Bali Tourism News

Greenpeace ada ‘cojones’ besar in Jakarta Indonesia

A friend of mine once said, “Its really dissappointing when you wake up one day, and realize the world is run by greedy bastards.” I’ve already woken up, and here in Indonesia, its free for all for greedy bastards. Fortunately, the dark side will not prevail, because there are a few people out there, who are willing to stand up for justice.

       
Indonesia has the world’s biggest deforestation problem, worse than Brasil! Much of this is illegal logging. Most of Kaliamantan’s lowland forest is gone and talking to people in the furniture business over here, they are always searching for jati (teakwood), which has all but dissappeared from Bali. One of the biggest logging companies in Indonesia is Kayu Lapis Indonesia’s (KLI), and recently the knights of environmentalism, Greenpeace, have been giving them hell. Get this, representatives from Greenpeace had the cojones, to show up at the company headquarters in Jakarta, and present them with a huge wreath with the message, “Congratulations Kayu Lapis Indonesia, Forest Killer in Papua.” They then poured leaves and branches around the place, in an act of defiance.

Resource extraction / destruction, is an easy way for some people to get rich. It is the route the government sees also, with the natural resurces Indonesia possesses. A friend of mine recently back from eastern Indonesia, told me Balinese fishing boats sail all the way out there, for turtles.
Without strong locally enforced laws, everything is up for grabs.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment December 12th, 2006

Draining the swamp in Seminyak Bali

Taking my own advice, or at least the advice posted on my own website, I had Ana’s husbands Fery, come over and bores holes in my flower pots. During the wet season these babies fill up with water, making them ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

       

A few minutes with the power drill and that threat was greatly reduced. Nyoman the owner probably won’t care, the pots are made of cement and you can pick them up everywhere. Locals tell me its possible to pick ikan kacil (little fish) in the pots, that will swim around and eat the mosquito eggs.Sounds great, but I prefer something a little more permanent. While typing, Fery showed up again with a bag of little fish! He put them into my 3rd flower pot, in the garden. Remembering we have another outside the front door, Ana and I tried to scoop the little fish out of the first pot, using a cup and bowl. They were fast, but I got 3 transfered to their new home. The fish are black and about a centimeter long, Hope they are hungry and clean out all the larvae. The family of frogs are still camping out in my bathroom. They congregate under the faucet for the bathtub. In the evening, I’ll see one hoping across the porch towards the garden. They don’t bother me, so no worries.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment December 12th, 2006

Indonesia’s Monica Lewinsky scandal

We all know Indonesia is a big Muslim country, with some hardliners who want to turn the country into an Islamic republic. People back in the US and Europe, who have never been here, probably believe everything they see on the news, about bombs going off and hardline groups. Here’s another side of how things work.

       
America had its Monica Lewinsky scandal, which dragged on, for what seemed like an age. Here we have a scandal involving a member of the government, Yahya Zaini, who was frolicking in a hotel room with 2 ladies. Not only that, he was the guy in charge of moral and religious affairs! Since this news came out he has resigned, but his partner is riding the wave, so to speak, cashing in on her new found fame, much as Monica did. According to some sources, this kind of thing is run of the mill, he was just unlucky to get caught. I reckon all these scandals are a waste of time and energy, all they prove is that men and women like each other.

source : www.baliblog.com

Add comment December 12th, 2006