Climate Change Adaptation: Is It Real or Simply a Jargon?

One thing that i like about having discussions with various people, is the art of having different heads on one particular issue. It doesn’t matter really about the ‘title’ of the issue, or the name, or whatever. As long as you can catch the essence of the issues, then basically you’re in the right path. Strangely, i had the opportunity to discuss about ‘the philosophy’ of Climate Change Adaptation with several people from different backgrounds. As if we were meant to have the discussion, we then came up with the conclusion, that the activities related to Climate Change Adaptation are something that we need to do, but the term itself, it’s simply a jargon.

Sustainability: Aren’t We Have the Right to Grow?

Many people are talking about sustainability. But trust me, if you ask them, what sustainability is, most of them will trap into definition, but they couldn’t really explain it in practical ways. For me, it is simple; sustainability is simply an ability to sustain. Ability means you can do things. The word sustain itself, could lead you to somewhere you couldn’t really comprehend because of its widht, height, and depth. To sustain will highly depending on what is the condition of your environment at the the time. So, sustainability basically means, to be able to manage yourself in such a way no matter what happens with your environment.

TEDx Jakarta: A New Experience of Ordinary Living

I have never heard about TED actually (to be honest), but i surely believe that there’s no such thing as coincidence. I still remember some time ago when i was reading my twitter-timeline, and suddenly bumped into an id called @TEDxJakarta . Visited their website attracted me to register to the event. What i didn’t know was that, i was visiting at the same time the registration to the event was opened (and they opened it only for one hour). I registered, was accepted, and then i waited. To make the story short, i got in, and there, i experienced things that are unique, rich with knowledge and information, and surely packed with confident and positive-pride. What i will write in here, is basically some talk that i heard in TEDx Jakarta as a simple small reporting activity, in order to share brilliant  ideas.

Energy Poverty: Do We Need a Magic?

Economy has always becoming something that we blame on, in regards to poverty, or something related with the term of ‘poor’. Interestingly, i have learned that the term ‘poor’ is not always about money; the term poor can also related to your knowledge, creativity, networks (friends and relations), and other things, be that intangible or tangible things. As a matter of fact, poverty in terms of economy, is sometimes related to the capacity of a person, village, or community, in getting information, the know-how on what to do with what they have. Because all innovations, start with what we’re currently having. So does, energy poverty.

(the image was taken from: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100921-energy-poverty-cookstoves/ )

Climate Change Adaptation: Is It Sidelined?

I guess, several years after the first United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention Conference of Parties (UNFCCC COP) has enrolled, the issue of adaptation became more vague than ever. In the international level, several initiatives were offered, yet it has not been yet implemented. The issue of Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol, still became a pool of fund, but no fund-disbursement activities yet. While in practice, the Adapation Fund is actually a ‘solidarity fund’ that is collected by the developing countries through 2% levy of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) revenues they earned. Quite contradictive with what is stated in the Convention, where developed countries should be the one to pay for adaptation activities that should be undertaken by the developing countries. Though they knew, developed countries remain (more or less) fund-less for developing countries.

Bira: A Silent Beauty of An Island

As Thousand Island has around 397 small islands, on of my dreams is to visit all islands, someday. The fact is there are some islands to which boats services are not exist. Therefore, you need to hire your own boat, or sail with your own yacht. Realizing that i’m more into a low-budget-traveler, i chose the first one. So there i was, in Bira island, one of the used-to-be-a-resort island, which can be reached by ‘personal’ (hired) boat.

Energy Efficiency: Something We Tend to (ALWAYS) Forget

Energy security has becoming one issues that grows nowadays. While it is actually a very old issue, yet, wehave to admit that prediction, estimation, projection, has turn into reality. Scenarios for energy security start to emerging; the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies, renewable energy development, and many others. But not so many studies emphasizing the importance of energy efficiency. The fact is, without applying energy efficiency, energy insecurity will last.

Rio+20: Grasping the Ideas

The Rio+20 fever seems to be more spreading than before. Though not so many people could really grasp on what kind of topics that would be discussed in the next June’s Rio Summit, yet everybody is starting to think about what kind of calls that they would pursue in the Summit. From lots of ‘conversations’ available, Rio+20 will be most likely discussing about Green Economy and its contributions to sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Several studies from UNEP on Green Economy are actually helping us to really see what kind of issues (that we are currently working on) that can be relate to that.

Rio+20 and Green Economy

Do you know that there’s a term of Rio + 20? Do you know what kind of ‘creature’ is that? Have you ever heard about green economy? Do you know what is exactly green economy? Having two weeks of reading and trying to understand, i finally could grasp the idea of these two terms. I don’t know about you, but probably, we could try to elaborate our perspective and have some discussions over it to enrich our knowledge.

Biawak Island, Indramayu, West Java – This is Where We Stand

Having a chance to visit Indonesia is truly an adventure that I won’t missed it; though so many times i have to cancel the trip  due to work. This time, i had a chance to visit Pulau Biawak (Biawak Island) that is located within Indramayu area in West Java. Biawak is actually Indonesian term for monitor lizard (that’s what i’ve got from google). It is a predator, a kind of lizard, that came from the same root as Iguana. Therefore, as it is called, Biawak Island is a place where almost 300 biawaks live. Getting there, we spent almost 5 – 6 hours to reach Indramayu, due to traffic. From Indramayu, we took a boat that is usually used by fishermen. It took us around 4-5 hours to Biawak island. Any kind of pills that can help you to manage the sea-sick is very much welcome.