Showing posts with label Feature. Show all posts

Hati-hati Kecanduan Pornografi Merusak Otak Anda

Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010

Terdapat banyak bahaya yang ditimbulkan oleh pornografi, yang sifatnya secara berangsur-angsur dan bisa menyebabkan kecanduan. Seperti orang yang gemar minuman keras, lama-lama dia akan menjadi pecandu.

Menurut Sekretaris Jenderal Departemen Kesehatan Sjafi’i Ahmad dalam seminar bertema ”Memahami Dahsyatnya Kerusakan Otak Anak akibat Kecanduan Pornografi dan Narkoba”, Senin (2/3) di Jakarta, pornografi memicu kekerasan seksual dan menurunkan mutu sumber daya manusia.

Otak merupakan pusat pengaturan perilaku, terdiri dari banyak sirkuit, melibatkan beberapa area yang terbentuk dari proses belajar. ”Anak dan remaja yang kecanduan pornografi akan mengalami gangguan perilaku dan kemampuan inteligensia, merasa senang bila melihat materi pornografi,” kata Ketua Divisi Neurologi Anak Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia- Rumah Sakit Cipto Mangunkusumo Yetty Ramli.

Ahli bedah saraf Rumah Sakit San Antonio, AS, Donald L Hilton Jr, menjelaskan, kecanduan mengakibatkan otak bagian tengah depan (ventral tegmental area) mengecil. Penyusutan sel otak yang memproduksi dopamine, zat kimia pemicu rasa senang, itu mengacaukan kerja neurotransmitter, pengirim pesan.

Kecanduan pornografi sama prosesnya dengan kokain dan zat adiktif lain. Paparan pornografi menyebabkan perubahan konstan pada neurotransmiter dan melemahkan fungsi kontrol. Seseorang yang kecanduan pornografi tak bisa mengontrol perilaku seksnya dan mengalami gangguan memori.

”Kondisi ini tidak terjadi segera, tetapi melalui tahapan dan ditandai tindakan impulsif kecanduan dan perubahan perilaku,” ujarnya. Kerusakan otak akibat kecanduan ini lebih berat dibandingkan dengan jenis kecanduan lain.

Kepala Pusat Pemeliharaan, Peningkatan, dan Penanggulangan Inteligensia Kesehatan Departemen Kesehatan Jofizal Jannis menambahkan, kecanduan pornografi dan narkoba mengakibatkan kegagalan adaptasi sosial. Kecanduan tersebut juga merusak fungsi otak dan struktur otak dengan pola yang sama dengan gejala-gejala adiksi fisiologis karena obat-obatan dan alkohol.

”Tidak seperti adiksi lainnya, kecanduan pornografi tidak hanya memengaruhi fungsi luhur otak, tetapi juga merangsang tubuh, fisik, dan emosi diikuti perilaku seksual,” kata Jofizal.

Bila gangguan perilaku dan kemampuan inteligensia itu meluas, hal itu akan memperburuk kemampuan, kesehatan fisik, mental, dan sosial.

Hilton menyatakan, pencandu butuh menjalani terapi. Metodenya adalah memotivasi pencandu sehingga mau berupaya terbebas dari kecanduan, menciptakan situasi aman dengan menghambat akses pada pornografi, membentuk grup konselor sebaya, memperkuat spiritualitas.

Ketua Pelaksana Yayasan Kita dan Buah Hati Elly Risman mengimbau agar para orangtua mewaspadai materi pornografi di berbagai media, di antaranya komik, situs porno, video games, dan media lain. ”Banyak anak melihat materi pornografi justru di rumah sendiri,” ujarnya.

”Pemerintah hendaknya memblokir situs-situs internet yang memuat materi pornografi. Ada beberapa situs pornografi yang menggunakan nama tokoh kartun atau nama binatang yang bisa tanpa sengaja dibuka anak-anak saat mengerjakan tugas sekolah,” kata Elly menegaskan. (EVY)

Diringkas dari Kompas Cetak

Comments (0)

Tato dan Tindik Bisa Tularkan Hepatitis

Tato dan tindik makin digemari kaum muda di Tanah Air. Padahal, hal itu merupakan salah satu cara penularan virus hepatitis. Karena itu, kaum muda diimbau berhati-hati bila ingin menato dan menindik anggota badannya.



Menurut Ketua Perhimpunan Peneliti Hati Indonesia Unggul Budihusodo, Selasa (14/4), saat dihubungi di Jakarta, mereka yang ditindik atau ditato berisiko tinggi tertular virus hepatitis.

Kondisi ini disebabkan tato dan tindik kebanyakan menggunakan alat yang tidak steril atau dipakai secara bergantian. Bila seseorang ditato atau ditindik dengan alat yang dipakai tercemar virus hepatitis, ia rentan terinfeksi virus itu. ”Hepatitis menular lewat darah dan cairan tubuh manusia,” ujarnya.

Selain tato dan tindik dengan alat yang tercemar virus, hepatitis bisa menular melalui hubungan seksual tanpa pengaman dengan penderita hepatitis, transfusi darah, dan suntikan. Pada hepatitis A, penularan bisa melalui makanan yang tercemar virus itu.

”Mereka yang juga berisiko tinggi terinfeksi di antaranya pengguna narkoba suntik, penerima transfusi darah, dan pekerja kesehatan,” kata Unggul. Bayi baru lahir juga berisiko terinfeksi dari ibu penderita hepatitis.

Karena itu, infeksi hepatitis diperkirakan makin meningkat seiring makin banyak orang yang ditato, ditindik, maupun berbagi jarum suntik di kalangan pengguna narkoba. ”Lebih dari 80 persen pengguna narkoba suntik tertular hepatitis,” kata Unggul.

Perkembangan penyakit itu juga dipengaruhi riwayat hepatitis secara kronis di dalam keluarga, pemakaian alkohol berlebihan, dan perlemakan hati. ”Karena itu, kebiasaan mengonsumsi alkohol pada penderita harus dihentikan,” ujarnya.

Menahun

Hepatitis adalah infeksi hati oleh virus hepatitis. Beberapa jenis hepatitis yang banyak dijumpai adalah hepatitis A, B, dan C. Di Indonesia, 2-4 persen dari total jumlah penduduk menderita hepatitis C atau 4-8 juta orang. Angka kasus hepatitis B 5-10 persen dari jumlah penduduk.

Ketua Kelompok Kerja Hepatitis Departemen Kesehatan Ali Sulaiman menjelaskan, hepatitis A bersifat akut, tidak menjadi kronis, dan bisa sembuh sempurna. Hanya sekitar 0,5 persen dari penderita yang mengalami serangan akut hingga berakibat fatal atau membahayakan keselamatan jiwanya.

Hal ini berbeda dengan hepatitis B dan C yang termasuk penyakit hati kronis atau menahun. Bila tidak diobati dengan baik, penderita bisa mengalami sirosis hati dalam waktu 15-30 tahun sejak terinfeksi virus hepatitis, bahkan kanker hati.

Namun, banyak penderita tak tahu kalau terinfeksi hepatitis karena biasanya tidak ada gejala. Akibatnya pada banyak orang, infeksi bisa jadi kronis atau menyebabkan gangguan hati secara permanen, bahkan kegagalan hati berupa sirosis maupun kanker hati.

Infeksi ganda

Selain itu, pasien bisa menderita lebih dari satu jenis hepatitis. Infeksi ganda beberapa jenis virus hepatitis perlu diwaspadai seiring peningkatan angka kasus beberapa jenis hepatitis dan penularan HIV.

Dalam wabah hepatitis A di beberapa negara di dunia telah ditemukan kasus infeksi ganda hepatitis. Di Shanghai, China, misalnya, dari 300.000 penderita, ada sejumlah orang yang mengalami infeksi ganda hepatitis.

Mereka yang berisiko tinggi terkena beberapa jenis virus hepatitis antara lain pengguna narkoba suntik dan pengidap HIV. Mereka yang terinfeksi hepatitis sejak usia dini juga berisiko menderita beberapa jenis penyakit hepatitis bila tak segera ditangani secara medis.

”Persentase untuk jadi berat atau parah kondisinya pada penderita infeksi ganda hepatitis ini lebih tinggi daripada penderita satu jenis hepatitis,” ujar Ali. Bila tidak ditangani dengan baik, kondisi itu akan mempercepat perjalanan penyakit hingga mengalami komplikasi dan kegagalan fungsi hati, bahkan kematian.

”Bila seseorang menderita infeksi ganda hepatitis, perjalanan penyakit itu menjadi sirosis maupun kanker hati jadi lebih cepat, yaitu kurang dari 10 tahun sejak menderita infeksi ganda tersebut,” ujar Unggul.

Pasien bisa menderita lebih dari satu penyakit hepatitis secara bersamaan, baik hepatitis A dan B atau C, maupun hepatitis B dan C. Namun, ada juga penderita yang terkena satu jenis hepatitis baru diikuti jenis hepatitis lain yang disebut super-infeksi dan lebih sulit disembuhkan.

”Karena hepatitis A bersifat akut, para dokter biasanya lebih dulu menangani penyakit itu baru kemudian mengobati jenis hepatitis lain,” kata dia. Gejala hepatitis A bisa muncul dalam jangka waktu satu bulan sejak terinfeksi antara lain kuning, sindrom seperti flu.

Untuk mencegah terjadinya infeksi ganda, penderita hepatitis A dan C harus segera diberi vaksin hepatitis B. Penderita hepatitis B atau C juga dianjurkan menjalani vaksinasi hepatitis A. Adapun hepatitis C belum ditemukan vaksinnya. (Sumber : Kompas, Rabu, 15 April 2009)

Comments (0)

Top Inspirational Books for Educators

Posted on Saturday, February 27, 2010



By Melissa Kelly, About.com Guide
1. The Courage to Teach
What is the essence of being a succesful teacher? According to Parker J. Palmer, it is to be able to make connections between themselves, their students and their curriculum. Truly an inspiration, this book takes a different look at teaching by giving educators a chance to reflect on their profession and themselves.

2. Not Quite Burned Out But Crispy Around the Edges
Help remind the educator in your life why they entered the 'noble profession' of teaching. This book is loaded with inspirational and humorous stories that highlight the joys and rewards of teaching without ignoring the realities of the job.


3. Extraordinary Teachers
When people ask me what I do for a living, it is interesting to hear their reaction to my answer. In fact, many people pity teachers for their 'low-reward' jobs. Worse, some even blame teachers for all the ills in society. This book reveals the extraordinary effects that teachers have.


4. Teaching from the HeartHelp remind the educator in your life why they entered the 'noble profession' of teaching. This book is loaded with inspirational and humorous stories that highlight the joys and rewards of teaching without ignoring the realities of the job.


5. To a Very Special Teacher
Wonderful, little book that is meant to be given from a student to a teacher. However, it is much more than that. This book can truly make an educator feel like they are having a positive effect on the world around them.


6. Teacher, Here's My Heart
This little book is full of beautiful illustrations and poetry written from the perspective of the parent to the teacher. It is truly touching and inspirational.

Comments (0)

Top 12 Inspirational Movies for Teacher







1. Lean on Me
Morgan Freeman plays Joe Clark, the real-life bat-wielding Principal whose goal was to bring discipline and learning to Eastside High School in New York. While he was not always the easiest on the teachers, it would sure be nice if more Principals stressed the importance of discipline and learning in their schools as he did. This film shows the importance of having strong leadership at the top.

To Sir With Love
2. 'To Sir, with Love' (1967)
Sidney Poitier is the quintessential inspirational teacher. He plays an idealistic engineer-turned-teacher who ends up in an East End London school where the staff has given up on the rowdy, incorrigible students. Things start rough but once he throws out the textbooks and decides to teach the kids about life rather than square roots and split infinitives, he begins to win their trust and respect. The film deals with discrimination based on both race and economics. Poitier is perfect as the man the kids come to refer to as "Sir." Judy Geeson and Lulu were reunited with Poitier in the TV sequel directed by Peter Bogdanovich.


The Ron Clark Story

3. The Ron Clark Story follows the inspiring tale of an energetic, creative and idealistic young teacher who leaves his small North Carolinahometown to teach in a New York City public school. Through his passionate use of special rules for his classroom, highly innovative teaching techniques and an undying devotion to his students and helping them cope with their problems, Clark is able to make a remarkable difference in the lives of his students.  Even when he is almost overcome by pneumonia, Clark continues to work with his students, hoping that he can raise their test scores to an acceptable level, or possibly even higher. However, when Mr Clark returns, he finds out his class did not deliver the goods but he remains optimistic about their chances. The kids sit in the state exams and a few days later, Mr Clark takes the kids to see the Phantom of Opera. In the end, Principal Turner reveals that Mr Clark's class got the highest average in the state and Mr Clark was regarded by his students as their best teacher in the world.

Freedom Writers
4. 'Freedom Writers' (2007)
Hilary Swank plays real life teacher Erin Gruwell who takes on freshman English at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. The school is racially diverse but not well integrated, with students sticking to their own ethnic groups. Gruwell proves to be naïve and out of her element yet her dedication to finding a way to reach these troubled kids is truly inspirational and moving. In real life, a number of Gruwell's students have themselves turned to teaching because of her.

The Great Debaters
5. The Great Debaters
Denzel Washington directed and starred in this story of professor Melvin B. Tolson of Wiley College in Texas. Set in the 1930s, the film focuses on how he formed the school's first debate team and managed to challenge prejudices to get his team to face off with Ivy League Harvard. Washington is tough, intelligent, and passionate as a teacher with a cause.

The Miracle Worker

6. 'The Miracle Worker'
Anne Bancroft as Annie Sullivan and Patty Duke as her unwilling and unruly student Helen Keller won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress Oscars, respectively, for their work. The two had originally created the roles on Broadway, and Duke would later go on to play Sullivan in a TV movie version of the story. Sullivan's determination to reach the blind and deaf Keller epitomizes how a good teacher can make an amazing impact on a student.
To Be and To Have

7. 'To Be and To Have' (2002, France)
A one-room school in rural France is the setting for this documentary portrait of teacher Georges Lopez. Exhibiting amazing patience, Lopez must deal with students ranging in age from four to eleven. A wonderful portrait of a truly dedicated teacher. Another deeply affecting, small scale portrait of a classroom.


Stand and Deliver
8. 'Stand and Deliver' (1988)
Edward James Olmos plays real life teacher Jaime Escalante, a Los Angeles teacher who inspires his underachieving students to learn calculus to boost their self-esteem. But they do so well in their AP testing that their success prompts accusations that they cheated. Ironically, the real Escalante ended up losing his position as math department chair at Garfield High and eventually left the school and returned to his native Bolivia to teach.



9. Renaissance Man
Danny Devito's performance as a teacher of the 'Double-D's' is both humorous and inspired. What appears to be a light-hearted comedy truly has a deeper meaning. Devito's character proves that William Shakespeare still has much to teach students. Surprisingly clean and somewhat corny at times, Renaissance Man in the end teaches important life lessons on responsibility and character.



10. Mr. Holland's Opus
This memorable movie gives all teachers hope that they truly have an impact on their students. Richard Dreyfuss is wonderful as a musician/composer who must take a teaching job to support his family. In the end, Dreyfuss' character realizes that he has had as much if not more of an impact from his teaching as he would have as a composer.


11. Dangerous Minds
Michelle Pfeiffer is excellent as real-life former marine Louanne Johnson. Teaching English in a tough inner-city school, she reaches the "unteachable" through caring and understanding. Very true-to-life, Dangerous Minds does not fall into sentimentality but instead teaches us of the importance of making our own choices and not allowing circumstances to rule us.

12. Dead Poet's Society
Robin Williams gives an awesome performance as an unconventional English teacher in a very conventional (read conservative) private school. His love of poetry and his inspiring teaching methods have a great impact on his students. The central message of the movie, to live life to the fullest everyday, is not lost. Further, Williams' poetry recitations are awe-inspiring.

Source : About.com & About.com : Hollywood Movies

Comments (4)

Digital Learners

Posted on Monday, March 2, 2009

Comments (1)

Chat Box

Photos from our Flickr stream