Mita

Hazardous Ingredients in Personal Care Products

2012-02-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

Akhir-akhir ini saya benar-benar mulai meneliti satu persatu label ingredients yang ada pada produk yang saya gunakan dan mempelajarinya dengan merujuk pada Less Toxic Guide. Ngeri juga, sebab, body lotion yang saya gunakan diantaranya mengandung methylparaben, propylparaben, dimethicone, sodium hydroxide, propylene glycol, parfume. Sementara pembersih muka mengandung, sodium laureth sulphate.

Lalu, apakah sebenarnya bahan kimia tersebut ???

Paraben: nama dagangnya dikenal dengan 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid merupakan bahan pengawet produk (agar produk tersebut bisa bertahan dalam jangka waktu lama) dan juga anti bakteria. Paraben ini biasanya bisa juga berbentuk methyl paraben, butyl paraben atau propyl paraben. Paraben mempengaruhi estrogen, hal ini seringkali di hubungkan dengan terjadinya kanker payudara. Paraben dapat menyebabkan reaksi alergi atau dermatitis bagi beberapa orang. Paraben diserap melalui kulit dan ditemukan dalan jaringan kanker payudara atau tumor.

Dimethicone: merupakan silicon-based polymer, bahan ini juga memiliki potensi bahaya.

Sodium hydroxide: merupakan bahan alcaline caustic yang cukup kuat dan biasa juga disebut sebagai lye.Bahan ini diantaranya dapat menimbulkan iritasi, dermatitis, kulit terbakar.

Prophylene glycol: merupakan bahan populer yang digunakan untuk berbagai produk kulit seperti pelembab, pembersih muka, produk anti penuaan, maskara dan bahkan pewarna rambut. Bahan ini digunakan sebab murah dan lebih mudah diserap oleh kulit. Bahan ini juga sejenis dengan polyethylene glycol (PEG) yang dapat menyebabkan dermatitis bahkan dalam konsentrasi kecil dan dikenal sebagai neurotoxin (racun yang menyerang syaraf) oleh US National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, bahkan dapat juga menyebabkan gangguan pada ginjal. Material Safety Data Sheet (Lembar Data Keselamatan) bagi propylene glycol memberikan peringatan kepada pekerja untuk mengindari kontak kulit (wah ngeri ya, sementara kita mengoleskannya setiap hari di pelembab yang kita gunakan).

Parfume: pada produk biasanya ditulis dengan nama fragrance atau parfum, hal ini biasanya merujuk pada bahan sintesis (pewangi sintesis). Bahan ini dapat memicu asma, sakit kepala, alergi dan iritasi kulit. Selain itu, banyak bahan pada fragrance atau pewangi ini disinyalir merupakan zat karsinogen (pemicu kanker).

Berdasarkan study yang dilakukan US Environmental Protection Agency tahun 1991, kira-kira 100% fragrance/parfume mengandung toluene, yang dapat menyebabkan gangguan pada hati, ginjal, otak dan bahkan gangguang pada pembentukan fetus (calon bayi). Bahan fragrance/parfume tertentu, seperti phthalates, dinyatakan sebagai pengganggu terhadap hormon. Diethyl phthalate (DEP), pelarut yang digunakan pada fragrance/parfume disinyalir memiliki hubungan dengan gangguan organ reproduksi, termasuk gangguan DNA pada sperma manusia. Celakanya, banyak ingredients pada fragrance yang memiliki resiko bahaya tidak dituliskan dalam label produk. Di negara anggota Uni Eropa, pencantuman bahan pada label sudah diwajibkan dalam rangka mengidentifikasi 24 bahan pemicu alergi yang digunakan untuk pewangi/frangrance/parfume.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate: merupakan bahan yang dikenal sebagai penyebab iritasi kulit dan mata. Biasa terdapat pada detergent, shampoo, body wash, bubble baths, skin cream dan odol. Apabila sodium laurel sulfate dikombinasikan dengan ethylene oxide (ethoxylized) untuk melembutkan sodium laureth sulfate,akan menjadi lebih berbahaya, sebab menjadi kontaminasi dengan 1,4-dioxane, zat yang disinyalir karsinogenik (penyebab kanker). Umumnya 1,4-dioxane dapat dibersihkan dari produk saat proses di pabrik, akan tetapi kita tidak dapat menjamin hal ini dilakukan oleh produsen, sebab biasanya tidak diwajibkan untuk menuliskan informasi ini pada label. Padahal, proses ini dapat pula menyebabkan pembentukan bahan karsinogen lain seperti ethylene oxide. Sodium lauryl sulfate merupakan bahan yang serupa dengan Ammonium lauryl sulfate, tetapi kelompok sodium group telah digantikan oleh atom ammonium . Meski bahan ini juga menyebabkan iritasi, ammonium lauryl sulfate tidak sebahaya sodium lauryl sulfate, kecuali kalau bahan tersebut melalui proses ethoxylized. Saat ethoxylation untuk diubah menjadi ammonium laureth sulfate, bahan ini juga terkontaminasi dengan 1,4-dioxane dan ethylene oxide, bahan yang disinyalir karsinogenik. Jadi lebih baik hindari saja Sodium dan Ammonium Laureth Sulphate ini...

Pusing juga ya, untuk menghindari resiko, saya mencoba browsing untuk mencari produk yang lebih aman, dan menemukan link berikut yang menyatakan bebas Lanolin, Paraben, PABA, Sodium Lauryl/Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Methanol Fragrance dan Sythetic Color (dye). Hebatnya, ini produk Indonesia asli lho!

Kelihatannya baik untuk dicoba, tetapi harus di baca dengan teliti labelnya, jangan sampai bahan berbahaya yang satu tidak digunakan tetapi diganti dengan bahan berbahaya lain....Ok, jadilah konsumen yang kritis!

Ps: Saya merekomendasikan artikel ini lho untuk dibaca: Paraben dalam produk perawatan kulit

Tips: Vaksinasi Yellow Fever

2012-01-15T22:04:00.000-08:00

Tahun lalu, saya mendapat tugas ke Uganda, negaranya Idi Amin, diktaktor yang memerintah cukup lama. Mungkin kalau pernah nonton film "The Last King of Scotland" bisa dapat sedikit gambaran (tapi jangan percaya film Hollywood 100% ya).

Di Uganda, pembangunan infrastruktur sangat kurang, sepanjang jalan, saya jadi inget pedalaman desa di Jawa yang tata letak perumahan, sanitasi, jalan dan bangunannya belum dibangun dengan baik dan tidak ditata rapi. Bangunan yang paling bagus, apa coba? Gedung Parlemen! Halah, sama saja dengan Indonesia, di sana parlemennya korup dan fasilitasnya Wah. Uganda ini kaya akan sumber daya alam.

Saya tinggal di ibu kota, Kampala, di Hotel Serena Victoria, biayanya aduh mahal, kalau nggak terpaksa ogah deh tinggal disini. Hotel ini dekat sekali dengan Danau Victoria yang terkenal dengan ikan raksasa hasil rekayasa genetikanya, dimuat di film dokumenter : "Darwin's Nightmare".

Oh ya, sedikit informasi dari saya, siapa tahu dapat membantu:

1. Sebelum ke Uganda, penting sekali untuk vaksinasi yellow fever, setelah "caca marica hei-hei" (alias mencari-cari) vaksinasi ini hanya ada di pelabuhan Tanjung Priok atau di Bandar Udara Halim Perdana Kusuma (dibagian kesehatan/karantina), biayanya sekitar Rp. 250.000. Nah, sebaiknya suntik vaksinasinya sekitar 10 hari sebelum keberangkatan karena akan memberikan perlindungan maksimal (cieeeh).

2. Selesai divaksinasi, kita akan diberi buku kuning berisi tanggal vaksinasi dan jenis vaksinnya. Buku tersebut jangan sampai hilang dan harus dibawa saat pergi ke Uganda.

3. Visa on arrival, tidak perlu repot-repot bikin visa. Begitu sampai di Entebbe (bandar udara Uganda) langsung ke loket imigrasi untuk buat visa on arrival, biayanya 50 US Dollar, langsung di bayar di imigrasi, jangan lupa minta kuitansinya ya.

4. Sampai di Uganda, jangan bingung dengan yang namanya Taksi ( kok bentuknya kayak angkot hehe)..Emang iya, layanan taksi jarang ada yang satu orang satu seperti taksi di Indonesia, kalau taksi di sana ya sama saja dengan angkot...

Ok, selamat jalan!

Tips : Urus Paspor

2012-01-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

Pusing urus passpor? jangan menyerah, dan jangan serahkan ke calo..

Akhir Januari saya harus ke Thailand, setelah itu harus mengurus visa ke Australia, tetapi aduh baru ingat passport sudah expired. Tadinya mau menyerah, bayar Rp. 600.000 ke calo berkedok biro jasa, tapi kok nggak rela ya, bukan hanya karena uangnya tapi juga kok rasanya ikut berkontribusi ke praktek korupsi, normalnya urus sendiri kan bisa..

Untunglah ada informasi aplikasi passpor online...CLING!!! Lumayan membantu, antri singkat dan cepat, biaya hanya Rp. 255.000 untuk buku passpor dan layanan IT-nya...coba, bayangkan kalau via calo, eh biro jasa, bisa sampai Rp. 850.000 an tuh...

Untuk apply online, proses di imigrasi relatif sangat singkat, silahkan klik ke link berikut:
Ipass imigrasi

Kemudian berhubung aplikasi personal klik ke:
Pra Permohonan Personal

Kalau bingung, pelajari dulu instruksinya:
Petunjuk

Saya mengirim aplikasi tanggal 5 Januari 2012 dan pada saat itu juga diberi bukti tanda pendaftaran online dan beberapa pilihan jadwal datang ke imigrasi, diantaranya tanggal 16, 18 atau 22 Januari, jam layanan pukul 08.00 - 11.00. Saya memilih tanggal 16 berhubung tanggal tersebut paling dekat.

Memang sih, jarak antara pengiriman aplikasi dan jadwal datang ke imigrasi agak lama, tapi sangat membantu, sebab setiba di kantor imigrasi tidak perlu menunggu, ambil nomor antri dan voila, langsung di panggil. Hari ini setidaknya hanya ada 17 orang di loket aplikasi online. Sementara jumlah orang pemohon paspor keseluruhan untuk hari ini, alamak, kira-kira 200 orang lebih ada deh...

Selesai di loket aplikasi online, diminta menunggu sebentar sembari petugasnya merapikan dokumen, kemudian dipanggil untuk nomor pembayaran passport dan foto. Selang waktu 10 menit, nomor saya sudah dipanggil untuk pembayaran passport dan pengambilan foto. Nah, yang agak lama sedikit memang saat pengambilan foto, karena banyak sekali yang harus di foto. Saat ini layar panggilan menunjukkan nomor antrian 100, sementara saya nomor 165. Pada layar panggilan tersebut terlihat perbedaan kolom dan warna, kolom kiri warna merah untuk menampilkan kolom nomor antri yang diwakili biro jasa, yang sebelah kanan warna hijau kolom yang menampilkan nomor orang yang hadir secara personal. Menarik bukan?

Bagi yang berminat untuk apply secara online, kalau bisa datang lebih pagi ya, jangan mepet jam 11 seperti saya, meski lancar di loket, tetapi lama antri di foto sebab terpotong waktu istirahat. Jam 12.00- 13.00 semua kegiatan berhenti untuk makan siang (makanya saya bisa nulis blog ini heheeheh)...Selesai foto, 4 (empat) hari kemudian passpor sudah bisa diambil..

Berikut ini berkas-berkas yang harus di scan (asli) dan di submit via online (jika ingin memperpanjang) :
Passpor (halaman depan), KTP, Akte kelahiran, Kartu keluarga, Ijazah. Bentuknya jangan pdf ya, tapi jpeg (image). Sisanya bisa dibawa langsung seperti surat rekomendasi kantor dan juga bukti aplikasi via online.

Saat di loket, serahkan copy berkas berkas tersebut, tunjukkan kartu keluarga, serta KTP yang asli, dan serahkan passpor lama (jika ingin memperpanjang).

Selamat berjuang! Semangat!

The Photographs

2011-08-18T21:46:00.001-07:00

I am following Doug’s photo commentary blog. Recently he posted pictures of Gaziveren Coastline in Northern Cyprus. His photographs always look appealing to me, but the comment is more interesting. He thought that beaches and sunset like flowers : are over-photographed. Prior to this comment, months back ago, he said similar when he took pictures of flower.

Are they over photographed? Yes, if you look at beaches, sunset and flower as an object, a thing. Period.

Are they over photographed? No, if you look at them as the art of God.

Every beach has different characters, the sand, rocks, waves, wind, and species around. At one place you might find Starfishes lying in the sand, in other places you might not. In your beach you can find a stranded Jelly fish, but in other beach you can’t. In my beach, I can see beautiful coral reefs and anemone that you can’t see in yours.

Similar with flowers, Dandelion, Tulip, Rose, Jasmine, Lavender, they are all called flowers but they are different. They have diverse scents, colors, shapes, and attract different bees. They look like pretty ballerinas in colorful dress, aren't they? So does the cloud, the cloud you stared today might be different from yesterday. They are the same but not similar: Nacreous, Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Altostratus, Stratus, Nimbostratus, Cirrocumulus, Altocumulus, Stratocumulus, Cumulus, Cumulonimbus. One Cumulus might have different shape with other Cumulus, and etcetera.

The best thing is to look at people’s photograph. They may look over photographed too, but every people is unique, the colors, expressions, smiles, eyes. Do you know that of the millions people live in this planet no one has an exactly the same finger print?

Looking at Doug’s photograph, often reminds me how great the real Maestro is.

[Holy Quran 55.10] And the earth, He has set it for living creatures; ... [55.13] Which then of the bounties of your Lord willyou deny?

Follow Your Heart

2011-07-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

There are moments when I feel doubt about the things I have done (although I did most of them with excitement) and the things I want to do. There is a day when I found my self as a stranger in the city where I live.

Sometimes I envy those planets wandering in their orbits without doubt, no matter how vast the universe is and how far they have to travel. The planets, they are very certain of what they are and they know where they are going.

I haven't packed my bag, I can’t sleep and I give up to force my self to do so. I decided to read a piece of Susanna Tamaro’s writing, there is a part that I really like to read, again, again and again….

“Take care of yourself. As you grow up you’ll often get the urge to change things, to right wrongs, but every time you do remember that the first revolution, the first and the most important, has to take place within yourself. Fighting for an idea without having an idea of yourself is one of the most dangerous things you can do.

Every time you feel lost, confused, think about trees, remember how they grow. Remember that a tree with lots of branches and few roots will get toppled by the first strong wind, while the sap hardly moves in a tree with many roots and few branches. Roots and branches must grow in equal measure, you have to stand both inside things and above them, because only then will you be able to offer shade and shelter, only then will you be able to cover yourself with leaves and fruit at the proper season.

And later on, when so many roads open up before you, you don’t know which to take, don’t pick one at random; sit down and wait. Breathe deeply, trustingly, the way you breathed on the day you came into the world, don’t let anything distract you, wait and wait some more. Stay still, be quiet, and listen to your heart. Then, when it speak, get up and go where it takes you.”

Susanna Tamaro, Follow Your Heart..

My Tree

2011-07-11T16:26:00.000-07:00

In a day, travelling home to office and return, I spend four hours and take 6 buses. Jakarta’s traffic is not effective and complicated, so does the Jakartan.

The city street is so dynamics. The bus is like a moving market as you can find a salesman jump in to the bus and try to selling things to the passengers, also street singers singing try to charm your heart. Being inside the bus of Jakarta is an adventure.

I see different faces everyday but I stand under the same tree to wait for the bus (well, we are lacking of proper bus stops).

This tree knows me, it witnesses me running to catch the bus, it sees me in the day when I look beautiful and bad, it cools me from the heat of the day. In a town of concretes, the tree is my favorite and I think it is also the best playground for some little birds, sometimes I saw them jumping around and tickling the branches.

Monday morning, I saw three men with a giant chainsaw, they said, the root of my tree destroys the side walk, and it going to expand to the street, the branches disturbing the electricity cable line too. Besides it is an old tree. They got a formal order of the local authority to cut it down.

So, it was the last day I saw you standing elegantly. Thanks to protect me my tree, I know you saw me weeping. I will miss you, so do the little birds. Please forgive us, people like blaming nature, we forget that similar to human, a tree need a space to grow healthy. We just didn't think of this when planted you.

What I feel for my tree seems silly, but in other part of the world there are people who experienced the same. There is a story of people in Nablus, weeping in pain when their Olive trees are taken. I know the feeling of those in Chipko movement in India and Chico Mendez’s for his rubber trees in Brazil.

My tree, I am so sorry I don’t know your name and I didn’t do enough for you as the way you did to me. But when I saw your branch waving at me for the last time, I know, this cut down sets you free.

Today's Emoticon

2011-07-07T01:43:00.000-07:00

A little chaotic day, try to catch up the deadline

and an advocacy meeting too, headache. Ladies and Gentlemen this picture represent my emoticon.. (don't know who took this pic)...

I am rushing to office and singing (one) of my anthems....

"Oh...oh....Took a while to drag me out of bed,

Aim some coffee at my head,

Saw the clock I'm running late

......................

So little time so much to do,

I rather spend my days with you,

So little time so much to do

..........................................................."
(Arkarna, So little time so much to do)

Have a nice weekend everyoneeee...(sigh)

Constellation

2011-07-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

I don’t remember the last time I stared at the stars and I think I have forgotten the joy of looking at them. Perhaps the bright city light at night and the giant buildings hide their glitter from my eyes or… maybe it’s me who ignore them.

It’s been a long time, indeed.

When I was a little girl I rarely missed the chance of staring at the stars. I think, in a little village where I grew up, no light could beat them. The place was far away from the sparkling giant buildings. The only big buildings can be found were a church and a mosque without so many lights as the heart of believers coming at night is more than enough to make those buildings shining.

When I was a little, stars meant a hope, a simple hope for a little girl to go outside, to find Orion and Crux. I knew where to find them.

It’s been a long time, indeed.

This night I found myself lost under the night sky. I don’t remember where to find Orion and Crux. I don’t even know what the stars mean to me.

If you look at the sky tonight, perhaps we are staring at the same constellation. You know what, when we look at the stars, we are looking at the past as some of them were probably dead as their lights reach our eyes.

I want to tell you a word of Exuperey, “People have stars, but they aren’t the same. For travelers, the stars are guide. For other people they are nothing but tiny lights, for scholars they are problems….”

I let them be a mystery. How about you?

A Letter to Ucu

2011-06-29T01:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Ucu,

I actually wrote this letter for your Birthday, last May 4, but I wasn’t able to finish my writing and that day you had your music performance abroad. Well we are busy girls (Oh my, but you are a star…LOL!). Anyway, I think its better late than never, so I decided to wrap up the writing and send this to you just now.

You know what, two events that make me realize that you are not a “little sister” anymore are the day when you got married and your birthday. It’s strange that you are getting older and people around call you "Kak" or "Mbak" Endah. You will never be a “Kak or Mbak” to me, a younger sister always be an “Adik” or "Ucu". Realizing that you are a mature sister, somehow gives me a post power syndrome feeling. I miss those days when you knocking my room and asked me to chat and moments of going out together (off course it was you who drove me everywhere..LOL..sadly, I don’t have such luxury now).

Happy (belated) birthday with many loving thoughts! Wish your day full of bless and happiness. I wish you a great luck with your music that makes you sing through thought the day. As you told me, to be happy is your reason to stay “tune” in music, live from it and you chose to be an independent musician because the major labels are not able to accommodate your passion.

I agree with you, although sometimes I am afraid that I gave you a wrong view. At present not so much people think about what happiness is, and forget their passion simply because of so called “market driven”. But you know, whenever we meet, we always love to talk about idealism that is often missing in daily life. I know, perhaps, if you could turn back time you would still wrote songs and sing, and play your guitar. You do the thing you should do with your talent, and I thought that you use music in order to get to know your self better. So it does not matter how many CDs you have sold (although so far, they are sold pretty well, 9000 for the second album and 20.000 for the first album) just keep being honest to your self, the listeners would remain loyal.

Music is far beyond notes and lyrics, it is a power, it is a language, a mind’s reflection, a passion. Music is one of the ways to touch someone’s life, your listener. A musician that tries to express herself thinking only about the market, may have a successful album once and the career wont last. She would only live to chase it (I am afraid, she may lose it as market keep changing).

Keep on singing because you need to sing, and it makes you happy. The career of music is beyond your control, it just happens.

Happy (belated) birthday!

A lot of hugs

You know Who!

Tips: When You Get Sick

2011-06-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

I am coughing again with a little fever and yet I haven’t touched the antibiotics from the doctor. Well, it is very easy to prescribed antibiotics for a patient here.

Feeling a bit down, but my head telling me to cheer up. Oh, sometimes heart and head work in different directions, here and there.

So, I am using my head trying to cheer up my heart. Let’s think!

First, disease is one of the ways to make you stronger as your immune system is forced to work against the cause of the disease. Next time, if there is a similar virus/bacteria attack, the system is already trained to block it.

Second, being sick will give you more time to contemplate. Stay in your bed, don’t do anything and listen to your self, hmmm my mind is telling me to consume fresh fruits, yummy...

Third, being sick gives you sometime to break, slow down the pace and relax. Go to sleep! (several months hibernating like a bear in the winter, if possible).

Forth, sick is testing your emotional intelligence, to be more patience to yourself and other people (psst..psst..you know, sometimes when you get sick it is a bit hard to be kind to other people). Oh I can’t cure the this flu in one night. So, this time I have to fight against this negative behavior and be emotionally strong!

Five, having a disease will make you count your bless. How come? Look around! There are unfortunate people who need more attention than we are. The internally displaced persons (my heart with the Lapindo mud victims) and those who sick but have no access to proper medical treatment.

Oh, this is only a little flu, thank God. I will get better soon. I know. .

Handmade Stuff

2011-06-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

I like handmade products. I thought that the products were personally made with full of patience.

When I was a little girl, my (late) mum made me dresses and a cute alligator doll. I asked my mum everyday, when would the alligator doll done? The alligator was my best friend, until its broken and could not be fixed. I wore the dresses with proud as I saw my mom made them with passion and patience.

Well yes, sometimes the price of handmade products are more expensive compare to the industry mass products, but don’t you think it is worth as it would move you to be more respect on the product and the money you spent? (At least it doesn’t go to big industry that employs cheap labors). Currently as many of daily needs manufactured easily and cheaply by industry, we lost the feeling of respect and turn out to be a throw away society. Buying handmade products may sustain local economy, slowing down consumerism behavior and promoting ethical trade.

I am not as advanced as my mum in making things. I do like stitching, sewing small stuff and making cards. I started making cards when I was in the middle of my study break in Dundee, Scotland. There are so many craft magazines sold in bookstores, I love them. You can see them online, such as: Let’s Make Card and Paper Craft

Eheeem, surprisingly, I won a prize from Let’s Make Card Magazine for my letter and cards. Got a set of designer papers, paper tole and a glue!Hurray… I am not yet confidence with my cards, well readers, let me know if you want to be my card recipients, will make one for you!

Below are some of “ the amateur master pieces” :