a short essay

Developing countries have often made mistake by abandoning traditional methods and replacing them with modern technology.

Every change basically has certain effect regardless it is good or bad. In this occasion I try to discuss one of the bad effects as the consequence of a change. Actually a country always makes a change in order to create prosperity for its citizens.

Developing countries usually strive for changes in some sectors, such as economy improvement, defense and security, social-welfare, science and technology. Of course in the struggle of making change and renewal, negative effects are inevitable. One of them is the disappearance of the cultural tradition value which shows national identity.

As an example, I highlight the analysis of a prominent phenomenon we face nowadays: the emergence of many malls, supermarket, and franchise business of foreign product that unconsciously have replaced the capacity and capability of our traditional market. Twice a week or once a month at minimum one of us might go to the mall or supermarket for shopping or just for sightseeing.

We feel so comfortable when we are in the mall. We can enjoy many kinds of technological advance and different services provided by them, such as : Escalator technology that make all customers do not need to walk from downstairs to the 4th floor.Central Air Conditioner that makes room temperature becomes more chilly and fresh, Enjoying unlimited internet access technology, Cashier machine technology which can count all the items purchased more quickly and accurately, Knowing all the newest and trendiest clothing model

We can find out every item of our daily needs in the existing outlets such as private needs, clothing, shoes, beauty salon, fast food, and the likeAnd especially for those who want to look for beautiful girls, there are many Sales Promotion Girls in the Mall.

Apart from all of those phenomena, do we ever think the fate of trader and traditional market which is also part of this nation? Even just for buying 1kg of lemon, people will go far to a mall, even though if the fruits sold in the mall are not the product of our local farmers. If the practices as I said before go on in their way, how we can say “love and use our national product?”

A trendsetter image that is offered by mall has made Indonesian people become much more consumptive. Even though if we observe deeply, there will be many advantages if we buy goods in traditional market, such as :

1. Reasonable prize
2. In bargaining, we learn how to communicate with others and improve our brotherhood based on a direct face-to-face meeting.
3. Knowing our national products like handicraft, special food or snack and the like
4. Learning how to be hospitable and friendly with other because friendliness is one of our ntional characteristics.

Foreign tourists are usually interested in Indonesia because we still preserve national culture besides to visit tourism objects. Shopping in traditional market, we will show how Indonesian people try to preserve national culture. I am sure that it will be special interest for them. In this case, our government especially the local government should consider the effects of the establishment of modern shopping centre towards the existence of our traditional market and its traders.

Our government should pay more attention to the affectivity level of micro economy and the formation of public opinion. They should not only calculate tax, investment and benefits those are received from modern shopping centre.

To solve this problem, they can impose certain regulation on the schedule of the ‘open day’ and the amount of mall development. From all the examples I told above, it’s normal that there will be negative effects as a result of alteration or change especially in the technology sector.

In developing country, it’s hard to avoid the negative effects of technology that stand in contrast to our traditional culture which we claim as the characteristics of our country. But if there is strong willingness from all people, I am sure these problems can be minimized. China has proved it all.