Phnom Penh (Ah!) Travel Tips - CAMBODIA LEARNS HOW TO THINK - April 2008

CNN founder Ted Turner said "Lead, follow or get out of the way." Bill Herod brought the Internet to Cambodia - NR photo Former DDD president Tim Keller said, "My biggest job is to teach them how to think - NR photo Philantrophist Toshu Fukami said, "Education is the answer." - NR photo Dr. Beat Richner built hospitals to give Cambodian children FREE MEDICAL care Joachim FIckert - NR photo Cambodian children love the beautiful game - photo courtesy of Joachim Fickert

DJ Ken

National Radio Text Service - Wednesday April 30, 2008

When you say teach them how to think…. The question is THINK ABOUT WHAT? The point being there are people who have done good things and have helped Cambodia. But also think about those who come for their own self serving ventures with some being not so good - NR TOP SECTIONS AND STORIES

CAMBODIAN'S... TEACH THEM HOW TO THINK

No matter how you shake it or bake it the words of former DDD president Tim Keller will never go away, "My biggest job is to teach them how to think." When he made that statement I knew what he was talking about as I was there residing at the DDD (Digital Divide Data) villa as he was trying to train his Khmer management staff how to run the business so he could move on and do something else. His timetable was one year but the job took two. As they say actions speak louder than words and Keller managed to get the job done with positive results.

Keller served as president of the company from its inception. He came to Cambodia in September of 2001. DDD opened their doors for business July 2001 just eight months after the idea was conceived. Their initial project was to enter the 1873-1899 editions of the Harvard Crimson newspaper into a database. Under his watch the staff grew from 20 to 83 computer operators.

Keller's words were significant but others have said words that come to mind. They were made by some notable people that in their own way have made contributions to Cambodia. Unlike many NGO opportunists they didn't come to fill their pockets with money and fatten their bank account and party, they actually did something that makes a difference. In Keller's case he set up a company that employs and trains Cambodian's as well as contributes to their further education.

CNN founder Ted Turner's positive impact can be recognized on the television airwaves in Cambodia as his CNN brings the news from around the world. Turner said and wrote a book titled, 'Lead Follow or Get Out of The Way.' With CNN he did that and though CNN is criticized for now having a heavy American slant on the news his efforts have provided a greater amount of information to be disseminated throughout the world and many viewers learn the English language from watching the channel. If anything it provides a tool to help people THINK. But the bigger question is THINK ABOUT WHAT?

When foreigners come to an impoverished country like Cambodia what are their intentions and what do they educate Khmers to think about? There are many foreigners who come to Cambodia and open bars, hire and teach young girls how to think about being a prostitute. There are those who come to teach English and prey on their students and also have been convicted as being pedophiles. Some have been teaching at well known Cambodian universities.

There are rich business men investors who make deals and lease land proposing to build hotels or casinos much of that taking place in the resort town of Sihanoukville. One result reported in the Phnom Penh Post's March 21 - April 3, 2008 edition of a 41-year-old Russian tycoon receiving a 13-year prison sentence for pedophilia. His investment group announced a $300 million plan to develop an island in Sihanoukville. The scenario goes on and on and on in Cambodia but there are some individuals who came to make a positive difference.

Bill Herod is credited for bringing the Internet to Cambodia. His efforts not only immensely helped the Cambodian commerce and the growth of its economy but he also provided a school, KIDS, to teach Khmer youth how to build web pages and understand how to operate the Internet. His efforts have helped Cambodian youth obtaining the knowledge that has helped them secure jobs as well as opening up their own Internet shops.

He followed that up with another project (RAP). The organization repatriated Cambodians deported from the United States. The task was to obtain jobs for the returnees, teach them read and write Khmer, find housing and provide general orientation of Khmer culture to make adjustments assimilating themselves into Khmer society. He now is involved with indigenous Khmers in MondolKiri Province how to make a living and sustain themselves.

Philanthropist Toshu Fukami has been a regular contributor to the development of Cambodia. The Sihanouk Hospital is one example as well as a library in his name at the University of Cambodia. At a speaking engagement in January of 2006 Fukami said the poverty could be overcome through education. He also noted that Cambodia was not the poorest country that he's visited. He pointed out that Albania was the poorer but he diligently continues to contribute to Cambodia.

"Dr. Beat" - Free Health Care For Cambodian Children "He gave his life for this," an American from the city of Chicago said of the performer of a music concert. . He…is, Dr. Beat Richner who was about to perform a solo cello concert. The this... the tourist was referring to, be Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

For years Richner has raised funds and has overseen construction of three Kantha Bopha Children's Hospitals in Cambodia. He is the founder and acting head of the facilities that give medical treatment to Cambodia's children FOR FREE.

Former Cambodian national team football coach Joachim Fickert has been ridiculed and libeled by English media in Cambodia. What they don't give him credit for is that he taught Khmers how to think about football and not the killing and stealing reputation the country has. Fickert not only coached the team but he found and trained other coaches and referees. He paid over $70,000 out of his pocket to subsidize the salaries of his players when the Football Federation failed to do so.

His teams didn't win much but they won more than they do now. They played China tough for 70 minutes before the Khmers lack of nutrition overwhelmed them resulting in a 3-1 loss in the World Cup Qualifiers in 2001. Several of those Chinese players are now playing for teams in Europe. Overall football is now being appreciated by Cambodian fans who now have something to do and think about largely as a result of Fickert's efforts.

So when you say teach them how to think…. Think about the people who have done so and have helped Cambodia as well as beware of those who come to Cambodia for their own self serving ventures.

THINK? Think about what? Think about this. A security company offers a service for background checks. Why don't Cambodian universities use their services to check on the teachers they hire? Isn't the safety of their students worth the investment?

Think about what? This about this... as Turner stated in lead, follow or get out of the way Cambodia is in need of positive leaders for positive ventures. The Khmers are willing to learn and follow hopefully learning form the right teachers about the right things. And get out of the way? For a country to rebuild in a positive direction those who are self serving or predators need to get out of the way for the progress of Cambodia.

NR TOP 5

The Top 5 most visited sections are:

1 . SOCCER - International Football

2. Cambodian Sports

3. NFL (National Football League)

4. FRESHIE Girls & Boys

5. Boxing

FULL TOP 10 LIST

Previous Top 5 most visited sections are:

1 . Phnom Penh

2. NFL (National Football League)

3. FRESHIE Girls & Boys

4. Thailand

5. Features

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We are published in five languages, English, Thai, French, Russian and Khmer (Cambodian language). Any of our foreign language material and our Roman Wanderaugh columns are legally available ONLY on our National Radio site.

CAMBODIAN NR TOP SECTIONS AND STORIES

Soccer/International Football returned to the number 1 spot of the sections most downloaded. It replaces the Phnom Penh section that dropped off the list after making its entry for the first time last month. Cambodian Sports was a newcomer in this category being the 2nd most downloaded section. Boxing made the list taking the fifth spot. Much of that is a result of our coverage of the Contender Asia Muay Thai reality series on the AXN Network.

Freshie Girls & Boys slipped a notch from third to fourth. This is a category that will be interesting to see its future as we have deleted the link to the section due to our concerns of the drastic decline of the quality of the show. This is a subject of a future column where we will go into detail.

In the most read story category the NR Top 10 lists for July 2007 and May 2007 took the first and second spots respectively. The driving force behind their success is our coverage of Dr. Beat Richner and the Ronan concert in May 2007.

Our 2007 Year In Review notched the fourth spot while out Phnom Penh columns took two positions 3rd and 7th. Sports Notes also registered two positions 5th and 6th with the SEA GAMES $#!t Hits The Fan continually to be a story of interest.

 

This 21-year-old Khmer mother and infant child receive free health care at Kantha Bopha Hospital. Dr. Beat Richner built hospitals to give Cambodian children FREE MEDICAL care... (Kuntha Bopha Hospital photo) Cambodia's Hok Sochetra takes two spots in the May 2007 Top 10 - AFC Marketing/Shot Cambodian children are sold into prostitution by their parents. Some NGO's are doing something about it by creating a business and others teach and provide jobs. Other NGO's raise millions of dollars in donor money and.... just talk about it. OPERATION SMILE GIVES WITHOUT ASKING - COMING... INNOCENCE LOST - (NR Photo) Prince Norodom Ranariddh Sihanouk talks to Cambodian national team after match with German club team - NR photo Ronan - Alyson Hua photo

NR'S TOP CAMBODIAN STORIES --

overall NR Top story ratings.

1. - NR TOP 10 JULY 2007 - Not much has changed in the overall National Radio Top 10 rankings. Dr. Beat Richner, musician Lam Morrison and Cambodia's Royal Palace continue to hold down the top three positions.

Previous - Travel Tips - Phnom Penh (Ah) - FRESHIE CONTEST BEGINS - January, 2008
FRESHIE SHOW IS ON!!! - Lucky Market Make Changes - Internet Theft - Top Three FRESHIE Stories - Cambodia's Top 7 Stories on NR - Entertainment - TV

2. - NR TOP 10 MAY, 2007 - Though slandered by Cambodia's English language press Dr. Beat Richner's REAL STORY bolted to # 1 as National Radio's TOP STORY - Music is his business as musician Thailand's LAM MORRISON climbs to # 2 - Former Cambodian national team star HOK Sochetra took two top 10 spots # 4 & # 10 - RACISM ranked # 9 In the rankings - Former NBA star DENNIS RODMAN rides again on the bubble of the top 10 by taking the 11th position

Previous - Phnom Penh Beauty Contests - NR's Top 10 Stories - Beauty & Talent Contests - According To Google National Radio's Top 10 Stories - Dara's Hand Made Shoes - ESPN's Scott O'Donell In PP - Paddys' Gym - Destroyed Weapons Art Exhibition - Exercise - Boxing - Football - UCB Banks No Charge For Visa Cash Withdraw - Phnom Penh Public Transport Bus To Thai Border - Helping Cambodia's Poor

3. - Phnom Penh (Ah!) Travel Tips - Faces & Places September 2005 - Phnom Penh Beauty Contests - National Radio's Top 10 Stories - Dara's Hand Made Shoes - ESPN's Scott O'Donell In PP - Paddys' Gym - Destroyed Weapons Art Exhibition - Exercise - Boxing - Football - UCB Banks No Charge For Visa Cash Withdraw - Phnom Penh Public Transport Bus To Thai Border - Helping Cambodia's Poor

Previous - PHNOM PENH - MAY 2007 - - RONAN In Concert at Olympic Stadium --- Pop singer makes an appearance at Olympic Stadium's Indoor Arena Wednesday May 9 - European Union Film Festival @ French Cultural Center May 9 through 19th - Royal Palace - Dr Beat Richner - Hok Sochetra - The Funniest Story Ever

4. - 2007 YEAR IN REVIEW - JANUARY, 2008
Looking back on the top stories of 2007 two things jumped out most notably June with five stories of interest while January and May with four were the top months. Second our NR Top 10 Stories surged in reader attention. The March NR Top 10 was the fastest ever riser up the charts until overtaken in successive months of May, June and July with July eventually becoming the most read NR Top 10 column followed by May. - Entertainment - TV

Previous - Travel Tips - Phnom Penh (Ah), Cambodia - What's Going ON!!! - July, 2006
Miss Cambodia and The Freshie Boy & Girls contests - Vann Molyvann the designer of Olympic Stadium - Cambodian Premiere Football League postponed AGAIN - Naga Corp no wins but goodwill in Vietnam. Naga gives players RESPECT, CARE and GOOD WAGES - Former Freshie Girl winner Vanda now given space to talk - Sorya Shopping Center - Internet THEFT warrants INTERNET OPTIONS - NR Top 10

5. - Sports Notes Extra Extra November 2005 - Cambodia Olympic Committee Denies National Team SEA Games Invitation

Previous - Travel Tips - Phnom Penh - GOLD QUEST: A Pyramid Scheme Or What? - Faces & Places - April 2005
Gold Quest have a history of being criticized as being a pyramid scheme. It's an image they would like to clean up. Whatever one might think about the ethics of the company one thing that was evident was the thinking of the IR's. It requires organization, planning and working together. For Cambodia… that's a good thing.

Previous - NO ENTRY

7. Travel Tips - Phnom Penh (Ah) - RONAN CONCERT IN PHNOM PENH - MAY, 2007
Pop singer makes an appearance at Olympic Stadium's Indoor Arena Wednesday May 9 - European Union Film Festival @ French Cultural Center May 9-19th - Royal Palace - Dr Beat Richner - Hok Sochetra - The Funniest Story Ever

Previous - NO ENTRY

In researching the findings we have found that search engines Yahoo, Google and MSN are all guilty of misleading the public. They have linked our story information to other sites without our permission. Those sites include Thai Visa, Washington University in the USA and UNESCO.

We have tried to contact Yahoo regarding this matter but there was no response. For our story on Digital Divide Data titled Bridging The Digital Gap Yahoo linked our information to UNESCO and Washington University web sites as noted below.

Cambodia (PDF) 13 James Loving, "DDD - Bridging the Digital Gap of Have and Have. Notes," (by James Loving, National Radio Text Service, 8 April 8, ... www.unescobkk.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ict/Metasurvey/CAMBODIA.PDF - 117k - View as html

The questions are:

1. Why would a company that is valued at billions of dollars employ dishonest practices?

2. Who is responsible for manipulating information that is misleading to the public?

3. Who is responsible at UNESCO in permitting the practice?

Yahoo used the same story to mislead the public to the Washington University (USA) web site as noted below:

Cambodia (PDF) 13 James Loving, "DDD - Bridging the Digital Gap of Have and Have. Notes," (by James Loving, National Radio Text Service, 8 April 8, ... www.com.washington.edu/ict4d/upload/2004052712430458_03760155.pdf - 117k - View as html WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

Our Roman Wanderaugh columns have been linked to other web sites by all three search engines without our permission. The most flagrant violator is Thai Visa. We have contacted them in the past but they have ignored our request to take our stories off their site.

All three of the mentioned search engines have used our story information and linked it to Thai Visa without our permission. Thai Visa actually stole our story and posted it on their site. In the past they not only stole our Cambodia By Land & Sea story but also used our photo. Since that time the photo is not on our story on their site.

Google provides advertising for the site. The question is why would a company that is worth billions of dollars resort to supporting a web site that steals?

The information of our information page on the Google site also had the following endorsing going to the Thai Visa site. ©2007 Google - Google Home - Advertising Programs - Business Solutions - About Google FRONT PAGE WITH THAI VISA

MSN did the same. They listed incorrect information and linked our work to Thai Visa as noted below:

Thaivisa.com The latest updated Thai visa immigration news; work permit and residence permit in ... Friday, 15 December 2006 Cambodia visa trip "TRAVELING AROUND" by Roman Wanderaugh o www.thaivisa.com/344.0.html o ˇ¤ 7/14/2007 o ˇ¤ Cached page

Cambodia visa trip "TRAVELING AROUND" by Roman Wanderaugh "AN INEXPENSIVE TRIP from BANGKOK to CAMBODIA by LAND & SEA" If you're an adventurous traveler the trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia from ... o www.thaivisa.com/border-run/page_2.html o ˇ¤ Cached page o +Show more results from www.thaivisa.com

MSN also listed the headline TRAVELING AROUND on the Cambodia Land & Sea story. It raises the question why was it necessary to make two listings on the same story to link to the Thai Visa site?

Roman Wanderaugh and any other National Radio columns are only legally available on the Internet on National Radio. We DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION for any other web site to use our material including soliciting our photos to the public.

We negotiate directly with interested parties for use. We are published in print in five languages. We do not approve of Thai Visa using our material and all of the search engines misleading the public to other web sites using National Radio information.

Isn't a search engines job to lead the public to the information they seek? It is clearly stated on our National Radio web site:

© Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

© Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED