from the bouvet penguin

Photo: Basil Rolandsen (http://bouvetmedia.com)

Vasco Pinto is one of the most impressive and reliable men I have met during my years in East Timor.

Just back from Dili, where I had the pleasure of seeing him again, and was reminded about this photo of him from the cover of the brochure for the Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Project. He was the Construction Manager for the project, impressing everyone with his dedication, skills and hard work. A good leader for his men, and not afraid of hard work shoulder to shoulder with them at the site. I have no idea how anyone can work so hard, for so long as he did in the humid and hot jungle of the construction site, and still always jump up from a trench with a big smile and a friendly greeting. Another of those inspiring people we may be lucky to meet on our way.

Vasco used to be my neighbour my first years in Dili, a friendly family man. He was an East Timor boxing champion, something which still is reflected in his strength and grace, but I never got to see him fight. At least I got to see him work, and see other great sides of his.

More information on the Gariuai Mini Hydroelectric Power Project at the HydroTimor website, where in addition to general and technical information, downloadable copies of the brochure (in .pdf format) as well as video (introductory and full versions) may be found.

Photo © Basil Rolandsen (http://bouvetmedia.com)

Dom Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, Bishop of Dili (East Timor aka Timor-Leste), 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. I took this picture back in June 1995, the Norwegian Nobel Committee later adopted it as the official photo of Bishop Belo, and it hangs in the Nobel Institute Gallery in Oslo, Norway.

I just remembered this picture, as I searched my bookshelf for a book and found myself leafing through the official Nobel book “Les Prix Nobel 1996” (The Nobel Prizes), which I got a copy of as contributor (the above photo). I was never particularly happy with the print results, and decided to make a better black & white version…

The book contains the Nobel Lectures of the Laurates, and I started to re-read Dom Carlos’ speech, given during the award ceremony in Oslo 10 December 1996, when he received the Nobel Prize for Peace together with (now East Timor President) José Ramos-Horta “for their work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor”.

In his lecture, Bishop Belo quotes: “As man, as human being, I cannot remain indifferent in face of what concerns man.” This describes the priest who, in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council for many years put defense and promotion of the rights of his people before his own safety. A great admirer of the work of Mahatma Gandhi and his creed of non-violence in the movement for change, Bishop Belo praises the Nobel Committee for rewarding the East Timor people’s non-violent struggle for an end to their suffering. Remembering many places in the world where injustice prevails and peace is yet to be established, he quoted Amos of the Old Testament: “Let Justice roll down like waters” – regrettably, the situation has not yet changed too much in many of the places he refered to.

The Nobel Prize is given to great persons, and Bishop Belo is one. We need more like him, if the world shall be a better place. Meeting Dom Carlos has been an honour for me, and I hope that he one day soon may be back in East Timor. Much progress has been made in this new nation, but it is easy to see the need for a civil movement empowering the people and helping them identify the errors of politicians and others in power. I have seen the Church do this in the Philippines, and have always imagined this a role for the East Timor Church. Bishop Belo could (again) be a catalyst here…

Photo © Basil Rolandsen (http://bouvetmedia.com)

Teacher Linda Susanti instructs 4th grade pupils at the Pulo Bungong school how to wash their hands.

TODAY is a GLOBAL HAND WASHING DAY. Initiated in 2008 by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Hand washing with Soap, Global Hand washing Day is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, private companies and individuals around the globe. Here is my little contribution…

The picture is taken 23 January 2009, in Batee, Pidie, Aceh (NAD), Indonesia. It is from a Norwegian Red Cross water & sanitation project, initiated after the 2004 tsunami.

Photo © Basil Rolandsen (http://bouvetmedia.com)

A warrior dancing in the streets of Dili, displaying his sword, not to be messed with.

The picture is taken 20 May 2009 during a street performance by traditional dancers in celebration of the East Timor National Day. I was walking around after photographing the official ceremony, and became fascinated by the intensity of this dancer, of his stare and movements.

Photo © Basil Rolandsen (http://bouvetmedia.com)

Yusnidar is fascinated, if a bit nervous, when her teacher Ainal Mardiah cuts her nails. It is a part of a project teaching school children personal hygiene, but in her as with her friends Husna and Rosmariati, I see a glimpse of the eternal feminine fascination with mails, hair, shoes and so on. The mother passing on the rites to her daughters…

The picture is taken 23 January 2009, at the Kuala Batee school in Pidie, Aceh (NAD), Indonesia. The training was a part of a Norwegian Red Cross water & sanitation project, initiated after the 2004 tsunami.