New nano coating boosts solar efficiency

By Matthew Knight For CNN

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Researchers have developed a new anti-reflective coating that boosts the efficiency of solar panels and allows sunlight to be absorbed from almost any angle.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers say they've made advances in absorption of sunlight.


Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute researchers say they've made advances in absorption of sunlight.

Scientists from the Future Chips Constellation (FCC) at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York have created the coating using nanotechnology -- engineering devices on a molecular scale.

They are hopeful that it can transform the solar energy market in the coming years.

A typical untreated silicon solar cell absorbs just over two thirds of the sunlight it receives. But with the FCC's nanoengineered coating, that figure rises to 96.21 percent.

In their paper: "Realization of a near perfect antireflection coating for silicon solar energy utilization," published in the scientific journal Optics Letters, researchers report that gains in absorption were consistent across the entire spectrum of sunlight -- ultraviolet, visible light, and infrared.

"To get maximum efficiency when converting solar power into electricity, you want a solar panel that can absorb nearly every single photon of light, regardless of the sun's position in the sky," said Rensselaer physics professor Shawn-Yu Lin, and head of the FCC research team. "Our new anti-reflective coating makes this possible."
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Comprising of seven tiny layers, each 50 to 100 nanometers in height, the coating is made of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide nanorods positioned at an oblique angle.

The FCC team found that stacking the coatings one on top of another enhanced the anti-reflective properties of each layer. Having a series of layers also helps to "bend" the flow of sunlight which assists in capturing light that would otherwise be reflected off.

Lin, an expert in nanostructure photonics and a pioneer in the field of photonic crystals, says that the new coating could be applied to just about any photovoltaic material.

Conventional solar technology has thus far dictated that solar panels be mounted on south-facing roofs, or in locations where the sun source is unrestricted and strong. But this new coating could change all this.

It would also mean that large scale solar farms, like the giant array in Alentejo, Portugal, could increase their output while saving on energy used to track the sun.

"The anti-reflective coating requires multi-layer coatings which are slightly more complex than the typical single-layer ones," Lin told CNN. "However, the thickness of each individual layer does not need to be precise. This makes manufacturing easier."

Lin is currently exploring partnerships and licensing arrangements, and estimates the product could be on the market as soon as the next two to three years.

"The economics of modern day solar cells depends largely on the thickness of the substrate (500 - 1000 micrometers) and the processing cost for making the junctions. Our coating has a thickness of 0.7 to 1 micrometer. The additional cost for incorporating our antireflective coating should not exceed two to four percent of that for existing solar cells," Lin said.

The only downside that Lin and his team have found so far is that the nanorods can be fragile. Future research will focus on protecting them better and investigating the use of a thin porous film to make them more robust.

In response to the paper's publication, Professor Darren Bagnall from the Nanoscale Systems Integration Group at the UK's University of Southampton told CNN, "It's a really impressive surface, and to get down to reflectivity from all angles of 3.5 percent is pretty impressive. But it's really only going to deliver maybe four or five percent more power from the solar cell."

Bagnall is himself trying to nanoengineer surfaces for solar cells by mimicking the surface of moth eyes, which possess excellent antireflective surfaces.

He says that the FCC paper is only talking about the amount of light that's transmitted to the device, not the efficiency of the device itself. "Reflection is a relatively small part of the problem," he said.

Jeremy Leggett, founder of Solar Century, a leading UK solar-energy company, also gave a cautious welcome to the new research.

"I've seen this before from other university research groups and there is a world of difference between nice results in the lab and commercially viable products," Leggett said. "But at some point one of them is going to work."

Leggett believes that the future is already very bright for the solar industry. He says that $150 billion was invested in renewable energy last year, with $28 billion of that going to photovoltaics.

"With the current efficiencies, we are one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Solar is the fastest growing clean technology with existing technology. Any other increases in efficiency are going to be the icing on a very nice cake."

source: www.CNN.com

Millennium Development Goals

In September 2000 Heads of State from all over the world, including the President of Indonesia, gathered at the United Nations Millennium Summit in New York and signed the Millennium Declaration. They thereby reaffirmed the commitment of their nations and the international community to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, a set of measurable objectives for development and poverty eradication.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) essentially embody the international commitments made at the United Nations World Summits and global conferences throughout the 1990s. By signing the Millennium Declaration world leaders pledged to halve the proportion of people suffering from hunger, ensure that all children can complete primary education, eliminate gender disparity at all levels of education, reduce under-five and infant mortality rates by two thirds, and halve the proportion of people without access to improved water sources by 2015.

As a follow-up to the commitments made in the Millennium Summit, each signatory country is expected to prepare a Millennium Development Goals Report. The Government of Indonesia, under the leadership of the national planning agency and with technical support from a UN Task Force, has completed the first MDG Report. It was drafted in Indonesian and later translated into English, reflecting the Government's strong sense of ownership of the report. The preparation process involved active participation of, and extensive consultations among, key ministries responsible for implementing policies and programmes directed towards the realization of the MDGs.

The report represents the Government's initial attempt to take stock of the country's human development situation relating to the MDG targets, measure and analyze progress towards their realization, and identify and review policies and programmes required to meet the targets. With reference to the goal of halving the proportion of people whose income is below the national poverty line between 1990 and 2015, the Report shows that Indonesia is on track towards attaining that goal. However, prospects across provinces are uneven.

Apart from enhancing awareness, understanding and appreciation of the MDGs by the Indonesian public, the report could be used as an advocacy tool by national and local parliaments, CSOs and the media in promoting policies, programmes and resource allocation decisions to realize the MDG targets.

Source:http://www.undp.or.id

The impact of global warming in Asia

The Asian region spans polar, temperate, and tropical climates and is home to over 3 billion people. As the climate warms, many mountain glaciers may disappear, permafrost will thaw, and the northern forests are likely to shift further north. Rapid population growth and development in countries like China and India will put additional pressures on natural ecosystems and will lead to a rapid rise in the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere unless steps are taken to curtail emissions.

Fingerprints

1. Llasa, Tibet -- Warmest June on record, 1998. Temperatures hovered above 77�F for 23 days.

59. Garhwal Himalayas, India -- Glacial retreat at record pace. The Dokriani Barnak Glacier retreated 66 ft (20.1 m) in 1998 despite a severe winter. The Gangorti Glacier is retreating 98 ft (30 m) per year. At this rate scientists predict the loss of all central and eastern Himalayan glaciers by 2035.

62. Tien Shan Mountains, China -- Glacial ice reduced by one quarter in the past 40 years.

90. Southern India - Heat wave, May 2002. In the state of Andhra Pradesh temperatures rose to 120�F, resulting in the highest one-week death toll on record. This heat wave came in the context of a long-term warming trend in Asia in general. India, including southern India, has experienced a warming trend at a rate of 1�F (0.6�C) per century.

91. Nepal - High rate of temperature rise. Since the mid-1970s the average air temperature measured at 49 stations has risen by 1.8�F (1�C), with high elevation sites warming the most. This is twice as fast as the 1�F (0.6�C) average warming for the mid-latitudinal Northern Hemisphere (24 to 40�N) over the same time period, and illustrates the high sensitivity of mountain regions to climate change.

93. Taiwan - Average temperature increase. The average temperature for the island has risen 1.8-2.5�F (1-1.4�C) in the last 100 years. The average temperature for 2000 was the warmest on record.

94. Afghanistan - 2001 - Warmest winter on record. Arid Central Asia, which includes Afghanistan, experienced a warming of 0.8-3.6�F (1-2�C) during the 20th century.

95. Tibet - Warmest decade in 1,000 years. Ice core records from the Dasuopu Glacier indicate that the last decade and last 50 years have been the warmest in 1,000 years. Meteorological records for the Tibetan Plateau show that annual temperatures increased 0.4�F (0.16�C) per decade and winter temperatures increased 0.6�F (0.32�C) per decade from 1955 to 1996.

96. Mongolia - Warmest century of the past millennium. A 1,738-year tree-ring record from remote alpine forests in the Tarvagatay Mountains indicates that 20th century temperatures in this region are the warmest of the last millennium. Tree growth during 1980-1999 was the highest of any 20-year period on record, and 8 of the 10 highest growth years occurred since 1950. The 20th century warming has been observed in tree-ring reconstructions of temperature from widespread regions of Eurasia, including sites in the Polar Urals, Yakutia, and the Taymir Peninsula, Russia. The average annual temperature in Mongolia has increased by about 1.3�F (0.7�C) over the past 50 years.

119. Chokoria Sundarbans, Bangladesh - Flooded mangroves. Rising ocean levels have flooded about 18,500 acres (7,500 hectares) of mangrove forest during the past three decades. Global sea-level rise is aggravated by substantial deltaic subsidence in the area with rates as high as 5.5 mm/year.

120. China - Rising waters and temperature. The average rate of sea-level rise was 0.09 +/- 0.04 inches (2.3 +/- 0.9 mm) per year over the last 30 years. Global sea-level rise was aggravated locally by subsidence of up to 2 inches (5 cm) per year for some regions due to earthquakes and groundwater withdrawal. Also, ocean temperatures off the China coast have risen in the last 100 years, especially since the 1960s.

126. Bhutan - Melting glaciers swelling lakes. As Himalayan glaciers melt glacial lakes are swelling and in danger of catastrophic flooding. Average glacial retreat in Bhutan is 100-130 feet (30-40 m) per year. Temperatures in the high Himalayas have risen 1.8�F (1�C) since the mid 1970s.

127. India - Himalayan glaciers retreating. Glaciers in the Himalayas are retreating at an average rate of 50 feet (15 m) per year, consistent with the rapid warming recorded at Himalayan climate stations since the 1970s. Winter stream flow for the Baspa glacier basin has increased 75% since 1966 and local winter temperatures have warmed, suggesting increased glacier melting in winter.

130. Mt. Everest - Retreating glacier.The Khumbu Glacier, popular climbing route to the summit of Mt. Everest, has retreated over 3 miles (5 km) since 1953. The Himalayan region overall has warmed by about 1.8�F (1�C) since the 1970s.

131. Kyrgyzstan - Disappearing glaciers. During 1959-1988, 1,081 glaciers in the Pamir-Altai disappeared. Temperatures in the mountains of Kyrgyztan have increased by 0.9-2.7� F (0.5-1.5�C) since the 1950s.

142. Siberia - Melting permafrost. Large expanses of tundra permafrost are melting. In some regions the rate of thawing of the upper ground is nearly 8 inches (20 cm) per year. Thawing permafrost has already damaged 300 buildings in the cities of Norilsk and Yakutsk. In Yakutsk, the average temperature of the permanently frozen ground has warmed by 2.7 �F (1.5�C) during the past 30 years.

Harbingers

18. Indonesia -- Malaria spreads to high elevations. Malaria was detected for the first time as high as 6,900 feet (2103 m) in the highlands of Irian Jaya in 1997.

50. Philippines -- Coral reef bleaching.

51. Indian Ocean -- Coral reef bleaching (inclues Seychelles; Kenya; Reunion; Mauritius; Somalia; Madagascar; Maldives; Indonesia; Sri Lanka; Gulf of Thailand [Siam]; Andaman Islands; Malaysia; Oman; India; and Cambodia).

52. Persian Gulf -- Coral reef bleaching.

77. Korea -- Heavy rains and flooding. Severe flooding struck during July and August, 1998, with daily rainfall totals exceeding 10 inches (25.4 cm).

87. Indonesia -- Burning rainforest, 1998. Fires burned up to 2 million acres (809,371 hectares) of land, including almost 250,000 acres (101,172 hectares) of primary forest and parts of the already severely reduced habitat of the Kalimantan orangutan.

88. Khabarovsk, Russia -- Wildfires threaten tiger habitat, 1998. Drought and high winds fueled fires that destroyed 3.7 million acres (1,497,337 hectares) of taiga and threatened two important nature reserves that are habitat for the only remaining Amur tigers.

103. Bangladesh - Link between stronger El Ni�o events and cholera prevalence. Researchers found a robust relationship between progressively stronger El Ni�o events and cholera prevalence, spanning a 70-year period from 1893-1940 and 1980-2001. There has been a marked intensification of the El Ni�o/Southern Oscillation phenomenon since the 1980s, which is not fully explained by the known shifts in the Pacific basin temperature regime that began in the mid-1970s. Findings by Rodo et al. are consistent with model projections of El Ni�o intensification under global warming conditions. The authors make a strong case for the climate-health link by providing evidence for biological sensitivity to climate, meteorological evidence of climate change, and evidence of epidemiological change with global warming. The study likely represents the first piece of evidence that warming trends over the last century are affecting human disease.

105. Lake Baikal, Russia - Shorter freezing period. Winter freezing is about 11 days later and spring ice breakup is about 5 days earlier compared to a century ago. Some regions of Siberia have warmed by as much as 2.5�F (1.4�C) in just 25 years.

147. Iran - Desiccated wetlands, 2001 Ninety percent of wetlands have dried up after 2 years of extreme drought. Much of South West Asia has experienced a prolonged three-year drought that is unusual in its magnitude. Out of 102 years of record, 1999, 2000, and 2001 rank as the fifth, third, and seventh driest on record. 1999-2000 was the driest winter on record.

148. Pakistan - Longest drought on record, 1999-2001. The prolonged three-year drought, which covers much of South West Asia, has affected 2.2 million people and 16 million livestock in Pakistan.

149. Tajikistan - Lowest rainfall in 75 years, 2001. 2001 marked the third consecutive year of drought, which has destroyed half the wheat crop.

150. Korea - Worst drought in 100 years of record, 2001. It coincided with an average annual temperature increase in Asia�s temperate region, which includes Korea, by more than 1.8�F (1�C) over the past century. The warming has been most pronounced since 1970.

155. China - Disappearing Lakes, 2001. More than half of the 4,000 lakes in the Qinghai province are disappearing due to drought. The severity of the impact is exacerbated by overpumping of aquifers. Annual average temperature in China has increased during the past century, with pronounced warming since 1980. Most of the warming has been in northern areas, including Qinghai Province, and in the winter.

source:http://www.climatehotmap.org

The Economic Valuation of Mangroves: A Manual for Researchers

by Camille Bann

Foreword

This manual on the Economic Valuation of Mangroves has been compiled and developed from a number of sources as an aid to researchers in Southeast Asia involved in the evaluation of mangrove ecosystems. A companion EEPSEA manual 'The Economic Valuation of Alternative Tropical Forest Land Use Options' (Bann, 1997) contains a more detailed theoretical discussion of the issues and valuation approaches presented here, and should be referred to by the user as appropriate.

The manual was originally developed as an aid to Cambodian researchers in the execution of an EEPSEA-Pioneered study of Koh Kong mangrove, Cambodia. (The report resulting from that study is available as an EEPSEA Research Report.)

Special thanks are due to Jack Ruitenbeek for careful comments on an earlier draft.

The main components of this Manual are: an introduction to the values of, and threats to, mangrove ecosystems (Chapter 1); a theoretical introduction to valuation of the environment (Chapter 2); a methodology for the economic assessment of mangrove management options (Chapters 3-9); a qualitative discussion of the possible impacts associated with common development options for mangrove ecosystems (Chapter 10); and, two case-study examples from Asia (Chapter 11).

for more detail: http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/10305674900acf30c.html

Performance Evaluation of Commercial Bank

Performance Evaluation of Commercial Bank Branches Using Data Envelopment Analysis
Journal of Business and Management, 2005 by Yavas, Burhan F, Fisher, Dorothy M



Considerable research has been devoted to using multiple criteria to measure the performance of business units such as bank branches. However, bank managers continue to use traditional methods to evaluate their branch offices. In general, subjective weights for various criteria are used to arrive at a weighted average score to measure the performance of a bank branch. Potential deficiencies in an existing set of weights include bias and inconsistency with organizational objectives. This paper employs Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to evaluate the operational performance of a bank branch relative to the performance of its peer branches. Utilizing data from 31 branches of a major bank located in Southern California, the use of DEA yields the following: 1) rankings of bank branches using efficiency scores, 2) identification of areas of deficiency and 3) establishment of the reference group against which a branch is evaluated. Twenty-two of the 31 branches were found to be in need of improvements in various areas. In addition to identifying best-practice branches and those that are out-of-line with the best practice branches, DEA also points to the specific changes that must be made in the less productive branches in order for them to catch up with their best-practice peer group. The findings of this study should help management in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their bank branches.

Discussion
Banks operate in a volatile environment that constantly requires them to alter their products and services. As indicated earlier, the trend is more revenues coming from such non-traditional offerings as insurance and financial services, while traditional banking revenues have declined. In fact, since World War II, the share of depository institutions in total assets held by the industry has declined from 55.9 percent to 35.6 percent between 1948 and 2000 (Saunders & Cornett, 2003). On the other hand, investment companies that give savers cheaper access to securities markets have seen their share of that business increase reflecting savers' shifting preferences toward securities markets over those products offered by commercial banks. In addition, information technology and a changing regulatory environment have resulted in consolidations in the commercial banking industry (Saunders & Cornett, 2003). In such an environment, banks compete with one another by developing new financial products and devising new ways of delivering these products to customers. Online banking and smart debit cards are two examples of new products in the banking industry. Equity and bond mutual funds are among the more recent offerings. Earlier examples of innovation included Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and credit and debit cards.
Along with seriously considering and analyzing domestic trends, commercial banks must now also compete with foreign banks and other financial intermediaries. Against this background, it is clear that the future performance of commercial banks will be based largely on the extent to which they adopt the newest technologies and offer new, competitively priced products, such as mutual funds and insurance. In such a highly competitive environment, performance evaluation of bank branches assumes greater importance. The challenges brought about by this environment may require new operating principles that in turn make changes necessary at the bank branch level as the mix of product offerings changes. Regardless of the sources of these changes, bank managers must know whether their banking policies have improved productivity and whether the changes and the new initiatives affect some branches differently than others.
Instead of using traditional techniques such as ratio analysis and observation, the management of the bank studied here decided to use DEA to identify areas where improvement could be made in the performance of the branches while maintaining service quality and also pinpointing opportunities where savings could be achieved.
The identification of bank branches that are functioning efficiently in contrast to inefficient branches is one of the most important outcomes of a DEA assessment. This is so because both efficient and inefficient bank branches typically use a similar set of resources (inputs) in producing a similar mix of services (outputs) in a similar environment. Therefore, inefficient branches can learn from and emulate their efficient peers regarding what needs to be done to improve. Furthermore, operational practices identified as contributing to efficiency may be studied, and information gathered may be disseminated throughout the entire organization that seeks to investigate, improve and grow.
Suggestions for further use of DEA include development of a DEA-based index (Fare et al., 1994) that measures productivity change and can be used to investigate the changes in productivity resulting from changes in product offerings and/or operating principles. In addition to measuring the impact of new offerings, such analyses could help address the questions of how to allocate operating budgets to units, how to minimize financial risks at branch levels, and how to use inter-branch data to monitor a bank's performance vis-Ã -vis other branches as well as other banks in the industry.


for more detauil...
http://findarticles.com

KALBE Nutritionals Lowongan Pekerjaan Accounting

KALBE Nutritionals is a Leading Health Foods Company in Indonesia, looking for the best and the brightest candidates to fill the following position:

Accounting Staff

Requirements:

1. Min. Bachelor Degree in Accounting from a reputable university
2. Preferable min. 1 year working experience in Accounting area especially operate with Oracle System (Costing)

3. Have a computer skill (Microsoft Office)
4. Attention to detail, speed, honest, strong ability in working with numbers

Please send your application and full resume to:

HRD – KALBE Nutritionals
Gedung Graha Kirana Lt.5 Suite 501
Jl. Yos Sudarso Kav. 88 Sunter
Jakarta Utara 14350
or by e-mail to: recruitment@kalbenutritionals.com
(Put the position code on the envelope or email subject.)

http://lowongankerjas.com

JOB VACANCIES AT PT KALTIM PRIMA COAL

PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC); 2 Positionslowongan juli agustus terbaru July 05, 2008 Expiry date : Saturday, July 19, 2008

PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) operates a coal mine in Sangatta East Kalimantan and is one of the largest export coal mines In the world Coal Production target for 2008 is 46 mtpa and plan are underway for further expansion in 2009 and beyond to bring optimum economic return to the company and its stakeholder.Opportunities exist for a seasoned, high caliber, professional to join the Company with job assignment in Sangatta - East Kalimantan for the positions of:

Manager -IT Infrastructure Support

Key elaments of the position include:

• Plan, develop and implement the Department budget and workload to determine priorities, provide direction to employees and meet goals within professional, time, safety and cost guidelines.

• Manage the following services, advise and guide management and staff on the following services to resolve technical matters.> data centre operations, including Windows and Unix servers, to maintain the availability, reliability, and integrity of business data.> personal computers (both workstation, desktop, and notebooks), printers, and peripherals, to ensure their availability and reliability to support company operations.> data telecommunication network and operation, including data telecommunication links between Jakarta office and site operation offices and inter-building data communication links in the site operations.> voice telecommunication network and operation, including two-way radio communication and telephone communication.> cable Television network and operation in the employee housing areas.

• Oversee the section s activities to keep up-to-date with work issues, monitor the effectiveness of tools and techniques employed and maximize efficiencies.

• Participate and contribute to Information Technology meetings to highlight infrastructure support and operations activities, gather Information and ideas for utilization within the operation and understand the key issues impacting the Division.

• Direct and manage the Department to meet business targets, adhering to Company and Government standards.

• Develop and implement strategies to enhance the performance of Company IT infrastructure facilities, within cost, quality and organization standards as well as meet the needs of internal customers.

• Implement IT Disaster Recovery Plan and IT Business Continuity Plan to ensure the integrity of business information.
Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualification S1 or Master Degree in an Information Technology based business discipline from a reputable university, or another tertiary qualification with extensive experience and proven skills in Information Technology.

• Around 10-15 years experience in managing IT Infrastructure.

• Knowledge and skills in managing server with various OS, data and voice communication, and network security.

• Knowledge and skills in managing service contracts and outsourced services.

• Familiar with internationally recognised standards in Information Technology fields.

• Excellent spoken and written English and presentation skill.

• Qualifications in Unix & Windows server administration and Microsoft Windows system, personal computer administration, and network administration.

• Ability to facilitate/manage teams in the achievement of common goals.

Manager – Legal (Reporting to CEO)
Main elements of the position description Include:

• Responsible for handling all potential legal matters, including analysis, evaluation and defense of any legal issue.

• Provide legal and policy advice and services to ensure that KPC strategic and operational needs are achieved with maximum legal compliance.

• Coordinate, track and analyse all cases involving KPC, and carry out consultation/negotiation and research required.

• Assist KPC management in the formulation of proposals which would improve the overall functioning of the dispute resolution mechanisms.

• Monitor changes in laws and regulations that may affect KPC operations and implement policy and procedural changes as required, and provide necessary update for all KPC management.

• Draft and review contracts, agreements and other legal documents.

• Participate in contract negotiations and ensure compliance with all legal documentation requirements

• Ensure appropriate monitoring and recording systems are in place to capture information relevant to legal cases and provide update/progress report to management regarding issues resolution.

• Proof all published material that contains advice or legal information to ensure accuracy and compliance.

• Represent KPC at external meetings, conferences and committees related to legal and policy issues and negotiate detailed outcomes in accordance with broad policy directions.

• Manage external lawyers and provide strategic advice for settlement of legal dispute or litigations.
Qualifications and experience:

• S1 degree in Law with at least 10 years experience in a law firm or related Industry.• Familiar with corporate legal activities.

• Good understanding in all relevant law and regulations, especially in mining and forestry law is more preferable.

• Good skill in interpersonal relationship, negotiation and lobbying.

• Computer literate (MS Word, Excel, Pw. Point).

• Possess good communication skill in Indonesian and English.

• Possess strong capability to work as a team.

• High commitment to safety standard & business ethic.

• Good understanding on global coal business will be an advantage.

Remuneration:This is a challenging career prospect and a very competitive remuneration & benefit package will be offered to qualified candidate.
If your background meets these requirements, forward your resume (including details of present position & remuneration, your latest color photograph) no later than 2 weeks after the date of this advertisement to the following address:

The Superintendent Recruitment

PT. Kaltim Prima Coal, PO BOX 620Balikpapan 76106, Kalimantan Timur

Or E-mail to: recruitment@kpc.co.id

ONLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED!

source: http://lowongankerjas.com

PhD Scholarship

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences provides leading, international research and education in road and water engineering, earth sciences, traffic and transport control, and delta technology. Innovation and sustainability are central themes. The research addresses global social issues and is closely interwoven with education as well as with the work carried out by a broad spectrum of knowledge institutions. The faculty consists of 17 sections distributed among the Departments of Design & Construction, Hydraulic Engineering, Transport & Planning, Water Management and Geotechnology.

The Section of Road and Railway Engineering focuses on the design, construction, management and maintenance of structures for land-based traffic, and the interaction between traffic and structures. The section has extensive laboratory facilities to perform advanced tests. Advanced mathematical tools are applied for in-depth analyses.

Job description
Short pitch rail corrugation is a type of vertical periodic irregularity on top of railway rails with a wavelength of 2-8 cm. It is a result of the dynamic interaction between the wheels and rails and is one of the major types of damage in most rail systems worldwide. It causes large dynamic contact forces, resulting not only in damages to rolling stock, wheel and rail, but also in rapid deterioration of track quality and noise nuisance, leading to high maintenance and renewal costs and reduced track availability. With the continuous increase in rail transport in the foreseeable future, the problem will be even more pronounced, particularly for networks which are approaching or have reached their capacity limit.

By means of numerical analyses, field monitoring and lab tests, this research aims at a fundamental understanding of the initiation and growth mechanisms of short pitch corrugation, basically the wavelength fixing mechanism and the damage mechanism by wear and plastic deformation. This should finally lead to improved track design to avoid corrugations, possible methods for detection of corrugation root causes in existing track, and action criteria for optimal maintenance. For this research, the Road and Railway Engineering Section at TU Delft is looking for a motivated PhD student.

Requirements

Applicants should have an MSc or the equivalent in Mechanical, Aerospace or Civil Engineering, Applied Mathematics or Physics, with knowledge of Dynamics and Vibration and the Finite Element Method. Candidates should have demonstrable interest and skills in research as well as good communication skills. Proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is a prerequisite.

Conditions of employment

TU Delft offers an attractive benefits package, including a flexible work week, free high-speed Internet access from home, and the option of assembling a customized compensation and benefits package (the ‘IKA’). Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Information and application
For more information about this position, please contact
Dr. ir. Z. Li
phone: +31 (0)15-2782325,
e-mail: z.li[a-t]tudelft.nl.

To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by June 13th, 2008 to W. A. Maertens at:Recruitment-citg[a-t]tudelft.nl. When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number CITG08-13. TU Delft is an equal opportunity employer.

Further information please visit the official website

source: http://beasiswa.blogs.ie

Scholarship S2/S3 Research

Beasiswa Penelitian Program S2/S3 Endeavour ini diberikan untuk calon mahasiswa yang berasal dari luar New Zealand untuk menempuh pendidikan pada tahun 2009.

To be eligible to apply for the EIPRS, you must:
1. be an overseas student who is eligible to undertake a higher degree by research candidature within UTS’s areas of research strengths, and
2. be able to commence in full time enrolment for the first time in 2009, unless:
- you commenced your HDR during 2008 but, due to the timing of your applications and subsequent enrolment were not able to apply for the 2008 EIPRS, or

- you have terminated any previous HDR enrolment within six months of commencement
3. not hold a research qualification regarded by UTS as equivalent to an Australian Research Doctorate degree or, if undertaking a Research by Master degree, not hold a research qualification regarded as equivalent to or higher than an Australian Research Master’s degree, and
4. not have held an Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) scholarship within the two years prior to commencing the EIPRS, and
5. not be receiving a scholarship for which course tuition fee is a component under any scholarship scheme to which the Australian Government makes a substantial contribution.
Eligibility for admission
PhD Degree
Applicants shall:
- hold a Bachelor’s degree with First or Second Class Honours, Division 1 or a Master’s Degree by research of the University of Technology, Sydney; or
- possess an equivalent qualification.
In addition, applicants will be required to provide satisfactory evidence of their ability to undertake advanced research appropriate to their PhD program.

Master’s Degree by Research
Applicants shall:
- hold a Bachelor’s Degree of the University of Technology, Sydney; or
- possess an equivalent qualification; or
- submit such other evidence of general and professional qualifications as will satisfy the Academic Board that the applicant possesses the educational preparation and capacity to pursue graduate studies.

English proficiency
Applicants whose formal education was conducted in a language other than English are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency. Evidence of English language proficiency must be provided by the closing dates specified in this information.

Selection criteria
Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, research capacity and research potential. The applicant’s intended area of study must be in an area of research concentration of the institution.

Scholarship Application Procedure and Requirements
- You must complete the International Student Postgraduate Application [pdf 74.5kb]. Mark the top of the front page of this form EIPRS Applicant.
- You must also complete the 2009 EIPRS application form[pdf, 46.9kb]

Supporting documents essential for your applications (required for International Student Postgraduate and EIPRS application)

- Research proposal detailing your research objectives, example of your key literature in your area of interest and a broad outline of the sequence and timing of the work that you plan to do;
- Evidence of prior research experience, including work for Bachelor’s Honours or Master theses, consultancies or industry-based research;
- The name of your potential supervisors (or supervisors) at UTS with whom you have discussed your research interest or have agreed to supervise your research project
- Reports from 2 referees, preferably from someone who are familiar with your research interest and who can confirm your capacity to carry out research. Use the the Academic Referee’s Report form (pdf 24kb).
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae including:
Details of any academic prizes gained during your tertiary studies
Details of any work experience (paid or unpaid) relevant to your proposed research project
Details of publication in academic or peer reviewed journals, published books or chapters of books
Details of patents achieved or any other output, for example, exhibited works (if applicable)

All supporting documents must be properly certified, these include:
- English proficiency test results
- Copies of degree(s) awarded and full academic transcript(s) showing the subjects studied, the marks obtained and an explanation of the grading system must be provided
- For documents not in English, the original language documents and an official translation must also be certified

Photocopies that are not certified will not be accepted.
Documents certified by a Justice of Peace will not be accepted.

Closing Date
1 September, 2008 at 5.00pm.
All application requirements must be received by the closing date.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered
- Late applications will not be considered
- Faxed applications will not be considered
It is in your interest to apply as early as possible

If you apply early and you are missing any documents you will be notified of this by UTS International and will have still have adequate time to supply the required documents before the deadline of the EIPRS application.
Applications must arrive at the address nominated on the application form by the due time on the due date. Merely posting the application by the due date is not acceptable.

Acknowledgement of receipt of EIPRS applicaton
An email acknowledgement of receipt of your EIPRS application will be sent to you when received by UTS international.

Notification of the outcome
Eligible applicants will receive email notification of the outcome of their EIPRS in late November 2008.

Source:http://beasiswa.blogs.ie

LOWONGAN KERJA CPNS RI KPK

Dibutuhkan lebih dari sekedar TEKAD untuk memberantas korupsi di Indonesia…

Indonesia memanggil Warga Negara Indonesia yang memiliki integritas dan komitmen tinggi untuk bergabung dengan Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi dan mengisi posisi-posisi jabatan berikut :

KELOMPOK STRUKTURAL
Deputi PIPM (S001)
Direktur Penelitian dan Pengembangan (S002)
Kepala Biro Hukum (S003)

KELOMPOK FUNGSIONAL
Analis LHKPN (F001)
Pemeriksa Gratifikasi (F002)
Spesialis Penelitian dan Pengembangan (F003)
Spesialis Deputi Penindakan (F004)
Computer Forensic Coordinator (F005)
Information Analyst (F006)
Spesialis Jejaring Informasi (PJKAKI) (F007)
Internal Auditor (F008)
Penelaah Pengaduan Masyarakat (F009)
Spesialis Hukum (F010)
Spesialis Hukum Perlindungan Saksi (F011)
Koordinator Pelayanan Internal (F012)
Spesialis SDM (F013)

KELOMPOK TEKNIS
Administrasi Keuangan (T001)
Staf Persidangan (T002)
Surveillance Officer (T003)
Interception Officer (T004)
Computer Forensic Officer (T005)
Acquisition and Implementing Staff (T006)
Web Staff (T007)
Telecommunication Administrator (T008)
Administrasi Hukum (T009)
Penjaga Tahanan (T010)
Koordinator- Integrated Security System-ISS (T011)
Koordinator M/E Gedung (T012)
Administrasi Pengelolaan Asset (T013)
Administrasi Pengadaan Barang dan Jasa (T014)

KELOMPOK ADMINISTRASI
Sekretaris Deputi (A001)
Administrasi Pemeriksaan LHKPN (A002)
Administrasi Pencegahan (A003)
Administrasi Kampanye Sosial (A004)
Administrasi Kesekretariatan (A005)
Administrasi SDM (A006)

PERSYARATAN UMUM :

1. Pendidikan
* Minimal S1 untuk Deputi//Direktur/ Kepala Biro
* Minimal S1 untuk kelompok pekerjaan Fungsional
* Minimal D3 untuk kelompok pekerjaan Teknis dan kelompok pekerjaan Administras
2. Batas Usia
* Minimal 45 tahun untuk Deputi dan 40 tahun untuk Direktur dan Kepala Biro, maksimal 52 tahun untuk Deputi/Direktur/ Kepala Biro per 30 April 2008.
* Maksimal 40 tahun untuk kelompok pekerjaan Fungsional (kecuali jka ada persyaratan khusus untuk posisi tertentu) per 30 April 2008.
* Maksimal 35 tahun untuk kelompok pekerjaan Administrasi dan kelompok pekerjaan Teknis (kecuali jka ada persyaratan khusus untuk posisi tertentu) per 30 April 2008.
3. Mampu mengoperasikan komputer dan aplikasinya
4. Diutamakan lancar berbahasa Inggris lisan dan tulisan
5. Tidak buta warna
6. Bersedia mengikuti seluruh proses seleksi di Jakarta, biaya dari dan ke tempat seleksi menjadi tanggungan peserta.
7. Tidak dalam status Pegawai Negeri/PNS/CPNS
8. Tidak memiliki hubungan keluarga (suami/istri, orangtua/mertua, anak/menantu) dengan pejabat/pegawai KPK.

PERSYARATAN KHUSUS UNTUK SEMUA JABATAN :

1. Memiliki integritas tinggi, dedikasi, dan komitmen yang tinggi
2. Bersedia bekerja dalam situasi penuh tekanan dan tantangan
3. Enerjetik, penuh kegigihan, dan mampu bekerja mandiri maupun dalam tim
4. Memiliki inisiatif tinggi, mempunyai pengendalian diri yang baik, dan wawasan yang luas
5. Menyukai pekerjaan yang beragam dan detail untuk kelompok pekerjaan Fungsional
6. Tekun dengan ketelitian yang tinggi

KETENTUAN LAIN :

1. Aplikasi lamaran hanya melalui on-line (klik link registrasi on-line di bagian bawah spesifikasi jabatan). Tidak ada jalur lain yang digunakan untuk pengiriman lamaran.
2. Pelamar wajib memiliki alamat e-mail pribadi yang masih aktif untuk dapat mengikuti proses seleksi ini. Kami tidak melayani alamat e-mail yang salah input oleh pelamar. Pelamar dilarang menggunakan alamat e-mail kantor atau orang lain untuk proses pendaftaran ini.
3. Setelah mengisi formulir aplikasi dan mengirimkannya kembali secara on-line, pelamar akan mendapat konfirmasi registrasi. Konfirmasi tersebut berisi nomor registrasi yang akan digunakan selama proses seleksi. Anda tidak dapat menerima e-mail registrasi apabila alamat e-mail yang anda input salah dan atau sudah tidak aktif, sehingga anda tidak bisa log-in untuk pengumuman selanjutnya.
4. Pelamar hanya diperkenankan melakukan satu kali registrasi on-line dan hanya untuk satu posisi saja.Untuk itu pastikan Anda telah memilih Posisi Jabatan yang sesuai, serta menuliskan semua data dengan benar, sebelum menekan tombol KIRIM
5. Pelamar wajib mengisi aplikasi dengan data/informasi yang sebenar-benarnya karena data ini akan diklarifikasi dengan benar saat pelaksanaan verifikasi dokumen.
6. Masa waktu registrasi on-line adalah 16 Februari 2008 s/d 2 Maret 2008.
7. Aplikasi yang masuk setelah batas akhir registrasi dan atau tidak melamar secara on-line, dianggap tidak berlaku.
8. Keputusan hasil seleksi bersifat mutlak dan tidak dapat diganggu gugat.
9. Pada setiap tahapan seleksi, hanya pelamar yang dinyatakan lulus melalui pengumuman di website KPK dan website PPM yang akan dihubungi oleh Konsultan Independen untuk masuk ke tahap seleksi berikutnya.
10. Pelamar tidak diperkenankan untuk menghubungi pejabat/pegawai KPK dan/atau datang ke KPK.Pelamar hanya diperkenankan datang ke KPK pada saat wawancara akhir oleh pihak KPK. Pelamar yang menghubungi/ mendatangi KPK selain pada waktu tes dinyatakan gugur.
11. Proses rekrutmen dan seleksi ini tidak dikenakan biaya apapun.
12. Pengumuman hasil seleksi administrasi dan pelamar yang berhak mengikuti seleksi selanjutnya dapat dilihat di website www.ppm-rekrutmen. com mulai tanggal 12 Maret 2008, pukul 18.00 WIB

PENTING UNTUK DIPERSIAPKAN :

1. Bagi Anda yang kemudian dinyatakan lolos seleksi administrasi, akan diminta hadir pada Tes Tahap I di lokasi dan waktu yang akan ditetapkan dengan membawa dokumen dan kelengkapan sebagai berikut:
1. Kartu Tanda Penduduk yang masih berlaku, asli dan fotocopy
2. Fotocopy ijazah yang sesuai dengan persyaratan pendidikan dan telah dilegalisir oleh pejabat berwenang
3. Fotocopy transkrip nilai yang telah dilegalisir oleh pejabat yang berwenang
4. Fotocopy sertifikat keahlian lainnya yang relevan
5. Data Riwayat Hidup yang harus didownload dari website www.ppm-rekrutmen. com setelah Anda log in, data riwayat hidup yang telah diisi diserahkan dalam bentuk print out
6. artu Peserta Seleksi yang harus didownload dari website www.ppm-rekrutmen. com setelah Anda log in. Mohon dilengkapi dan diserahkan dalam bentuk print out
7. Pas Foto Berwarna ukuran 4 x 6 sebanyak 2 lembar
8. Fotocopy Surat Ijin Mengemudi (SIM) yang masih berlaku bagi pekerjaan yang mempersyaratkan kemampuan mengemudi.
2. Seluruh berkas dimasukkan ke dalam map folio, yang sudah dituliskan nama dan nomor registrasi Anda dengan ketentuan :
1. Map merah untuk kelompok pekerjaan struktural
2. Map hijau untuk kelompok pekerjaan fungsional
3. Map kuning untuk kelompok pekerjaan teknis
4. Map biru untuk kelompok pekerjaan administrasi
3. Mohon mempersiapkan seluruh dokumen dengan lengkap dan benar. Jika ditemukan ketidaklengkapan dokumen dan/atau ketidaksesuaian data pada dokumen dengan berkas lamaran, Anda akan dinyatakan gugur pada Tes Tahap I

Mangrove management in Pemalang regency as the coastal area protector

Co-management approach has been applied to determine the sharing of responsibility in mangrove management and Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP) applied to determine priority in good management of mangrove.

Existence of mangrove ecosystem which must be protected, now have been changed for various economic activities which are generally pay less attention to sustainable environment. These have implicated to lowering of coast environmental quality, contamination, and sedimentation increases, source of seed of nature decreasing, number and types of fish decreases and in many places sea-water intrusion to inland area.

This research is aim to analyse mangrove management in Pemalang regency as the coastal area protector and priority that need to be implemented in good management. The quota sampling used to obtained the number of samples in this research. There are 132 people has participated as the responders consisted of 100 head of household and 32 key-persons. Co-management approach has been applied to determine the sharing of responsibility in mangrove management and Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP) applied to determine priority in good management of mangrove.

The results of this study indicated that most of people living at coastal area in Pemalang regency is a fishpond farmer which can affect in decreasing environmental in coastal area if it is not managed in correct. The community involvement of mangrove management still less although has been formed care coastal area group but still relying on project from the Government either National and Local. Execution prospect of co-management in mangrove management of Pemalang regency is fairly good. It is indicated by the existence of fisher groups and the existence support from government and by international NGO such as OISCA (Japan) and Wet Land (Dutch).

There are three main priorities of mangrove management that need to be applied; (1) mangrove replanting to rehabilitate function of mangrove properly; (2) extends mangrove coverage, especially in the coastal area; (3) increase community economics can do activity expansion of fish conducting with conservation effort of mangrove or Silvofishery

Keyword: Co-management, Analysis Hierarchy Process, AHP, Mangrove, Pemalang, Coastal Area

Pengelolaan Sungai Tuntang....

Pengelolaan Sungai Tuntang dengan Pendekatan Co-manageement dan Analysis Hierarchy Process (AHP)

Tujuan dari penelitian adalah (1) Mengetahui pengelolaan dan pemanfaatan Sungai Tuntang dengan Pendekatan Kemitraan (Co-management) dan (2) Menemukan kriteria dan alternative yang diprioritaskan dalam pengelolaan dan pemanfaatan Sungai Tuntang yang telah direkomendasikan dengan pendekatan AHP (Analisis Hierarki Proses).

Objek penelitian adalah Sungai Tuntang, dengan panjang sungai 109 km. Sungai Tuntang termasuk dalam wilayah aliran Sungai Jratun-Seluna (Jragung Tuntang Serang Lusi), dimana Sungai Tuntang merupakan salah satu sungai yang mempunyai potensi air yang sangat besar. Alur sungai mulai dari Rawa Pening yang letaknya di kaki Gunung Ungaran, Kabupaten Semarang. Sungai ini melewati tiga wilayah administrasi, yaitu Kabupaten Semarang ke Kabupaten Grobogan kemudian menuju hilir di daerah Kabupaten Demak dan akhirnya bermuara di Laut Jawa.

Metode pengumpulan data yang digunakan dikelompokan menjadi data primer dan data sekunder. Penelitian ini menggunakan quota sampling dalam penentuan sampel. Sampel yang diambil sebanyak 120 responden yang terdiri dari 90 responden masyarakat (rumah tangga) dan 30 responden key-person. Pendekatan statistik deskriptip dipergunakan untuk Co-management dan Analisis Hierarki Proses (AHP) diolah dengan menggunakan alat analisis Expert Choice Versi 9.0.

Dengan pendekatan co-management dapat diketahui bahwa keadaan fisik Sungai Tuntang mengalami penurunan dari hulu ke hilir, pendidikan masyarakat di sekitar sungai yang relatif rendah, belum adanya aturan yang tegas dalam pengelolaan dan pemanfaatan sungai, serta kurang adanya kerjasama antar stakeholder baik di bagian hulu, tengah, dan hilir. Pengelolaan yang kurang baik pada Sungai Tuntang menyebabkan sungai tersebut gagal berfungsi sebagai pengendali banjir, yang akhirnya mengakibatkan terjadinya banjir pada musim penghujan dan kekurangan air pada musim kemarau. Manfaat Sungai Tuntang yang dapat diambil masyarakat antara lain untuk pembudidayaan keramba, pertanian, galian C dan tambak. Dengan pendekatan AHP (Analisis Hierarki Proses) menunjukan bahwa bersih/tidak merugikan masyarakat sekitar dalam pemanfaatannya merupakan kriteria yang diprioritaskan sedangkan memperbanyak pintu air adalah alternatif yang diprioritaskan karena dibutuhkan untuk pengaturan debit air dan pendistriabusian air dalam mewujudkan pengelolaan dan pemanfaatan Sungai Tuntang dengan baik.

Dari uraian di atas dapat disimpulkan bahwa diperlukan adanya kerjasama yang baik antar stakeholders dalam pengelolaan dan pemanfaatan Sungai Tuntang baik di bagian hulu, tengah dan hilir.

Kata Kunci : Pengelolaan, Pemanfaatan, Sungai Tuntang, Kemitraan (Co-mangement), AHP (Analysis Hierarchy Process).

Levels of Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere Increase

by: Cornelia Dean

tmospheric levels of carbon dioxide, the principal heat-trapping gas, are continuing to rise at an accelerating rate, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported. And after a decade of stability, levels of an even more potent heat-trapper, methane, rose as well. The agency said atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide reached nearly 385 parts per million last year, up from 280 in 1850 and an increase of 2.6 parts per million from 2006, chiefly from the burning of fossil fuels. The methane situation is less clear. Methane is produced naturally by swamps but also by activities including burning fossil fuels. The issue is important because climate experts have long worried that if Arctic permafrost thaws, the process would release potentially catastrophic amounts of methane into the atmosphere. In a statement, the agency said the most likely causes of the methane increase were economic development in Asia and emissions from Arctic wetlands. It said it was "too soon to tell" if the increase signals an Arctic thaw

source: www.stopglobalwarming.org

The Imapatct of Global Warming to Coastal and Marine Environments

We know the earth in the last decade have old. This can indicate that there is iclim change Globaly and than many disaster in the wolrd. so we must save our the earth before late. The global warming that the world is beginning to experience will likely have a major impact on coastal and marine environments.

• The sea has an enormous capacity to store heat. Warmer water, combined with anticipated changes in ocean currents, could have a devastating impact on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
• One potential result could be a reduction in the upwelling of nutrients, which would in turn reduce productivity in key fishing areas.
• Decreased growth may also be seen in coral reefs, with high concentrations of CO₂ in the water impairing the deposition of limestone required for coral skeletons (UNEP, 2002).

A significant sea level rise is one of the major anticipated consequences of climate change. This will cause some low-lying coastal areas to become completely submerged, while others will increasingly face short-lived high-water levels. These anticipated changes could have a major impact on the lives of coastal populations. The small island developing states (SIDS) will be especially vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise, and to changes in marine ecosystems, because of their major dependence on marine resources (UNEP, 2002).

The extent of future sea level rise will depend on a multitude of factors, and is therefore extremely difficult to predict. While rising sea levels will be exacerbated by thermal expansion of the warming oceans, and the melting of land ice, they will be partially offset by increased precipitation over Antarctica (Met Office UK, 2001).

Source: http://www.unep.org/

Comfort Zone Buster: Re-Energize Your Online Business

Comfort Zone Buster: Re-Energize Your Online Business
By Donna Gunter

One of the greatest pitfalls I've discovered as an online business owner is getting stuck in my own comfort zone. In this comfort zone I'm quite capable, comfortable, stress-free, and quite frankly, caught in a rut. When I make the unconscious decision to "nest" in my own comfort zone, I usually become bored in a short period of time. It seems as though there's nothing more to do, no more great challenges to tackle, nothing to which I anticipate and look forward -- in other words, a slow yet painless death of my business.

When I feel the walls of this comfortable rut grow higher and higher, I think of a story shared by a life coach at a conference I attended several years ago. This coach was vacationing in Australia and had the opportunity to go bungee-jumping. This sport scared her greatly, so she spent the first 3 weeks of her visit coming up with all the reasons she didn't want to participate. Eventually she decided that she would regret this missed opportunity if she didn't rise to this challenge, and made a reservation to go on a jump. On the day of her jump, after she harnessed up, the two people in line in front of her backed out. She was now in a do or die position -- it was her turn to jump -- and she had to decide if she really wanted to do this.

Her bungee jumping coach came up to her and whispered, "You wouldn't be here if this wasn't what you wanted to do." She realized he was right, and she jumped. This defining moment in her life enables her to coach her clients to "jump" from where they are to where they want to be, even though it might be the scariest moment in their lives.

How would your life or business be different if you forced yourself out of your comfort zone? What is it that will make you move forward to get where you want to be? Here are five strategies that I use to re-energize my online business when I get a bit too cozy in my comfort zone rut:

1. Read magazines/books/trade publications in other industries. I love to use this activity as a way to generate ideas for my business -- it stirs my creativity. Reading what others are successfully doing in their industries inspires to me determine if I can replicate their success in my own business or industry.

2. Contact someone who intimidates you. We all have these gurus in our industries that may scare us or intimidate us a bit because of their popularity. Or, perhaps their success scares you in some way. Determine what you'd like to learn from them, and request to speak with them by phone, email, or in-person for a short amount of time to ask them a few questions. If you don't personally know them, find someone who does and request an introduction. More than likely they'll agree, and you'll discover that they're just as human as you are.

3. Ask for honest feedback from a trusted colleague. Many times when we stay wrapped up in our businesses, it's hard to see where we need improvement or additions because we've become accustomed to how things are. Ask a trusted colleague for honest feedback about some aspect of your business. You can create your own mastermind group and ask for this on a regular basis, as I do.

4. Participate in an activity that flies in the face of your beliefs. Nothing stirs the pot like participating in some function where you're the minority -- where there are few others who believe what you believe or hold the values that you hold. Be patient, and permit those you meet to fully express their point of view. You never know -- you might actually learn something, or better yet, get an idea or inspiration to propel yourself forward.

5. Attend an event that scares you. I recently enrolled in a coaching program where the coach is speaking about several subjects that scare me, as these subjects are areas in which I need a great deal of improvement. However, I know that in order for me to succeed, I need to follow her model, as she's already manifested great success by using it. I'm still completely resisting several of the strategies (screaming loudly, in fact), but that's ok, as I know that when I'm truly ready, I'll quickly move forward to implementation.

Acknowledge your need for ongoing creativity and innovation as an online business owner. Sometimes the change you desire may be painless, while in other cases you might find yourself kicking and screaming all the way, yet willing to take the chance to move yourself forward. In my experience, the louder you resist, the more profound the change. Are you ready to jump? Copyright (c) 2008 Donna Gunter

INDONESIAN TRAGEDY

Many people in Indonesia worry about the eatquaqe and tsunami especially who live in ofshore of the sea region. like in Aceh many people diedht and lost their home...

nternet Marketing Trends for 2008

by Gillian Meier

As the internet's voice shifts from being dictated by journalists and companies to consumers (citizen media) we will see a number of changes in the way in which companies market their brands on the internet.

The top 10 internet marketing tips for 2008 are:

1. Optimize your websites content:

First and foremost, get your website content right. Make sure it is easily read by both humans and search engines. An essential variable applied by Search Engines in the way in which they rank websites is based on the relevancy of the content that the search engine is indexing.

2. Create a content development strategy for your website:

In addition to optimizing the existing content on your website, it is essential that you develop a strategy to continuously increase your websites content on an ongoing basis. All new content should be written specifically with the web reader in mind and should also be optimized for the search engines.

3. Invest in a paid search (pay-per-click) campaign:

When you pay for traffic (visitors) that click on your advertisements that are being advertised on search engines, this is called pay-per-click or search engine advertising. Paid search allows you to quickly leverage search engine traffic by bidding for keywords that are related to the products or services that you promote and sell on your website. Paid search advertising is particularly beneficial to companies who are not yet well ranked on search engines through natural search.

4. Publicize your website through article marketing:

Article marketing is regarded by Internet marketing experts as one of the most effective promotional methods to publicise your website and to increase the number of back links (incoming links) to your website content. To ensure ongoing awareness, articles should be submitted to suitable article directories, content publishers, article announcement lists and content syndication (RSS feeds). Make sure to publish the content on your own website before submitting it to article directories and publishers. Make it easy for the reader to bookmark your content on social search engines by including a bookmark button at the end of each piece of content.

5. Develop a social media marketing strategy:

Studies show that by the end of 2007 more than 60% of top global companies will have had some form of social media marketing strategy in place. Corporates and small business owners should create a clear social media marketing strategy as part of an integrated communications and marketing strategy. Social Media has become an essential component of online marketing and search engines are adjusting their rankings to include search personalization. One of the effects of the social media revolution is an exponential increase in the amount of content online.

6. Create a Company Blog:

In the past, corporates have been focusing marketing and communications efforts on becoming faceless. This has changes significantly. The online consumer wants to engage with companies that have an online personality. More and more companies are starting to realise the significance of establishing a company personality and we are starting to see more Corporate Blogs coming alive. Business Blogging will continue to become more lucrative as more and more people look to new media such as Blogs and social websites for insight.

7. Experiment with video marketing:

There is tremendous power and revenue-generating potential in Video Marketing. With the rapid ongoing growth of YouTube's traffic in addition to the emergence of Internet Television websites, streaming video is dominating the international web and marketers are quickly scrambling to capitalize on this exciting channel. As companies seek to simplify video sharing, video marketing will become more interactive which could have huge implications for Affiliate marketing.

8. Engage your audiences with web widget marketing:

Widgets have made significant strides as an accepted marketing technique in recent months. Many new Blog oriented services are launching Widgets providing businesses with the opportunity quickly introduce their services and new products to audiences.

Web Widgets are small applets that live in HTML and provide miniature versions of a specific piece of content outside of the primary web site. Web Widget Marketing is not only an exciting new marketing technique; it is fast becoming one of the leading brand-building marketing strategies for businesses advertising online.

9. Discover the benefits of mobile media marketing:

Mobile media marketing has continued to grow at a meteoric pace as many web companies recognise the huge potential in mobile marketing. As new technologies emerge and standard websites are converted to ones can easily be accessed by mobile devices, companies will need to ensure that there websites are mobile-friendly. This leads the way for new and innovative opportunities to provide the consumer with improved brand and marketing experiences.

10. Create an effective email marketing strategy:

Introduce an effective Email communications strategy as part of your marketing strategy to grow your existing customer base and to expand your client base significantly through permission marketing and regular targeted communications. Engaging your customers with relevant, targeted information when, where, and how they want it is crucial to marketing success. By combining technological advances with tried-and-tested best practices, the future still looks bright for email marketers.

To conquer commercial combat, a significantly powerful Internet presence, supported by a brilliant E-Marketing Strategy, is paramount to ensuring that you remain competitive, increase revenue and magnetize your customers!

source: http://www.site-reference.com/