Saiga jelas bukan sejenis badak. Saiga (Saiga tatarica) adalah sejenis antelop yang hidup di padang-padang rumput yang tandus di Rusia, Khazakhtan dan Mongolia. Hidungnya besar seperti hidung tapir. Saiga jantan mempunyai sepasang tanduk pendek. Masalahnya, bukankah habitatnya begitu jauh dengan habitat badak? Habitat badak terdekat terdapat di India. Ternyata memang ada hubungannya. Bahkan saling mempengaruhi. Saiga pernah nyaris punah gara-gara cula badak. Lho kok? Ceritanya begini.

Ketika para konservanis pusing memikirkan perburuan ilegal cula badak yang gila-gilaan, mereka mencoba mengurangi perburuan itu dengan mangajukan kandidat tanduk saiga sebagai pengganti cula badak. Alasan pemilihan saiga, karena binatang itu jumlahnya memang banyak sekali. Waktu itu sekitar 2 juta binatang! Kalau diburu sedikit saja pasti populasinya tak terganggu, begitu perkiraan para ahli.

Maka para tabib tradisional dan para pemburu liar pun mengalihkan sasarannya ke antelop stepa ini. Maklum, lokasinya jauh lebih dekat daripada harus mengekspor cula badak dari negeri seberang. Celakanya, perburuan tanduk saiga berlangsung lebih parah daripada perkiraan para ahli. Saiga pun dengan cepat menjadi binatang langka, menyusul badak. Populasinya tinggal 400.000 ekor. Salah satu sub-spesiesnya, saiga mongolia (Saiga tatarica mongolia), tinggal 2000 ekor saja.

Apalagi sejak runtuhnya Uni Soviet, para pemburu kian berani membantai saiga dan harimau siberia. Sebaran saiga juga ikut-ikutan menciut karena harus bersaing dengan ternak. Saiga sekarang hanya ditemukan di Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kalmykia, Kazakhtan dan Mongolia. Kini para ahli harus bekerja keras memulihkan populasi Saiga.

dari: Koen Setyawan

I can’t help but be a bit honest with myself though; I’m scared. One of my biggest fears in life is loneliness. Not having my support system with me will be really hard, which is why I am so thankful so many of your are supporting me online. It will be challenging though, being all out on my own. I was discussing this a few days ago at like 2am during my excursion to Mt. Pleasant with my good friend Katie who had recently gone through a similar experience when she moved to Mexico for 6 months. She told me that the experience was at first very lonely (for like the first 3 months), but it wasn’t until the end of her trip that she decided to take the time that she felt lonely to turn to the bible and spend time with the Lord. That was her advice to me and while the challenge of loneliness appears to be overwhelming I am a bit excited to continue to develop my relationship with the Lord and rely on Him during my time of need.

So that’s a bit about where my thoughts are after processing a bit. I also want to thank everyone for their support through this site. It’s crazy to know that there are 247 people on facebook who are reading this, plus like about 40 more friends and family! That is awesome. Thank you all for your support and just a bit of a plug… I love comments. Every time I have a new email about a comment I get all giddy and excited. So please! Comment!

Perjalanannya dimulai dari Stasiun Kereta Api Beijing, China pada tanggal 31 Juli 2005. Dari negeri tirai bambu itu ia naik ke atap dunia Tibet, menyeberang ke Nepal, turun ke India, kemudian menembus ke barat, masuk ke Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, berputar lagi ke Asia Tengah, diawali Tajikistan, kemudian Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, hingga Uzbekistan dan Turkmenistan. Ribuan kilometer yang dilaluinya ia tempuh dengan berbaga macam alat transportasi seperti kereta api, bus, truk, hingga kuda, keledai dan tak ketinggalan jalan kaki.

Agus adalah seorang petualang, pengembara, musafir, seorang backpaker sejati. Bagi banyak orang, aktivitas travelling murah sebagai seorang bakckpaker adalah hobi. Bagi Agus menjadi backpaker adalah hidupnya, napasnya setiap hari.

Ia memulai perjalanannya dengan bekal 2.000 dolar AS hasil tabungannya selama kuliah di Universitas Tshinghua, Beijing, Cina. Ketika duitnya habis ia akan menetap sementara di suatu tempat, bekerja serabutan guna mengumpulkan duit lagi dan kembali melanjutkan perjalanan.

Tulisan-tulisannya di Kompas menarik perhatian banyak pembaca dan menginspirasi mereka untuk mengikuti jejaknya keliling dunia. Sejak tanggal 6 Maret - 18 Juli, tercatat 96 tulisan petualangannya, ditambah profil dan catatan redaksi. Saia tertarik untuk mengkliping dan membentuknya dalam sebuah file PDF dengan menyertakan sumber, gambar dan tanpa edit apapun kecuali tata letak. Pembaca dapat menikmatinya dalam lima edisi, yaitu perjalanan Agus di Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, dan Turkmenistan.

Disclaimer: Ebook ini dibuat tidak untuk tujuan komersial dan tidak untuk merugikan pemegang hak cipta. Bila pemegang hak cipta merasa keberatan, kami dapat mempertimbangkan untuk menghapusnya. Terima kasih.

Kunjungi pula situs Agustinus Wibowo disini.

2008 Türçe Olimpiyatında Türkmenistanlı bir kardeşimiz Selda Bağcan'ın "Dön Gel Birtanem" adlı eserini seslendiriyor, Mükemmel bir yorum..

- Kazakhstan customs complex.

As it stands, we've been sitting here for 6 hours, and to even get here, it was no mean feat. Unpaved roads, covered with a fine silky desert sand for over 120 kilometers, and the weather has been merciless. Intensely dry heat trying to make shoe leather out of living flesh, and we're having to sit it out, with no running engines... We cannot walk away from the convoy due to security reasons (as in we'd be shot) and peeing involves hiding behind a car-tire, juggling an umbrella, pants and wet wipes and all this must be done out sight of the border guards *sigh*

- R&R, border-post style...

On the other side of the fence, more bad roads, for at least another 200 kilometers or so before we get to our rest stop for the day. It's going to be a long day indeed...

I find it rather amusing that these two nations are so unwelcoming to people. They don't seem to have much to offer especially to a casual traveler. If you're into black gold, especially the liquid kind, then these region may have a pull on you, but definitely not me...

- Border-crossing complex between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

But I suppose, whatever patch of relatively green Earth one calls home, there is nothing in this world to compare it with. No better place will be found, and our affinity for going 'home' will beckon us back to our homeland, regardless if we're living in a better place or call a barren and desolate place like this.

- Turkmen landscape.

It's no wonder why they now defend this land so stoically. Historically, this region has seen countless marauding hordes and conquering forces looking to subjugate this piece of real estate. Perhaps it's got something to do with the fact that we're smack dab in the center of the ancient Northern Silk Route. Promises of untold riches and exotic lands must have been disappointing, I imagine, to Alexander the Great and his troops, who turned south to India somewhere about here, after marching almost continuously for almost a decade...

More updates later, once we've made it into Turkmenistan - Jasmine.

UPDATE
It's now 4.30am, and we've finally pulled our weary selves into the Turkmenbasy hotel for the night. We only made it across the border at slightly after 2200 hrs, and I was the second person to cross, right after Dr. Dolly. We then waited on the other side, with everyone else and the cars, still on the Kazakhstan side. After about 45 minutes, the whole convoy made it over.

More desert driving, now at night, with a blanketing mist that blurs everything you see making driving hell. It took us over 5 hours of back-breaking driving, and with speeds never going above 70km/h to get here. Sleep beckons, and I will tell you more tomorrow, when my brains aren't so addled... :P

China's natural gas industry is growing at a rapid pace. 2007 saw 23.1% growth and this year, Natural Gas output will "likely hit 76 billion cubic meters," on around 15% a year growth!). 

International agreements signed from 2003-2005 are finally coming on-line, and new agreements are being made. Below, I examine what this can this mean for China's energy security and future geopolitical purposes.

First, for orientation purposes; 1,200 cubic meters of gas equals about one ton of oil (People's Daily); or a conversion rate of 8.3x10-4.  (Conversions will vary between sources depending on how oil companies rate the density of materials, but for simplification purposes, all numbers below are approximations.)

In 2006, China received 69.6% of its energy from Coal (1.19B tons of oil equivalent in 2006, but 2.5B "natural" tons of coal are expected to be consumed in 2007)^, 21.1% from Oil (350M tons; 183.7M produced domestically, around 47% imported), 5.8% from Hydroelectric, 2.7% Natural Gas (55.6B cubic meters- in 2007 this rose to 69.8B cubic meters), and 0.8% from Nuclear Energy [data from: Rosen (17), and China Daily (2006)]

To make the data easier to compare, cubic meters have been approximately converted into tons:

Tonnage and Percent of Energy Mix (2005-2006)

 * Roughly converted into tons, thus is estimated down from the 69.8B cubic meters as per the formula explained above. Also, Natural gas data is for 2007.

^ 1 m.ton of coal = 4.879 barrels of crude oil equivalent (Source)
(Chart Data from Rosen and China Daily; 2005 and 2006 numbers except as stated.)

(2009-2010) - New Sources of Imports Coming on line

The Chinese government hopes to double use of Liquid Natural Gas from 2.5% of the energy mix (as of 2005) to 5.5% of the energy mix by 2010, and expects to utilize 200B cubic tons a year (166M tons, or roughly half of current oil consumption) of LNG by 2020 (IHT).

China is fast approaching its goals. In order to facilitate foreign imports, pipelines are being built, and China National Offshore plans to build an additional 10 LNG (Liquid Natural Gas)-capable ports (CER).

In August 2007, PetroChina and Chevron agreed to develop the Luojiazhai natural gas fields in Sichuan. The fields are believed to hold 2.03 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves (57,483,144 cubic meters or roughly 48M tons.) (CER).

In July 2008, PetroChina proclaimed "Sulige Gas Field in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region" can now produce  4.5 billion cubic meters (steres) a year (3.8M tons). By the end of the year, Petrochina hopes to increase output to over 7 billion cubic meters (steres) annually (5.9M tons) (China Institute).

Turkmenistan will be able to export Natural Gas to China, starting in 2009. Under an August 2006 deal, China plans to purchase 30 billion cubic meters in 30 years; averaging to 1 billion cubic meters, or around 833,000 tons a year. 

In June 2008, China signed a deal with Qatargas Operating Co. for delivery, starting in 2009, of 2 million metric tons of LNG annually (CER).

TOTAL: (2009) 8.9M tons yearly
Sulige Gas Field (5.9M yearly) [2009] (Inner Mongolia)
Qatar (2M yearly) [2009]
Turkmenistan (833,000 yearly) [2009]
Luojiazhai Fields (43M reserves) [~2010] (Sichuan)
 

Long Run Forecast

In July 2008, Kazakhstan started a natural gas pipeline (IHT) that should be "completed by June 2010." When finished, it will carry 30 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year, or around 38M tons.

Sinopec also has high expectations for the Dayi Gas Field in Sichuan. They claim possible natural gas reserves of 100 billion cubic meters (85M tons) (China Institute).

China also, in June 2008, signed a cooperation agreement on natural gas extraction and transportation with Myanmar, which has over 5.7 to 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (283,168,199,078 cubic meters; or 238M tons) (China Institute).

In a July 10, 2008 statement, "Russia plans to export 68 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China annually by 2020 [58M tons], the president of the Russian Gas Union said. Valery Yazev, who is also deputy chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, said that Russia planned to supply up to 30 million metric tons (220 million barrels) of crude oil to China via a branch line of the East Siberia - Pacific Ocean pipeline (ESPO)" (China Institute).

TOTAL: (2020) 96M tons yearly
Kazakhstan (38M yearly) [2010-2015]
Russia (58M yearly) [2015-2020]
Dayi Field (85M reserves) [2010-2012] (Sichuan)

Geopolitical Security

Future pipelines from Kazakhstan will carry imports that equal half the amount of LNG consumed by China this year. As a result, Central Asian security will become more integral to Beijing's foreign policy. The pipeline from Kazakhstan crosses Uzbekistan and goes through China's sometimes-volatile Xinjiang province. New pipelines originating from Central Asian countries will require more People's Armed Police patrols to guarantee safety, which will tie down a modest amount of troops since the lines present an energy security vulnerability. Anti-terror crackdowns  will  increase in Xinjiang, and possibly Islamic Mosque worship will be more restricted. (Children under a certain age are not allowed in Mosques; although when I visited, it appeared this practice was not entirely enforced.)

Also, Beijing will strengthen ties with the SCO (Shanghai Cooperative Organization) economic and defense grouping of Central Asian states, perhaps attempting to marginalize the United States' regional influence. Beijing already surpasses the US in trade partner significance to several Central Asian States, trading $12 billion in 2006 (CRS, 71) with the region, compared to 2006 US trade of slightly over $2.3 billion with the region.  (Data from HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE for exports; HERE for imports)

With a future pipeline to Myanmar, Beijing might increasingly coddle that regime, like France and Russia at times did to Baghdad in the leadup to the Iraq War.  However, given Myanmar's undeveloped economy, it may be years before they practically exploit their natural gas. An Indian and a South Korean company are also involved in the explotation. The Myanmar issue will prove to be a complicated one, geopolitically.

Ultimately, Natural Gas is but one of several sources for China's energy, and it will only account for 5.3% of Beijing's energy mix by 2010. Coal is currently, and will remain the most important piece of Beijing's energy plan for the next twenty years. And oil will remain the most vulnerable part of Beijing's energy plan, since over 47% of China's oil demand is imported.

Still, the importance of LNG will cause Beijing to bring in foreign experts (such as Shell, and Chevron), and will increase its influence in the Central Asian states. It will be interesting to see how relations and rights negotiations develop over the next two to ten years, given energy prices' recent fluctuations.

 * Some conversions attempted using this chart and this one. Also of note. "Steres" is another word for "cubic meters;" the Chinese love using it. If anyone knows of its origin, I'd be glad to hear.

Also of Note: Daniel Rosen and the Center for Strategic and International Studies' AMAZING analysis of China's Energy Future -  http://www.iie.com/publications/papers/rosen0507.pdf

* China's Nuclear Power, Wind Power in China.

Boots of Spanish Leather

ботинки из испанской кожи

Bob Dylan (1964)

Oh, I’m sailing away my own true love

Я уплываю, моя настоящая любовь

I’m sailing away in the morning

Я уплываю утром

Is there something I can send you from across the sea

Есть ли, что-нибудь, что я могу послать тебе из-за моря

From the place that I’ll be landing?

От того места, где я причалю?

No there’s nothing you can send me my own true love

Нет ничего, чтобы ты могла послать мне, моя настоящая любовь.

There’s nothing I’m a-wishing to be owning

Нет ничего, чтобы я хотел

Except to bring yourself back to me unspoiled

Того, чтобы ты принесла себя мне неиспорченный

From across that lonesome ocean

Через этот покинутый океан

I just thought you might want something fine

Я просто подумала, ты мог бы хотеть чего-то прекрасного

Made of silver or of golden

Сделанного из серебра или золота

Either from the mountains of Madrid

И от гор Мадрида

Or from the coast of Barcelona

От берега Барселоны

If I had the stars of the darkest night

Если бы у меня были звёзды самой тёмной ночи

Or the diamonds from the deepest ocean

Или алмазы самого глубокого океана

I’d forsake them all for your sweet kiss

Я бы отдал их все за твой сладкий поцелуй

For that’s all I’m wishing to be owning

Так как всё, что я хочу

I may gone a long old time

Я бы мог уехать надолго

And it’s only that I’m asking

Я только хочу спросить

Is there something I can send you to remember me by

Есть ли, что-нибудь, что я могу послать тебеЧтобы помнить обо мне

To make your time more easy passing?

Чтобы сделать, чтобы время проходило быстрее?

How can how can you ask me again?

Почему ты спрашиваешь об этом меня снов?

It only brings me sorrow

Это только приносит мне печаль

The same thing that I would want today

Тоже, что я хочу сегодня.

I would want again tomorrow

Я буду хотеть снова завтра

I got a letter on a lonesome day

Я получил письмо в день, когда я был одинок.

It was from her ship a-sailing

Saying I don’t know when I’ll be coming back again

Оно было с плывущего корабля, Говорящего, о том, что я не знаю когда я вернусь назад снова.

It depends on how I’m a-feeling

Это зависит от того, как чувствую,

If you my love must think that a-way

Если ты моя любовь должна думать так

Then I’m sure your mind is a-roaming

Я уверен твой ум блуждает

And I’m sure your thoughts are not with me

И я уверен, что твои мысли не со мной

But with the country to where you’re going

А о той стране, куда ты едешь

So take heed take heed of the western winds

Остерегайся, остерегайся западных ветров

Take heed of the stormy weather

Остерегайся штормовой погоды.

And yes, there’s something you can send back to me

И да, есть, что-то, что ты можешь послать мне назад

Spanish boots of Spanish leather

Испанские ботинки из испанской кожи

Ze v Teheranu so se pricela poznavanja in srecevanja z drugimi kolesarji. Do danes sem jih srecal 13 in slisal se za kakih 10 drugih. Vsi veca ali manj brcamo po osrednji Aziji. Poti se vcasih prekrizajo v dolocenih tockah, vcasih so to poceni penzioni, vcasih mejni prehodi, drugic spet nakljucno na cesti.
S Philippe-om, Svicarjem mojih let, sva se tako ujela nekje med Teheranom in Mashhadom, takorekoc sredi nikjer. Od takrat se s potjo "spoprijemava", srecujeva in veseliva skupaj.

Turkmenistansko vizo sva z manjsimi zapleti in zamudo koncno dobila v Mashhadu. Mesto zapustiti cim hitreje je bil glavni cilj tistega obdobja.

Z velikim navdusenjem in skoraj enakim strahom sva se tako odpeljala proti novi drzavi. Skoraj 600km redko poseljene puscave je bilo na dnevnem redu naslednjih 5 dni, kolikor nama jih je dopuscala najina tranzitna viza. Veliko tega o dezeli pred nama se ne veva.
Mejni prehod je dokaj prazen, a predno dava celoten postopek cez minejo tri ure. Prvic na poti moram spraznit vse torbe. Bolj zaradi radovednosti uradnikov kot pa zaradi sumljivosti najinih prevoznih sredstev in nacina vstopa v drzavo.

Kmalu cez mejo se pricne pristna puscavska izkusnja. Ce sem mislil, da me je Iran pripravil na vse, potem sem se se kako ustel. Opoldansko sonce pritiska v zgornjih stiridesetih, veter neusmiljeno piha v prda in vcasih s sabo prinese ne ravno dobrodosle pescene oblake, ki ti ne dajo dihat. Hitrost na kolesu vcasih pade pod 10km/h, enostavno ne gre hitreje. Veter ti ne pusti.

V takih trenutkih si vesel belega avtomobila, ki se ustavi tik pred tabo. Iztopijo trije moski in ti ponudijo plastenko ledenega fermentiranega kameljega mleka. Nagnes in vidis crne pike, ki plavajo v njem. Predno odpres usta in naredis prvi pozirek, se ti za trenutek utrne misel: "Tole se ti bo se mascevalo! Verjetno se pred jutrom." A pijaca je mrzla in to je vse kar ta tisti trenutek steje. Nagnes in brez oklevanja naredis par konkretnih, osvezujocih pozirkov.
Kasneje v vasici, malo z glavne ceste, dobim se mrzlo vodo iz vodnjaka. Ker je ne morem zavrniti, si mislim, ce sem v zelodec ze sprejel morebitne nove oblike zivljenja v mleku, potem jim lahko  privoscim se malo druzbe.

Naslednje jutro sem v grmicku poleg sotora ustvaril povsem zdravo in lepo cokoladno rjavo poticko.

En el mundo ocurren hechos tan asombroso que parecen sacados de las páginas de curiosidades de un libro de historia.

Por ejemplo el Ruhnama

El Ruhnama es un libro, en Turkmenistán: EL LIBRO

.

.

Turkmenistán: una de las repúblicas independientes de la U.R.S.S, frontera con Irán y Afganistán.

Historia, sociedad, cultura, política, datos y cifras:

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistán

.

El presidente del país, desde la independencia hasta 21 de diciembre de 2006 (fecha de su fallecimiento) era Saparmurat Niyazov. Megalómano, excéntrico y autoproclamado “Turkmenbashi” (líder de todos los turcomanos). Y autor del libro Ruhnama (libro del alma).

El Ruhnama es un libro de propaganda gubernamental, mezcla de conceptos políticos, poéticos y dictámenes morales, y alabanzas al propio libro. Es de lectura obligatoria en las escuelas. Tema de examen en institutos y universidades, y hasta imprescindible para sacarse el carné de conducir.

Para intentar comprender la importancia del libro (y la subyugación de la población a él) una imagen: una estatua del libro en una plaza pública.

Esta mole de acero recubierta y pintada, se despliega como un libro, y mientras en una de sus “páginas” interiores hay citas del Ruhnama, en la otra se proyecta un audiovisual de alabanza al libro y al autor.

.

Hasta aquí, esta historia podría parecer folklórica. Pero la realidad es más sombría.

Saparmurat Niyazov fue un líder autoritario, déspota, y dictatorial que imprimió en el país un culto a su persona (son numerosas las estatuas de oro dedicadas a su persona).

Aunque Turkmenistán es rico en gas y petróleo, la mayor parte de la población está por debajo la pobreza. La libertad de expresión brilla por su ausencia (hasta hace unos meses Internet estaba prohibido), y la libertad individual estaba recortada (hasta el punto de estar prohibidas las barbas o que los hombres llevasen el pelo largo).

La ópera, el ballet, el circo y las salas de concierto están prohibidos por decreto, y desde el 2005 está prohibido cantar en playback.

.

Saparmurat Niyazov también renombró (con su nombre, o el título de su libro) edificios, aeropuertos, pueblos, o un par de meses del calendario. Hasta mandó construir un zoo con pingüinos (en medio del desierto).

El Arco de la Neutralidad, el edificio más alto de la capital, Asgabat, está coronada por una estatua de oro del “Turkmenbashi”, y contiene un complejo mecanismo que la hace girar siguiendo al sol (para que su rostro nunca quede en la sombra).

Este peculiar personaje obtuvo reconocimiento mundial (a él, a su libro, a su política) gracias a un extraño acuerdo tácito. Numerosas empresas anhelaban las riquezas naturales del país, pero el hermetismo nacional de Turkmenistán les frenaba. Hasta que un empresario turco le ofreció al “Turkmenbashi” traducir su obra al turco (pagar los gastos de la traducción y promocionar y publicitar su libro). Puede parece una idea absurda, pero desde ese momento decenas de grandes –enormes- empresas de la vieja Europa y de Estados Unidos optaron por hacerle la pelota del mismo modo. Y lo lograron.

.

Turkmeno, turco, ruso, e inglés son los idiomas en las que cualquiera puede leer tan peculiar obra.

La versión en inglés: http://ruhnama.info/ruhnama-en/index.htm

Actualmente el Ruhnama está traducido a decenas de otros idiomas, incluso pulula un ejemplar por el espacio en un cohete en órbita ruso. Los beneficios para las empresas son enormes, y los nombres de esas empresas y el “interés” que sus países aparentemente tienen por el libro, le permite a la maquinaria de propaganda del gobierno, perpetuarse y legitimar su dictadura.

Desde el fallecimiento de Saparmurat Niyazov, el presidente de Turkmenistán es Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov que sigue la misma línea de su predecesor, sigue venerando el Ruhnama, e incluso, físicamente, se parece a Niyazov.

.

]]> http://beingthechange4peace.wordpress.com/?p=6 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:32:07 +0000 beingthechange4peace http://beingthechange4peace.wordpress.com/?p=6 So after a very long week of waiting, stalking our local Fed-Ex guy, and being in a huge fight with him because he would not deliver my official invite for the Peace Corps with my country placement in it, my feud with Fed-Ex has ended. The Fed-Ex guy finally delivers. I am proud to say that on September 29, 2008 I will be leaving for the country of TURKMENISTAN to serve for 27 months as a Peace Corps Volunteer! While there I will be serving alongside a local English teacher to teach English to secondary students and will hopefully be improving the English department as a whole (but I won't get my hopes up).

Now I know some of you might not know much about Turkmenistan (that's ok I don't really either). So here are a few facts about it that I have gathered from the Country Welcome Book:

• Former part of the Soviet Union, which gained independence in 1991.
• Language spoken: Turkmen & Russian
• Country Borders: Iran, Afghanistan (Don't worry I'll be safe), Uzbekistan, and Caspian Sea
• Capital: Ashgabat
• Land Conditions: Desert like
• Religions: Predominately Muslim, Greek Orthodox
• Llamas? Sadly no pictures I can find show llamas in the area, but the do have camels which could be a close second on the cool animal front!

Here are some links if anyone else wants to look the country up:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tx.html

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/turkmenistan/

Overall, I am feeling excited and nervous all at the same time. There are a lot of things that I need to get done before I leave which is always nerve wrecking, but exciting at the same time!

Saparmurat Niyazov en 1993 se cambia el nombre por el de Turkmenbashi “padre de los turkmenos” en la lengua local, y se declara presidente vitalicio. A partir de entonces comienza el festival de autocomplaciencia y megalomanía bizarra. También el de una de los dictaduras más totalitarias y asquerosas del mundo, hasta su muerte en 2006, pero voy a hablaros aquí de su onanismo egocéntrico, que es mucho más divertido. Desde su llegada al poder:

-El aeropuerto de la capital se rebautiza como Turkmenbashi, el mismo nombre recibe la ciudad portuaria más grande de todo Turkmenistán.

-Docenas de institutos, calles y pueblos a lo largo y ancho de todo el país se llamarán Turkmenbashi.

-En 1998 un meteorito de 300 kilos cae en Turkmenistán. Los científicos locales lo nombran como… Turkmenbashi

-El mes de Enero se convierte en, adivinad qué, Turkmenbashi y Abril cambia el nombre por el de su difunta madre, Gurbansoltan. Por decreto, también al pan de ésta feliz nación se le llamará a partir de ahora como a la madre de Niyazov. El mes de Septiembre, se llamará Ruhnama, el libro sagrado de la nueva Turkmenistán.

Un libro importante: En 2001, Turkmenbashi escribió el Ruhnama, una mezcla de ensayo moral, historia revisionista y pasajes líricos. Se convierte en el libro oficial del país: Los estudiantes de primaria dedican un día a la semana a leerlo, los de secundaria deben sabérselo de memoria, al igual que los que quieran optar a una plaza de funcionario (el sector público es el 99% del mercado laboral de Turkmenistán) o a un simple carnet de conducir. Por todo el país hay fragmentos del texto, a menudo en las mezquitas acompañando a los versículos del Corán. Desde que los libros importados de la Unión Soviética son prohibidos, muchas bibliotecas de Turkmenistán sólo tienen el Ruhnama en sus estanterías. Por decreto, desde 2006 es obligatorio leerlo para entrar en el cielo. Como no podía ser de otra manera, el libro tiene su propia estatua de más de diez metros en la capital.

Y es que a Turkmenbanshi le gustaban las esculturas: Hay cientos de estatuas con su efigie repartidas por todo el país (incluso en pleno desierto) la mayoría recubiertas de oro. Algunas tan kitsch como ésta. Otro de los muchos proyectos surrealistas fue construir un palacio de hielo en pleno desierto con pingüinos incluídos. Pero su delirio egocéntrico-escultórico más importante es el Arco de la Neutralidad, un edificio de dudoso gusto arquitectónico en Asgabat, con una estatua de oro de nuestro hombre en la parte superior. La estatua va rotando a lo largo del día, para que siempre esté “cara al sol” y el astro rey no arroje sombras sobre su cara.

Pero Turkmenbashi también está en los pequeños detalles de la rutina turkmena; esos que dan sentido a la vida: Todos los billetes y monedas de Turkmenistán tienen impresa la cara de Niyazov. Devoto de los melones instaura el Día del Melón el 8 de Agosto, y lo convierte en fiesta nacional turkmena. La variedad local del melón recibirá el nombre de Turkmenbashi en 2006 (GRACIAS AL NIÑO YUNTERO POR EL AVISO) Las tres televisiones estatales de Turkmenistán incorporan la efigie de Turkmenbashi en sus logos, así como la única marca de vodka permitida en todo el país (no hace falta que diga como se llama). El brandy tiene otro nombre, pero tampoco se libra de la imagen del amantísimo padre de los turkmenos.

En 1991 sustituye el alfabeto cirílico de los rusos, por el tradicional turkmeno, pero parcialmente re-inventado por Turkmenbanshi. La primera versión de éste sistema de escritura incluía “letras” que eran en realidad los símbolos del dólar, la libra o el yen. Éstas pequeñas excentricidades lingüísticas no manchan el gran historial de hombre de letras de Niyazov: "Ganó" el premio internacional Magtymguly, dedicado al mejor poeta pro-turkmeno. El jurado era él mismo.

Pero también nuestro héroe se preocupaba por la salud de su gente: Sustituyó el juramento hipocrático de los médicos, por el "juramento a Turkmenbashi". Ordenó a la población que masticase huesos para fortalecer los dientes, y que no fuesen necesarios tantos implantes de oro. Después de dejar de fumar en 1997, Turkmenbashi prohibió fumar en los espacios públicos. Cerró todos los hospitales fuera de Asgabat, porque la población recibiría mejor tratamiento médico en la capital y se recuperaría antes gracias a la cercanía física con su lider.

Falleció en marzo de 2006 de un ataque cardíaco. Pero su humildad siguió dando coletazos después de muerto: el nuevo presidente-dictador de Turkmenistán, un dentista elegido a dedo para ser su sucesor mientras vivía, es prácticamente idéntico a él.

Lo dicho, Niyazov aparte de estar loco, convirtió a su país en su propia Disneylandia y en uno de los más pobres y atrasados de la zona. Podeis leer algunos reportajes en castellano sobre Turkmenistán mientras vivía aquí, aquí, y aquí y una lista de otros decretos esquizofrénicos no mencionados en el post, aquí. De cualquier forma no podemos quitarle el mérito de dejar a otros megalómanos patéticos como Idi Amin o Kim Jong Il como meros principiantes. Viva el padre de los turkmenos. Borat al poder.

]]> http://footballtj.wordpress.com/?p=138 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:01:09 +0000 footballtj http://footballtj.wordpress.com/?p=138 Ракиби «Регар» ТадАЗ дар бозии нимнихои Чоми раиси КФО, кахрамони Туркманистон, «Ишкобод» Абарчом (Supercub)-и кишварашро ба даст овард.

«Ишкобод»  дар бозии нихои бар сохиби Чоми Туркманистон, дастаи «Шагадам» аз шахри Туркманбоши аз руи зарбахои 11-метраи пас аз бози пируз омад.

Хисобро дар ин бози дар дакикаи 55-ум ракиби ракиби «Регар» ТадАЗ, яъне, «Шагадам» боз кард. Дар дакикаи 70-ум Бегенчмухаммад Кулиев тарозуи хисобро хамвазн намуд. Дар зарбахои 11-метраи пас аз бози бошад, дарвозабони дастаи мунтахаби Туркманистон Байрамниёз Бердиев кахрамони нишон дод. У се зарбаи 11-метраро дошта, худ ба дарвозаи ракибаш гол зад ва аввалин Абарчоми Туркманистонро ба хазинаи «Ишкобод» ворид намуд.

Ин хамаги саввумин Абарчоми  Туркманистон мебошад. Каблан, онро МТТУ ва «Небитчи» сохиб шуда буданд.

Куръапартоии бозихои нимнихоии Чоми раиси КФО рузи 30 июн дар дафтари марказии ин ниход дар шахри Куала-Лумпури Малайзия баргузор шуд. Дар бозии дигари нимнихои «Дордой-Динамо» (Киргизистон) бо «Непал Полис Клаб» бози мекунанд. 

Хар ду бозии нимнихои ва бозии нихои дар дахаи саввуми мохи сентябр дар варзишгохи «Спартак»-и шахри Бишкек баргузор мешаванд.

Thanks to American taxpayer dollars there were about 200 English teachers from all over Central Asia. I enjoyed meeting those especially from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan since they come from some real hardship posts.  Many difficulties to get their necessary paperwork done for some of these participants whose governments are rather suspicious of conferences such as this.  Some of those teachers I spoke with were SOOOOO very grateful for this opportunity to be exposed to learning new strategies on how to teach reading and writing in English better.  Andrea Schindler did an amazing job pulling this conference off as a Regional English Language Officer with her office and staff up in Astana. Yelena and I felt VERY privileged of the few of us who came from Almaty to take part as presenters and participants in this Central Asian Teachers of English conference.  I met many wonderful people and Yelena saw her Kazakhstani friends from years ago when she used to be president of TEA (Teachers of English Association). 

My friend and co-presenter, Yelena kept saying, as only a native Russian speaker can with their stress and intonation, "I LIKE this conference!"  Heavy emphasis on "LIKE" which almost made it seem like two words rather than one.  Yes, I did too and I felt the money was well spent on deserving teachers who are dedicated to the craft of teaching. I also believe that the setting is one of Almaty's well-kept secrets!

Ona dodaje +5 do pewności. Tak na wszelki wypadek:

Ma się tę piątkę z geografii.

Pozdrawiam

Kuba

• liberdade de expresión
• liberdade de asociación
• liberdade de relixión
• direito a un xuízo xusto
• direito a non sufrir tortura nin maltrato
• direito dos obxectores de conciencia a un servizo civil alternativo
• ...

O informe leva por título "Turkmenistan: No effective human rights reform".

2010 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers
3rd round - All goals 

Ракиби чолишии мо - Туркманистон рузи 2 июл дар Алмати бо дастаи Казокистон дидори рафикона дорад. ФутболТЧ хонандагонашро огох хохад намуд, ки ое мухочимони туркман рохи дарвозаи казокхоро хоханд ефт е на? Харчанд, барои мо мухимтар аст, ки онхо рохи дарвозаи мунтахаби Точикистонро наебанд.

Small and big celebrations in honour of olive will be organised in many places along the route, climaxing with the large Mediterranean Feast of Olive in Moscow, which will feature the performance of 1,000 violinists and the flight of 1,000 pigeons among 1,000 olives from every part of the Mediterranean Sea. 

The initiative is part of the "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue."

♬ Невестки (Bride)

♬ Девушка (Girl)

Ƨyнeɯ Вокально-Инструментальньıй Ансамбль, or Gunesh Vocal Ensemble Instrumental Experience, were from Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan (also known as Turkmenia) is a Turkic country in Central Asia. The name Turkmenistan is derived from Persian, meaning "land of the Turkmen". Its capital is Ashgabat derived from Persian, as well, loosely translates as "the city of love.". Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic. It is bordered by Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the southwest, Uzbekistan to the northeast, Kazakhstan to the northwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west. Eighty-seven percent of the population is Muslim.

Russia gained control of Turkmenistan in 1894, and incorporated it into its empire. Then after the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia and subsequent political unrest led to the declaration of the area as the Turkmen SSR, one of the six republics of the Soviet Union in 1924, assuming the borders of modern Turkmenistan.

The new Turkmen SSR went through a process of further ‘Europeanization’. The tribal Turkmen people were encouraged to become secular and adopt European-style clothing. The Turkmen alphabet was changed from the traditional Arabic script to Latin and finally to Cyrillic.

Gunesh formed in 1970 as part of State TV and Radio Company of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic as a “vocal group with supporting instruments”.

According to their website, “The group began to play jazz-rock tightly intertwined with the Oriental tradition. Gunesh' has always been in the process of reforming and was one of the first combine the similar principles of the melodious improvisation on traditional mugams and jazz improvisation. The unexpectedly beautiful arrangements appeared, and polyrhythmic compositions with odd measure were further developed thematically.”

From the best that I can tell, they relocated to Tbilisi, Georgia in the late Seventies or early Eighties. They recorded two albums, their debut was released in 1980 and the second “Looking at the Earth” in 1984. They toured extensively in the Eastern Bloc, as well as Afghanistan, Cape Verde, China, Guinea-Bissau, Laos, Mongolia, Mozambique, Senegal, Turkey and Vietnam. These two songs are from a flexi disc (one of two they were split with ABBA on the other side) that were released before their first album.

I e-mailed Stanislav Morozov thru his website, but he did not respond.

Catalog number Г 62-07335-6 TУ 43-03-48-73 on the state-owned and run Μелодия (Melodiya) label. No release date given.