Senin, 28 November 2016

Australia's Mining-Heavy State Looks Elsewhere for Growth

Australia's biggest resources state has long relied on China's hearty appetite for raw materials for its wealth but with growth in its main trading partner slowing Western Australia is trying to cultivate other trading partners such as Indonesia. The state's top political leader and premier, Colin Barnett, this week visited Indonesia to promote everything from agriculture and tourism to overseas education and real estate. The state recorded its first budget deficit in 15 years last year and fiscal 2016 could be worse as royalties from mining and oil and gas tied to international prices decline.

It's been more than two years since the state saw its AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's stripped to AA+. In Indonesia, the state has long been a supplier of millions of tonnes of wheat annually and has even devised a noodle specific to local tastes. No industry more than iron ore rode the double-digit wave of growth that gripped China in the last decade and no place mines more of the steel-making raw material than Western Australia. The state reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties each year as annual production surpassed a half-billion tonnes. China's still buying, but with so much iron ore around and industrial growth contracting each quarter, prices are down 75 percent from 2011 peaks, translating into much lower royalties.

Now, China has come back to slower growth rates. I agreed with what Barnett said that he had spent most of his time as premier dealing on that relationship with China and Japan, because in the last decade iron ore production would have doubled and liquefied natural gas production would have trebled. I think it is good for him to put more of his time into broadening and diversifying the economy

Mediterranean swordfish on the verge of collapse: WWF raises the alarm

Countries that are part of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas or usually I shorten it to ICCAT, including the United States and also Japan the European Union, will decide from 14 to 21 November on management schemes for key species such as Mediterranean swordfish, bluefin tuna, and sharks. WWF is seriously concerned about the current rate of depletion of swordfish and calls for actions to prevent the stock collapse witnessed for the Mediterranean bluefin tuna in the recent past.    

The future of the Mediterranean swordfish is seriously at risk. Mediterranean swordfish is a highly valuable species for many countries in the Mediterranean and the EU fleet accounts for 75 percent of the total catch, with Italy, Spain and Greece reporting the largest catches. WWF calls on the European Commission and key EU fishing nations to significantly reduce the amount of swordfish caught to allow the stock to recover. WWF is also concerned about the fate of sharks, especially the blue and shortfin mako that are vulnerable to overfishing. WWF urges ICCAT governments to establish long-term management plans including setting precautionary catch limits to ensure these iconic species stay in our seas. ICCAT should also agree on a no-shark-finning policy as well as improving compliance to existing bans that oblige fishermen to land sharks with their fin attached.

It is critical for ICCAT to implement an ambitious recovery plan for the Mediterranean swordfish to bring the stock back to a sustainable level. This will ensure the survival of large Mediterranean fisheries communities whose livelihood and prosperity depend on it. I think too many juveniles are caught before they can reproduce and secure the survival of the species also affect the future.

Minggu, 27 November 2016

Rain Delays Australia Wheat Harvest, Could Dampen Exports

Rain is delaying the wheat harvest in parts of Australia, threatening to disrupt deliveries from the world's No.4 exporter of the grain to key markets such as India and Indonesia. Expecting a near-record crop of close to 30 million tonnes, exporters had sold new-crop wheat for shipment in November and December, but rains in the nation's eastern crop-belt, as well as frost in parts of the western growing region, have prevented farmers from gathering wheat on time.

The harvest has been running three weeks behind schedule in Western Australia, the nation's largest wheat exporting state, according to analysts and traders. On the east coast, it is lagging by at least two weeks. There is a danger of late November and early December shipments getting delayed
Australia is a leading wheat supplier to some of Asia's biggest markets, including the world's second-largest importer Indonesia. India, typically self-sufficient in wheat, has been relying heavily on Australia for supplies this year after local crops were hit by two years of adverse weather.
Frost damage across Western Australia, the country's largest wheat-producing state, has destroyed more than 15 percent of the total grain crop.I wish that any delays would not be significant.

 http://jakartaglobe.id/international/rain-delays-australia-wheat-harvest-dampen-exports/

Minggu, 20 November 2016

Disowned by Family, Women Rescued From Indian Brothels Turn to Counselling

The woman, who declined to be identified, is one of thousands who are trafficked from in and around Kadiri town in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district to the brothels of Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune every year.
Agents and gangs prey on the poverty of thousands of women and girls in rural areas, promising them a good job and decent income in other cities before selling them into the sex trade, activists say.
Many women are rescued or escape – only to return home and face a new struggle to overcome their past and deal with the present. Not only are the women very pretty, they are also very poor, making them easy targets for agents.

A recent government survey identified Kadiri, where Chittoor, Kadappa and Anantapur districts meet, as a hot spot for human trafficking in Andhra Pradesh, the coastal state which is home to India's space research center.  Between April 2015 and March 2016, more than 600 women sought help at the centers, many of them victims of trafficking, others of domestic abuse. Byalla, a famous organization there, also sends out teams to 124 villages identified in 2004 as having high rates of migration. They go looking for trafficked victims and also those on the verge of migrating. The Gandlapenta center also offers vocational training based on the belief that if women are taught a skill, which they can earn a living from, they will be less likely to fall victim to traffickers. Many of the women who go to Byalla are directed to the vocational center, where they are trained to make sanitary pads, incense sticks, notebooks and taught tailoring. Some stay on after their training and earn a monthly salary to run their homes.

I think this situation is bit hard for women there in India. However, I relieved there are some organizations care about women, such as Byalla and Gandlapenta. I wish the government can resolve this problem as soon as possible by create some strict rules and educate people there.

http://jakartaglobe.id/international/disowned-family-women-rescued-indian-brothels-turn-counselling/

Sabtu, 19 November 2016

Surge in seizures of captive-bred tigers strengthens call for Asia to close all tiger farms

Viet Nam has also become an increasingly significant hub for tiger trafficking and home to a growing number of tiger farms – close to 40 per cent of the country’s reported seizures came from captive facilities. Its role in the illegal tiger trade was highlighted by the Wildlife Justice Commission at its public hearing this week in The Hague. Overall, there are estimated to be more than 7,000 tigers in farms in Asia, mostly in China, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam.

With commercial tiger breeding in Asia threatening the future of the world’s remaining wild tigers, governments must announce concrete steps to close all the continent’s tiger farms within the next three years at the international conference on illegal wildlife trade starting tomorrow in Viet Nam.

I think all governments should support an Indian government proposal to create a regional stripe pattern database that can compare images of seized tiger skins with camera trap photos of wild tigers and photos of captive tigers; compile sets of DNA markers from both wild and captive tiger populations within their country; and launch focused, evidence-based behavioural change programmes to reduce demand for tiger parts and products. Along with announcing plans to close all tiger farms, Asian governments can also take a series of immediate, concrete steps to ensure captive-bred tigers do not enter the illegal trade chain before the closures take effect.


 http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?284611/Surge-in-seizures-of-captive-bred-tigers-strengthens-call-for-Asia-to-close-all-tiger-farms

Jumat, 18 November 2016

Australia Set to Boost Imports of Diesel to Power Coal Mines

Prices for coal have more than doubled this year after China moved to buy more overseas, with miners in top producers such as Australia pushing to meet demand. Australian imports of diesel are set to grow as miners in the country rev up generators used to power pit operations following a resurgence in coal markets.


A second trader added that the increased Australian demand would likely result in about one additional medium-range diesel cargo every two months, or about 300,000 barrels. Australia imported 1,457 megaliters, or about 9.2 million barrels, of diesel in August. The country imported a total of 11,601 megaliters from January to August in 2016, up from 10,872.90 megaliters over the same period last year.

I think importing diesel demand in retail is alsogood because local car manufacturers are shutting down and the cars are importing are all mainly diesel. Motorists are switching from locally made, big passenger cars to overseas-made small cars and sports utility vehicles which typically use diesel. This will increase their economy statistics and help to develop their country.

http://jakartaglobe.id/international/australia-set-boost-imports-diesel-power-coal-mines/

New report shows the critical situation of water in Doñana

The health of Spain's Doñana National Park is fully dependant on water but the aquifer that feeds Doñana’s marshes is drying up at an alarming speed. Hundreds of thousands of birds that are flying from Europe to spend the winter in Spain's Doñana National Park will find the marshes almost empty of water. Its deterioration is affecting rivers, marshes, lagoons, as well as the plants and animals that make Doñana unique.

Doñana’s aquifer would need between 30 and 60 years to recover completely from the current overexploitation. That would first require strong measures to be taken to end illegal and unsustainable water use, the report warns. The Spanish government admits in official reports that the huge underground water deposit that feeds the marshes has suffered a dramatic decline since the 1970s. Right now, water governance around Doñana is so weak that the amount of water extracted each year from the aquifer is unknown.
One of the natural features that makes Doñana unique in Europe is temporary lagoons, which are drying up at an appalling rate. As a result, 40 per cent of the species of dragonflies that lived in Doñana, associated to those lagoons, have been lost. The report published by WWF is one of the most thorough scientific analyses ever made about the state of water in Doñana, and the effects that the lack of this precious resource is having on ecosystems. I think the government know what they should do to save this.

http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?284570/New-report-shows-the-critical-situation-of-water-in-Doana-WWF-warns

Senin, 07 November 2016

Airport railway line may also be connected to Kota Station

State railway operator, PT Kereta Api Indonesia or the short is KAI, is currently studying the plan about connect the airport to Kota Station in West Jakarta.If it is feasible, both the Manggarai line and the Kota line would have service to and from the airport, scheduled to begin operation in the first half of next year.

In addition to the original plan to connect Soekarno-Hatta International to Manggarai Station in South Jakarta, the airport trains, which are now under construction, may also run from the airport to Kota Station in West Jakarta. Jakarta Kota Station is visited by many commuter train routes. We hope people will use the train to go to the airport to reduce traffic congestion.

This plan is quite good because KAI wants to share the passenger load of Manggarai Station with Jakarta Kota Station, as Manggarai Station is already heavily used. The railway operator is now developing a 12 kilometer railway from Batu Ceper Station in Tangerang to a newly built station at the airport, more than three kilometers of which has been finished. Wish this plan will be realized soon.

reflection based on

Sabtu, 05 November 2016

Tanzanian president saving elephants


Ordering law enforcement to crack down on elephant poaching and trafficking syndicates, Tanzanian President Dr John Pombe Magufuli not going to allow Tanzania natural resources to be depleted. His offering federal security agencies as his full support and urging them to arrest all those involved in this illicit trade.

A number of significant poaching arrests have been made across the country in recent weeks, and have led to the seizure of at least 50 pieces of ivory.
Although Tanzania’s elephant populations have suffered significantly from industrial-scale poaching, Magufuli said he was confident that the crime would soon be “history.”

I am proud of President Magufuli for his leadership and the actions taken by his government in tackling poaching and saving elephants. He is so brave to demonstrate his support and drive positive action to the eliminating poaching in Tanzania. I think his action deserves better result in the future.

Reflection based on
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?283491/Tanzanian-president-leads-crackdown-on-elephant-poaching#

Selasa, 01 November 2016

World's food and energy systems key to tackling global biodiversity decline

Global wildlife could plunge to a 67 per cent level of decline in just the fifty-year period ending this decade as a result of human activities. People are overpowering the planet for the first time in Earth’s history and highlights the changes needed in the way society is fed and fuelled. Global populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles have already declined by 58 per cent between 1970 and 2012, the most recent year with available data. This places the world on a trajectory of a potential two-thirds decline within a span of the half-century ending in 2020.

Fortunately, 2020 is also a year of great promise. In that same year, commitments made under the Paris climate deal will kick in, and the first environmental actions under the globe’s new sustainable development plan are due. If implemented, these measures, along with meeting international biodiversity targets set for 2020, can help achieve the reforms needed in the world's food and energy systems to protect wildlife across the globe. The WWF report uses the Living Planet Index, provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), to monitor trends in wildlife abundance. This index reports how wildlife populations have changed in size, rather than the specific number of animals that have been lost or gained.

Human behavior continues to drive the decline of wildlife populations globally, with particular impact in freshwater habitats. Importantly however, these are declines, they are not yet extinctions and this should be a wake-up call to marshal efforts to promote the recovery of these populations. in my opinion,wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate. This is not just about the wonderful species we all love such as biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy forests, rivers and oceans. if we take away species, and these ecosystems will collapse along with the clean air, water, food and climate services that they provide us.

Senin, 31 Oktober 2016

Antarctic protection

Finally! The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, or in short is CCAMLR, arranged their 35th meeting in Hobart, Australia, have agreed on the world’s largest ocean protection plan, for the Ross Sea off Antarctica. They agreed to protect 1,550,000 km2 of the Ross Sea. This zone will be used for fully protected marine reserve, special research zone allowing for limited research fishing for krill and toothfish, and krill research zone allowing for controlled research fishing for krill .

The Ross Sea has been described as the one of the most pristine wilderness areas left on Earth. This agreement took years of intensive work by many people in governments, and in non-government organizations. The agreement to create this protection for the Ross Sea off Antarctica shows how nations can join together to make real progress for the planet in a time of unprecedented need.

Antartica is a home to one third of the world’s Adélie penguins, one quarter of all emperor penguins, one third of all Antarctic petrels, and over half of all South Pacific Weddell seals. I wish this not just for the incredible diversity of life that it will protect, but also for the contribution it makes to building the resilience of the world’s ocean in the face of climate change.


http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?282733/Antarctic-protection-a-beacon-of-hope-for-ocean-conservation-globally#

Sabtu, 29 Oktober 2016

Irrawaddy dolphins functionally extinct in Laos

The population of critically endangered Mekong River Dolphins or its also called Irrawaddy Dolphins in the Cheuteal trans, boundary pool between southern Laos and northern Cambodia has shrunk by 50% this year alone and the population is functionally extinct in Laos, according to WWF.

Irrawaddy dolphins can be found in some coastal areas in Asia but there are only three freshwater subpopulations, in the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar, the Mahakam River in Indonesia, and the Mekong River in Cambodia and the Lao PDR.

The use of gill nets, especially unmanned gill nets, is thought to be one of the main reasons for the demise of the dolphins. Gill nets are vertical panels of netting set in a straight line across a river to catch fish. Being large aquatic mammals, Mekong River dolphins, as well as other endangered aquatic species, are often caught in gill nets, and drown as a consequence.

In my opinion, we have to solve this problem as soon as possible. If we are not, then we fear that in a year or two, there may be no more dolphins in Laos. We wish that The Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River will not disappear from Lao waters, because it may cause a hard blow to eco-tourism in the area. As a human, we should not treat animals badly. We need to protect them and love them.

http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?282590/Irrawaddy-dolphins-functionally-extinct-in-Laos

Jumat, 28 Oktober 2016

Indonesians Tax Amnesty (human conflict)

Car and real-estate sales data suggest the amnesty is resulting in people putting off purchases. Indonesian property companies had achieved only 46 percent of 2016 pre-sales targets by the end of September, with many developers attributing the slowdown to buyers focusing on the first window of the tax reprieve, Aurellia Setiabudi, an analyst at PT Maybank King Eng Securities in Jakarta, said in a note released Tuesday. PT Astra International reported a 13 percent decline in sales of non low-cost cars in September, the biggest drop in a year. Sales of Nissan Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp. vehicles fell 40 percent and 34 percent, respectively, according to figures from the Indonesia Automotive Industry Association.While the amnesty should be good for vehicle sales in the longer term, it could be causing a slowdown in sales of higher-end vehicles at the moment, said Jongkie D. Sugiarto, one of several chairmen at the auto association in Jakarta.

It’s not just companies selling big ticket items that are being affected. High-end supermarket operator PT Supra Boga Lestari is down 5.5 percent since the end of August, and PT Ace Hardware, which sells home supplies and furnishings to middle-class Indonesians, has lost 14 percent.
In a nation where only 4 million people out of a population of 258 million pay tax, the amnesty is aimed at broadening the revenue base and allowing the government to have a more stable stream of income to finance infrastructure development and social spending. After a slow start to the amnesty, there was a surge in uptake in September as the window for getting the lowest tax rate closed, taking the total amount of penalty fees to 97.2 trillion rupiah at the end of last month. The government is targeting 165 trillion rupiah for the entire reprieve, which runs through March, and some 424,286 individual and companies have taken part so far.

 People who participate in the program will have to raise money to pay for their redemption penalties, especially if they are declaring non-liquid assets like companies or homes. If I joined this program, of course I spent a few hundred million rupiah to participate in this program, so I needed some breathing space before I could start spending again. Actually this program has many big effects in positive ways, such as increase our economy to develop our country.


Reflection based on http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-28/discretionary-stocks-hit-by-amnesty-as-indonesians-curb-spending

Senin, 24 Oktober 2016

Human VS LPG (human problem)

A 50-kilogram liquid petroleum gas (LPG) canister at a Pizza Hut Delivery (PHD) outlet in Jatimurni, Bekasi, West Java, exploded early Sunday morning, injuring two people and damaging four buildings.
The canister exploded inside the three-story PHD outlet, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr Awi Setiyono said as reported by kompas.com. The explosion completely destroyed the PHD building and caused severe damage to three other buildings near it, including an Alfa Midi minimarket.According to Alfa Midi employees, the explosion took place at 7:20 a.m., Awi said, adding that there were no fatalities.

Meanwhile, Pondok Cabe Police chief Comr. Sukadi said the police were investigating the cause of the explosion and had secured the scene. A fritter seller and a child in the vicinity were injured in the blast, he said. The fast food employees had returned home at 11 PM so the restaurant had been emptied.

I think there are two situations where this will usually happen, the first is that something physically punctures the tank, the second is the tank becomes so hot that the pressure of the gas inside it ruptures it from within.
The general safety procedures to prevent at propane tank from exploding are not to puncture it, and to keep it cool, as in below 120F. Still, propane cylinders are not easy to explode. In a situation where flames are impinging on the vapor space of the cylinder and the metal gets near melting, the cylinder will rupture violently.
 
Reflection based on http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/23/lpg-explosion-in-pizza-hut-outlet-destroys-four-buildings.html

Senin, 10 Oktober 2016

Death Penalty in Indonesia

Indonesia, one of only 25 countries in the world that still impose capital punishment, has seen 35 people sentenced to death by the courts since the start of the year, according to the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras). That number could grow in the coming years, as the country is mulling whether to widen the application of the ultimate penalty. The execution of convicts has become something of a hallmark of the presidency of Jokowi, who has declared war on drug trafficking, an offense that carries the ultimate punishment. Fourteen drugtraffickers were executed in 2015, but an earlier plan to execute14 more in July was aborted at the last minute; instead only four were sent to the firing squad.

Until today, the government has not explained the reason for the literally 11th-hour reprieve for the 10. Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo insisted their executions were simply being delayed. Jokowi has publicly rebuked any attempt at intervention by foreign leaders who asked for a stay of executions for their citizens, citing Indonesia’s sovereignty. This did not stop European leaders from telling him to stop the executions when he visited Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium in April. Indonesia’s appetite for the blood of criminals has not stopped there. In the current debate to reform the penal code, politicians are advocating expanding the use of capital punishment to acts of treason, terrorism and terrorism-related activities, genocide, corruption, endangering flight safety, extortion and intimidation. With reports of sexual abuse against children, some politicians have also asked to add this to the list of crimes punishable by death.

In my opinion, there are many advantages of the death penalty, such as it shows that our justice system has no sympathy for the criminals and also this death penalty can address the problem of overpopulation in the prisons. However, there are also disadvantages of the death penalty. For example, the cost involved on the death penalty is much more greater than the expenses occurred in the life imprisonment of the accused.


Reflection based on http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/10/death-penalty-becoming-more-popular-indonesia.html

Jumat, 07 Oktober 2016

Construction on Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Train Line

Kereta Api Indonesia China, or KCIC, a consortium of Indonesian and Chinese state-owned companies, said it will begin construction on the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway line next month, half a year after it secured a concession for the project from the government.
In the last six months, the consortium has been hiring workers, acquiring land for the project, obtaining the right licenses for the work and looking for extra financing — which has prevented the company from doing actual construction work. We wish see some progress on the construction now, such as fencing along the new railway tracks. We will start the big jobs in October or November

The $5.1 billion project has been marred with delays since its inception. It took three months for the Transportation Ministry to clear all permits and concessions for the KCIC, despite President Joko Widodo's blessing for the project. The president had even attended its groundbreaking ceremony in January.The track for the high-speed train line will stretch for 142.3 kilometers from Halim in East Jakarta to Tegalluar in Bandung, West Java. The train will cut travel time from Jakarta to Bandung from three hours to two.

I think this is the best idea to develop our mass transportation.This construction costs a lot. I wish it will be a good thing for us. Wish the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises will issue all permissions to the consortium so they can start work immediately on the railway line. The KCIC consortium comprised four Indonesian state-owned companies — construction firm Wijaya Karya, toll operator Jasa Marga, railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia and plantation firm Perkebunan Nusantara VIII — and a group of Chinese state-owned enterprises.

Reflection based on http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/construction-begin-soon-jakarta-bandung-high-speed-train-line/

Sexual Violence

Reports of sexual violence cases in North Sulawesi has increased from 199 for the whole of 2015 to 261 cases from only January until September this year, data from a NGO showed.
Nur Hasanah, a data officer at Swara Parangpuan, said Friday the victims’ ages ranged from five years old to 18 years old. The perpetrators included boyfriends, students, teachers and parents.
“We hope the police can investigate such cases thoroughly to create deterring effects so we don’t see such cases anymore,” she said.

Chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) Ariest Merdeka Sirait urged the police to continue with sexual violence cases, specifically for recent cases in Manado.
Recently, there was a report against a Manado city agency head filed by a teen student who was doing an internship at his office. Ariest said he hoped the police would not drop the case because of “lack of evidence,” the most common reason for the police to drop sexual violence charges.
He encouraged the police to be persistent in collecting evidence in sexual violence investigations as sexual abuse is a heinous crime.

 This case should make us pay attention to protect ourselves. There are many sexual harassment and police always be the one who can investigate this kind of case. However, nowadays our environment isn't safe anymore like it used to be. So, we need to protect our own selves otherwise we just depend on police if we become sexual violence object.


Reflection based on http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/07/reports-of-sexual-violence-increase-in-manado.html

Jumat, 30 September 2016

Bycatch becomes Environment Issue

With hundreds of thousands of whales and dolphins dying every year after being accidentally entangled in fishing gear, the world must take concrete steps during the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting starting today in Slovenia to lessen the serious threat posed by bycatch.
Governments gathered in Slovenia will also have the chance to create a vast new protected area that would be off-limits to whaling – the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary. This is the first IWC sanctuary proposal to include a management plan.

Over fifty species of cetaceans inhabit the area’s waters, including seven – blue, fin, sei, common minke, Antarctic minke, humpback and southern right whales – that are highly migratory. The proposed sanctuary would offer protection to these whale populations, which benefit coastal communities across the southern hemisphere through whale watching activities and non-lethal research. In addition to these issues, the IWC meeting will also discuss the need to address whale strandings and the importance of whales for the marine ecosystem, as well as urgent measures to protect endangered small cetaceans, such as the removal of all active and ghost gillnets in the Upper Gulf of California to halt the vaquita’s slide towards extinction and the closure of net and trawl fisheries within the habitat of the equally endangered Maui’s dolphin.

I think this action which is participated from over 80 countries will resolve this critical issues to discuss. I wish this meeting will start global efforts to reduce fisheries bycatch, which kills at least 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises every year. Even so, many countries seeking a permit to kill whales in the name of science. According to this news, Bycatch was a critical factor in the recent extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin in China, and is the greatest threat to endangered North Atlantic right whales and Arabian Sea humpback whales, as well as the critically endangered vaquita in Mexico, Maui and Hector’s dolphins in New Zealand, Baltic harbour porpoises, and many river dolphin species. I think we can treat this evidence by take the lead and helps countries adopt effective measures to mitigate bycatch in both national and international waters.

Reflection based on http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?281850/Bycatch-is-the-biggest-killer-of-whales

Kamis, 29 September 2016

Indonesia's gifts

The Indonesian government has added 1.3 million hectares of protected areas through establishing nine new national parks and expanding an existing one. The new parks will protect a huge range of biodiversity, especially the endangered Sumatran tiger, as well as rhinos, elephants, and orang-utans. The government is also promoting collaborative management of protected areas following the issue of a ministerial decree last month. Some of the newly protected areas include Tesso Nilo, one of Sumatra's remaining lowland forests and home to 60–80 elephants, and Sebangau, the largest remaining peat swamp forest in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo and home to 2,500–4,500 orang-utans. WWF has recognized these efforts as a Gift to the Earth, the conservation organization's highest accolade for a globally significant contribution to the protection of the planet.


To celebrate Indonesia’s joint efforts and achievements in conservation, the Indonesian government, together with a number of national and international NGOs, held an event during the IUCN-World Conservation Congress, which took place from 17–25 in Bangkok, Thailand. At the event, WWF awarded its Gift to the Earth certificate to Koes Saparjadi, Director General of Indonesia's Forest Protection and Nature Conservation. Leaders for a Living Planet certificates for outstanding conservation efforts were also given to several local government officials.


In my reflection, this gift is symbolic and it is WWF's highest accolade for applauding good conservation work. I wish, between government and those Indonesian people keep working hand-in-hand to ensure the protection of biodiversity wealth and the well-being of local communities because these things are vital for conservation success. These achievements have reflected the Indonesia’s strong commitment to conserve the country's natural heritage for the well-being of current and future generations, and set a positive track record for future commitments and actions

Reflection based on http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?16730/Indonesias-gifts-to-the-Earth

Sabtu, 24 September 2016

Elephants released in Tesso Nilo National Park, Indonesia

WWF has pushed for the protection of Tesso Nilo Forest as a national park since 2004 so that Riau’s elephants would have a safe haven. But the park is still being illegally cleared for commercial activity and may be at its carrying capacity for elephants. The current 38,000ha park is too small to provide sufficient habitat for any additional elephants. The park was originally proposed to be 100,000ha.

Eight endangered Sumatran elephants were released into Indonesia's Tesso Nilo forest, months after they were found chained to trees without food or water. WWF, which provided daily care and medical treatment for the elephants after their discovery, worked with local government officials to ensure their safe release. The elephant herd initially numbered ten when they were captured by Riau Forestry Officials after raiding crops in Balai Raja of northern Riau on the Indonesia island of Sumatra — one died of tetanus and one escaped.


This article is so deep. These elephants need room to live, which means ending problematic pulp and oil palm development. Unsustainable logging throughout the province has eliminated much of the elephants, include their original habitat and as a result have been moving into more populated areas in search of food. Even these elephants are the latest casualties in the escalating human-elephant conflict in central Sumatra, the direct result of uncontrolled destruction of their forest habitat, i wish government can stop all forest conversion, illegal logging and encroachment


Reflection based on http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?70060/Elephants-released-in-Indonesias-Tesso-Nilo-National-Park

Jumat, 23 September 2016

Reef health in Australia

Official Australian government reports say that the overall health of the Great Barrier Reef is poor and deteriorating. The World Heritage Site has lost more than half of its coral cover in the past 30 years, and populations of animals such as dolphins, dugongs and sharks are in decline. In addition to being one of the planet’s richest marine habitats, the reef generates nearly US$5.8 billion each year and provides about 69,000 jobs.


Megaport expansions proposed along the coast have brought new threats to the reef from dredging, dumping, and increased shipping. Plans to ban the dumping of dredge spoil in the reef’s World Heritage waters have been progressing at the federal and state level, but have not yet come into force. Last year the World Heritage Committee expressed concerns over industrialization in the area and said that unless significant improvements are made, the reef could be in inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Over 350,000 people from around the world have joined WWF’s campaign calling for world leaders to defend the reef from industrial destruction. They have debated the status of the Great Barrier Reef and other extraordinary natural places.

I think this decision will keep the pressure on the Australian government to turn its promises into real action and results. They have made the right decision. The future World Heritage status of the reef should rightly be determined based on the actual condition of its precious corals and marine life. I wish Australia can strengthen protection of the Great Barrier Reef to protect our marine life.

Kamis, 22 September 2016

Use your own #EndangeredEmoji helps social campaign



WWF has launched its first ever emoji-based fundraising campaign to help support the organisation’s work to protect precious species and their habitats.  The launch of the campaign, which has been run on Twitter, come just ahead of Endangered Species Day on Friday 15 May.
Adrian Cockle, Digital Innovation Manager at WWF International said: “When it comes to fundraising, giving people a simple way to donate is key. By using one of the world’s biggest social platforms to highlight endangered species, we’re hoping to raise vital funds for their conservation as well as raising awareness globally.”



The idea for the #EndangeredEmoji campaign was sparked by the discovery that 17 characters in the emoji alphabet represent endangered species. WWF is seeking to translate the popularity of these characters into donations. Emoji have been used over 202 million times on Twitter since they were integrated into the platform in April 2014. The number is increasing daily.


  • Spider monkey
  • Giant panda
  • Asian elephant
  • Galapagos penguin
  • Antiguan Racer snake
  • Bactrian camel
  • Tiger
  • Sumatran tiger
  • Green turtle
  • Amur leopard
  • Siamese crocodile
  • Bluefin tuna
  • Blue whale
  • Western gray whale
  • African wild dog
  • Lemur leaf frog
  • Maui’s dolphin

In my opinion, this emoji alphabet is the best idea ever. The standardized set of digital pictograph characters will be used in communication globally, contain the following characters which represent endangered species. Young people will not be in difficulty if they want to send emoji to show when they are travelling to somewhere where endangered animal live. Emoji is the first global language and with this people all over the world can get involved in protecting our earth and the animals we share it with.


Reflection based on http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?246650/WWF-turns-tweets-to-donations--with-EndangeredEmoji-social-campaign

Rabu, 21 September 2016

Being entrepreneur can help forests and economies grow

Analyzing the policy and entrepreneurial context in three landscapes across Asia, the report highlights how supporting innovative small-scale green businesses could help reverse the current trend where business incentives for promoting deforestation remain greater than those for preventing it. The study shows that this trend persists despite recent deforestation-free commitments made by several countries and the UN push to halt deforestation by 2020. Small and medium-sized Asian businesses specializing in forest and ecosystem services can play a key role in reducing deforestation in the region, according to a new study.

This is a collaboration between five organizations. Those are WWF, Ennovent, Impact Hub, Clarmondial and GreenWorks Asia. The report shows that there is strong potential for innovative green business approaches. The report draws on case studies from three key biodiverse countries that represent the range of conditions across Asia including: the Central Truong Son area in Vietnam; Kalimantan and Sumatra in Indonesia; and the Terai Arc region in the lowlands of Nepal. Sectoral analyses in the study show the kinds of enterprises that might contribute positively to addressing deforestation, such as rubber, cocoa, rattan, essential oils and medicinal plants. A good example is The Mountain Institute’s work in Nepal to turn medicinal and aromatic plant production into a profitable business for small producers. Since 2001, The Mountain Institute has increased the income of over 15,000 farmers through training and supporting the sustainable cultivation of plants such as Chiraito (Swertiya chirayita), Lothsalla (Taxus wallichiana), Satuwa (Paris Polyphylla) and Seto Bikhuma (Aconitum ferox, A. spicatum). The institute, in partnership with WWF and business innovation company Ennovent, plans to secure certifications for organic production, quality processing and good forest management – including in the buffer zones of national parks - strengthening linkages to the profitable global cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.


I think this will be inspiration for those who wanna be involved in the scale-up and consolidation phase for forest-friendly initiatives and outlines recommendations to create and replicate successful models of deforestation-free social enterprises in other affected areas. However, we can show the world about the importance of bringing together entrepreneur incubators, impact investment and innovation support in a more coordinated fashion and increase investment in zero deforestation products.





Rabu, 14 September 2016

Giant panda NO LONGER 'endangered' anymore

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced the positive change to the giant panda’s official status in the Red List of Threatened Species, pointing to the 17 per cent rise in the population in the decade up to 2014, when a nationwide census found 1,864 giant pandas in the wild in China.
Ever since, WWF has been working with the government on initiatives to save giant pandas and their habitat, including helping to establish an integrated network of giant panda reserves and wildlife corridors to connect isolated panda populations as well as working with local communities to develop sustainable livelihoods and minimize their impact on the forests.

These efforts have seen the number of panda reserves jump to 67, which now protect nearly two-thirds of all wild pandas. They have also helped to safeguard large swathes of mountainous bamboo forests, which shelter countless other species and provide natural services to vast numbers of people, including tens of millions who live alongside rivers downstream of panda habitat. After decades of work, it is clear that only a broad approach will be able to secure the long term survival of China’s giant pandas and their unique habitat, made even harder by climate change impacts. It will require even greater government investment, stronger partnerships with local communities and a wider understanding of the importance for people of conserving wildlife and the landscapes in which they live 

In my opinion this successful conservation efforts must be led by the Chinese government and demonstrates that investment in the conservation of iconic species like giant pandas does pay off now. Knowing that the panda is now a step further from extinction is an exciting moment for everyone committed to conserving the world’s wildlife and their habitats. I think we have to take care our nature for our future.
Based on http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?277170/Giant-panda-no-longer-endangered-but-iconic-species-still-at-risk

Elephants could disappear from Tanzania World Heritage site within six years

Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania’s largest protected area, was home to one of the greatest concentrations of African elephants on the continent, but rampant ivory poaching has seen the population reduced by 90 per cent in fewer than 40 years. Nearly 110,000 elephants once roamed the savannahs, wetlands and forests of Selous, but now only about 15,000 remain in the ecosystem.
The analysis, produced for WWF by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, shows how the loss of Selous’ elephants would have a negative effect on Tanzania’s nature based economy, putting the livelihoods of 1.2 million people at risk. Travel and tourism in Selous generate US$6 million annually, and the industry represents a combined yearly contribution of US$5 billion to the GDP of Tanzania, which holds world renowned assets such as Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park.


One of Africa’s oldest reserves could see its elephant population decimated by 2022 if urgent measures are not taken to stem industrial-scale poaching, according to a new analysis by WWF.
In 2014, UNESCO placed Selous on its List of World Heritage in Danger due to the severity of elephant poaching. At the recent peak of the crisis, an average of six Selous elephants were being gunned down by criminal syndicates each day.
In order for Selous to be removed from UNESCO’s in danger list, WWF is calling for greater effort in combatting wildlife crime, an assessment of the impacts of proposed industrial activities, investment in sustainable tourism infrastructure, and an equitable distribution of benefits to nearby communities.

I think, achieving zero elephant poaching is a path toward fulfilling its sustainable development potential. As a human, we shouldn't poaching animals and must ensure that this natural treasure is protected from harm. Because the large wilderness areas are dependent on its large wildlife populations and pristine ecosystems, especially Selous, which is the only natural World Heritage site in southern Tanzania and one of the largest wilderness areas left in Africa.

Selasa, 13 September 2016

Set the future with partner

TLC, thoughtful loving communication, can help you find out if you and your significant other are on the same page about moving your relationship forward. It doesn't happen via text, email or any other tetchy way but with a good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.Whether you’re married, live together or spend the majority of your time together, we all fall into routines. Maybe we make or order in dinner and break the routine. Invite him to a night at home filled with TLC. When you do, tell him with a smile that you miss him, miss us and want to connect and talk without the usual distractions. Pour a glass of wine and toast the two of you, but don’t overindulge or start drinking too early. You don’t want the wine to cause you to have loose lips or trigger tears! Then just hug him and say something sweet and reach for his hand and hold it as you speak. It’s such a simple act, but it connects two people instantly, giving each a feeling of love, comfort, connectivity and closeness.


It’s important he knows that this isn’t simply a romantic dinner. It’s a time for you both to catch up and talk. Being honest is hard, and it’s OK if you stumble and cry. Now’s the time to ask the hard questions and share what you really want. Let him know you want to spend your life with him and plan for it together, don't forget with real actionable steps. Ask him if he wants the same thing. If the answers are yes, you go, girl! Jump into his arms, hug and kiss him all over — do whatever feels right to show him how happy you are. If he has another idea how to do the same, that’s fine, too. Keep the tone of the invite open and loving — light versus heavy, to limit your pre-stress and his anxiety over what’s up.


I learned a long time ago we can never go wrong when we speak with love instead of anger and hurt. If things have gone well and you both feel that you’ve aired, shared and, most importantly, are on the same page about moving forward, agree to be present. That can mean engaging in more frequent TLC to limit uncertainties and keep your plans moving forward. Schedule your next sit-down in the next few days and start planning everything. On the other hand, if he hesitated or gave you an excuse like, "Someday, when…" it’s time for you to realize he may love you but isn’t ready to commit or doesn’t want to. The choice will then be yours to stay or start "spring cleaning" him out of your life.

Reflected based on http://www.sheknows.com/love-and-sex/articles/1114815/how-to-talk-to-your-partner-about-the-future?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_1188651

Amoeba is everywhere !


Kerry Stoutenburgh, a Brooklyn College student of Kingston, NY, is believed to have contracted the deadly infection after jumping off a bridge into a warm body of water in Cecil County in Maryland last month. Kelly, who is just in her twenties, has died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba while swimming in a creek during a family vacation. The disease she became infected with, primary amebic meningoencephalitis, is caused by the brain parasite known as Naegleria fowleri, which is commonly found in warm freshwater rivers and hot springs or burrowed in soil.

The young girl, who would have celebrated her 20th birthday on October 20th, once was treated and released, but her condition worsened and ultimately killed her.
Ulster County Health Commissioner, Dr. Carol Smith said that was a catastrophic type of infection and it progressed to fatality quite quickly. According to the CDC, between 1962 and 2015, only three of 138 known infected people in the United States have survived the generally fatal infection.

The amoeba usually infects people when contaminated water enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain. This statement is according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A "brain-eating amoeba" is just as horrific as it sounds. It's a parasite that can enter the brain and lead to deadly inflammation of the brain. There have been several reports of brain-eating amoeba infections. In my reflection to avoid amoeba based on this story, we better :
  1. Hold your nose shut or use nose clips when taking part in water-related activities
  2. Avoid stirring sediment surrounding warm, fresh water.
  3. Avoid water-related activities in warm, untreated, or poorly treated water

Reflected based on http://nypost.com/2016/09/12/student-dies-after-contracting-brain-eating-amoeba-on-vacation/

Minggu, 11 September 2016

Running or Walking?

Fitness is paramount to overall health, and walking and running are two simple forms of exercise you can pretty much do anywhere. Weight loss and cardiovascular, those both activities are great ways to stay in shape, however if you want to drop weight faster, running wins. Running is more strenuous, so there’s no surprises the potential calorie burn is far greater.
Researchers found that post-exercise appetite suppression is greater after vigorous exercise, with participants eating fewer calories post workout — provided you don’t fall into the trap of a post-workout splurge and ‘reward’ yourself with a few extra slices of pizza.

However, running isn’t for everyone. Going full speed increases the risk of injury. In fact, running produces ground reaction forces of approximately 2.5 times body weight compared to 1.2 times that for walking.
Whenever you start a new form of exercise your heart, muscles, and bones all need time to adapt, and too much too soon (without adequate recovery) makes you susceptible to strains, sprains, stress fractures, and even overtraining and illness. For this reason, it’s important to build up gradually and listen to how your body responds.

If i could choose, i would choose running, although walking is the perfect place to start if you’re new to exercise. In other words, the harder you work, the more calories you’ll burn, which is the key to losing weight. Brisk walking and running both improve heart health provided you build up gradually and do it regularly.Walking and running are both safe when included as part of a balanced exercise program. To prevent overtraining, alternate days of walking or running with strength training. Listening to the body and completing a proper warm-up and cool down is key in preventing injuries. Whether you choose to run or walk will depend on your goals and preferences. It’s important to check with your GP before starting an intense training program.

Minggu, 04 September 2016

Save Arctic's Life

Since introducing the program, collaborative polar bear patrol, in 2010, WWF and the Hamlet of Arviat, Nunavut, have dramatically reduced the number of polar bears killed under Defence of Life and Property (DLP) regulations. WWF provides funding to help communities reduce instances of conflict between polar bears and communities, including hiring guards to patrol communities and scare away bears.

On February 27th 2016, before International Polar Bear Day, WWF released a video that documents the increasing challenges that communities face from polar bears, and the successful methods that keep both bears and people safer to celebrate this day. This program, daily patrols in peak bear season (September – December), particularly at night, significantly reduce conflicts. Patrol teams have a range of tools including cracker shells, rubber bullets, beanbags, flares and live rounds.




I think this program successes reducing the number of conflicts between people and polar bears successfully. Even though throughout their range, there are increasing encounters between polar bears and people and this brings major risks to human life and property, but thing things have dramatically reduced the number of polar bears killed. This action brings benefit yet risks the patrol teams' life.

Rabu, 31 Agustus 2016

Man Versus Environment part 1 (Ocean)

          The updated study of marine mammals, birds, reptiles and fish shows that populations have been reduced on average by half globally in the last four decades, with some fish declining by close to 75 percent. The latest findings spell trouble for all nations, especially people in the developing world. Adding to the crisis of falling fish populations, the report shows steep declines in coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses that support fish species and provide valuable services to people. Over one-third of fish tracked by the report rely on coral reefs, and these species show a dangerous decline of 34 per cent between 1979 and 2010.


         Research shows that coral reefs could be lost across the globe by 2050 as a result of climate change. With over 25 per cent of all marine species living in coral reefs and about 850 million people directly benefiting from their economic, social and cultural services, the loss of coral reefs would be a catastrophic extinction with dramatic consequences on communities.While over-exploitation is identified as the major threat to ocean biodiversity, the study finds that climate change is causing the ocean to change more rapidly than at any other point in millions of years. Rising temperatures and increasing acidity levels caused by carbon dioxide aggravate the negative impacts of overfishing and other major threats including habitat degradation and pollution.



                            I think, human activity has severely damaged the ocean by catching fish faster than they can reproduce while also destroying their nurseries. Profound changes are needed to ensure abundant ocean life for future generations. Those billions of animals have been lost from the world’s oceans and this is a terrible also dangerous legacy to leave to our grandchildren in the future. In my opinion, animal, plant and marine biodiversity keeps ecosystems functional. Healthy ecosystems allow us to survive, get enough food to eat and make a living. That is why we have to keep our environment.

Selasa, 30 Agustus 2016

Support Wildlife Means Support Our Future.

                   Increased anti-poaching efforts have achieved the first annual decrease in rhinos killed in South Africa since 2007 – but poachers are targeting rhinos in neighboring countries. In 2015, there were 1,175 rhinos were killed in South Africa, 40 less than in 2014. However, at least 130 were poached in Namibia and Zimbabwe in the same period, up almost 200 per cent from 2014. 
                 The organized criminal syndicates driving the rhino poaching crisis are turning their aim on previously secure populations in other African countries, but there is hope. While there are signs that South Africa is stabilizing poaching, and must improve further, Nepal has shown that it is possible to stop it. Nepal has already achieved three years of zero rhino poaching since 2011 and is close to a fourth – a remarkable achievement, and one that other countries can emulate by adopting the zero-poaching framework that WWF helped to develop. Supported by numerous international organizations, there is now a one-stop website for countries to access the best available tools and resources in the zero-poaching toolkit.



                       In my opinion, Wildlife is under threat from poaching and we must all work together to ensure a future for our wildlife for the sake of our future generations. As a human we have no rights to do everything the way we want. Even though there are many dangerous animals out there, we still need them in our life circumstances. When we conserve and protect the natural habitat of wildlife species, we enrich our planet. To do so, we must keep the animals in their natural place. Conservation of natural habitats will also be beneficial for humans since it helps keep the essential watersheds intact and ensuring clean, fresh water. Ciao!

Rabu, 24 Agustus 2016

Man Versus Society

                 Conflict is present everywhere in the world around us. We experience conflict on a daily basis, and it can be minor (a disagreement with a friend about where to have lunch) or major (countries at war). However, I want to share a conflict that we maybe have experienced once in our lives. This conflict is about man versus society. Have you ever struggled with fitting in at school? You may be shy or going to a new school. There are different ways to meet people and find your place at your school. 

Communicating with others is important. Prepare yourself by thinking of some conversation starters. Some easy ways to start a conversation are to introduce yourself, give a compliment, or ask a question. Sometimes you have to be a little assertive to get the process started. Just simply introduce yourself to the people that you sit next to; or be the type of person that loves to smile and wouldn't mind going up to yourself so other people may want to talk because you look approachable. On the other hand, you have to be yourself. While these negative thoughts are normal, you can replace them with more positive things. It is important that you explore and find what interests you and what you are good at then you can join a school organization or club. It is easier to bond with someone when you all have similar interests. After that you can develop your own group. It may take some time to identify the different cliques and which students seem to be friendly; but it is okay, just figure out what and who you are most comfortable with.



As teenagers, we didn’t have the skills to reach out to classmates who seemed different from us, not to mention the fact that most of us were afraid to risk sacrificing whatever social status we had by befriending a kid who was “popular.” Some — those who are simply shy, like us — come back to life when we get home, becoming animated, feisty and fully engaged with family members. Remember that you can always get friends, at least one best friend in your life. If one method does not work, you can always try something different. Be confident and patient; fitting in takes time.In addition, I suggest while the other person is talking, try not to fidget, look around, laugh, or do anything that shows you are not paying attention.

Reflection based on http://www.wikihow.com/Fit-In- at-School