Spirituality: The Contribution of Christian Ethics in Economy
Monday, 26 February 2018by adminstube
The development of technology become the influential factors in industrial revolution which will lead to a new economic order as response of values changing, and one of them is ethical value in economic world based on Christian faith.
This topic attracted thirty-six students from various regions in Indonesia who study in Yogyakarta to attend Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta training on February 23-25, 2018 in Satya Nugraha Hotel with a theme Spirituality: The contribution of Christian Ethics in Economy. Participants were expected to find the form of Christian ethics in current economic world and able to formulate action plan to bring justice and welfare of society and environment.
Several experienced persons in their field facilitated the training, such as Ariani Narwatujati, S.S., M.Pd., Director of Stube-HEMAT challenged participants to improve their quality to compete in international level, then Dr. Murti Lestari, M.Si, a lecturer at Economics Faculty of Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW) revealed the significant economydevelopment bringing to digital economy. Technologyis not only for information systems but also a platform for economy activity, trade, payment and other fields. Today most people can access thedigital economy and utilize it. The mastery of knowledge and technology will be the basis for the development of digital economy that will increaseaffectivity and prosperity. However, people must be wary against technology-based crime.
Rev. Yahya Wijaya, Th.M., Ph.D., a lecturer at Theology Faculty of Duta Wacana Christian University (UKDW) explained that currently theology and economy can not be separated but colaborate to make welfare. It needs ethical understanding of each person to bring together the philosophies of both, such as 1) Economy must be centered on God as the true owner of everything. 2) economy must be human-oriented, serving people,answering human needs, promoting equality and justice. 3) economy should value performance, produce good quality, give safe guaranty, haveinnovative side, perform efficient & reliable, andalso have sustainable products and services. 4) economy must be environmentally-minded by paying attention to the balance of creation, using limited natural resources carefully, and 5) economy must serve community, serve all stakeholders to build a stable, peaceful, and sustainable society.
Then, the participants divided themselves into three groups to explore alternative economic systems. Group one made discussion with Sudarwanto, one of managers at Credit Union‘Cindelaras Tumangkar’ to learn financial cooperation and community empowerment. Group two explored ‘Sharia’cooperation with Iwa Khairuttaqwa, head of ‘Shariah’Cooperation at Tamwil Muhammadiyah Agency (BTM) Surya, and group three dialogued with Rev. Harjono and organic farmers in Jodhog, Bantul who had a vision to be dignified farmer through organic farming, restoring rice fields, providing healthy food for the family, having self-reliance in seeds &fertilizer and having marketing harvest andmaintaining interfaith brotherhood.
Participants’ insight on ethicswas growing betterwith the presence of business practitioners, drg. Pipin Ikawati (Fresh Dental), Daniel D. Nugraha (DN rental heavy equipment) and D. Sugiarto (Tosan Offset), who opened the rigors of business world to face challenges and competition, but they kept doing their business with discipline, learning and growing, trusting a work team andpaying attention to employees and consumers' condition.
The participants' interaction withethical values provoked their thoughts about their surroundingsocial condition and environment and hometown thatfinally stimulate ideas of actions. Ram Hara, a Janabadra University student from Sorong, West Papua was interested to share during her campus break how the rapid development of technology gives benefits for the progress of localregion. Yenlis Mencanda, or Cindy, had a mind of cocoa plantation in her hometown, Pandolo, Poso, Central Sulawesi. She was interested to make it more productive. The use of cocoa begins from its beans as raw material of chocolate and there are many other derivatives of cocoa that can be produced. Cocoa plantation area can also be arranged in such a way that is interesting to visit. Maria M. Tefa, a student from Malaka, NTT studying environment at Technology Institute of Yogyakarta (ITY) wasencouraged to share the idea of independent and organic farming in her village. So far, the farmers can not determine the price of the harvests and always get low price for their product. Meanwhile, Chindiani Rawambaku, a student from East Sumba, NTTstudying at UST revealed that she got new enlightenment and insight about digital economy and how to do business that also cares for others.
Young people and students should be smart to use technology to improve their self-quality and torealize ethical values in economy for the welfare and justice in society and environment. Thus, what is your idea now, young man? (TRU).
Jogjakarta & Its Changes
Tuesday, 20 February 2018by adminstube
The decrease of public areas in Yogyakarta, sooner or later, will give impact to the people, not to be social beings, but to be more individualists. One factor is due to the lack of place and forum to exchange ideas, to communicate, or to gather without any social structure boundaries, which bring them into their own solitaire world.
People also have changed many places into commercial areas, even those places may become indicators from which class the visitors come. It is such worrying thing for some communities nowadays. Community of Social Movement Institute (SMI), Stube-HEMAT, Tribun Jogja, and Toga Mas Affandi, held a book’s discussion forum so that youth may gather, communicate, and exchange ideas among them.
In that occasion Selo Soemardjan’s book entitled “Perubahan Sosial di Yogyakarta” become the discussion topic. Held on February 19th 2018, at Toga Mas Bookstore, Gejayan, Yogyakarta, this program presented some speakers, Eko Prasetyo (initiator of SMI), Elanto Wijoyono (from Warga Berdaya Yogyakarta Community), Anna Marsiana (Organization Development Consultant at CSS BfdW), and Hening Wikan (Student of Social-Politic Faculty of UGM) as the moderator.
Elanto explained that changes in Yogyakarta can be seen from any points of view, and it still becomes a question nowadays, whether those changes already happened in Yogyakarta after era of revolution or not as written in the book. It hasn’t any definite answer until now.
According to Anna Marsiana, Yogyakarta isn’t only a city but also a dynamic process, gathering place of any aspects, any different kinds of society’s element. There are 3 aspects that must be highlighted to see the changes, they are (1) historical aspect, (2) Society movement map respond to faster dynamic, and (3) the function of each person.
At this occasion, Eko Prasetyo described the process of social changes after colonialism and Left Movement. At that time, the success of social revolution’s ideas is very in demand. It was also a phenomenon that three exist big political parties at that time were dominated by Left Movement. Observing the last parts of Selo Soemardjan’s book, one will find many theoretical advices. They declared that social changes process occurred because of outside stimulant change. When capitalism community comes and they don’t want to obey the prevailing system, they are the one that bring social changes in Yogyakarta. It triggers an extreme social gap in Yogyakarta.
At question and answer session, Rintar, a citizen of Jogja, asked, “Is the special territory of Yogyakarta supporting the traditional system or it should be modified?” Another question came from Rafit, a citizen of Jogja, “Do the changes happen automatically or it is done by someone and actually who holds the sovereignty?”
Based on those questions, Elanto said that village authority nowadays is no longer traditional, but it has been rational, however some changes are planned and some others are unplanned. Ana responded those questions by stating that traditional system is no longer the main reference because village regulations open opportunities for all of citizens to give ideas and opinions, so those changes may be monitored and planned.At the last statement, Eko Prasetyo quoted Selo Soemardjan’s writing, “When citizens aren’t capable to satisfy their social needs, then they become commercial and competitive citizens. Therefore, we need persons who concern with such problems. Let’s bring back this city of students having critical, courageous, and progressive characteristic.
While Elanto persuaded every youth of this city to exchange ideas for every problem. Furthermore, Ana concluded with the recognition of diversity which becomes the foundation of Yogyakarta since the beginning, and this situation is accommodated by many parties. Every youth coming to this event were invited to face and interact with reality, then to improve it. Don’t feel when we made a social statement through social media, we have made social changes. (ITM)
(Thanks to SMI for helping some photos)
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