zealand-based Cook
Islander artists include Michel Tuffrey, print-maker David Teata, Richard
Shortland Cooper, and Jim Vivieaere, who has mentored many of his
compatriots and is a well-known curator and installation artist. Most of
these artists have studied at university art schools in New Zealand and
continue to enjoy close links with the New Zealand art scene. However, Apii
Rongo, a comparably younger painter, is developing his career entirely on
Rarotonga.

Artists of non-Cook Islander heritage currently working in Rarotonga include
Judith Kunzel, Joan Rolls Gragg and Kay George, who is also known for her
exquisite fabric designs.

On Rarotonga, the main commercial galleries are Beachcomber Contemporary Art
(Taputapuatea, Avarua) run by Ben Bergman, and The Art Gallery ('Arorangi),
run by Kay and Ian George. The Cook Islands National Museum also exhibits
art.

Biology

The National Flower of the Cook Islands is the Tiare māori or Tiale māoli (Penrhyn, Nassau, Pukapuka). The Cook Islands are infested with Polynesian rats. The infestation has devastated the bird population on the islands.

Treaty of Rarotonga

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Treaty of Rarotonga is the common name for the South Pacific Nuclear
Free Zone Treaty, which formalizes a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the South
Pacific. The treaty bans the use, testing, and possession of nuclear weapons
within the borders of the zone.

It was signed by the South Pacific nations of Australia, the Cook Islands,
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Western Samoa on the island of Rarotonga
(where the capital of the Cook Islands is located) on August 6, 1985, and
has since been ratified by all of those states.

The Federal States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, and Palau are not
eligible, since they are part of the so-called Compact of Free Association
which provides access to nuclear submarines of the United States of America.

Protocols binding other states

There are three protocols to the treaty, which have been signed by the five
declared nuclear states, with the exception of Protocol 1 for China and
Russia who have no territory in the Zone.

1. no manufacture, stationing or testing in their territories within the
Zone
2. no use against the Parties to the Treaty, or against territories where
Protocol 1 is in force
3. no testing within the Zone

In 1996 France and the United Kingdom signed and ratified the three
protocols. The USA signed them the same year but never ratified them. China
signed and ratified protocols 2 and 3 in 1987.

The treaty's different provisions apply variously to the Zone, to the
territories within the Zone, or globally.

"South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone" means the area :

* south of the Equator
* north of the 60th parallel south (the northern limit of the Antarctic
Treaty zone)
* east of the 115th meridian east
* west of the 115th meridian west (the western limit of the Treaty of
Tlatelolco Latin American Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone)

plus three projections north of the Equator to include the territory and
territorial waters of Papua New Guinea, Nauru, and Kiribati, but minus the
northwest corner beyond Australian territorial waters and near Indonesia
(and the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone).

Several islands in the Indian Ocean also belong to Australia and are
therefore part of the zone.

"Territory" means internal waters, territorial sea and archipelagic waters,
the seabed and subsoil beneath, the land territory and the airspace above
them. It does not include international waters. Article 2 says "Nothing in
this Treaty shall prejudice or in any way affect the rights, or the exercise
of the rights, of any State under international law with regard to freedom
of the seas."

The Treaty is an agreement between nation-states and as such of course
cannot apply to those who have not signed the treaty or protocols, for
example the four countries not signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty,
who are all nuclear powers.

List of states and territories

* The only territory north of the Equator that is part of the Zone is in
Kiribati, the only state straddling the Equator.
* Micronesia is outside the Zone except for Kiribati.
* Melanesia is inside the Zone except for Indonesia which is in the
Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone.
* Polynesia is inside the Zone except for Easter Island which is in the
Latin American Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, the Polynesian outliers of
Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro in Micronesia, Hawaii, and several uninhabited US
Minor Outlying Islands.

Avatiu, Rarotonga

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Kingdom of Rarotonga, (Cook Islands Maori: Mātāmuatanga Rarotonga) named
after the island of Rarotonga, was an independent kingdom established in the
present-day Cook Islands in 1858. In 1888 it became a protectorate of the
United Kingdom by its own request, and in 1893 the name was changed to the
Cook Islands Federation.

Rarotonga is the most populous island in a group of islands known as the
Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 (census 2006).

Cook Islands' Parliament buildings, as well as the international airport,
are located on Rarotonga. Because it is the most populous island, Cook
Islanders may be referred to as Rarotongan, but they may in fact come from
one of the other 15 islands in the group, such as Aitutaki or Mangaia.
Rarotonga is also a very popular tourist destination with many resorts,
hotels and motels. The chief town, Avarua, on the north coast, is also the
capital of the Cook Islands.

Geography

The island of Rarotonga stands over 14,750 feet (4,500 meters) above the
ocean floor. The island is 20 miles (32 km) in circumference and has an area
of 26 square miles (67.19 km²). At a depth of 13,000 ft (4,000 m), the
volcano is nearly 31 miles (50 km) in diameter. Te Manga, at 2,140 ft (658
m) above sea level, is the highest peak on the island.

The island is surrounded by a lagoon, which often extends more than a
hundred yards (meters) to the reef, then sloping steeply to deep water. The
reef fronts the shore to the north of the island, making the lagoon there
unsuitable for swimming and water sports, but to the south east,
particularly around Muri, the lagoon is at its widest and deepest. This part
of the island is the most popular with tourists for swimming, snorkelling
and boating. Agricultural terraces, flats, and swamps surround the central
mountain area.

Along the southeast coast, off Muri Beach are four small coral islets within
a few hundred meters of the shore, within the fringing coral reef, listed
from north to south with their areas in hectares:

1. Mo tutapu 11.0
2. Oneroa 10.6
3. Koromiri 3.0
4. Taakoka 1.7

The interior of the island is dominated by eroded volcanic peaks cloaked in
dense vegetation. Paved and unpaved roads allow access to valleys but the
interior of the island remains largely unpopulated due to forbidding terrain
and lack of infrastructure.

A large tract of land has been set aside in the south east as the Takitumu
Conservation Area to protect the islands' native birds and plants,
especially the endangered Kakerori, the Rarotonga Flycatcher.

Science

On May 30, 1965, five sounding rockets were launched from Rarotonga for
studying a solar eclipse.

Subdivisions

Rarotonga is divided into five districts. Avarua constitutes the large north
district.

Places of interest

Palm-studded white sandy beaches fringe most of the island, and there is a
popular cross-island walk that connects Avatiu valley with the south side of
the island. This walk passes Te Rua Manga, the prominent needle-shaped rock
visible from the air and some coastal areas. Hikes can also be taken to
Raemaru, or flat-top mountain. Other stops should include Wigmore Falls and
the ancient marae, Arai te Tonga.

Popular island activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, bike riding,
horse back riding, hiking, deep-sea fishing, boat tours, scenic flights,
restaurants, dancing, island shows, squash, tennis, zipping around on mopeds
and sleeping on the beach. There are also many churches open for service on
Sunday, and the beautiful a capella singing alone makes them a must. The
pace of life is so relaxed at night people congregate at the sea wall which
skirts the end of the runway and watch the jets land.

Transport

There are three harbours, Avatiu, Avarua and Avana of which only Avatiu
harbour is of any commercial significance. Avatiu harbour serves a small
fleet of inter-islands and fishing vessels and cargo ships regularly call
from New Zealand. Large cruise ships have to anchor off shore.

Rarotonga is encircled by a main "ring" road that traces the coast. In
places there is also a secondary ring road slightly further inland. Due to
the mountainous interior, there is no road crossing the island. Rarotonga
only has two bus routes: Clockwise & Anti-Clockwise. Although they have bus
stops, the bus drivers drive around picking up anyone they see and dropping
them off when the passengers want them to.

Rarotonga International Airport is the main hub of inter-island
transportation with daily flights to Aitutaki, regular flights to Atiu,
Mangaia, Mauke and Mitiaro and occasional flights to the remote Northern
Atolls of Manihiki, Tongareva (Penrhyn) and Pukapuka all operated by the
local Airline Air Rarotonga.

Uturoa, Raiatea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiatea

Somewhat smaller than Tahiti, Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. The proper spelling of the name, rarely used though, in the Tahitian language is Ra'iatea, meaning bright sky; Ulieta is an obsolete transcription commonly used in the 19th century. The chief town on Raiatea is Uturoa, administrative center for the Leeward Islands (French Îles Sous-le-vent). The islands of Raiatea and Tahaa are both enclosed by the same coral reef, and may once have been a single island. Raiatea is both the largest and most populated island in the Leeward Islands, with a land area of 167.7 km² (64.7 sq. miles) and a total population of 12,024 inhabitants at the August 2007 census. The population density is 72 inhabitants per km². Ra'iatea is widely regarded as the 'center' of Polynesia and it is likely that the organised migrations to Hawaii, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and other parts of East Polynesia started at Ra'iatea. A traditional name for the island is Havai'i fanau fenua (Hawai'i bearer of land).

Vaitape, Bora Bora

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French
Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The
island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is
surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are
the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and
Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385 ft). The original name
of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora
meaning "First Born"; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th
century accounts, is Bolabolla (or "Bollabolla").

The major settlement, Vaitape is on the western side of the island, opposite
the main channel into the lagoon. The products of the island are mostly
limited to what can be obtained from the sea and coconut trees, which were
historically of economic importance for copra. During the August 2007 census
the population on the island was about 8,880 people.

Administration

The island is administratively part of the commune (municipality) of
Bora-Bora, itself in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands.
The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with
its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef (29.3 km²/11.3 sq. miles
in total) and of the atoll of Tupai (11 km2/4.2 sq mi), located 20
kilometres (12 mi) north of Bora Bora. The atoll of Tupai has no permanent
population apart from about 50 workers in the coconut plantations. Former
President of French Polynesia Gaston Tong Sang is the current mayor of Bora
Bora.

History

The Island was first inhabited by Polynesian settlers around the 4th century
Its previous Polynesian name was Vava'u. The first European sighting was
made by Jakob Roggeveen in 1722. James Cook sighted the island in 1769 and
landed in 1777. A London Missionary Society arrived in 1820 and founded a
Protestant church in 1822. In 1842 Bora Bora was made a protectorate of
France following the actions of Admiral Abel Aubert Dupetit Thouars.

World War II

Following the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, the United
States entered World War II. The US chose Bora Bora as a South Pacific
military supply base, and an oil depot, airstrip, seaplane base, and
defensive fortifications were constructed. Known as "Operation Bobcat", it
maintained a supply force of nine ships, 20,000 tons of equipment and nearly
5,000 men. Seven massive naval cannons were set up at strategic points
around the island to protect it against potential military attack.

However, the island saw no combat as the American presence on Bora Bora went
uncontested over the course of the war. Although the base was officially
closed on June 2, 1946, many American personnel loved the island and the
people so much that they refused to leave. The World War II airstrip, which
was never able to accommodate large aircraft, was French Polynesia's only
international airport until Faa'a International Airport was opened in
Papeete, Tahiti in 1962.

Commune of Bora Bora

The commune of Bora-Bora is made up of the island of Bora Bora proper with
its surrounding islets emerging from the coral reef (29.3 km²/11.3 sq. miles
in total) and of the atoll of Tupai (11 km2/4.2 sq mi), located 20
kilometres (12 mi) north of Bora Bora. The atoll of Tupai has no permanent
population apart from some workers in the coconut plantations.

The commune is in the administrative subdivision of the Leeward Islands.

The administrative centre of the commune is the settlement of Vaitape, on
the island of Bora Bora.

Administration

Country France
Overseas community French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision Leeward Islands
Commune centre Vaitape
Mayor Gaston Tong Sang
Statistics
Elevation 0–727 m (0–2,400 ft)
Land area 40.3 km2 (15.6 sq mi)
Population1 8,927 (August 2007 census)
Density 222 /km² (570 /sq mi)

www.wikipedia.com

The Society Islands, French Polynesia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Society Islands Native name: Îles de la Société
The Society Islands (French: Îles de la Société or officially Archipel de la
Société) are a group of islands in the south Pacific Ocean. They are
politically part of French Polynesia. The archipelago is generally believed
to have been named by Captain James Cook in honor of the Royal Society, the
sponsor of the first British scientific survey of the islands; however, Cook
states in his journal that he called the islands Society "as they lay
contiguous to one another".
The islands are divided, both geographically and administratively into two
groups:
* Windward Islands (Îles du Vent) (listed from east to west)
o Mehetia
o Tahiti
o Moorea
o Maiao
o Tetiaroa

* Leeward Islands (Îles Sous-le-Vent)
o Huahine
o Bora Bora
o Raiatea
o Tahaa
o Maupiti
o Tupai
o Mopelia
o Scilly
o Motu One (Bellinghausen)

The islands became a French protectorate in 1843 and a colony in 1880. They
have a population of 227,807 inhabitants (as of August 2007 census). They
cover a land area of 1,590 square kilometres (610 sq miles)
Location : Pacific Ocean
Coordinates: 17°32′S 149°50′W / 17.533°S 149.833°W / -17.533; -149.833
Archipelago : Society Islands
Major islands : Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Huahine
Area : 1590 km2
Highest point : Mont Orohena (2241 meters)
Country : France
Overseas collectivity : French Polynesia
Largest city : Papeete (pop. 131,695 urban)
Population : 227,807 (as of Aug. 2007 census)
Density : 143 /km2 (370 /sq mi)

Cook's Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Moorea-Maiao is a commune of French Polynesia, an overseas territory of
France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune is in the administrative
subdivision of the Windward Islands. Moorea Rolfe is a synonym of the orchid
genus Neomoorea.
Geography
Location : Pacific Ocean
Coordinates : 17°32′S 149°50′W / 17.533°S 149.833°W / -17.533; -149.833
Archipelago : Society Islands
Area : 134 km²
Highest point : Mont Tohivea (1207 m)
Country : France
Overseas collectivity : French Polynesia
Administrative subdivision : Windward Islands
Commune : Moorea-Maiao
Largest city : Paopao-Maharepa (4,244 inhabitant
Demographics
Population : 16,191[1] (as of Aug. 2007 census)
Density : 121 /km2 (310 /sq mi)
Moorea is a high island in French Polynesia, part of the Society Islands, 17
km (roughly 9mi) northwest of Tahiti. Its position is 17°32′S 149°50′W /
17.533°S 149.833°W / -17.533; -149.833. Moorea means "yellow lizard" in
Tahitian. An older name for the island is Aimeho, sometimes spelled Aimeo or
Eimeo (among other spellings misunderstood by early visitors with no
knowledge of the language). Early Western colonists and voyagers also
referred to Moorea as York Island.
The commune of Moorea-Maiao is made up of the island of Moorea (133 km²/51
sq. miles; 16,191 inhabitants at the 2007 census) and the much smaller atoll
of Maiao (8.8 km²/3.4 sq. miles; 299 inhabitants at the 2007 census),
located 78 km (48.5 miles) southwest of Moorea. The administrative centre of
the commune is the settlement of Afareaitu, on the island of Moorea.
Physical description
From above, the shape of the island vaguely resembles a heart, with its two
nearly symmetrical bays opening to the north side of the island: Cook's (or
Paopao) Bay and Opunohu Bay. The island was formed as a volcano 1.5 to 2.5
million years ago, the result of a geologic hotspot in the mantle under the
oceanic plate that formed the whole of the Society Archipelago. It is
theorized that the current bays were formerly river basins that filled
during the Holocene searise.
History
Charles Darwin was inspired for his theory regarding the formation of coral atolls when looking down upon Moorea standing on a peak on Tahiti. He described it as a "picture in a frame," referring to the barrier reef encircling the island. Don the Beachcomber lived here for some time until his houseboat was destroyed by tropical cyclones. The island was among those visited by the United States Exploring Expedition on its tour of the South Pacific in 1839.

French Polynesia

French Polynesia (French: Polynésie française, Tahitian: Pōrīnetia Farāni)
is a French overseas collectivity in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is made
up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being
Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island
and the seat of the capital of the territory (Papeete). Although not an
integral part of its territory, Clipperton Island was administered from
French Polynesia until 2007.

History

The island groups that make up French Polynesia were not officially united
until the establishment of the French protectorate in 1889. The first of
these islands to be settled by indigenous Polynesians were the Marquesas
Islands in AD 300 and the Society Islands in AD 800. The Polynesians were
organized in loose chieftainships.

European communication began in 1521 when the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand
Magellan sighted Pukapuka in the Tuamotu Archipelago. Dutchman Jakob
Roggeveen came across Bora Bora in the Society Islands in 1722, and the
British explorer Samuel Wallis visited Tahiti in 1767. The French explorer
Louis Antoine de Bougainville visited Tahiti in 1768, while the British
explorer James Cook visited in 1769. Christian missions began with Spanish
priests who stayed in Tahiti for a year from 1774; Protestants from the
London Missionary Society settled permanently in Polynesia in 1797.

King Pomare II of Tahiti was forced to flee to Moorea in 1803; he and his
subjects were converted to Protestantism in 1812. French Catholic
missionaries arrived on Tahiti in 1834; their expulsion in 1836 caused
France to send a gunboat in 1838. In 1842, Tahiti and Tahuata were declared
a French protectorate, to allow Catholic missionaries to work undisturbed.
The capital of Papeete was founded in 1843. In 1880, France annexed Tahiti,
changing the status from that of a protectorate to that of a colony.

In the 1880s, France claimed the Tuamotu Archipelago, which formerly
belonged to the Pomare dynasty, without formally annexing it. Having
declared a protectorate over Tahuatu in 1842, the French regarded the entire
Marquesas Islands as French. In 1885, France appointed a governor and
established a general council, thus giving it the proper administration for
a colony. The islands of Rimatara and Rurutu unsuccessfully lobbied for
British protection in 1888, so in 1889 they were annexed by France. Postage
stamps were first issued in the colony in 1892. The first official name for
the colony was Établissements de l'Océanie (Settlements in Oceania); in 1903
the general council was changed to an advisory council and the colony's name
was changed to Établissements Français de l'Océanie (French Settlements in
Oceania).

In 1940 the administration of French Polynesia recognised the Free French
Forces and many Polynesians served in World War II. Unknown at the time to
French and Polynesians, the Konoe Cabinet in Imperial Japan on September 16,
1940 included French Polynesia among the many territories which were to
become Japanese possessions in the post-war world – though in the course of
the war in the Pacific the Japanese were not able to launch an actual
invasion of the French islands.

In 1946, Polynesians were granted French citizenship and the islands' status
was changed to an overseas territory; the islands' name was changed in 1957
to Polynésie Française (French Polynesia). In 1962, France's early nuclear
testing ground of Algeria became independent and the Mururoa Atoll in the
Tuamotu Archipelago was selected as the new testing site; tests were
conducted underground after 1974. In 1977, French Polynesia was granted
partial internal autonomy; in 1984, the autonomy was extended. French
Polynesia became a full overseas collectivity of France in 2004.

In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear
testing at Fangataufa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The last test was
on January 27, 1996. On January 29, 1996, France announced it would accede
to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and no longer tests nuclear weapons.

Politics of French Polynesia

Politics of French Polynesia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary
representative democratic French overseas collectivity, whereby the
President of French Polynesia is the head of government, and of a
multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government.
Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of
French Polynesia (the territorial assembly).

Political life in French Polynesia has been marked by great instability
since the mid-2000s. On September 14, 2007, the pro-independence leader
Oscar Temaru, 63, was elected president of French Polynesia for the 3rd time
in 3 years (with 27 of 44 votes cast in the territorial assembly). He
replaced former President Gaston Tong Sang, opposed to independence, who
lost a no-confidence vote in the Assembly of French Polynesia on 31 August
after the longtime former president of French Polynesia, Gaston Flosse,
hitherto opposed to independence, sided with his long enemy Oscar Temaru to
topple the government of Gaston Tong Sang. Oscar Temaru, however, had no
stable majority in the Assembly of French Polynesia, and new territorial
elections were held in February 2008 to solve the political crisis.

The party of Gaston Tong Sang won the territorial elections, but that did
not solve the political crisis: the two minority parties of Oscar Temaru and
Gaston Flosse, who together have one more member in the territorial assembly
than the political party of Gaston Tong Sang, allied to prevent Gaston Tong
Sang from becoming president of French Polynesia. Gaston Flosse was then
elected president of French Polynesia by the territorial assembly on
February 23, 2008 with the support of the pro-independence party led by
Oscar Temaru, while Oscar Temaru was elected speaker of the territorial
assembly with the support of the anti-independence party led by Gaston
Flosse. Both formed a coalition cabinet. Many observers doubted that the
alliance between the anti-independence Gaston Flosse and the
pro-independence Oscar Temaru, designed to prevent Gaston Tong Sang from
becoming president of French Polynesia, could last very long.

At the French municipal elections held in March 2008, several prominent
mayors who are member of the Flosse-Temaru coalition lost their offices in
key municipalities of French Polynesia, which was interpreted as a
disapproval of the way Gaston Tong Sang, whose party French Polynesian
voters had placed first in the territorial elections the month before, had
been prevented from becoming president of French Polynesia by the last
minute alliance between Flosse and Temaru's parties. Eventually, on April 15
2008 the government of Gaston Flosse was toppled by a constructive vote of
no confidence in the territorial assembly when two members of the
Flosse-Temaru coalition left the coalition and sided with Tong Sang's party.
Gaston Tong Sang was elected president of French Polynesia as a result of
this constructive vote of no confidence, but his majority in the territorial
assembly is very narrow. He offered posts in his cabinet to Flosse and
Temaru's parties which they both refused. Gaston Tong Sang has called all
parties to help end the instability in local politics, a prerequisite to
attract foreign investors needed to develop the local economy.
High Commission of the Republic

Despite a local assembly and government, French Polynesia is not in a free
association with France, like the Cook Islands with New Zealand or the
Federated States of Micronesia with the United States. As a French overseas
collectivity, the local government has no competence in justice, education,
security and defense, directly provided and administered by the French State
the Gendarmerie and the French Military. The highest representative of the
State in the territory is the High Commissioner of the Republic in French
Polynesia (French: Haut commissaire de la République).

French Polynesia also sends two deputies to the French National Assembly,
one representing the Leeward Islands administrative subdivision, the Austral
Islands administrative subdivision, the commune (municipality) of
Moorea-Maiao, and the westernmost part of Tahiti (including the capital
Papeete), and the other representing the central and eastern part of Tahiti,
the Tuamotu-Gambier administrative division, and the Marquesas Islands
administrative division. French Polynesia also sends one senator to the
French Senate.

French Polynesians vote in the French presidential elections and at the 2007
French presidential election, in which the pro-independence leader Oscar
Temaru openly called to vote for the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal
while the parties opposed to independence generally supported the
center-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, the turnout in French Polynesia was
69.12% in the first round of the election and 74.67% in the second round.
French Polynesians voters placed Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of Ségolène Royal in
both rounds of the election (2nd round: Nicolas Sarkozy 51.9%; Ségolène
Royal 48.1%).

Administration

Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas
territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). In 2003 it became an
overseas collectivity (French: collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Its
statutory law of 27 February 2004 gives it the particular designation of
overseas country inside the Republic (French: pays d'outre-mer au sein de la
République, or POM), but without legal modification of its status.

Administrative divisions

French Polynesia has five administrative subdivisions (French: subdivisions
administratives):

* Windward Islands (French: (les) Îles du Vent or officially la
subdivision administrative des Îles du Vent) (the two subdivisions
administratives Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society
Islands)
* Leeward Islands (French: (les) Îles Sous-le-Vent or officially la
subdivision administrative des Îles Sous-le-Vent) (the two subdivisions
administratives Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society
Islands)
* Marquesas Islands (French: (les) (Îles) Marquises or officially la
subdivision administrative des (Îles) Marquises)
* Austral Islands (French: (les) (Îles) Australes or officially la
subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes) (including the Bass
Islands)
* Tuamotu-Gambier (French: (les) (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier or officially la
subdivision administrative des (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier) (the Tuamotus and the
Gambier Islands)

Geography of French Polynesia

The islands of French Polynesia have a total land area of 4,167 square
kilometres (1,622 sq. mi) scattered over 2,500,000 square kilometres (965
255 sq. mi) of ocean. There are around 130 islands in French Polynesia.

It is made up of six groups of islands, the largest and most populated of
which is Tahiti.

The island groups are:

* Austral Islands
* Bass Islands often considered part of the Austral Islands
* Gambier Islands often considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago
* Marquesas Islands
* Society Islands (including Tahiti)
* Tuamotu Archipelago

Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups
in French Polynesia are: Ahe, Bora Bora, Hiva `Oa, Huahine, Maiao, Maupiti,
Mehetia, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tetiaroa, Tubuai, and Tupai.

Economy of French Polynesia

The GDP of French Polynesia in 2006 was 5.65 billion US dollars at market
exchange rates, the fifth-largest economy in Oceania after Australia, New
Zealand, Hawaii, and New Caledonia. The GDP per capita was 21,999 US dollars
in 2006 (at market exchange rates, not at PPP), lower than in Hawaii,
Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, but higher than in all the
independent insular states of Oceania.

French Polynesia has a moderately developed economy, which is dependent on
imported goods, tourism, and the financial assistance of mainland France.
Tourist facilities are well developed and are available on the major islands
Also, as the noni fruit from these islands is discovered for its medicinal
uses, people have been able to find jobs related to this agricultural
industry.

The legal tender of French Polynesia is the CFP Franc.

Agriculture: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits.

Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt.

In 2008 French Polynesia's imports amounted to 2.2 billion US dollars and
exports amounted to 0.2 billion US dollars. The major export of French
Polynesia is their famous black Tahitian pearls which accounted for 55% of
exports (in value) in 2008.

Languages

French is the official language of French Polynesia. An organic law of April
12, 1996 states that "French is the official language, Tahitian and other
Polynesian languages can be used." At the 2007 census, among the population
whose age was 15 and older, 68.5% of people reported that the language they
speak the most at home is French, 29.9% reported that the language they
speak the most at home is any of the Polynesian languages (four-fifth of
which Tahitian), 1.0% reported a Chinese language (half of which Hakka), and
0.6% another language. At the same census, 94.7% of people whose age was 15
or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas only
2.0% reported that they had no knowledge of French. 74.6% of people whose
age was 15 or older reported that they could speak, read and write one of
the Polynesian languages, whereas 13.6% reported that they had no knowledge
of any of the Polynesian languages.

Religion

Christianity is the main religion of the islands, a majority (54%) belonging
to various Protestant churches and a large minority (30%) being Roman
Catholic.

Miscellaneous

French Polynesia has one of the lowest crime rates within France and its
territories. However, petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching
occurs.

Medical treatment is generally good on the major islands, but is limited in
areas that are more remote or less/sparsely populated. Patients with
emergencies or with serious illnesses are often referred to facilities on
Tahiti for treatment. In Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, two major hospitals
as well as several private clinics provide 24-hour medical service. Serious
medical problems requiring hospitalization or medical evacuation can cost
thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash
payment for health services.

As an overseas territory of France, defence and law-enforcement are provided
by the French Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force) and Gendarmerie.

Charles Darwin visited French Polynesia on his five year trip around the
world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Polynesia

Papeete, Tahiti

Papeete ("water from a basket", see footnote for variant spelling)
(pronounced [papeʔete]) is the capital of French Polynesia, an overseas
territory of France in the Pacific Ocean. The commune (municipality) of
Papeete is located on the island of Tahiti, in the administrative
subdivision of the Windward Islands, of which Papeete is the administrative
capital. The French High Commissioner also resides in Papeete. It is the
primary center of Tahitian and French Polynesian public and private
governmental, commercial, industrial and financial services, the hub of
French Polynesian tourism and a commonly used Port of call. The Windward
Islands are themselves part of the Society Islands.

The urban area of Papeete had a total population of 131,695 inhabitants at
the August 2007 census, 26,017 of whom lived in the commune of Papeete
proper.

History

The area that now constitutes Papeete was first settled by the British
missionary William Crook of the London Missionary Society in 1818.[1] Queen
Pōmare IV moved her court to Papeete and made it her capital in the late
1820s, and the town grew into a major regional shipping and transportation
center. Papeete was retained as Tahiti's capital after France took control
of the Tahitian Islands and made them a protectorate in 1842. Herman
Melville was imprisoned in Papeete in 1842; his experiences there became the
basis for the novel Omoo. Paul Gauguin journeyed to and toured Papeete in
1891 and, except for a two-year period in 1893–1895, never returned to
France. Robert Louis Stevenson also spent time in Papeete in 1888. Half of
Papeete was destroyed by a major fire in 1884, which then prohibited the use
of native building materials. A major cyclone caused extensive damage to the
city in 1906, and a French naval vessel was sunk in the harbor in October
1914 by two German men-of war, which then bombarded Papeete.

The growth of the city was boosted by the decision to move the nuclear
weapon test range from Algeria to the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa, some
1,500 km (930 mi) at the east of Tahiti; this originated in particular in
the construction of the Faa'a airport next to Pape'ete, the only
international airport in French Polynesia. In 1983, The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints built the Papeete Tahiti Temple here because of
the large number of members in the region. On September 5, 1995 the
government of Jacques Chirac conducted the first of the last series of
nuclear test detonations off the shores of Moruroa. A resulting riot in
Papeete lasted for two days and damaged the international airport, injured
40 people, and scared away tourism for some time. (Similar rioting occurred
after another French nuclear test in the same area in 1987).

Demographics

The urban area of Papeete had a total population of 131,695 inhabitants at
the August 2007 census, 26,017 of whom lived in the commune of Papeete
proper. The urban area of Papeete is made up of 7 communes:

* Faaa (which became in 1988 the most populous commune in the urban
area)
* Papeete (historically the most populous commune in the urban area, and
still the administrative capital)
* Punaauia
* Pirae
* Mahina
* Paea
* Arue

Construction has boomed since the 1960s due to an influx of 35,000
immigrants (20,000 from France and 15,000 from French Polynesia's outer
islands) in response to an improved infrastructure and France's nuclear
testing program.

Arrival and departure

Traveling tourists arrive and depart Papeete via cruise ship at Papeete
Harbor or domestic airline at Faa'a International Airport, which was
completed and opened in 1962.

Transportation

Primary roads consist of the 3-lane "Boulevard Pomare" along the city's
harbor front which extends into a 4-lane highway.

www.wikipedia.com/papeete

Taiohae, Nuku Hiva

The Marquesas Islands (French: Îles Marquises or Archipel des Marquises or
Marquises; Marquesan: Te Henua (K)enana (North Marquesan) and Te Fenua
`Enata (South Marquesan), both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of
volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in
the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W.
The highest point is the peak of Mount Oave (French: Mont Oave) on Ua Pu
island at 1,230 m (4,035 ft) above sea level.

The Marquesas Islands form one of the five administrative divisions
(subdivisions administratives) of French Polynesia. The capital of the
Marquesas Islands administrative subdivision is the settlement of Taiohae on
the island of Nuku Hiva. The population of the Marquesas Islands was 8,632
at the August 2007 census.

History

The first recorded settlers of the Marquesas were Polynesians, who, from
archæological evidence, are believed to have arrived before 100 AD.
Ethnological and linguistic evidence suggests that they likely arrived from
the region of Tonga and Samoa.

The islands were given their name by the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña
de Neira who reached them on 21 July 1595. He named them after his patron,
García Hurtado de Mendoza, Marquis of Cañete, who was Viceroy of Peru at the
time. Mendaña visited first Fatu Hiva and then Tahuata before continuing on
to the Solomon Islands.

The American navigator Capt. Joseph Ingraham first visited the northern
Marquesas while commanding the brig Hope in 1791, giving them the name
Washington Islands. In 1813, Commodore David Porter claimed Nuku Hiva for
the United States, but the United States Congress never ratified that claim,
and in 1842, France, following a successful military operation on behalf of
a native chief (named Iotete) who claimed to be king of the whole of the
island of Tahuata, took possession of the whole group, establishing a
settlement (abandoned in 1859) on Nuku Hiva. French control over the group
was reestablished in 1870, and later incorporated into the territory of
French Polynesia.

Of all the major island groups of the Pacific, the Marquesas Islands
suffered the greatest population decline as a result of diseases brought by
Western explorers, reducing the estimated sixteenth century population of
over 100,000 inhabitants[citation needed], to about 20,000 by the middle of
the nineteenth century, and to just over 2,000 by the beginning of the 1900s
During the course of the twentieth century, the population increased to 8
712 at the November 2002 census, not including the Marquesan community
residing on Tahiti, but it decreased slightly to 8,632 at the August 2007
census.

The sparsely populated Marquesas Islands, located 1,371 km (852 miles) from
Tahiti, the most populated island and dominant political center of French
Polynesia, often feel neglected by politicians in Tahiti, and some favor a
direct link with Paris instead of depending on Papeete. Several prominent
Marquesan political leaders have repeatedly declared themselves in favor of
separating from French Polynesia and remaining within the French Republic in
case French Polynesian political leaders in Tahiti would proclaim the
independence of French Polynesia. This has generated controversies in Tahiti
where pro-independence Tahitian leaders have accused the French central
government of encouraging the separation of the Marquesas Islands from
French Polynesia.

Geography

The Marquesas Islands group is the second most remote and farthest from any
continent in the world (next to the Hawaiian Islands, which are 3000 km (or
1860 miles) from a continent), lying between 900 and 1,200 km (550 and 725
miles) south of the equator and 1,371 km (852 miles) northeast of Tahiti.
They fall naturally into two geographical divisions: the northern group,
consisting of Eïao, Hatutu (Hatutaa), Motu One, and the islands centered
around the large island of Nuku Hiva: Motu Iti (Hatu Iti), Ua Pu, Motu `Oa
and Ua Huka, and the southern group of Fatu Uku, Tahuata, Moho Tani (Motane)
Terihi, Fatu Hiva and Motu Nao (Thomasset Rock), clustered around the main
island of Hiva `Oa. With a combined land area of 1,049 km² (405 sq. miles),
the Marquesas are among the largest island groups of French Polynesia, Nuku
Hiva being the second largest island in the entire territory, after Tahiti.
With the exception of Motu One, all the islands of the Marquesas are of
volcanic origin.

In contrast to the common perception of lush tropical vegetation that goes
culturally hand-in-hand with the appellation "Polynesia", the Marquesas are
remarkably dry islands. Although the islands lie within the tropics, they
are the first major break in the prevailing easterly winds spawned from the
extraordinarily dry (from an atmospheric perspective) Humboldt Current.
Because of this, the islands are subject to frequent drought conditions, and
only those which reach highest into the clouds (generally, above about 750
m/2,500 ft above sea level) have reliable precipitation. This has led to
historical fluctuations in water supply, which have played a crucial rôle in
the sustainability of human populations in certain sections of the various
islands throughout the archipelago. This is especially evident in the low
historical population of Ua Huka (maximum elevation 857 m/2,812 ft.) and the
intermittent inhabitability of Eiao (maximum elevation 576 m/1,890 ft.). The
Marquesas Islands are thought to have formed by a center of upwelling magma
called the Marquesas hotspot.

Geology

With the exception of Motu One, all of the Marquesas Islands are high
islands. Motu One is a low island, comprising two small sand banks awash on
a coral reef. Unlike the majority of the islands of French Polynesia, the
Marquesas are not surrounded by protective fringing reefs. Except for at
Motu One, and in bays and other protected areas, the only other coral in the
Marquesas is found in a rather strange place: on the top of the island of
Fatu Huku. The South Equatorial Current lashes the islands mercilessly,
which has led to sea-caves dotting the islands' shores. Except for where the
valleys empty into the small bays, the islands are remarkable for their
mountain ridges, which end abruptly as cliffs where they meet the sea. The
islands are estimated to range in age from the youngest, Fatu Hiva (1.3my)
to the oldest, Eiao (6my).

Administration

The Marquesas Islands do not have a provincial or regional assembly.
Administratively, they form a deconcentrated subdivision of both the French
central State and the government of French Polynesia. As a deconcentrated
subdivision of the French central State, the Marquesas Islands form the
administrative subdivision of the Marquesas (French: subdivision
administrative des Marquises), one of French Polynesia's five administrative
subdivisions. The head of the administrative subdivision of the Marquesas is
the administrateur d'Etat ("State administrator"), generally simply known as
administrateur, also sometimes called chef de la subdivision administrative
("head of the administrative subdivision"). The administrateur is a civil
servant under the authority of the High Commissioner of the French Republic
in French Polynesia in Papeete. The administrateur and his staff sit in
Taiohae, on the island of Nuku Hiva, which has become the administrative
capital of the Marquesas Islands, having replaced Atuona on the island of
Hiva Oa which was previously the capital.
Hanavave

Acting as the representative of the French central State and delegate of
Papeete's High Commissioner, the administrateur of the Marquesas is notably
in charge of:

* offering legal advice to the communes (municipalities) of the Marquesas
and verifying the legality of decisions made by the communes
* issuing official documents (ID cards, driving licences, etc.),
applying immigration rules, organizing elections
* managing security (coordination of gendarmerie forces, handling of
major crises such as natural disasters, etc.)
* overseeing the public services of the French central State which are
present in the Marquesas Islands (such as the correctional facility on Nuku
Hiva)

As a deconcentrated subdivision of the government of French Polynesia, the
Marquesas Islands form the circonscription des Marquises ("district of the
Marquesas"), one of French Polynesia's four circonscriptions ("districts")
created in 2000 by the Assembly of French Polynesia to serve as
deconcentrated subdivisions of the government of French Polynesia in the
islands away from Tahiti and Moorea. The head of the circonscription des
Marquises is the tavana hau, known as administrateur territorial in French
(English: "territorial administrator"), but the Tahitian title tavana hau is
most often used. The tavana hau is the direct representative of the
president of French Polynesia's government who appoints him. The tavana hau
and his staff sit in Taiohae on Nuku Hiva, same as the State administrator.

The tavana hau is notably in charge of:

* coordinating the work of French Polynesian administrations which are
present in the Marquesas Islands (such as the French Polynesian
administrations in charge of roads, fisheries, etc.)
* ensuring the enforcement of acts passed by the Assembly of French
Polynesia and decisions taken by the government of French Polynesia
* evaluating the performance of French Polynesian civil servants and
sending the evaluations to the responsible ministries in Papeete
* acting as a liaison between the local population and the government of
French Polynesia in Papeete

The Marquesas Islands also form the electoral district of the Marquesas
Islands, one of French Polynesia's six electoral districts for the Assembly
of French Polynesia (see also Politics of French Polynesia).

The Marquesas Islands are subdivided in six communes (municipalities). In
each of the six communes the local residents elect a municipal council and a
mayor in charge of managing local affairs within the commune. Three communes
(Nuku-Hiva, Ua-Pou, and Hiva-Oa) are further subdivided into associated
communes due to their larger population. The communes and associated
communes are the only elected councils in the Marquesas since there does not
exist a provincial or regional assembly for the entire archipelago.
Municipal elections are held every six years on the same day as municipal
elections in the rest of France (see French municipal elections, 2008 for
the last municipal elections).

Here are the six communes in the Marquesas Islands (the associated communes
are not shown):
Communes of the Marquesas Islands

1. Nuku-Hiva
2. Ua-Huka
3. Ua-Pou
4. Hiva-Oa
5. Tahuata
6. Fatu-Hiva

Language

Although French and Tahitian are the only official languages of French
Polynesia, and therefore of the Marquesas Islands as well, the Marquesan
languages, in their various forms, remain the primary means of communication
within the archipelago.

Marquesan is a collection of East-Central Polynesian dialects, of the
Marquesic group, spoken in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. They
are usually classified into two groups, North Marquesan and South Marquesan,
roughly along geographic lines.

The North Marquesan dialects are spoken on the islands of Ua Pu and Nuku
Hiva, and South Marquesan dialects on the islands of Hiva `Oa, Tahuata and
Fatu Hiva. The dialects of Ua Huka are often incorrectly classified as North
Marquesan; they are instead transitional. While the island is in the
northern Marquesas group, the dialects show more morphological and
phonological affinities with South Marquesan. The North Marquesan dialects
are sometimes considered two separate languages: North Marquesan and Tai Pi
Marquesan, the latter being spoken in the valleys of the eastern third of
the island of Nuku Hiva, in the ancient province of Tai Pi.

The most striking feature of the Marquesan languages is their almost
universal replacement of the /r/ or /l/ of other Polynesian languages by a
/ʔ/ (glottal stop).

Like other Polynesian languages, the phonology of Marquesan languages is
characterized by a paucity of consonants and a comparative abundance of
vowels.

Demographics

The population of the Marquesas Islands at the August 2007 census was 8,632,
which is 80 people less than at the November 2002 census, and far lower than
16th century estimates which put the population at over 100,000.[citation
needed] Much of the population was wiped out by smallpox between 1600 and
1900, when the population was counted at just under 2,000.

Airports

There are four airports in the Marquesas, one each on the islands of Nuku
Hiva, Ua Pu, Ua Huka, and Hiva Oa. The terrain of Tahuata is too irregular
to allow for the construction of a landing strip without significant
investment, and while the upland plateau of central Fatu Hiva is large
enough to permit the construction of an airstrip, the island's minuscule
population makes such an exercise of dubious benefit.

Telecommunications

The Marquesas are served by telephone as well as by radio and television
mainly from Tahiti. Recent additions include the "Vini" a mobile phone
service that, in about 6 years has expanded to cover most of the populated
islands. "Mana" An internet server with DSL Broadband that is expanding with
Wifi stations too.

Extracted from Wikipedia.

PHDI menuju Federasi

By hindunesia on September 24, 2009

Berikut kutipan wawancara majalah gumi Bali SARAD dengan Agus. S Mantik, seorang tokoh Hindu yang tetap konsisten memberikan sumbangan pemikiran yang konstruktif, baik bagi Hindu secara keseluruhan, maupun bagi Parisada.

Bagaimana Anda menanggapi stigma Balinisasi?

Ketika Pemerintah membentuk Bagian Hindu dalam Departemen Agama Republik Indonesia yang kemudian dibarengi dengan pembentukan Parisada Dharma Hindu Bali (1959) pada tahun berikutnya, satu hal paling penting yang disadari ketika itu adalah bahwasanya Hindu itu tidaklah satu melainkan plural. Hindu itu tidak saja ada di Bali, melainkan hampir di seluruh pelosok Nusantara ini.

Kesadaran itu hanya ada sampai digantinya nama majelis agama ini menjadi Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia, akan tetapi tidak ada tindakan berarti yang sudah dilaksanakan untuk mengakomodasi pluralisme dalam Hindu ini. Hal ini sebenarnya tidak seluruhnya merupakan kesalahan Hindu etnis Bali: ada berbagai hal yang menyebabkannya akan tetapi yang terpenting adalah bahwasanya karena jumlah yang jauh lebih besar dan juga kesadaran beragamanya sudah lebih kuat maka etnis lainnya melihat Bali sebagai mercu suar dan tumpuan untuk memimpin ke depan.

Harapan ini tidak dilaksanakan dengan baik sehingga ada kesan mengenai Balinisasi dan sebagainya. Padahal, kalau semua memperoleh tempat (yang sejajar) maka Majelis Agama Hindu ini akan memperoleh suntikan gagasan-gagasan dan juga kekuatan moral yang luar biasa besarnya. Hal ini dengan jelas dikatakan oleh Dirjen Bimas Hindu dalam sebuah wawancaranya dengan sebuah majalah Hindu beberapa waktu lalu. Sebuah majelis agama Hindu yang representatif, tempat semua merasa diwakili, adalah keperluan mendesak di masa depan. Malah Dirjen Bimas Hindu melontarkan gagasan mengenai sebuah Majelis Agama yang berbentuk federasi. Menurut saya, ide federasi sangat cocok diterapkan di tubuh Parisada, karena umat di daerah lain sudah cukup otonom dan mandiri. Di samping itu, untuk menghindari dominasi orang Bali di luar Bali.

Parisada itu sesungguhnya organisasi siapa?

Pertanyaan ini dengan jelas dijawab dalam Anggaran Dasar (AD) Parisada sendiri bahwa dia adalah organisasi para pendeta/brahmana dan dalam berbagai penjelasan oleh para petingginya dengan gamblang dikatakan bahwa Parisada dibentuk dengan mengacu kepada Manavadharmasastra. Hal ini sungguh menertawakan sebab di India sendiri tidak ada satu pun organisasi keagamaan yang mengacu kepada sastra ini. Mereka (India) berbuat demikian karena tidak ada suatu kewajiban bahwa sebuah majelis/organisasi agama harus sesuai dengan sesuatu yang bukan sruti yangbahkan sudah ada di zaman ribuan tahun lalu (sudah outdated!). Malahan dalam sruti (Rg Veda) sendiri dikatakan bahwa hal-hal yang sudah tidak sesuai dengan kemajuan zaman sebaiknya ditinggalkan saja! Pada bagian lain dinyatakan dengan gamblang bahwa sepanjang perkembangannya Hinduisme selalu mencari kebenaran dan tidak pernah bertahan di dalam kepercayaan. Gandhi sendiri berbicara mengenai Tuhan sebagai kebenaran (satyam).

Bagaimana Anda memandang struktur Parisada saat ini?

Dalam berbagai majelis keagamaan, baik besar maupun kecil, acuan membuat struktur organisasi adalah apakah bisa jalan atau tidak. Sebagai contoh, Visva Hindu Parisada (VHP), satu di antara majelis yang besar (mungkin juga paling besar), struktur organisasinya sangat modern, di mana yang tertinggi adalah Board of Trustee (semacam Dewan Pembina). Adapun tugas sehari-hari dijalankan oleh Board of Governors (semacam Dewan Gubernur) di mana salah seorang anggota dewan ini diangkat sebagai ketua yang menjalankan tugas mirip CEO. Bisa dibayangkan di India yang sekuler, di mana pemerintahnya tidak mau tahu dan tidak membantu organisasi agama, VHP memiliki 26.000 lokal sekolah dan organisasinya menyebar sampai ke luar negeri.

Kepastian (sesuai dengan AD) bahwasanya Parisada adalah majelis para sulinggih membawa konsekuensi yang tidak kalah serius bagi masa depan Parisada, sebab di Bali khususnya sulinggih adalah kelompok brahmana yang tugas pokoknya adalah menjalankan upacara dan masalah-masalah yang berhubungan dengan hal itu. Kehidupan keluarga seorang sulinggih ditentukan oleh kelancaran tugas-tugasnya dalam menjalankan upacara. Jelaslah di sini bahwa sulinggih adalah lebih banyak merupakan profesi dan bukan sikap mental, seperti dijelaskan dalam Vajrasucika Upanisad. Dengan demikian ketrampilan sulinggih di Bali lebih banyak berhubungan dengan hal-hal yang bersifat upacara dan tidak banyak bersinggungan dengan tattva, masalah keumatan, apalagi pengetahuan yang bersifat perbandingan agama. Padahal, wiweka dalam ketiga hal ini sebenarnya sangatlah penting dalam persinggungan di antara kelompok masyarakat seperti sekarang ini.

Bagaimana idealnya pengurus yang duduk di Parisada?

Demikian banyak waktu yang dihabiskan untuk menjalankan upacara sehingga peran dan waktu sulinggih yang disisakan buat organisasi tentu saja tidak besar. Dengan demikian adalah tidak adil juga apabila Anggaran Dasar Parisada mewajibkan eksekutif yang menjalankan kewajiban sehari-hari (Pengurus Harian) harus penuh waktu. Inilah sesungguhnya masalah paling penting yang harus disikapi di masa mendatang yang dekat ini: apakah Parisada tetap bertahan dalam kepercayaan bahwa mereka yang duduk dalam parisad seperti yang diamanatkan Manavadharmasastra dan sering menjadi acuan para 'pakar'?

Majelis agama sebenarnya memerlukan bukan saja orang-orang yang cakap, yang paham perihal rangkaian masalah yang dihadapi, akan tetapi juga orang-orang yang mau membaktikan keseluruhan waktunya untuk kepentingan umat. Hal ini tidak akan diperoleh oleh kelompok brahmana (baca: pendeta) yang panggilan hidupnya berhubungan dengan masalah upacara (ritual). Tidak di India, tidak di sini, dan di mana pun!

Sejarah setengah abad Majelis Agama Hindu yang bernama Parisada di negara kita sudah membuktikan hal itu. Majelis ini memerlukan orang-orang yang keseluruhan hidupnya ber-yajna, sarva-medha, atau purusa-medha, seperti yang dikatakan dalam sruti. Bagaimana orang-orang seperti itu akan bisa menyambung hidup kesehariannya, makan, keperluan pribadi, dan lain-lain?

Dalam sruti dengan jelas dikatakan bahwa Tuhan berjanji kepada mereka yang membaktikan keseluruhan hidupnya untuk menjalankan pekerjaan-Nya, dia tidak perlu khawatir sebab keseluruhan hidupnya akan ditanggung oleh-Nya. Hanya orang-orang seperti inilah, para sannyasi, yang akan bisa menjalankan roda organisasi yang bernama Majelis Agama, sebab orang-orang yang demikian sajalah yang memiliki waktu dan commitment untuk berjuang melaksanakan pekerjaan Tuhan dan mengosongkan hatinya dari urusan-urusan lainnya.

Bagaimana harapan Anda untuk Hindu ke depan?

Masyarakat Hindu di masa depan harus memupuk hadirnya kelompok orang-orang yang selama hidupnya berkutat dalam hal-hal yang bersifat agama. Kelompok ini ada pada zaman Majapahit dan sangat kuat pada zaman Sriwijaya. Saya bukan mencontoh India saja, akan tetapi pada masa ini hanya di India kita melihat bagaimana peranan para sannyas mempertahankan tradisi yang sudah berumur ribuan tahun ini. Saya bertemu pengurus berbagai majelis agama maupun ordo yang rata-rata tidak terlalu tua, lulusan S3 berbagai perguruan tinggi terkenal, akan tetapi menelusuri kehidupan sebagai sannyas.

Jadi, berkembangnya organisasi keagamaan ini tidaklah ditunjang oleh orang-orang tua yang sudah hampir-hampir tidak memiliki masa depan, akan tetapi oleh generasi penerus yang sadar, yang menempuh kehidupan sunyi penuh abdi. Saya sering mengutip Katha Upanisad tentang orang buta yang menuntun orang buta. Hanya dengan hadirnya kelompok sannyas seperti inilah kita terhindar dari hal itu!

http://hindunesia.com/?p=417#more-417

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Pelajaran Sederhana Tentang Sorga Neraka

Seorang samurai bertubuh kekar dan tegap pada suatu hari mendatangi

seorang pertapa bertubuh kecil dan kurus. "Hai petapa," katanya dengan

nada suara yang terbiasa memberikan perintah, "Ajarkan saya tentang

surga dan neraka!"

 

Si petapa mendongakkan kepalanya memandang samurai gagah di depannya

and menjawabnya:, "Mengajarkanmu tentang surga dan neraka? Saya tidak

dapat mengajarkan apapun juga kepadamu. Pergilah sekarang."

 

Si samurai tampak marah. Mukanya merah padam menahan rasa marah yang

tinggi. Ia cabut pedangnya dan mengangkat di atas kepalanya bersiap

untuk menebas petapa itu dengan pedangnya.

"Itulah neraka," kata si petapa dengan nada yang tenang.

Si samurai terkejut.

 

Ketenangan dan kepasrahan dari mahluk kecil itu,

yang bersedia mempertaruhkan hidupnya, telah memberikan pelajaran

mengenai neraka kepadanya! Ia perlahan menurunkan pedangnya. Ia

merasakan rasa lega dan tiba-tiba merasa sangat tenang.

"Dan itulah surga," kembali si petapa berkata dengan tenang.

 

Dikutip dari: Bits & Pieces, May 1999

© The Economic Press Inc., 1999

 

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