UNESCO Supports Environmentally Friendly Schools in Jakarta

       Jakarta, Dec 15, 2009 (Antara) - UNESCO `s Jakarta Office has supported a program of environmentally friendly elementary schools and revitalization of elementary school canteens in Jakarta.

       The program has been implemented since July 2009 by involving around 50 elementary schools in Jakarta, according to Nuning Wirjoatmodjo, the program`s coordinator, here on Tuesday (15/12/2009).
State elementary schools SDN 01 in Gambir (Central Jakarta) and SDN 01 in Pasar Minggu (South Jakarta) have been appointed pilot projects for the program, which includes trainings for trainers in integrated waste management and nutrition.

APA SESSION SPOTLIGHTS NUCLEAR, PALESTINE, CORRUPTION, CLIMATE CHANGE By Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 11, 2009 (ANTARA) - The fourth Plenary Session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) in Bandung in its declaration and resolutions has spotlighted crucial issues such as nuclear, Palestine, and corruption.

All countries have the right to have nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, APA emphasized in its declaration issued at the close of its meeting held in Bandung, West Java Province, Thursday (Dec. 10).

The use of nuclear technology by several countries for peaceful purposes and for their peoples` welfare was a proposal from the Iranian delegation at the APA plenary session.

PRESIDENT WANTS 4 BLN TREES PLANTED BY 2020 By Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec. 9, 2009 (ANTARA) - The hazardous impacts of the Climate Change are real in Indonesia, and therefore the nation needs to take concrete action to address its environmental problems.

        "Many Indonesian farmers are unable to set the exact time for planting new seedlings because their predictions of the rainy season often fail," Giorgio Budi, Coordinator of the Civil Society Forum (CSF) for Climate Justice said recently.

News Focus: TO COPENHAGEN WITH HOPE TO SAVE PLANET EARTH By Fardah

      Jakarta, Dec. 8, 2009 (ANTARA) - "Copenhagen is our time to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to launch the post-2012 climate agreement," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono once said.

        The recorded statement of President Yudhoyono to the United Nations (UN) Summit in New York, last Sept. 22, 2009, clearly reflected Indonesia's view on the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held in Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18, 2009.

News Focus: RIAU SEEKING FOREST PROTECTION COMPENSATION FROM ADVANCED COUNTRIES by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov. 30, 2009 (ANTARA) - While Greenpeace recently put Riau's forests in the international spotlight, Riau authorities have said that advanced countries should help compensate its forest preservation efforts.

        "We in Riau need funds to protect the forests from illegal logging activities and to solve the root of the illegal logging problem, namely poverty among the local community," Zulkifli Yusuf, head of the Riau provincial forest service, said in Pekanbaru, last Nov. 25.

GREENPEACE ISSUES STOP-DEFORESTATION APPEAL FROM 'GROUND ZERO' By Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov. 17, 2009 (ANTARA) - Greenpeace Southeast Asia activists have issued an appeal to stop deforestation from a camp in a so-called 'ground zero' rain forest in the Kampar Peninsula in Sumatra.

        "Greenpeace is calling for an end to deforestation globally by 2020 as a key part of the UN climate negotiations this December", according to information from the Greenpeace Southeast Asia official website on Sunday (Nov. 15).

News Focus: GREENPEACE WANTS TO HELP PRESIDENT MEET CLIMATE COMMITMENT By Fardah

        Jakarta, Nov. 24 , 2009(ANTARA) - When the noted environmental NGO Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigned to protect Sumatra's forest recently, local security authorities tried to crack down on them. Was it miscommunication or misunderstanding?

        The Riau immigration recently deported 13 Greenpeace campaigners and two foreign journalists for what the local authorities said 'lacking permits to engage respectively in environmental campaigning and journalistic activities in the region'.

Sri Lanka Asylum Seekers' Fate Still Uncertain by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov. 16, 2009 (ANTARA) - At the beginning it was thought that the 'Indonesian solution' would work well but the problem of Sri Lanka asylum seekers aboard the Australian ship MV Oceanic Viking has now led to a standoff not easy to solve.
        On October 18, 2009, the MV Oceanic Viking had picked up 78 Sri Lanka asylum seekers, after they had sent out a distress signal in what Australia called an 'Indonesian search and rescue zone'. But, an Indonesian military officer said they were rescued in waters near Australia's Christmas Island.

News Focus: MONTARA OIL SPILL STOPPED BUT CONCERN CONTINUES By Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov. 10, 2009 (ANTARA) - The East Nusa Tenggara authorities seeming to be still concerned about the possible impact of Australia's Montara oil spill, despite an assurance that the leakage has been stopped.

        When Amien Rais, former chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) visited East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), which shares marine border with Australia, he was told about the oil spill and the provincial authorities' concern over the unresponsive attitude of the central government.

GET USED TO EARTHQUAKES BUT REMAIN ALERT By Fardah

Jakarta, Oct. 29, 2009 (ANTARA) - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono has reminded the people that due to its geography, Indonesia is vulnerable to disasters and therefore they must be prepared for that.

"We must become used to it and always be alert," she said here on Wednesday when officially opening a Women`s International Club (WIC) charity bazaar.

The warning is necessary as Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the edge of a tectonic plate which is prone to seismic upheavals.

AFTER PROMISES, ACTIONS NEEDED ON CLIMATE CHANGE By Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct. 27, 2009 (ANTARA) - Many environmentalists and experts have warned that the future of mankind depends on their actions today, not tomorrow or some time in the future. 

     Greenpeace, a global environmental NGO, delivered a similar reminder in its letter and a bouquet of flowers sent to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to congratulate him on his inauguration for his second presidential term, in Jakarta, last October 20, 2009. 

RI PROVIDES SOLUTION TO AUSTRALIA'S ASYLUM SEEKER PROBLEM by Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct. 21, 2009 (ANTARA) - Indonesia during the past few days did a few favors to Australia regarding Sri Lankan asylum seekers intending to go to Australia. 

       First, it was on October 11, when Indonesia's Navy intercepted a boat with about 255 Sri Lankans aboard and took them to Merak harbor, western Java, after a phone call from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about the presence of the Tamils wanting to cross to Australia's Christmas Island.

        Second, it was when Indonesia agreed to take the latest group of 78 asylum seekers, also from Sri Lanka, from the vessel "Oceanic Viking" at an Australian Customs ship which had picked them on Sunday (Oct. 18) after sending out a distress signal in Indonesia's search and rescue zone. 

MIYABI'S VISIT CANCELED FOLLOWING CONTROVERSY By Fardah

Jakarta, Oct. 15, 2009 (ANTARA) - Maxima Pictures as the sponsor of Maria Ozawa or better known as Miyabi, has finally bowed to public protests and decided not to let the Japanese adult film star come to Indonesia.

The decision was made following a meeting between the producer and director of the film to be titled "Menculik Miyabi" or "Kidnapping Miyabi" with Interim Culture and Tourism Minister Mohammad Nuh at the minister`s office on Tuesday (Oct. 13). In the meeting, Minister Nuh gave a directive to cancel the planned visit of the Japanese porn film star to Indonesia.

NEIGHBORING MALAYSIA QUICK IN HELPING EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS By Fardah

     Jakarta, Oct. 10, 2009 (ANTARA) - You can love and fight your immediate neighbors but if you get into some trouble at home and shout for help, it is surely they who will be the first to hear and come to rescue you.

     That's what happened in December 2004 when Aceh and Nias Island, both in the northern part of Sumatra Island, were engulfed by a gigantic tsunami, and more recently, on September 30, 2009, when a magnitude-7.6 eartquake devastated West Sumatra.

GLOBAL RECOVERY ENABLING RUPIAH TO STRENGTHEN AGAINST GREENBACK By Fardah

Jakarta, Oct. 9, 2009 (ANTARA) - Signs of global economic recovery such as the fall of the US dollar in regional markets has helped the rupiah to strengthen over the past few days to its highest level this year.

The US dollar fell to its lowest level against the currencies of six major trading partners in almost 14 months as signs of global economic recovery which spurred demand for riskier assets.

RI WISHES TO LEAD IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE'S IMPACT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct. 5, 2009 (ANTARA) - It was quite an 'unusual' demonstration when several Harvard University students in Boston greeted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and even referred to him as 'Climate Change Hero'.

       Yellow and pink posters with messages reading "Thank You Indonesia", "Harvard Says Indonesia's Our Climate Change Hero", "President Yudhoyono World Climate Change Leader", "The Earth Our Future, Thank You Yudhoyono", were carried by the students outside their campus in Boston, the United States, on Sept. 29, 2009, when Yudhoyono arrived at the campus to speak before Harvard's faculty members, ANTARA's correspondent reported from Boston.

WORLD SHOWS SOLIDARITY OVER WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE By Fardah

Jakarta, Oct. 3, 2009 (ANTARA) - Indonesia once again witnesses the world solidarity continuously flowing to West Sumatra following a deadly magnitude-7.6 earthquake which rocked the province last Sept. 30.

At least 600 people were killed and thousands were still trapped under rubble in the West Sumatra earthquake which destroyed thousands of buildings.

The world had previously demonstrated generous solidarity when Indonesia`s Aceh Province and Nias Island were devastated by a gigantic tsunami on December 2004, Yogyakarta and some parts of Central Java were leveled by VI-VII MMI-earthquake in May 2006.

INDONESIANS TO CELEBRATE BATIK DAY ON OCT 2 By Fardah

Jakarta, Oct. 1, 2009 (ANTARA) - Employees of state-owned companies and government institutions have for years adhered to a tradition of wearing batik on every Friday of the week.

But this Friday (October 2, 2009) is special because President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on all Indonesians to wear batik on that day to celebrate UNESCO`s decision to include batik in its list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" items.

IDUL FITRI HOLIDAY TRAVEL ACCIDENTS CLAIM NEARLY 600 LIVES By Fardah

Jakarta, Sept. 28, 2009  (ANTARA) - For most Indonesian Muslims, Idul Fitri (`Lebaran`) is an annual moment of family gatherings and therefore this year, over 27 million people were willing to spend considerable amounts of energy, time and money to return to their home towns.

The exodus on such a large scale happening at almost the same time was far from easy to manage and, as always, claimed many lives and caused substantial material damages.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said in Solo, Central Java, recently that of the total number of around 27.25 million travelers, 11 million used their own means of transportation, mostly motorcycles and cars.

FIGHTING TERRORISM THROUGH DERADICALIZATION PROGRAM GOES ON by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept. 22, 2009 (ANTARA) - Despite the recent death of top terrorist Noordin M Top, President Yudhoyono has warned that it does not mean that the terrorist network in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, has been paralyzed.

The head of state`s statement was supported by various officials and elements including Ansyaad Mbai, head of the political, legal and security coordinating ministry`s anti-terror desk.

The fight against terrorism was not finished with the death of Southeast Asian terrorist leader Noordin M Top and his three associates, Mbai said here recently following the police`s successful raid in Solo, Central Java, last September 17, 2009 in which Noordin M Top was killed.

POLICE PRAISED FOR PERMANENTLY NEUTRALIZING TOP TERRORIST by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 18, 2009 (ANTARA) - Just three days before the Idul Fitri Islamic festivity, also called `the day of victory`, Indonesian police permanently terminated most wanted terrorist Noordin M Top in a raid in Solo, Central Java, on Thursday (Sept. 17).

At a press conference at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, Thursday evening, delighted and always showing his two thumbs, National Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri confirmed that one of four terror suspects shot dead during the raid was Malaysian fugitive terror mastermind Noordin Mohammad Top.

POLICE INTENSIFY SECURITY DURING IDUL FITRI HOLIDAYS BY Fardah

Jakarta, Sept. 15, 2009 (ANTARA) - Athough Idul Fitri, the post-fasting month festivity, happens every year in accordance with the lunar calendar, Muslims in Indonesia and other countries never celebrate it in exactly the same way.

"What we are going to do to prepare for Idul Fitri this year should not be a routine activity. We should regard it as a special operation that has to be successful," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said when speaking at a cabinet meeting at his office recently.

Yudhoyono To Visit KL Amidst "Cultural Dispute" by Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept. 12, 2009 (ANTARA) - As immediate neighbors, Indonesia and Malaysia  often have a love-hate relationship as demonstrated by their ongoing territorial and 'cultural' disputes.        Indonesia and Malaysia have so far been negotiating on their overlapping claims to the oil-rich  Ambalat Block in East Kalimantan waters.  
   Recently, tens of Balinese artists in Denpasar staged a demonstration protesting a Malaysian tourism advertisement featuring the Balinese 'pendet' dance.  

New Law Empower Ministry to Punish Environmental Offenders by Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept. 10, 2009 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is endowed  with vast forest, mangrove, peat soil and coral areas as well as biological diversity but at the same time facing huge environmental problems, such as forest destruction, water, soil and air pollution.

         However, most of the environmental violators have walked free due to the country's ineffective legal system, corruption and lax  bureaucracy despite the government's efforts to stop environmental destruction.

Warga Yaman Hamburkan Jutaan Dolar Untuk Mengunyah Qat oleh Fardah Assegaf

      September 2009 - Seorang lelaki duduk bermalas-malasan sambil mengunyah atau mengulum daun qat atau khat (Catha edulis) sehingga pipi mereka menggelembung seperti bengkak merupakan pemandangan sehari-hari khususnya di pasar-pasar Yaman Utara.

        Kegemaran sebagian orang Yaman mengunyah daun qat tersebut membuat mereka harus merogoh saku dalam-dalam hingga hampir 156 juta dolar AS (sekitar Rp1,56 trillion) per tahun secara keseluruhan.

        Padahal, sekitar tiga juta rakyat Yaman masih tergolong miskin dan tidak mampu memenuhi  kebutuhan pokok mereka, terutama makanan bagi keluarga mereka, demikian laporan The News Yemen yang mengutip Fathi Ahmed Al-Saqaf, seorang profesor dari Perguruan Tinggi Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olah Raga di Provinsi Hodeida, Yaman bagian barat.

Feature: RI RACING AGAINST TIME IN FIGHTING HIV/AIDS by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug. 29, 2009 (ANTARA) - The relatives of Budi (not his real name) were shocked and felt despair when the doctor said that the 33-year old man was infected with HIV virus. His wife cried and almost could not believe that her quiet and loving husband has contracted the deadly disease.

        "My life is over, especially if he infects me and our one-year old son with HIV virus," 20-year old Juminten (not her real name), said while weeping. Budi and Juminten got married two years ago and led a happy family life particularly after the birth of their son a year ago. 

NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES POACH RI'S FISH by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug. 24, 2009 (ANTARA) - An official has warned that Indonesia`s marine wealth might disappear in the next five years if the country is not committed to stopping poaching mostly carried out by neighboring countries` fishermen.

The largest number of poachers in Indonesia`s waters were from Vietnam, followed by Thailand, China and Malaysia, Aji Sularso, director general of marine resources and fisheries supervision and control, said when when speaking at the Coordinating Forum on the handling of Fishery crimes, organized by the West Kalimantan authorities in Pontianak, on August 21, 2009.

News Focus : EL NINO'S IMPACT BECOMING MORE REAL by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug. 20, 2009 (ANTARA) - While people in other parts of Indonesia are sound asleep, South Sulawesi villagers have to queue in the dark of night to get clean water from natural springs. Residents of Mattirotasi and Lainungan villages in Watang Pulu sub district, Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap) Didstrict, South Sulawesi Province, have been facing a water crisis due to the ongoing El-Nino-induced drought over the past one month. 

     "Every evening, these villagers have to queue to collect clean water in several water springs in the village, because at noon, there is no water in the springs," Amin, a local resident, said. In fact, the drought have affected the villages since the past four months, he said.

TEAM FORMED TO END CONTROVERSY OVER KOMODO TRANSFER PLAN by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug. 13, 2009 (ANTARA) - The forestry ministry has finally decided to set up a team of experts to study its plan to transfer 10 Komodo dragons from Flores to Bali, following a controversy on the plan.

         The formation of the team was recommended by a meeting of various stakeholders in the matter, chaired by Forestry Minister MS Kaban in Jakarta, on Wednesday (Aug 12).

Dermawan Akan Hadiahkan Rumah Gandhi untuk Pemerintah

        Jakarta, 12 Agustus 2009 Spektrum - Seorang dermawan berencana untuk membeli rumah di Johannesburg, Afrika Selatan, yang pernah didiami oleh Mahatma Gandhi selama lebih dari tiga tahun.
     Pradeep Bhavnani, seorang pengusaha India, berharap rumah yang ia akan hadiahkan kepada Pemerintah India tersebut dapat dilestarikan sebagai tempat bersejarah.

Intensified Hunt of Terrorists Leads to Successful Raids by Fardah

      Jakarta, Aug. 8, 2009 (ANTARA) -  The Indonesian police's anti-terror unit  Densus-88  raided at least two locations on   Saturday (Aug. 8) in their intensified hunt of  terrorists, following the bomb blasts at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta last July 17, 2008.

          At least three terrorists were believed to have been killed, and one was reportedly arrested, in the raids in Jatiasih, Bekasi, West Java, and Temanggung District, Central Java, on Saturday morning.

RI TO SPEED UP CLEAN WATER SUPPLY PROGRAM by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug. 4, 2009 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has set itself the target of giving 80 percent of the country's urban population and 60 percent of the rural population access to clean water by 2015, up from only 40 percent and 20 percent respectively today.

         To achieve the target, Indonesia plans to speed up the installation of 10 million new water pipe connections by 2013. The plan would also help the country to meet the target in The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in 2015.

RI Receives Foreign Assistance to Deal With Forest Fires by Fardah

    Jakarta, July 30, 2009 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has received United States assistance  to conduct a fire-fighting  exercise and  Malaysian aid  to organize a course on tackling  forest and plantation fires happening in  Riau Province in particular.

          Forest fires in Indonesia have become an international concern as they release carbon emissions, which could worsen  global warming, and haze, which could cross the border to neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.    

Two Candidate Pairs Refer Complaints to Constitutional Court by Fardah

    Jakarta, July 29, 2009 (ANTARA News) - The Megawati-Prabowo and Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto presidential election camps have formally reported numerous irregularities that allegedly happened in the July 8 poll to the Constitutional Court (MK) in what appears to be a move to challenge the legitimacy of the election`s official outcome.
      A lawyers` team representing the Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto (JK-Win) pair reported 55 irregularities to MK on Monday (July 27), and the next day, the Megawati-Prabowo`s advocacy team submitted evidence on over 50 flaws.

Shootings Target PT Freeport in Papua by Fardah

    Jakarta, July 21, 2009 (ANTARA) - Two executives of PT Freeport, Dave Potter and Adrianto Machribi, were injured in the bomb blast last Friday (July 17, 2009) at JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta - very far away from Papua where shooting and torching incidents recently happened in the US gold and copper mining company's concession area.

         The bomb blast in Jakarta, and the shootings in Papua, Indonesia's eastern-most province, might have no linkage at all, but executives and employees of the Indonesian subsidiary of the US-based mining firm have become victims in the two separate incidents.

Number of Indonesia's H1N1 Patients Increasing by Fardah

     Jakarta, July 11, 2009 - (ANTARA News) - While Indonesia is considered to have been `rather late` in reporting Influenza A (H1N1) cases, the number of H1N1 or swine flu patients in the country has steadily risen to 52.
     The number of influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu cases in Indonesia increased by 24 recently bringing the total number of sufferers in the country to 52, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said in Jakarta, on Thursday (July 9).
       Of the 24 new cases, three involve foreigners, and the rest Indonesian nationals, who mostly had made overseas trips recently, namely to Malaysia, Australia, the United States, Thailand, Singapore and China, she said.

News Focus: POLL BLINDS GOVT TO HAZE PROBLEM IN SUMATRA By Fardah

      Jakarta, July 9, 2009 (ANTARA) - The ongoing presidential election process, from campaigning to ballot counting, has made Indonesian officials too busy to notice the current haze problem caused by forest and plantation fires in Sumatra. Haze has forced the closure of airports in Pekanbaru and Dumai, Riau Province, several times over the past two months. 

       But it seems the haze problem remains unnoticed particularly by central government officials who hardly make any comment on it. Indonesia held its second direct presidential election on July 8, 2009.

REFUGEES STUCK IN "TRANSIT COUNTRIES" by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 30, 2009 (ANTARA) - Escaping from war-torn Afghanistan, more and more Afghan refugees, including women and children, in fact have ended up in Indonesian jails instead of in the land of their dreams, Australia. 

       Indonesia has been 'kind enough' to become a 'very strong fortress' protecting neighboring Australia from refugees, especially those from Afghanistan. 

        Stuck in Indonesia, most of them have lived in the country for four to six years, cannot work, go to school, or settle down. According to information from Crikey website, Australia provides $18 million a year directly to the Indonesian government to improve 'migration management and border security in Indonesia'.         

News Focus: HEAL OCEANS TO SAVE PLANET EARTH by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 24, 2009 (ANTARA) - The world's oceans which cover two thirds or more than 70 percent of Earth's surface, are an important source of life. Millions of people depend on oceans and coastal areas in earning a living. 

        Indonesia, marine tourism revenue reached US$2 billion per year and the country earned around US$2.2 billion from fish exports in 2008, according to Alfred Nakatsuma, director of the Environment office of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), recently. 

RI SKEPTICAL ABOUT NETANYAHU'S "PLAY OF WORDS" by Fardah

    Jakarta, June 17, 2009 (ANTARA) - The occupation of Palestine by Israel is not just a Palestinian or Israeli problem nor a mere Middle East issue but a matter of  world-wide concern as reflected by the fact that  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech last Sunday (June 14) drew comments from  many sides of the globe.

        After decades of occupying Palestine, Netanyahu said for the first time that Israel would endorse a 'limited Palestinian state', on condition the future Palestinian state did not have an army, and recognized Israel as a Jewish state - another way of saying Palestinian refugees must give up their hopes of returning to lost homes inside Israel.

Sail Bunaken To gather Sailors in Spirit of Brotherhood by Fardah

   Jakarta, June 6 (ANTARA) -  Around 8,000 sailors from all over the world are expected to participate in the  Sail Bunaken 2009 to be organized in Manado, North Sulawesi, on  August 12-20, 2009.        
    "Ship crew members from many countries will sail to Manado to visit the Bunaken marine park. Sail Bunaken will be greater than the Bunaken Festival which was held earlier," North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Sarundajang said in Manado recently.
    Sail Bunaken is aimed at building a sense of seamen's brotherhood and enhancing international relations, Commodore Willem Rampangilei, commander of the Indonesian Navy's Main Base VIII, said.

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HIT WORST BY IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

    Manado, May 14, 2009 (ANTARA) -The developing countries are hit worst by the impact of climate change because they depended more on natural resources, according to Alfred Nakatsuma,  director of the Environment office of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said here on Thursday.

          While the developed countries depended more on industries and information services than on natural resources, he said when speaking to journalists participating in the OANA Workshop on "The Role of the Media in Preserving the Global Environment".

OANA HOLDS WORKSHOP ON ENVIRONMENT IN MANADO

   Manado, North Sulawesi, May 13, 2009 (ANTARA) - The Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) is holding a workshop on the Role of Media in Preserving the Global Environment, here, May 13-15, coinciding with the implementation of the World Ocean Conference (WOC) which is also being organized here, May 11-14.

         North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Sarundajang was scheduled to officially open the workshop here on Wednesday, Saiful Hadi, OANA Secretary General, said here on Wednesday.

Media-Scientist Parnertship Needed to Address Climate Change

    Manado, North Sulawesi, May 13, 2009 (ANTARA) - A  strong partnership between science and the media is needed to overcome  environmental problems, including climate change, Robert Lee, a  UNESCO Program Specialist for Environment Sciences said.

         Journalists  and scientists should work closely together as the media had great  skill in telling interesting stories that could catch people's attention, while scientists were good in collecting scientific facts and data important to protect the environment, Lee said at the OANA Workshop on "The Role of the media in preserving the global environment", here on Wednesday . 
     Planet Earth was experiencing disasters such as floods, droughts, sea level rise, air pollution, wild fires, desertification, and ecosystem destruction, he said.

          Scientists have sent alarms for decades about the climate change and global warming as well as other environmental problems, but it seemed it did get adequate attention from the public, Lee of the Jakarta-based UNESCO regional office, said.

          He believed that the media play an active role in collecting, producing and distributing news on the environment, which could possible change the attitude of the society, like in saving energy and water in their daily life.

          Lee also emphasized that the media should not only report on environment and scientific information, but also should participate  actively in dialogs which lead to policy and decision makings.

          "The media should form strong communication with scientists," he told the workshop's participants among others coming from Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Venezuela, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar, Brazil, Suriname, Cuba, and Canada.

          He said UNESCO Jakarta Office would have a media and climate change program to promote journalists' excellence in reporting climate change.

          The OANA workshop is being organized by OANA (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies), here May 13-15, coinciding with the implementation of the World Ocean Conference (WOC) which is also being organized here, May 11-14.

          The Workshop is organized by the OANA Secretariat in ANTARA News Agency, with the cooperation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Communication and Informatics Ministry of Indonesia.

          In the last day of the workshop, the journalists will join a field visit to Bunaken marine park, around 10 km of Manado, to see the rich marine biodiversity of the protected marine park.

          OANA, which was established in 1961 with the support of UNESCO, now has 40 member news agencies from 33 countries.

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(T. F001/A/HAJM/A/E002) 

News Analysis: UNEP CHIEF: IMPROVE HEALTH OF OCEAN By Achim Steiner*

     Jakarta, May 11, 2009 (ANTARA) -  As more than 120 nations gather in Manado, Indonesia for the World Oceans Conference the issue of climate change should be high on their minds.

         The world's oceans and seas are now understood to be the biggest sink of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels.

News Feature - Turning Indonesia Into "Fortress" of "New World" by Fardah Assegaf

  Jakarta, May 9, 2009 (ANTARA) - It was the land of the Aborigines who are believed to have migrated from some unknown point in Asia to Australia 50,000 to 60,000 years ago.

          Later some European explorers and traders including from the Netherlands charted the coastline of Australia which they named  New Holland beginning in the 1600s, until eventually  Captain James Cook of Britain claimed the continent for the British Crown in 1770.

World Soon To Watch Ocean Conference in Manado by Fardah

    Jakarta, April 25, 2009 (ANTARA) -  Manado, a pleasant city with a population of over 417,000,  will be in the international spotlight  during the upcoming World Ocean Conference(WOC) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit to be held May 11-15, 2009.    
      About 2,900 participants from 121 countries are expected to take part in the WOC, the CTI Summit, and associated events. They will stay among other things in  18 star-rated hotels and 24 non-star hotels.

INDONESIA'S 2009 POLLS, A GAMBLE FOR CANDIDATES, VOTERS ALIKE by Fardah

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Effective Coordinated Patrols of Malacca Strait To Broaden Membership by Fardah Assegaf

    Jakarta, March 7, 2009 (ANTARA) - Previously holder of a dubious title as the number one piracy hot spot, the Malacca Strait is currently being looked at as an example of a success story on how to protect security in the world's busiest sea lane.
     Late last year,  Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) expressed his optimism  that  his organization could take lessons from the reduced piracy and robbery in the Malacca Strait  to  the Gulf of Aden which lies between Somalia and Yemen and has witnessed increasing  number of piracies in the recent year.

Feature - DESPERATE WILD SUMATRAN ANIMALS KILL PEOPLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES by Fardah Assegaf

    Jakarta, Mar 5, 2009 (ANTARA) - In desperate need of living space, endangered Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) and Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris Sumatrae) again killed several people in inhabited parts of Sumatra Island's interior lately.
     The latest attack happened at Balai Makam village, Bengkalis District, Riau Province, on Wednesday (Mar 4) at dawn when wild Sumatran  elephants killed Jalinus (83), a local villager, in a horrifying way.

ROHINGYA REFUGEES' PLIGHT NOW IN INT'L SPOTLIGHT

By Fardah Assegaf
     Jakarta, Feb. 9, 2009 (ANTARA) - Weakened , starved and emaciated by their ordeals at sea,  Rohingya refugees in Indonesia's western most province of Aceh and in Thailand might never have imagined that their plight would  come into the international spotlight. Now their unfortunate fate has attracted the attention of  among others Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda and famous Hollywood actress Angeline Jolie.
     Over the past one month, Aceh Province has received nearly 400 Rohingya refugees. Some 193 Rohingya boat people got stranded in Sabang, Aceh on January 7, 2008, and another 198 Rohingyas reached the coast of Aceh after 21 days at sea, with some of them in a critical condition on February 3, 2008.