it@coops Indonesia Free & Open Source Advance Training

On next June 15-26 2007, FORMASI Indonesia will held an Advance Training on Free and Open Source Software, for enhancing the capability of the IT@Coops IT Specialists and Trainers. The training itself, will try to modified the concept of Source Camp (means that the participants of the training will be camped on the training site for the whole training).

The training will have 3 major subjects,
# Linux Operating System and Open Office
# Web Development using CMS
# Simple Database Application using PHP and MySQL

All will be in FOSS base, so for the next 12 days, the participants should say goodbye to the proprietary software.

Participants will come from several NGOs and Cooperatives, and we hope after the training, they will be the pioneers to start the new FOSS era on their organization.

The training will be held on FORMASI Indonesia Training Center, and for the facilitators, PT Bajau Escorindo will help us to enhance the knowledge of the IT Specialists and Trainers. This training supported by the IT@Coops project, organized by FORMASI Indonesia, AWCF (Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum), InWent (Capacity Building International, Germany), and BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany).

Started with small seminar on “Answering the challenge with Free and Open Source Software for NGOs, Coops, and SMEs”, FORMASI Indonesia opened the IT@Coops Advance Training for 12 IT@Coops IT Specialists and Trainers. The training itself try to adapt the concept of Source Camp, that was experienced by the IT Coordinator of FORMASI Indonesia during Asia Source II.

The seminar was opened by Anik Dwi Martuti, Executive Secretary of FORMASI Indonesia. The first speaker at the seminar was me, as the IT Coordinator for the IT@Coops. I explain a little bit about FOSS, what is FOSS, what is the advantage on using FOSS, and also some cases proove that FOSS is better than proprietary software. The second speaker was Mr. Didieb Ajibaskoro, the trainer. He explain more about the situation of FOSS in the IT community right now, and also the impact on economic.

There will be 12 IT Specialists and Trainers that will become pioneers on their organizations to start the Free and Open Source Software era on their offices. List of organizations that following this IT@Coops Advance Training are:
1. Bina Swadaya (represented by Mr. Undiyanto)
2. Bina Desa (represented by Mr. Tumino)
3. Bina Arta Swadaya (represented by Mr. Budi and Mr. Ardiansyah)
4. LPPSE (represented by Mr. Chalid)
5. LP3ES (represented by Mr. Erwan)
6. Coops of Melati (represented by Ms. Sari Hidayati)
7. Coops of Sehati (represented by Ms. Lia Aprilianti)
8. Coops of Karya Insa (represented by Ms. Umi)
9. FORMASI Indonesia (represented by Mr. Farih and Ms. Linda Srie)
10. ASPPUK (represented by Mr. Darmanto)

The training is mostly about practicing and experiencing the use of Linux and several other FOSS. There will be 3 main subjects on this training,

1. Linux Operating System
2. Web Development using CMS
3. Simple Database Application using PHP and MySQL

Have you ever try to install linux on your PC/Laptop?

The 12 Participants of IT@Coops Advance training had to do it yesterday. That’s what they had to do when the facilitator (Mr. Didieb) started the first session of the training. Destroying all the previous installed operating system, they had to install OpenSuSE 10.2, so they can continue the training with their own computer.

Firstly, the participants had to install Linux on their own choice. They are very interesting with this new experiences, amazingly, some of them are trying to install Linux over and over again, trying different Linux distros. The Facilitator provice several Linux Distros, e.g. Fedora Core 6, Ubuntu, OpenSuSE 10.1, OpenSuSE 10.2, SuSE Enterprise, RedHat Enterprise Linux 5, Mandriva 2007, etc. The participants have to choose between those distros, with comments from the facilitator that this linux is more difficult than the other, this linux is easier than other, this linux is very hard to install, etc.

Progress for the first session, so far so good. The faciliator are amazed with the progress of the participants. As for the second day, the participants will learn about the command line, and several other functions using command line.

It’s a funny question… yet it’s almost true. That’s what the participants of the Advance Training experienced. Some of them had headache when the training subject touch the essence of the command line on Linux.

It has to admit, that some of the participants are not very experience on doing the command line, even in Microsoft Windows. So, mostly, this is very new experience for them. The Facilitator had to work hard to teach the participants about the command line.

One of the participants actually make a joke about boiling eggs on the top of his head. This describe how they react to those kind of materials. “It’s quite hard”, they said.

So, for the third day, they fully learn about command line. Nothing else, just command line

For the last 6 days, Jakarta has turned out into an extra large pond where people swim all over it finding relief. Unexpectedly, it turns to be the biggest Jakarta flood disaster over time, exceeding the previously most devastating 2002 flood. People thought it would just like last year’s flood, water wouldn’t go higher than 1 meter. Sadly, the authorities apparently think the same way; with barely no preparedness or mitigation for such a disaster. No wonder if the flood leaves (actually will still have) enormous material and immaterial loss; infrastructures collapsed, houses broken down, and around 10 died so far.

Many have pointed fingers to the development of catchment area around Bogor and Puncak of West Java as source of the problem. Construction of many villas and hotels over there has been reducing the capacity of water retention. Not only hotels, but also housing, real estate, highway and shopping malls have shrunk the land for water retention. Not only Bogor and Puncak, but also Jakarta itself…too many open spaces have been converted into area for commercial use. Yet, the discussion about cause is enough, everybody knows that for sure that there’s something wrong with the way policy makers think and act: ” you pay the price, I make the law “. That simply describes the relationship between authorities and business. I’m now willing to look at disaster preparedness approaches supposed to be put in place on a flood prone area like Jakarta.

The recent floods with all their aftermath marks the uncapability of Bakornas (national bureau for disaster management), provincial government of Jakarta, and the people in dealing with the flood disaster and carrying out rescue and relief operation. The first mistake was shown when weather report from BMG (Meteorology & Geophysics Bureau) did not responded by Bakornas to prepare for the worst. It is clear that there wasn’t early warning system put in place following weather report. There was no alarm message made public by the bureau to get the people ready for any flood. The cost is high…although not many died but most people lost their properties like house facilities, electronics, and clothings swept or damage because of water.

Apparently, inside the bureau had not yet prepared for any events of catastrophe. There’s information, but there’s no early action. As a result, the day after heavy rainfall, people struggled themselves to escape strong waved water flooded their residences. Boats, ropes, and skilful rescue team were needed everywhere on friday (feb 2nd). But the bureau had only deployed 4 persons with only 1 boat at nearly all places in average, some even left without help.

Reading the site report of the Bakornas re flood mitigation, it is clear that the rescue operation and equipments deployed are still far from enough. The comparison between the number of sub-districts inundated by flood and the number of rubber boats deployed for evacuating people is so unequal. There are 58 districts inundated by water, but only 284 boats deployed, meaning only 4-5 boats for each subdistrict. In fact, there are many residence blocks in each subdistrict. This made the presence of this rescue team & boat barely just an accessory, not really helpful.

What about the evacuation points? There are only 158 shelter tents available for a total of 191,300 persons displaced during the recent flood. By design, each shelter meant to accommodate 1210 persons, nonsense! Nobody knows well where to take refuge
because evacuation points are not available near each flooded block. Even an evacuation point near Ciliwung river is inundated by further overflow. Funny, the rescue team didn’t know where the safe place was. This simply tells us that Bakornas has no real scenario for flood mitigation and rescue.

Now, look at the staple supplies provided for 191,300 refugees:
• 3,000 pieces of sarong
• 2,000 pieces of blanket
• 5,000 instant noodle
• 1,000 pieces of women dress
• 1,000 pieces of T shirt
• 1,000 pieces of long material (for women)
• 1,000 pieces of uniform (for boys)
• 1,000 pieces of uniform (for girls)
• 150 packages of baby clothing
• 150 packages of family kits
(data available from Bakornas’ site report on Feb. 4, 2007)

No one would say it’s enough. Many people at evacuation camps started getting sick, there are even asthma patients died during evacuation after bearing cold air for days.

Jakarta has a long history of flood since early of 1900s. Geologists know well that some parts of Jakarta are prone to flood. In the last one decade, floods in Jakarta have been increasing in volume. The 2002 flood was earlier regarded as the biggest one leaving many experiences for disaster management (DM). Everyone, especially authorities, should learn much from the 2002 flood that took more than 20 lives.

Disaster Management doesn’t focus on the eradication of problem source. It emphasizes on managing the best approach to reduce the impact of a disaster; loss of lives, properties, and facilities. The best and the shortest way believed is to educate people how to cope with the catastrophe; knowing their environment well and knowing the way to stay alive during the catastrophe, and to involve them in the management of disaster. This is the foundation that build the so called preparedness.

Well prepared communities are less vulnerable than those who aren’t well prepared. They will not lose many compared to unprepared ones because they fully aware of living in the disaster prone area and is therefore know well what to do first when flood is coming. If they must relocate, they know safe places to stay during the flood. A community that applies disaster management well knows how to stay healthy in their evacuation point and not getting sick because fulfillment of their basic needs have been arranged for in advance. They have learned much from the previous experiences.

In the case of the recent Jakarta flood we see no signs of preparedness at all; people were panic, rescue team were unable to take care all of them, and no evacuation points were prepared. The rescue operation was so disorganized. They didn’t even predict the communication between field operatives and headquarters would be troubled by cellular network shut down. One rescue team member said they almost entirely rely for communications on cellular phones. How sad…this is the picture of community that is not prepared for a disaster event.

A proper disaster management should cover the early warning system (EWS), the evacuation/rescue, and relief operation with all resources needed. These three parts are all vital to sustain survivors’ lives. In the recent flood, we’ve seen the absence of EWS, the rescue-evacuation was so inadequate and so lack of proper equipments. Now, the relief operation without well-planned design has created its own problems, survivors fight themselves for foods, some are left without aid, or the food distribution point is far to reach by survivors. If the rain is still to come in the upcoming days (as forecasted by BMG), it’ll be really tough for survivors to cope with this situation.

Just recently, the breaking news reported a 60 year old female died after having fever for last several days during her stay at relocation camp. It’s ironic that survivors already distant from flood are still vulnerable to hazards at evacuation camps. Proper tents, foods, medics, dry and warm clothings should have been prepared at evacuation camps located on safe and accessible places. Jakarta indeed needs a special design for flood management (mitigation). Poor flood management will only contribute to more and more loss.

Disaster management however is not only the domain of the authorities. People must participate in the DM. Communities that depend only on others’ help for their lives are vulnerable to unpredictable situations such as absence of aid or rescuers. The well educated community will make rescue and relief operation run smoother and therefore will reduce the number of lost of lives and hazards at evacuation camps. It’s obvious that proper disaster mitigation is called for to free the people from flood hazards that has worsened due to conversion of catchment/retention area, deforestation, and global warming.

If only, all hand in hand tackle this matter and leave behind any interests that keep us away from preparedness…it’s been too many disasters; floods, landslides, mudflow, train, ship and aircraft accidents…cape’ dee…!

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