Global Warming Threat: Maluku Islands

March 30th, 2008 | By Barrie | No Comments »

An increase of three degrees Celsius in the sea water temperature as a consequence of global warming will cause the sea surface to rise by seven meters and the submersion, sinking or disappearance of large swathes of coastal area on Maluku`s 1,340 islands, a marine research official said.

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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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Mangrove Park: Bali

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

As a small island, Bali is prone to erosion, but protection of its vast beaches and mangrove forests, have helped save much land. The mangrove forests along Jalan Bypass Ngurai Rai to Benoa Peninsula in Nusa Dua, for example, are known as a greater forest park, said Sudrajat Wirapraja, head of the program section of the Denpasar Mangrove Forest Management Agency. The park initially had a coverage of about 1,700 hectares, but the road works and other public facilities have reduced this to 1,100 hectares.

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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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Wapauwe Mosque: Central Maluku

October 19th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Wapauwe Mosque, built almost six centuries ago, is evidence of a long history of Islamic civilization in Maluku. Found in Kaitetu village in Leihitu district, Central Maluku, the old mosque, made of dried sago stems covered in sago leaves, continues to stand strong.

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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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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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Indonesia Home to 60 Percent of World`s Mangrove Forests

September 6th, 2007 | By Barrie | 2 Comments »

Indonesia is currently home to 1.8 million hectares of tropical mangrove forests or about 60 percent of the world`s reserve, a nature conservation activist said.

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