Tree Planting Mandatory in Action Plan

December 23rd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The government has released a report on a plan of action covering the mitigation and adaptation efforts for climate change. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially launched the report during the recent climate conference in Bali. The plan of action on mitigation and adaptation covers the forestry, energy, agriculture, water resources, infrastructure and health sectors. Below is the first article focusing on the forestry sector.

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Indigenous Languages in Danger of Disappearing

November 1st, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Indonesia is known not only for its multiethnic richness, but also for its linguistically diversified provinces and regions. Recent documented records by the National Education Ministry indicate there are 746 indigenous languages in the country, 10 of which have died out.

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Volcanoes - Magnets for Tourists

October 17th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Seen as sacred in some local traditions, devotees living close to dangerous volcanoes are sometimes reluctant to evacuate when warnings are issued. The crater lake of Mt Kelud, for example, is thought to be a source of peace and prosperity by some living by its slopes. Thousands of tourists are also drawn to the symmetrical cones of volcanoes such as Bromo, one of Java’s most active, to see the sun rise through clouds of mist and volcanic steam; and Agung, Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, which towers over the east of the island.

The History of Kue-Kue

October 13th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In Indonesia kue-kue, sweet or savory snacks, are a familiar sight, found everywhere from food markets to star-studded events and grand weddings. However, during colonial times, kue-kue were not considered appropriate food for well-heeled individuals and it appeared only in traditional circles.

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Love Potions: Madura Island, East Java

October 2nd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The Indonesian island of Madura is famous for two things: bull racing and love potions.The concoctions made and sold on the island off the east coast of Java are touted as a natural way of restoring youth to a woman’s reproductive canal without having to resort to plastic surgery.

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Tempeh in Indonesia

September 9th, 2007 | By Barrie | 1 Comment »

Wherever you go in Indonesia, you will almost always be able to find some variety of tempe. There is, among others, tempe gembus, which is made from the sediment left over from the tofu-making process, and tempe benguk, made from the benguk bean. But the most popular and well known tempe is that made from soybeans as gastronome and epicurean el supremo Suryatini N. Ganie explains.

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Muhammadiyah Starts Ramadhan Sept. 13

September 6th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In the lead-up to Ramadhan, the country’s two largest Muslim organizations Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah said they would use different paths to decide the date for the beginning of this year’s fasting month.

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Muslims Must Agree to Determine Islamic Calendar

September 4th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed hope here on Tuesday that Moslems would agree on a single criterion to determine an Islamic calendar, specially the date of the Idul Fitri post-fasting celebrations.

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Indonesia’s Pluralism Skeptics

August 25th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Many people say that Indonesia is a plural nation with a Muslim majority. Hardly anyone would deny the current plurality of ethnicity, languages, and religions in Indonesia. A recent interfaith group said they viewed pluralism as the nation’s social capital, which should be revitalized and developed, thereby helping the Republic of Indonesia grow strong and prosper.

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Turmeric: Indonesia

August 22nd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Should you have time to study regional Indonesian recipes, you will see that turmeric frequently appears. Indeed, to many Indonesian cooks, this ingredient is indispensable.

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