YOGYAKARTA – After being delayed due to eruptions of Mount Merapi, the grand event of World Conference on Science, Education, and Culture (WISDOM 2010) will be held from 5-8 December 2010 at UGM. This event is held after Merapi activity gradually reduced and the government declared Yogyakarta as a safe place to visit. "The initial plan, WISDOM was held from 8 to 11 November 2010. However, it was delayed due to eruption of Merapi. Currently, the condition is safe, even Adisucipto Airport has resumed operations," one member of the WISDOM Steering Committee (SC) Dr. Wiendu Nuryanti, told reporters on Tuesday (30/11), at UC Resto.
Wiendu said that to initiate WISDOM, tree planting will be implemented by the Minister of Environment, Prof.Dr. Ir. H. Gusti Mohammad Hatta, M.Sc. along with invited guests. Planting trees involving 30 universities in Indonesia will make the Wisdom Park, a symbol to remind all young people to always give priority to wisdom. "Based on the plan, the location to plant the trees is in front of Grha Sabha Pramana UGM," Wiendu said.
Of the targeted 550 people, up to now 490 people have confirmed to attend. Meanwhile, for the number of speakers and moderators, of the 92 people who previously confirmed to attend, 16 of them withdrew. The location for the series of WISDOM will be outside UGM, such as in Winotosastro Batik, Tembi Cultural House, Sonobudoyo Museum, and Affandi Museum. "This indicates that WISDOM is not merely UGM event but it involves the people of Yogyakarta as a whole," she said.
Chairman of Organizing Committee, Prof.Ir. Atyanto Dharoko, M. Phil., Ph.D., said that keynote speaker at WISDOM, 5-8 December 2010 is a creative world conservation leader, Jean-Michel Cousteau of France. Known as environmental observer and marine-themed film producer, Jean-Michel also serves as Executive Vice President of Cousteau Society and Founder and President of Ocean Futures Society, a nonprofit corporation engaged in the field of marine creative conservation and education. "The keynote speaker of WISDOM is creative world conservation leader, Jean-Michel Cousteau of France. He is known as an environmentalist and producer of marine-themed movies," Atyanto said.
Related to eruption of Mount Merapi, all participants of WISDOM 2010 will be invited to visit to several villages and IDP camps. ‘Post-Merapi Eruption Social Program’ aims to give opportunity to the participants of WISDOM 2010 to understand ‘The Spirit of Merapi,’ which becomes the root of local wisdom that already exists in communities around Merapi for centuries. "The visit also shows to participants of WISDOM 2010 how local wisdom takes part as a natural resource to maintain Merapi and residents in surrounding areas," he explained.
WISDOM 2010 also schedules a colloquium to commemorate the life and contribution of Dr. Ann Dunham Soetoro and Prof. Mubyarto. During his visit to Indonesia some time ago, US President Barack Obama delivered a speech mentioning the Star Services conferment to his mother, Dr. Ann Dunham Soetoro, by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, "By the fact, Mr. President, that you chose to recognize my mother in this way speaks to the bonds that she forged over many years with the people of this magnificent country. And in honoring her, you honor the spirit that led her to travel into villages throughout the country. She believed that we all share common aspirations – to live in dignity and security, to get an education, to provide for our families, to give our children a better future, and to leave the world better than we found it."
Under the same spirit, the event of WISDOM 2010 and Colloquium in Honor of Dr. Ann Dunham Soetoro & Prof. Dr. Mubyarto will be implemented.