President's Speech at The Inaugural Title of Doctor Honoris Causa from NTU Singapore

This is the president's speech points taken from his tweet on twitter @SBYudhoyono.

1. It is a great honor for me to receive an Honorary Doctorate from one of Asia's leading universities.
2. My sons, Agus Harimurti & Edhie Baskoro, also earned their masters’ degrees from NTU. I am glad I am following in their footsteps.
3. For decades, the size of this Singapore-related Indonesian diaspora has grown considerably.
4. This people-to-people link is the greatest asset in our countries’ close bilateral relations.
5. The NTU awarded me this degree for delivering "political stability, economic development & democratic change" in Indonesia.
6. I inherited a state which had begun to recover in terms of governance capacity. Indonesia was still in debt over USD 7 billion.
7. Relations between the executive, legislature, judiciary were still fluid; problems in Aceh, Papua, a military embargo, corruption.
8. Indonesia's success was relevant not only to our nation, but also to the region, and the wider world.
9. I realized that Indonesia had the potential to be one of Asia's giants, not just a benign one.
10. The worst thing that could happen was for reform to start losing steam.
11. Indonesian drivers of change need to draw from other sources, leadership and governance.
12. Stability, growth, progress could only be achieved if we set the right priorities and execute bold policy measures to achieve them.
13. My instinct in leading Indonesia therefore was NOT to go slower, but to run even FASTER with reforms.
14. We did not just reform, we transformed – "reformasi" to "transformasi".
15. Today we’re a trillion dollar economy, largest economy and middle class in Southeast Asia; 6.3% growth, second after China.
16. Our debt to GDP ratio is 23%, lowest among G-20 economies. We are no longer an “IMF patient”.
17. We resolved conflict in Aceh, improved political reforms in Papua, implemented rapid decentralization.
18. The past decade has been called the "transformational decade".
19. INDONESIAN DEMOCRACY - democratic development is one of the most significant political developments in the 21st century.
20. Indonesia broke a number of myths and stereotypes about democracy.
21. ECONOMIC GROWTH - we broke the notion that democracy and ECONOMIC GROWTH are not mutually exclusive.
22. We had to choose either a lot of democracy but little economic growth; or a lot of economic growth but little political freedom.
23. We did NOT have to choose between democracy and development.
24. Elections in 1999, 2004 and 2009 – still retained economic growth around 6%. Democracy and economic growth are mutually reinforcing.
25. We achieve this by four-track development strategy —pro growth, pro job, pro poor, pro environment.
26. Strategy was to promote a balanced, comprehensive economic development - a framework based on “sustainable growth with equity”.
27. The need was to promote a resilient and vibrant domestic market.
28. Such strategies proved effective in keeping the Indonesian economy afloat in the midst of a global economic slow down.
29. ISLAM AND MODERNITY – we proved democracy, ISLAM and MODERNITY can go well together.
30. Muslims in Indonesia are comfortable with democracy and modernity. This may well offer valuable lessons to Arab Spring countries.
31. MIDDLE-CLASS - democracy does not necessitate the presence of a large MIDDLE-CLASS.
32. A school of thought says a democracy is ripe once a large middle-class is in place.
33. Our 1999 middle-class was 25% of population (45 million). Yet voting turn-out was 77%, highest among open democracies.
34. Enthusiasm for democracy is high across all levels of economic spectrum in Indonesia - rich, middle-class, the poor.
35. Indonesians believe their vote counts, relevant for their future.
36. DECENTRALIZATION – we were one of the most centralized governments in Asia, political & economic decisions were made in Jakarta.
37. We could consolidate our democracy while simultaneously pursuing ambitious decentralization.
38. NATIONAL UNITY - Another myth that we broke was the inter-relationship between democracy and NATIONAL UNITY and SECURITY.
39. Some concerns democracy would unravel Indonesia. One of the most ethnically diverse nations in the world could be the next "Balkan".
40. Mired separatist conflicts in Aceh and Papua intensified. Serious violence in Poso, Ambon, and Maluku. Pockets of extremism rose.
41. I am pleased that the strengthening of our democracy has brought about numerous impacts.
42. Aceh was permanently resolved in 2005. Violence in Poso, Ambon and Maluku ended.
43. Power was devolved to the provinces, and economic growth no longer gravitates in Jakarta.
44. Law enforcement and conflict resolution have become priority for successive governments.
45. STABILITY – an undeniable link between democracy and STABILITY.
46. We demonstrated that democracy can co-exist with development; with national unity; with security; and with stability.
47. KEEPING THE MOMENTUM - Our future will need to be created. Our continued success will need to be earned.
48. Sustaining Indonesia’s transformation will require : hard work and diligence of the people, particularly its leaders;
49. By 2045 - one hundred years of independence - my vision of an Indonesia fully transformed will become a reality.

I wish that Indonesia will emerge to be a thriving nation living in democracy, peace and progress.

Today is Earth Day

eartdday.org - Each year, Earth Day -- April 22 -- marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

50 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Earlier

Nancy Sathre-Vogel - Now that I’m old and gray (but not quite in my rocker yet!) I look back on my life and think about things I wish I knew earlier. It would have made my life so much easier if I knew then what I know now. Here’s my list of things I wish I could turn back the hands of time to tell my younger self. Maybe it’s not too late for you.

1. You’re stronger than you think you are.
2. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal.
3. There is nothing to hold you back except you.