Memartabatkan sektor pendidikan
11-02-2008 10:40:22 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: Modal insan dan sektor pendidikan amat rapat pertaliannya.Jika modal insan yang berkualiti disifatkan sebagai elemen paling kritikal dalam mencapai Misi Nasional, pendidikan pula merupakan suatu sektor penting dalam agenda pembinaan negara bangsa.
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi amat berhasrat untuk melihat aspek pendidikan diberikan nafas baru secara holistik.
Ini kerana pembangunan modal insan juga bertitik tolak daripada pelaksanaan sistem pendidikan yang terancang rapi.
Beliau telah menekankan usaha untuk memperkasa sistem pendidikan negara dengan membuat beberapa perubahan besar memandangkan pendidikan adalah tonggak utama pelaksanaan modal insan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9).
Menjelang tahun 2010 Kerajaan menyasarkan negara akan mempunyai nisbah 50 penyelidik bagi setiap 10,000 tenaga kerja.
Ini bermakna Malaysia akan mempunyai sejumlah penyelidik setaraf dengan negara-negara yang diiktiraf sebagai negara maju.
PIPPMelalui Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan (PIPP) yang telah dimulakan pelaksanaannya pada 2006 dan akan berakhir pada 2010, ia akan dijadikan garis panduan pembangunan pendidikan negara secara menyeluruh bagi tempoh lima tahun untuk membangunkan sekolah kebangsaan sebagai aliran perdana.
Manakala sekolah-sekolah aliran lain pula tidak akan dipinggirkan.
Bagi menjana pendidikan berkualiti untuk semua, Kementerian Pelajaran diarah oleh Perdana Menteri untuk mengenal pasti pendekatan baru bagi mencapai objektif yang dihasratkan.
Justeru, pendekatan baru telah dilakukan untuk memastikan rakyat mendapat peluang pendidikan yang adil dan saksama sekali gus menguasai kemahiran 3M iaitu membaca, menulis dan mengira.
Pendekatan lain turut dilakukan untuk memberi perhatian khusus ke atas sekolah yang telah mencapai tahap cemerlang, supaya terus mampu mengekalkan kecemerlangan ke tahap yang lebih tinggi.
Demi merancakkan lagi usaha membangunkan modal insan dalam tempoh yang panjang, pelbagai langkah telah dirancang.
STRATEGISebanyak lapan strategi dikenal pasti untuk mengukuhkan pendidikan negara dalam tempoh lima tahun sepanjang pelaksanaan RMK9. Strategistrategi itu ialah:
1. Membina negara bangsa melalui pendidikan yang bertujuan melahirkan rakyat yang berfikiran glokal, patriotik dan cintakan negara serta menjunjung warisan budaya dan kesenian bangsa sejak dari peringkat awal persekolahan.
Hasrat ini akan dilaksanakan melalui kaedah;
* memperkasakan bahasa Melaya,
* meningkatkan disiplin pelajar,
* menggiatkan Rancangan Integrasi Murid Untuk Perpaduan (RIMUP)
* menggiatkan kokurikulum dalam sukan.
2. Memberi tumpuan kepada aspek nilai, disiplin, sahsiah, akhlak dan jati diri pelajar bagi melahirkan tenaga kerja yang kompetens dalam sains dan teknologi, inovatif, kreatif serta boleh dipasarkan di pasaran kerjaya.
3. Memperkasakan sekolah kebangsaan (rendah dan menengah) agar sekolah-sekolah itu menjadi pilihan rakyat. Sekolah kebangsaan akan dilengkapkan dengan kemudahan pendidikan yang mencukupi, berkualiti, terkini dan dengan adanya guru terlatih mengikut opsyen serta bilangan staf sokongan berdasarkan keperluan.
4. Berusaha merapatkan jurang pendidikan dengan membangunkan infrastruktur dan kemudahan khususnya di luar bandar, Sabah dan Sarawak; selain memperbanyakkan bantuan kepada pelajar miskin, kumpulan pelajar yang memerlukan keperluan khas, kumpulan minoriti, mengurangkan jurang digital serta menempatkan guru terlatih.
5. Memartabatkan profesion perguruan bagi memastikan profesion itu dihormati dan dipandang tinggi sesuai dengan amanah yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam pembinaan generasi akan datang.
6. Menaikkan taraf maktab perguruan kepada institut pendidikan guru bagi meningkatkan kelayakan guru ke peringkat ijazah.
7. Melonjakkan kecemerlangan institusi pendidikan dengan membentuk bahagian kecemerlangan sekolah berasaskan akademik, kokurikulum dan sukan atau bidangbidang khusus yang lain.
8. Sekolah terpilih akan dirangkaikan dengan institusi ternama tempatan dan luar negara dengan menawarkan pelbagai peperiksaan peringkat antarabangsa seperti International Baccalaureate serta dijadikan sekolah contoh.
PROGRAM LONJAKAN PERDANA
Usaha juga sedang dilakukan untuk menterjemahkan pelaksanaan Program Lonjakan Perdana Pendidikan Luar Bandar bagi meningkatkan kualiti pendidikan di luar bandar dalam usaha mengurangkan keciciran di kalangan pelajar desa serta memartabatkan perkhidmatan perguruan luar bandar.
Untuk itu beberapa langkah telah diambil; antaranya:
* Membina 2,400 bilik untuk manfaat 61,000 kanak-kanak
* Menyediakan latihan kepada guru pra sekolah
* Memperbaiki kemudahan asas seperti elektrik 24 jam untuk 900 buah sekolah* Bekalan air bersih kepada 1,500 sekolah
* Menyediakan kemudahan komputer
* Membina asrama baru atau menambah asrama untuk 280,000 pelajar
* Menyediakan kelengkapan web tv
* Sistem komunikasi telefon satelit dan fax tanpa talian
Bagi memperkasa pendidikan, Perdana Menteri amat komited untuk melihat kejayaan mengimbangi jurang ketara yang terdapat selama ini di sekolah-sekolah bandar dan luar bandar.
Hasrat beliau untuk melihat mutu pembelajaran dengan pelbagai kemudahan yang seimbang antara bandar dan luar bandar akan mempertingkatkan martabat sekolah-sekolah di desa dan sekolah ini akan terus diperkasakan.
Biarpun perbelanjaan yang telah dan akan dikeluarkan terlalu besar, namun bidang pendidikan merupakan pelaburan jangka panjang yang sentiasa ditekankan oleh Perdana Menteri demi kepentingan rakyat keseluruhannya. BERNAMA
11 February 2008
16 January 2008
Sah! gempa di Pahang
Gempa: Penduduk Bukit Tinggi dicengkam ketakutan16-01-2008 11:00:21 AM
Oleh ZURIATI ZULMI
BENTONG: Penduduk Kampung Janda Baik dekat sini tidak berpuas hati dengan penerangan yang diberikan dan masih menanti jawapan yang lebih terperinci berkaitan kejadian gempa bumi kecil yang berlaku di kawasan Bukit Tinggi, Pahang sejak November tahun lepas.
Ahli Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Kampung (JKKK) Janda Baik, Mejar (B) Husin Nordin berkata sekumpulan pegawai daripada beberapa agensi berkaitan telah mengadakan perjumpaan dengan penduduk pagi Selasa, bagaimanapun penerangan yang diberikan begitu ringkas.
Malahan, beliau berkata pegawai berkenaan seolah-olah tidak mengambil berat tentang kebimbangan dan trauma yang dialami penduduk yang tidak pernah mengalami fenomena gegaran sejak mereka tinggal di kawasan terbabit.
"Saya sendiri sudah 14 tahun tinggal di kampung ini dan ini adalah kali pertama saya merasinya. Berlaku gegaran susulan boleh dikatakan setiap hari. Memang gegaran itu kecil, retak yang berlaku juga kecil...tapi kalau selalu terjadi gegaran, retak yang kecil lama-lama boleh menjadi semakin besar," katanya.
Mengimbas kembali kejadian pertama pada 30 Nov lepas, beliau berkata ketika itu beliau sedang membaca akhabar sebelum mendengar satu dentuman kuat yang disusuli dengan gegaran kecil.
Beliau berkata disebabkan penerangan yang sambil lewa itu penduduk merungut dan akhirnya meninggalkan sesi taklimat.
Husin yang turut tidak berpuas hati dengan sesi taklimat itu bagaimanapun masih berharap selepas siasatan yang dilakukan oleh kumpulan berkenaan, mereka akan memberi jawapan yang lebih terperinci.
Pengetua Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bukit Tinggi, Nordin Mohamed berkata sejak berlaku gegaran kecil itu, beliau telah memaklumkan kepada pelajar dan guru supaya sentiasa bersedia sekiranya berlaku kejadian gegaran yang lebih besar.
Katanya inisiatif telah diambil untuk mengadakan latihan kecemasan kepada pelajar dan guru bagi mengelakkan rasa panik sekiranya berlaku lagi gegearan.
Beliau berkata gegaran telah menyebabkan dinding makmal sekolah retak dan pecah.
Sementara itu, Pegawai Jabatan Meteorologi, Alwi Bahari berkata empat lokasi yang dikenal pasti mengalami gegaran dan kerosakan teruk termasuk di Kampung Chemperoh, Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Kampung Janda Baik dan SMK Janda Baik.
Pegawai Kajibumi Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains, Mohd Badzran Mat Taib berkata setakat ini gegaran kecil yang dialami oleh penduduk di Bukit Tinggi berkemungkinan disebabkan tekanan struktur tanah di garisan sesar di kawasan itu.
Sesar adalah celah pada kerak bumi yang berada di perbatasan antara dua lempeng tektonik. Gempa dipengaruhi oleh pergerakan batuan dan lempeng pada sesar.
Beliau berkata berdasarkan kajian yang dijalankan oleh jabatannya tahun lepas, sesar itu ditafsirkan sebagai tidak aktif dan tidak ada kejadian gempa sehinggalah gegaran pertama dilaporkan November lepas.
"Kita masih dalam peringkat kajian. Jawapan kepada punca ini tidak mungkin diketahui dalam masa yang cepat kerana perlu penelitian rapi supaya tidak berlaku kesilapan kepada apa saja maklumat yang akan diberikan kepada masyarakat," katanya.
Mengulas kemungkinan gempa kecil itu mempunyai kaitan dengan kejadian gempa bumi di kawasan Sumatera, beliau berkata andaian itu sekadar hipotesis kerana Malaysia memang terletak di dalam lingkungan lautan Sumatera dan Lautan Hindi di mana kawasan di sekitarnya sering mengalami kejadian gempa bumi.
Gegaran pertama berlaku di kawasan Bukit Tinggi pada 30 Nov berukuran 3.5 pada skala Richter pada 10.15 pagi dan 8.47 malam, disusuli gegaran kedua pada 4 Dis berukuran 3.0 pada 6.12 petang dan diikuti pada 5, 6, 9, 12 dan 13 Dis lepas.
Pada hari Ahad satu gempa bumi kecil direkodkan berukuran 2.5 pada pukul 10.24 pagi dan semalam satu lagi gegaran direkodkan berukuran 3.1 sekitar 11.45 malam. BERNAMA
Oleh ZURIATI ZULMI
BENTONG: Penduduk Kampung Janda Baik dekat sini tidak berpuas hati dengan penerangan yang diberikan dan masih menanti jawapan yang lebih terperinci berkaitan kejadian gempa bumi kecil yang berlaku di kawasan Bukit Tinggi, Pahang sejak November tahun lepas.
Ahli Jawatankuasa Kemajuan Kampung (JKKK) Janda Baik, Mejar (B) Husin Nordin berkata sekumpulan pegawai daripada beberapa agensi berkaitan telah mengadakan perjumpaan dengan penduduk pagi Selasa, bagaimanapun penerangan yang diberikan begitu ringkas.
Malahan, beliau berkata pegawai berkenaan seolah-olah tidak mengambil berat tentang kebimbangan dan trauma yang dialami penduduk yang tidak pernah mengalami fenomena gegaran sejak mereka tinggal di kawasan terbabit.
"Saya sendiri sudah 14 tahun tinggal di kampung ini dan ini adalah kali pertama saya merasinya. Berlaku gegaran susulan boleh dikatakan setiap hari. Memang gegaran itu kecil, retak yang berlaku juga kecil...tapi kalau selalu terjadi gegaran, retak yang kecil lama-lama boleh menjadi semakin besar," katanya.
Mengimbas kembali kejadian pertama pada 30 Nov lepas, beliau berkata ketika itu beliau sedang membaca akhabar sebelum mendengar satu dentuman kuat yang disusuli dengan gegaran kecil.
Beliau berkata disebabkan penerangan yang sambil lewa itu penduduk merungut dan akhirnya meninggalkan sesi taklimat.
Husin yang turut tidak berpuas hati dengan sesi taklimat itu bagaimanapun masih berharap selepas siasatan yang dilakukan oleh kumpulan berkenaan, mereka akan memberi jawapan yang lebih terperinci.
Pengetua Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bukit Tinggi, Nordin Mohamed berkata sejak berlaku gegaran kecil itu, beliau telah memaklumkan kepada pelajar dan guru supaya sentiasa bersedia sekiranya berlaku kejadian gegaran yang lebih besar.
Katanya inisiatif telah diambil untuk mengadakan latihan kecemasan kepada pelajar dan guru bagi mengelakkan rasa panik sekiranya berlaku lagi gegearan.
Beliau berkata gegaran telah menyebabkan dinding makmal sekolah retak dan pecah.
Sementara itu, Pegawai Jabatan Meteorologi, Alwi Bahari berkata empat lokasi yang dikenal pasti mengalami gegaran dan kerosakan teruk termasuk di Kampung Chemperoh, Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Kampung Janda Baik dan SMK Janda Baik.
Pegawai Kajibumi Jabatan Mineral dan Geosains, Mohd Badzran Mat Taib berkata setakat ini gegaran kecil yang dialami oleh penduduk di Bukit Tinggi berkemungkinan disebabkan tekanan struktur tanah di garisan sesar di kawasan itu.
Sesar adalah celah pada kerak bumi yang berada di perbatasan antara dua lempeng tektonik. Gempa dipengaruhi oleh pergerakan batuan dan lempeng pada sesar.
Beliau berkata berdasarkan kajian yang dijalankan oleh jabatannya tahun lepas, sesar itu ditafsirkan sebagai tidak aktif dan tidak ada kejadian gempa sehinggalah gegaran pertama dilaporkan November lepas.
"Kita masih dalam peringkat kajian. Jawapan kepada punca ini tidak mungkin diketahui dalam masa yang cepat kerana perlu penelitian rapi supaya tidak berlaku kesilapan kepada apa saja maklumat yang akan diberikan kepada masyarakat," katanya.
Mengulas kemungkinan gempa kecil itu mempunyai kaitan dengan kejadian gempa bumi di kawasan Sumatera, beliau berkata andaian itu sekadar hipotesis kerana Malaysia memang terletak di dalam lingkungan lautan Sumatera dan Lautan Hindi di mana kawasan di sekitarnya sering mengalami kejadian gempa bumi.
Gegaran pertama berlaku di kawasan Bukit Tinggi pada 30 Nov berukuran 3.5 pada skala Richter pada 10.15 pagi dan 8.47 malam, disusuli gegaran kedua pada 4 Dis berukuran 3.0 pada 6.12 petang dan diikuti pada 5, 6, 9, 12 dan 13 Dis lepas.
Pada hari Ahad satu gempa bumi kecil direkodkan berukuran 2.5 pada pukul 10.24 pagi dan semalam satu lagi gegaran direkodkan berukuran 3.1 sekitar 11.45 malam. BERNAMA
08 January 2008
Fivefold increase in kidney patients over a decade
07-01-2008 06:53:17 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of kidney patients undergoing dialysis in Malaysia has increased five fold over the past decade, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said today.
He said as at 2006, there were about 14,647 kidney patients undergoing dialysis compared to only 2,922 patients a decade ago.
"Currently there are about 118 new cases of kidney failure or endstage kidney disease per million population per year. This means that for the Malaysian population of 26 million, there are about 3,000 new cases a year," he said when launching the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Mobile Health Screening Unit, here today.
Dr Mohd Ismail said 57 per cent of new dialysis patients were found to be diabetic while another six per cent developed endstage kidney failure due to hypertension."Unfortunately there is an increasing trend of diabetes and hypertension as a cause of kidney failure," he said, adding that this was extremely worrying as these were lifestyle diseases that could be controlled or even prevented.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NKF Management Board, Dr S.S. Gill said the mobile clinic was in the form of a bus that could accommodate 40 people offering medical checks for a fee of only RM2.
He said the checks were aimed at detecting diseases suffered at the early stage, especially kidney problems so that immediate measures could be taken to treat them.Initially, the mobile clinic would provide services to the public within the Klang Valley before expanding to other areas, he said. BERNAMA
07-01-2008 06:53:17 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of kidney patients undergoing dialysis in Malaysia has increased five fold over the past decade, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said today.
He said as at 2006, there were about 14,647 kidney patients undergoing dialysis compared to only 2,922 patients a decade ago.
"Currently there are about 118 new cases of kidney failure or endstage kidney disease per million population per year. This means that for the Malaysian population of 26 million, there are about 3,000 new cases a year," he said when launching the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Mobile Health Screening Unit, here today.
Dr Mohd Ismail said 57 per cent of new dialysis patients were found to be diabetic while another six per cent developed endstage kidney failure due to hypertension."Unfortunately there is an increasing trend of diabetes and hypertension as a cause of kidney failure," he said, adding that this was extremely worrying as these were lifestyle diseases that could be controlled or even prevented.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NKF Management Board, Dr S.S. Gill said the mobile clinic was in the form of a bus that could accommodate 40 people offering medical checks for a fee of only RM2.
He said the checks were aimed at detecting diseases suffered at the early stage, especially kidney problems so that immediate measures could be taken to treat them.Initially, the mobile clinic would provide services to the public within the Klang Valley before expanding to other areas, he said. BERNAMA
21 December 2007
Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha
Kepada semua yang mengenali kami terutama saudara mara, kami mengucapkan Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha Maaf Zahir Batin. Moga-moga segala pengorbanan yang dilakukan menepati semangat dan erti sebenar hari raya korban.12 December 2007
Apa dah jadi ni??
1 juta wanita gemuk, 850,000 lelaki gempal
12-12-2007 03:10:01 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Bilangan wanita gemuk mengatasi lelaki boyot dalam kalangan penduduk negara ini yang berumur 25 hingga 64 tahun, Dewan Rakyat diberitahu hari ini.
Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Kesihatan Datuk Lee Kah Choo berkata Kajian Faktor Risiko Penyakit Kronik yang dijalankan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan tahun lepas menunjukkan terdapat satu juta wanita gemuk berbanding 850,000 lelaki gempal.
"Dalam erti kata lain terdapat 19 wanita gemuk bagi setiap 100 wanita berbanding 14 lelaki gemuk bagi setiap 100 orang lelaki dalam kumpulan umur yang sama," katanya menjawab soalan Datuk Dr Rahman Ismail (BN-Gombak).
Lee berkata kajian itu mendapati 5.8 juta penduduk Malaysia berumur antara 25 dan 64 tahun mengalami masalah berat badan berlebihan dan kegemukan.
"Kegemukan meningkatkan risiko seseorang itu mendapat penyakit kronik seperti jantung, diabetes, strok dan kanser," katanya.
Lee berkata antara faktor yang menyebabkan kegemukan adalah keturunan, gaya hidup dan pemakanan.
Beliau berkata bahawa bagi mengawal masalah itu, kementerian melaksanakan langkah pencegahan jangka panjang antaranya dengan menganjurkan kempen cara hidup sihat, menjalankan pengesanan awal kegemukan di klinik kesihatan dan hospital, melaksanakan program pengurusan berat badan dan menganjurkan kem kesihatan. BERNAMA
p/s ish!ish! takutnya..
12-12-2007 03:10:01 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Bilangan wanita gemuk mengatasi lelaki boyot dalam kalangan penduduk negara ini yang berumur 25 hingga 64 tahun, Dewan Rakyat diberitahu hari ini.
Setiausaha Parlimen Kementerian Kesihatan Datuk Lee Kah Choo berkata Kajian Faktor Risiko Penyakit Kronik yang dijalankan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan tahun lepas menunjukkan terdapat satu juta wanita gemuk berbanding 850,000 lelaki gempal.
"Dalam erti kata lain terdapat 19 wanita gemuk bagi setiap 100 wanita berbanding 14 lelaki gemuk bagi setiap 100 orang lelaki dalam kumpulan umur yang sama," katanya menjawab soalan Datuk Dr Rahman Ismail (BN-Gombak).
Lee berkata kajian itu mendapati 5.8 juta penduduk Malaysia berumur antara 25 dan 64 tahun mengalami masalah berat badan berlebihan dan kegemukan.
"Kegemukan meningkatkan risiko seseorang itu mendapat penyakit kronik seperti jantung, diabetes, strok dan kanser," katanya.
Lee berkata antara faktor yang menyebabkan kegemukan adalah keturunan, gaya hidup dan pemakanan.
Beliau berkata bahawa bagi mengawal masalah itu, kementerian melaksanakan langkah pencegahan jangka panjang antaranya dengan menganjurkan kempen cara hidup sihat, menjalankan pengesanan awal kegemukan di klinik kesihatan dan hospital, melaksanakan program pengurusan berat badan dan menganjurkan kem kesihatan. BERNAMA
p/s ish!ish! takutnya..
11 December 2007
Nobel Prize 2007
NOBEL PRIZE WEEK
Nobel winners take prizes in Stockholm
Published: 10 Dec 07 18:10 CETOnline: http://www.thelocal.se/9367/
The winners of the 2007 Nobel prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry and economics received their awards from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on Monday.
The two eldest laureates, 88-year-old British novelist Doris Lessing who won the literature prize and 90-year-old economics co-prizewinner Leonid Hurwicz of the United States, were absent due to poor health.In Norway, the winners of the prestigious peace prize, former US vice president Al Gore and the UN's top climate panel IPCC, received their award at a separate ceremony at Oslo's city hall earlier on Monday.The Nobel prizes are traditionally presented on December 10, the anniversary of the death of the creator of the awards, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, in 1896.The Stockholm ceremony, held amid pomp and circumstance in the capital's Concert Hall, was to be followed by a gala banquet for 1,300 guests at City Hall attended by Sweden's royal family and members of the government.Each Nobel prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal, and a cheque for 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.56 million) to be shared if there is more than one laureate.The prizewinners, decked out in white tie and tails, each accepted their awards from the hands of the king and bowed to the royal family and assembled guests as a fanfare played.The eight being honoured were economics laureates Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson of the United States, Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies of the United States and Briton Martin Evans for the medicine prize, Gerhard Ertl of Germany for the chemistry prize, and physics laureates Peter Gruenberg of Germany and Albert Fert of France.At the Oslo festivities, Gore said in his acceptance speech that humanity was "waging war" on the Earth and urged the United States and China to join the fight against global warming as he accepted his prize."Both countries should stop using the other's behaviour as an excuse for stalemate and instead develop an agenda for mutual survival in a shared global environment," Gore said at the lavish event.
AFP (news@thelocal.se)
Nobel winners take prizes in Stockholm
Published: 10 Dec 07 18:10 CETOnline: http://www.thelocal.se/9367/
The winners of the 2007 Nobel prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry and economics received their awards from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on Monday.
The two eldest laureates, 88-year-old British novelist Doris Lessing who won the literature prize and 90-year-old economics co-prizewinner Leonid Hurwicz of the United States, were absent due to poor health.In Norway, the winners of the prestigious peace prize, former US vice president Al Gore and the UN's top climate panel IPCC, received their award at a separate ceremony at Oslo's city hall earlier on Monday.The Nobel prizes are traditionally presented on December 10, the anniversary of the death of the creator of the awards, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, in 1896.The Stockholm ceremony, held amid pomp and circumstance in the capital's Concert Hall, was to be followed by a gala banquet for 1,300 guests at City Hall attended by Sweden's royal family and members of the government.Each Nobel prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal, and a cheque for 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.56 million) to be shared if there is more than one laureate.The prizewinners, decked out in white tie and tails, each accepted their awards from the hands of the king and bowed to the royal family and assembled guests as a fanfare played.The eight being honoured were economics laureates Eric Maskin and Roger Myerson of the United States, Mario Capecchi and Oliver Smithies of the United States and Briton Martin Evans for the medicine prize, Gerhard Ertl of Germany for the chemistry prize, and physics laureates Peter Gruenberg of Germany and Albert Fert of France.At the Oslo festivities, Gore said in his acceptance speech that humanity was "waging war" on the Earth and urged the United States and China to join the fight against global warming as he accepted his prize."Both countries should stop using the other's behaviour as an excuse for stalemate and instead develop an agenda for mutual survival in a shared global environment," Gore said at the lavish event.
AFP (news@thelocal.se)
Nobel Banquet
Nobel Banquet: the feast of feasts
Published: 10 Dec 07 10:16 CETOnline: http://www.thelocal.se/9358/
Serving a banquet to nearly 1,400 people is no mean feat, and when the event is the Nobel Banquet, the stakes are high. Charlotte West goes behind the scenes at the grandest event in Sweden's calendar.
A feast fit for a king would be an exaggerated description of just about any meal, no matter how palatable, with the exception of the annual Nobel Banquet. The weeklong blitz climaxes on Monday with the feast of feasts – arguably one of the grandest dinners in the world. The whole event is shrouded in mystery, and the menu is top secret until the almost 1,400 guests are seated at the banquet in the Blue Hall of the Stockholm City Hall at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 10th.
The composition of this year's menu is the result of the combined culinary prowess of chefs Krister Dahl, head of the Swedish Culinary Team, and Magnus Johansson, proprietor of the Xoko dessert cafe in Stockholm. This will be Johansson's sixth year of providing the Nobel dessert.
Last year, the eight Nobel laureates – and 1,240 other guests celebrating the memory of Alfred Nobel – enjoyed a spread featuring mosaic of salmon and scallops, herb-baked saddle of lamb and pineapple parfait. Of the 2007 menu, however, those involved remain silent. “It will be good. Really exquisite tastes,” was all the tight-lipped Dahl would tell newspaper Göteborgs-Posten. “We have prepared everything for the Nobel Committee four times, and it has obviously been approved,” he said. Simplicty, Dahl said, was the key to success. “It's about creating a functional menu, which should be relatively easy to make, and then everything must be served quickly,” he said. “It's a really big secret,” Linda Johansson of Xoko told The Local.
Whatever the delicacies turn out to be, they have been designed around a Scandinavian-related theme and are sure to whet the appetite – and keep the 30 chefs and 200 servers on their toes. There are tables to set and food to buy. According to the Nobel Foundation, one year the shopping list for the banquet consisted of 2,692 pigeon breasts, 475 lobster tails, 100 kilos of potatoes, 70 liters of sweet and sour raspberry vinegar sauce, 67 kilos of Jerusalem artichokes, 53 kilos of Philadelphia cheese, and 45 kilos of lightly smoked salmon, among other ingredients. With so many cooks in the kitchen, Ulf Östenius, General Manager of Stadshuskällaren restaurant, must run a tight ship. Östenius, along with Chef de Cuisine Gunnar Eriksson, is the man charged with the small task of making sure the logistics of Nobel Banquet go according to plan – something which is not to be taken for granted. In an interview with the City of Stockholm, Östenius said that one year the main course was some kind of poultry that had been pre-cooked. It was supposed to be warmed up in the oven right as the electricity went out. They had to begin again with new raw ingredients, but nevertheless managed to make it appear seamless. Another year, there was a panic because one of the laureates suddenly haunched over the table, but it turned out he had simply fallen asleep. Despite the stories about near-disasters, Östenius somehow manages to coordinate his team of 200 and still make the entire production seem effortless.
On the morning of the feast, more than 7,000 porcelain pieces, 5,000 glasses and 10,000 pieces of silverware must be meticulously laid out on the 470 metres of linen that adorns the banquet's 65 tables. And while expectant guests anticipate their royal meal, it takes six minutes from the time the waiters begin the procession down the steps until everyone has been served. The king is served first, immediately followed by the queen. The menu is decided upon months in advance. In August and September, the chefs prepare sample menus and present them to the Nobel Committee for tasting.
Linda Johansson of Xoko told The Local that they presented three different dessert options to the Nobel Committee, which then chose the final selection. The good news is that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to get the red-carpet culinary treatment. As of Tuesday, December 11th, you can order the Nobel menu at Stadshuskällaren, also located in the Stockholm City Hall. Unfortunately, the restaurant will only be serving the three-course meal to groups of 20 or more until January 7th, when the 2007 Nobel menu will become standard fare.
The only exception is December 31st, where you can book a table to celebrate New Year's Eve Nobel-style. Stadshuskällaren also offers every Nobel menu served since 1901 for groups of eight or more. Reservations must be booked one week ahead. Xoko will also serve the Nobel dessert, including for takeaway, beginning on Tuesday. As an added bonus, they will also serve the entire Nobel spread on Wed-Saturday nights this week. But call quickly, as a representative of the cafe said there are only a few spots left.
Charlotte West (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)
Published: 10 Dec 07 10:16 CETOnline: http://www.thelocal.se/9358/
Serving a banquet to nearly 1,400 people is no mean feat, and when the event is the Nobel Banquet, the stakes are high. Charlotte West goes behind the scenes at the grandest event in Sweden's calendar.
A feast fit for a king would be an exaggerated description of just about any meal, no matter how palatable, with the exception of the annual Nobel Banquet. The weeklong blitz climaxes on Monday with the feast of feasts – arguably one of the grandest dinners in the world. The whole event is shrouded in mystery, and the menu is top secret until the almost 1,400 guests are seated at the banquet in the Blue Hall of the Stockholm City Hall at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 10th.
The composition of this year's menu is the result of the combined culinary prowess of chefs Krister Dahl, head of the Swedish Culinary Team, and Magnus Johansson, proprietor of the Xoko dessert cafe in Stockholm. This will be Johansson's sixth year of providing the Nobel dessert.
Last year, the eight Nobel laureates – and 1,240 other guests celebrating the memory of Alfred Nobel – enjoyed a spread featuring mosaic of salmon and scallops, herb-baked saddle of lamb and pineapple parfait. Of the 2007 menu, however, those involved remain silent. “It will be good. Really exquisite tastes,” was all the tight-lipped Dahl would tell newspaper Göteborgs-Posten. “We have prepared everything for the Nobel Committee four times, and it has obviously been approved,” he said. Simplicty, Dahl said, was the key to success. “It's about creating a functional menu, which should be relatively easy to make, and then everything must be served quickly,” he said. “It's a really big secret,” Linda Johansson of Xoko told The Local.
Whatever the delicacies turn out to be, they have been designed around a Scandinavian-related theme and are sure to whet the appetite – and keep the 30 chefs and 200 servers on their toes. There are tables to set and food to buy. According to the Nobel Foundation, one year the shopping list for the banquet consisted of 2,692 pigeon breasts, 475 lobster tails, 100 kilos of potatoes, 70 liters of sweet and sour raspberry vinegar sauce, 67 kilos of Jerusalem artichokes, 53 kilos of Philadelphia cheese, and 45 kilos of lightly smoked salmon, among other ingredients. With so many cooks in the kitchen, Ulf Östenius, General Manager of Stadshuskällaren restaurant, must run a tight ship. Östenius, along with Chef de Cuisine Gunnar Eriksson, is the man charged with the small task of making sure the logistics of Nobel Banquet go according to plan – something which is not to be taken for granted. In an interview with the City of Stockholm, Östenius said that one year the main course was some kind of poultry that had been pre-cooked. It was supposed to be warmed up in the oven right as the electricity went out. They had to begin again with new raw ingredients, but nevertheless managed to make it appear seamless. Another year, there was a panic because one of the laureates suddenly haunched over the table, but it turned out he had simply fallen asleep. Despite the stories about near-disasters, Östenius somehow manages to coordinate his team of 200 and still make the entire production seem effortless.
On the morning of the feast, more than 7,000 porcelain pieces, 5,000 glasses and 10,000 pieces of silverware must be meticulously laid out on the 470 metres of linen that adorns the banquet's 65 tables. And while expectant guests anticipate their royal meal, it takes six minutes from the time the waiters begin the procession down the steps until everyone has been served. The king is served first, immediately followed by the queen. The menu is decided upon months in advance. In August and September, the chefs prepare sample menus and present them to the Nobel Committee for tasting.
Linda Johansson of Xoko told The Local that they presented three different dessert options to the Nobel Committee, which then chose the final selection. The good news is that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to get the red-carpet culinary treatment. As of Tuesday, December 11th, you can order the Nobel menu at Stadshuskällaren, also located in the Stockholm City Hall. Unfortunately, the restaurant will only be serving the three-course meal to groups of 20 or more until January 7th, when the 2007 Nobel menu will become standard fare.
The only exception is December 31st, where you can book a table to celebrate New Year's Eve Nobel-style. Stadshuskällaren also offers every Nobel menu served since 1901 for groups of eight or more. Reservations must be booked one week ahead. Xoko will also serve the Nobel dessert, including for takeaway, beginning on Tuesday. As an added bonus, they will also serve the entire Nobel spread on Wed-Saturday nights this week. But call quickly, as a representative of the cafe said there are only a few spots left.
Charlotte West (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)
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