Greenhouse Laws are Introduced

A little under 300 years ago, the industrial age was upon us. We were soon to discover that we could use fossil fuels that were seemingly in abundance all around us to produce energy forms and from there could really develop our lives and society. It is true that we have made significant technological advances since that time, but have also become aware of the damage that the conspicuous use of these fuels has caused. As a result, greenhouse laws will soon come into play to help constrain the consumption that has got us into trouble over all this time. Emissions caused by the burning of these fossil fuels have the potential to cause catastrophic damage to our environment unless something is done.

The byproduct of using fossil fuels for energy production (and subsequent use and consumption) was a significant release of damaging gases to the environment. Large volumes of these gases caused a warming effect in the atmosphere and over time a considerable imbalance in the natural scheme of things. As a society, we must reverse this trend and this has led to the introduction of greenhouse laws to control the dangerous greenhouse gases.

Carbon dioxide equivalent gases are the main target of greenhouse laws as these products are very dangerous. A threat exists to all forms of life on the planet, as patterns change and weather events intensify. Those who are deemed to be the largest culprits, the biggest emitters of gases will be in the crosshairs of this new legislation and they will be forced to seek alternative methods of energy production.

Significant goals have been set by the UK government when it comes to reducing carbon emissions. It is intended that they will be reduced by as much as 80% within the next 40 years. To start the ball rolling, mandatory laws will come into place in that country in 2010 and 2011, requiring the major contributors to the problem to get their house in order.

A cunning "cap and trade" scheme will effectively force large emitters of carbon gases to reduce their figures, as a consequence of a value being placed on carbon itself. The scheme is part of the greenhouse laws being introduced in Britain and once the administration sets an overall limit on the total amount of gases that are permissible, market-driven forces will take care of the rest.

Unfortunately, goodwill alone is not enough to prompt major emitters of carbon to alter their ways of doing business. The British Carbon Reduction Commitment is one of the first steps in a government intervention. By structuring an approach this way, it is felt that the new greenhouse laws will have a great effect on the overall problem facing the climate.

Although environmentalists and scientists have been preaching at society in general for decades about the problems surrounding adverse climate change, it is only in recent years that politicians and the population in general have begun to catch up. The Kyoto Protocol focused everyone's attention in the 90s, but in reality only a limited result was obtained due to a lack of real action. To force change, mandatory greenhouse laws are inevitable.

United States is seen as being behind its expected position and a variety of excuses have been rolled out by the US administration over time. There is some debate as to whether the country will take greenhouse laws being debated in Congress seriously and whether they will ever see the light of day.

Taken from: www.verisae.com

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Biofuels will change everything

Biofuel is actually made from biological material. That means that it is renewable. Fossil fuels aren't renewable, and that's why we should all lean towards using biofuels. Fossil fuels are slowly disappearing, because of the large usage that is present today in the world. Now, we are practically depending on the fossil fuels. Imagine if they would just be gone now... everything would be lost. People don't realize it, but everything is based on fossil fuels today. That's why so much effort is put into biofuels research.

Of course, biofuels are very friendly for the environment around us, unlike fossil fuels. Fossil fuels release too much CO2 into the atmosphere, and therefore make the air polluted. Biofuels, on the other hand, don't do such things. They are very good for the environment and for the atmosphere.

Probably the most popular type of biofuel is biodiesel, which already in use. Apart from biodiesel, there are many types of biofuels around. There is, for example, algae fuel, alcohol fuel, biogas, bioheat and many more. They are different because they are all derived from different sources, and all are renewable, which is amazing!

Of course, if you are looking to go green, one of the main parts of doing that is to start using biofuels, or at least supporting them. Going green means much more, but one of the things is that you should be into using renewable energy, because that is the future. Biofuels are supported by many organizations, and it should be also by you.

Took from: http://www.biofuelswatch.com/

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The Forest People of Indonesia

“We used to own this land but now we are excluded,” says Jumi Iyah, a Suku Rimba woman who lives in the village of Simpang Macan in Jambi.

“Please do not move us again. We are happy to be here as long as we are allowed to collect rattan, damar and dragon blood.”

The Orang Rimba, who live in the Jambi forest, make their living by collecting forest products. The forest is of great importance to them, both for sustenance and for spiritual purposes.

However, illegal logging and agricultural expansion have led to widespread forest loss. Conversion of forest land to oil palm plantation is also widespread.

Happy face: A boy swings between palm leaves.Happy face: A boy swings between palm leaves.

These indigenous people have lived in this area for hundreds of years.

“We want our children to have the right to this land’s heritage, just as it was passed on to us by our parents,” says Ruslan, a community leader of Simpang Macan. “We want them to be able to make a competitive living out of the forest.”

Long ago, he realized there was less and less intact forest surrounding his community. His village now is entirely surrounded by oil palm plantations.

Simpang Macan is only 155 kilometers from Jambi city. Yet despite this proximity to a lively commercial center, its inhabitants are struggling to survive. Many village children are illiterate, which greatly limits their career options.

“Here only the kids below 12 years old want to go to school,” explains Sonhaji, a private teacher. “For those who older than that they already become too shy to study.”

Sonhaji is employed by Harapan Rainforest, a conservation organization in the area that is trying to restore the forest and improve its productivity for local people.

Real effort: Songhaji reads to his two students. Every day, he teaches in three villages.Real effort: Songhaji reads to his two students. Every day, he teaches in three villages.

Songhaji races his motorcycle down dirt roads every day to be able to teach all his 22 students, who live in three different villages.

Despite this door-to-door service, it is hard to educate the children. He has few books and despite his obvious enthusiasm, many of his students miss school, as they often have to help their parents harvest jelutung.

Few would dispute that forests are important. According to the World Bank in 2004, forest resources support the livelihoods of 1.2 billion people worldwide. Forests also provide essential ecosystem services and are home to the bulk of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.

Many local communities depend on forests as a source of fuel, food, medicines and shelter. The loss of forests could be disastrous to global efforts to alleviate poverty, and will also constitute an immense loss of irreplaceable biodiversity.

In December this year, people will witness the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen Denmark. At stake is nothing less than the future of the planet.

There is a growing recognition that forest conservation is a vital element in the struggle to control climate change. Forests store vast quantities of carbon but also absorb it from the atmosphere. Losing them is therefore a double loss for climate protection.

In the lead up to the Copenhagen conference, negotiators have begun to pay increasing attention to REDD (reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation) as a new tool to stabilize the climate.

In theory, it provides a mechanism whereby richer countries pay to reduce emissions from deforestation by financially compensating poorer ones.

Most experts now agree that there can be no solution to climate change without forests. The question now is how new REDD schemes can be engineered in order to maximize the benefit to local people, who are in the best position to protect the forests they depend on. But they will want assurances that basic needs, such as the need to combat illiteracy among the “Anak Rimba”, can be delivered if they are to support REDD projects.

The day’s routine: Women of Suku Rimba go to the remaining forest every day to collect vegetables and wood.The day’s routine: Women of Suku Rimba go to the remaining forest every day to collect vegetables and wood.

“Lack of clear rights on forest usage is the main reason why indigenous peoples like the Anak Rimba are questioning their future like this,” says Stibniati Atmadja of the Center for International Forestry Research.

“This lack of clarity cannot be sidestepped for long if countries are serious about adopting REDD schemes that truly benefit the people that depend on forests.”

REDD is not just about climate;

it is about the vulnerable people who will be most affected by climate change.

If it cannot deliver meaningful economic opportunities for forest communities, it will surely fail.
As Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo said last November, “There is no solution to deforestation without the support of forest populations.”

Whatever is agreed in Copenhagen, putting the welfare of the world’s poorest peoples at the
top of the international agenda remains a priority.

— Article by The Jakarta Post
— Photos by Yani Saloh

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Writing Competition 2009, Road to Copenhagen

Do you want to chance to report on the UN framework for Climate Change Convention in Denmark live and on the scene? Enter our competition by writing a news article on the topic 'Children and Young People and The Climate Change Challenge' that answer either on thase questions :

* What will be impact of climate change on Indonesian children in 10-15 years from now?
* What can children do to combate climate change in Indonesia?

We are accepting submissions nationwide...

More info: Click here for the brochure

or Emai: r2copenhagen@thejakartapost.com

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A Journey to Find Beautiful Garbage

Have we calculated how much rubbish we dispose of in a day? Year? So, can we imagine the speed of population; will also increase the garbage pile up. And maybe our city can be filled by the rubbish that we discard. Garbage problem not only affects the environmental issues alone, but also has led to social crisis and humanitarian disaster. Various cases have been experienced by Indonesia such as; floods caused by the flow of rivers clogged with trash and garbage also can lead to water pollution. Apparently not a problem of garbage Quran? So how do we respond to his garbage problem is?

In Green Student Journalists activities, Sunday (7 / 6) before the House Riau Pos, participants from junior Student Journalists (SJ) and Senior Girl Boy Future (CCMD) to visit a recycling craft plastic waste in the Upper Kulim. This is the last activity of the event with the theme "Save the Earth. Your Planet Needs You ", after watching a film about climate change and listening to guidance from Fadrizal Labay, Nazaruddin and Yuyu Arlan Adiwiyata about school programs and Giam Siak Biosphere Reserves small - Bukit Batu.

In this visit, the delegation led by Andi Noviriyanti arrived at the house addressed Ujung Jalan Gajah, Kulim. In front of the house displayed a sign that read "handicrafts Plastic Waste Collection’ puppeteer. Host, even Soffia Seffen welcomed the group warmly. Under the hot sun with the spirit Soffia Seffen addressed the question to his students.

Praise’ recycling efforts of plastic waste has been running for 2 years more,’ he said.

It is a very youthful for his efforts. Things that hurt him too much, such as hard plastic garbage can looking for, workers, and less behavior of plastic waste recycling in the community.

''But with these efforts, contamination of land by a hard plastic recycler described will decrease, and can improve living conditions for scavengers,’ please Sofia in front of the entire Green Student journalists.

Soffia Seffen and the workers to change from a dirty plastic waste from the landfill into an estuary Dawn useful and durable. For example a bag, apron, folders, and more work from his puppeteer Collection. And there also we see only the rubbish was not pretty as we thought earlier about garbage.

Pekanbaru government may in particular, has been working hard to address the problem of trash on the ground this wither. By providing a few hectares of land as a disposal place End (TPA) which is usually garbage from residential-housing or to be removed from the office here. But this can not solve the waste problem. TPA generally can accommodate only the waste in the state for a period of several years. Usually, piles of garbage can invite flies, mice, growth of organisms harmful, polluting the air, soil and water. We can not sack rubbish to the landfill problem.

Lots of creative ways and innovative that we can do as is done by the Soffia Seffen. Like Replace (changing environment friendly goods), Reduce (reduce waste), Reuse (use the rest of the trash can in use), Recycle (recycling). This trip was in the end with lunch at the main hall building Riau Pos. And maybe after this event is expected birth Soffia Seffen others. (Maya-GSJ/MAYA DAHLENA, Pekanbaru MODEL MAN 2).

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SEFo Held Green Student Wanted

Get ready for friends who have achievements or activities that prides. Because, Save The Earth Foundation (SEFo) will soon hold Green Student Wanted. It was for environmental ambassadors (Green Student Ambassador) who will carry out environmental campaigns for young people. Especially for this time, the skop is still around Riau.

Green Student Wanted, has a tagline Show Your Green Action! This means that each student performance in any field of permissibility, but their activities were able to speak about the environment. For example a band can make the environment or jingle singing campaign after the environment. Or it could also dancing group, which makes the theme of environmental performance. Or a theater group that performed with the story of save the environment. Or a singer who can speak through her singing about environment. If you master in English, you can campaign in English about environment. Candidate may also make written campaign about environmentally friendly products. What are the activities of the slang, but they can voice their environment.

These activities, will be held held in the framework of Youth Pledge Day. These activities will also be merged with the exhibition of recycled products, environmental cartoon exhibition, and the green stage action.

Who voted for Green Student Ambassador, will be able to pocket money each month for one year. They also will be toll-free each month. Get work shirt, and will get the trip to see the environment Biosphere Reserve Giam Siak Kecil - Bukit Batu with a helicopter ride. Scholarship may also be courses on the environment at home and abroad.

So, my friends from now on can be prepared or infrom to your friends. For more information contact Sister Novi (0812 754 2860).

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92% people ever throw litter careless

How Could!, it was almost no people who never throw litter careless. At least that's observations in the field by GSJ involving 100 respondents. 92 percent of respondents questioned admitted to having litter waste.

When GSJ goes to the field, GSJ also get someone who was littering. When questioned, the man replied, "It is more easy to dispose of trash. While rides a motorcycle, discarded trash at the curb. So, no one see...'', a resident of Widya Graha is grinning.

They are less concerned with the environment, usually taking out the trash at the edges of the trench, the flow of the river, clearing, and also on the edge of the road. They often argued that there is no garbage dump another. As stated Dewi Lestari, resident of Pillars Prundam Pancoran Mas.

''Yes ... because no trash can around here. Besides that many people also place garbage here. Yes I just follow ...'', he said while throwing out the trash on the edge of the road.

About the opinions of students about this haphazardly throw tantrums, GSJ interviewed SMK Muhammadiyah Pekanbaru named Elvi Yuli Ningsi. She was deeply concerned that this neighborhood clean litter disposal say it is one criminal act. Where can eventually cause disease in people who live there.

''In my neighbors, littering is a criminal act, who dispose of litter was arrested and fined severely. Besides that rubbish is a nest of disease that can harm the surrounding community that ended in hospital,'' She said while shaking her head. She also said that dump that a lot of people chosen is at the edge of the road, they do not care about environment.

About the impact of accumulated rubbish, Dr. Hartatik mention it can cause illness. The garbage can cause diseases such as intestinal worms, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhea and other skin diseases, which can make a person hospitalized for a long time ...'', He said when interviewed at his home. (A. Rachman_GSJ).

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I am not Like The Cactus in The Sahara Desert

The title above is not without reason. The title was inspired by impressions slides shown at the Green Student Journalists Declaration. Slide titled "Daddy, why now there is no water?"

Slide is told about a father who lives in the year 2070. His age was 50 years old but looked like an old man aged 85 years. He tells about his life in the past. Life is full of natural wealth and the many sources of springs. The shade of the trees green, all turned with the current situation is dry. Water that used to be wasted now to get it just takes a complicated and difficult. Is that the future life?

There have been many signs of life kerontang that can be felt in this magical city. One who becomes the belle of this country is Lancang Kuning smog that annually swept Riau Province. Even more great again in the fog can be exported to other provinces and neighboring countries. Earth, known for its lost treasures of this Melayu marwahnya with haze coverage of every year would be headline news in every medium of information.

Should we ashamed? Who was to blame? What concrete tindakkan should we do? Here's Riau face, not to drop but, to give reality to the people who actually receive the effects.

The fog of smoke and the annual flooding be a problem if the current government routine. If the problem is still allowed to become stale for years, as a result the story was presented early in this paragraph can be ascertained happen.

"Daddy, why is not there water?" A slide that made me stunned. How do I at the age of 70 years. Are grandchildren or even great-great-I will ask it in line with the above title? Do tweet I would ask how the taste and form waterfalls, cool water? I hope not.

But I am a little relieved by the existence of the biosphere reserve is carried by the leading companies in Riau Province (Sinar Mas Forestry). Well, at least Riau still be breathing clean oxygen from the green areas of Biosphere Reserves Giam Siak Kecil - Bukit Batu. Biosphere reserve has an area of 178,000 hectares which will be the field of lung for the people of Riau Province.

But when compared with neighboring islands there, Java, biosphere reserves or national parks are supported by the people who care about their environtment. Evidenced by the number of schools or parks woods schools that set a beautiful garden. It was beautiful indeed.

But the effort has been made by our local governments, especially Pekanbaru City Government and all the people is to maintain order, security and beauty of the city. This was evidenced by the Sorcerer Pekanbaru City five times in a row to maintain Adipura Cup top award as the cleanest and the largest city of Indonesia. This is clear evidence that communities in Riau province, Pekanbaru City in particular trying to get up and aware of the importance of cleanliness, safety and beauty of the city.

Hopefully, haze, and the annual flood of illegal logging is a problem Riau belle of the province can be overcome and can look for appropriate solutions. Hopefully, Riau Province, Pekanbaru City in particular for 70 or 100 years into the future does not become a city kerontang who lost land, lost their forests.

And I'm not a pile of cactus in the middle of the Sahara desert is able to withstand thirst for losing the source of water. And I do not want my children and grandchildren saying the same. "Father mothers, why now there is no water?"

Originally written by Mimi and Suniarty SMKN 1 Pekanbaru
Translated by Hendrawan, Blogger Riau

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Your Planet Needs You!

Sunday (7/6) morning, exactly at 08.30 pm, all Student journalists (SJ) and CCMD gathered in the Riau Pos main building. As Dodi had been delivered via sms, today we will learn a lot about the environment from several sources. Also there are Fadrizal Labay as Head of the Environment (BLH) of Riau Province, General Manager of PT. Indah Kiat and Arara Abadi, Nazaruddin and representatives from other sponsors.

There, my friends and I see the impressions of the surrounding human environment has been damaged. There was a fire. More severe, droughts have plagued the area. To the point, their lack of water, no water to drink.

I also just realized the result of environmental destruction, so great and scary. Moreover, being faced by all people in this world, namely global warming. Slideshow of what I see, global warming temperature changes resulted in a very drastic on this planet. North polar ice seen melting in seconds.

It was said "Stop Global Warming’ is often rang in my ears it was still not reliable without the consciousness of mankind itself. Maybe not just me, my friends even thought it was very frightening.

Relooking at a slideshow that was presented by in focus, smoke-billowing factory smoke appeared casually in the air, no smoke except motor vehicles as well. Garbage dump also appear lying on the banks of the river and times. Shown also in our forests burn, and once again produce the smoke and the ends are also back in the "global warming''.

"Actually, anyone who should be blamed for all this? Could it be one of those who started all this?! Or one of all mankind? "I thought when looked nervous the next show, and the next.

I thought, I do not need to find out who was to blame, it's just that I need to find something that can change it back intact.

At around 11:00 pm we were out of the newsroom, while waiting for the bus, we were narcissistic-narsisan downstairs. Holding a banner that reads "Your Planet Needs You" with the greatest written text, also found on the back of the clothes that we wear.

Now we've been on the big green bus and will soon go to a place where the waste plastic can be processed into souvenirs. The bus drove along Jalan Arifin Achmad, then turned to General Sudirman Street, and drove all over the road and turned Pattimura and Jalan Hang Tuah.

When crossing a bridge, which was above the River Sail, my eyes widened as if to see piles of garbage scattered around the edges. The water was brown. Unlike mineral water which I am holding. It must be very smelly.

I also had not realized again that we were riding the bus that had reached the destination. Precisely in "Masterminds Collection". There I could see a lot of souvenirs such as bags, umbrellas, slippers, aprons and more. A unique, all items are made from waste plastic.

"I want to, garbage is no longer the enemy of us all!" Said Mrs. Soffia Seffen, owner of the puppeteer Collection.

Mrs. Soffi talked a lot to us. At the time when he asked for help to one company that is affecting "the circulation of waste plastic ‘', the company agrees, but with one condition. Soffia can only process the waste from their company alone. But Mrs. Soffi not agree with the deal. Finally, even now Soffi still never get help.

Hopefully Mrs. Soffi sincere intention to run smoothly, by employing thirty people. "But I was quite disappointed, because the public response to the garbage is still relatively little ...," sighed Soffi to us.

Even so, Mrs. Soffi still believe the effort that she has started since late 2006. In addition to conserving the environment, it also can reduce the percentage of unemployment is not it? Well, call it, "once the oars, two of the three islands exceeded".

After much talking with Mrs. Soffi, all children had SJ and CCMD goodbye to Mrs. Soffi’s home. Hopefully not just Mom who has Soffi a noble intention, but, of all mankind. That's all for the 'earth' we. Save The Earth!

Originally written by Zakiah Ulya
Translated by Hendrawan, Blogger Riau

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A Journey to Find A Pile of Beautiful Garbage

Have we calculate how much rubbish we produce a day? A year? So, we can imagine the speed of population will also increase the garbage pile up. And maybe our city can be filled by the rubbish that we discard. The garbage problem is not only on environmental issues, but also has led to social crisis and humanitarian disaster. Various cases have been experienced by Indonesia such as, floods that caused by the flow of rivers clogged with trash, garbage also can lead to water pollution. Apparently, garbage is not a simple problem? So how do we respond to this problem?

In Green Student Jurnalists activities, Sunday (7 / 6) form Riau Pos base, participants from Junior Student Journalists (SJ) and Cowok Cewek Masa Depan (CCMD) are visiting a craft of waste plastic recycling in Kulim, Pekanbaru. This is the last activity of the event with the theme "Save The Earth. Your Planet Needs You ", after watching a film about climate change and listening to guidance from Fadrizal Labay, Nazaruddin and Yuyu Arlan Adiwiyata about school programs and Reserves Biosphere, Siak Kecil- Bukit Batu.

In this visit, the delegation who is led by Andi Noviriyanti arrived at the house where addressed in Jalan Gajah Ujung, Kulim. In front of the house displayed a sign that read "handicrafts Waste Plastic Collection''. The Host, Soffia Seffen welcomed the group warmly. Under the hot sun, Soffia Seffen shouts to his guests spiritly.

''Alhamdulillah, recycling efforts of waste plastic has been running for two years,'' he said to all guests.

It is a very youthful for his efforts. Many Problems that he faces, such as hard to find waste plastic garbage which is looking for, workers, and less behavior of waste plastic recycling in the community.

''But with these efforts, contamination of land by a hard plastic will decrease, and can improve living conditions for scavengers,'' told Sofia in front of the entire Green Student Jurnalists.

Soffia Seffen and the workers to change from a dirty waste plastic from the landfill into an estuary Dawn useful and durable. For example a bag, apron, folders, and more work from his puppeteer Collection. There we can only see the beatuful rubbish.

Pekanbaru government may be in particular, has been working hardly to solve the problem of trash on the ground. By providing a few hectares of land as a disposal place End (TPA) which is usually garbage from residential-housing or from offices is removed. But it still can not solve the main problems. TPA generally can accommodate only the waste in the state for a period of several years. Usually, piles of garbage can invite flies, mice, growth of harmful organisms, polluting the air, soil and water. We can not sack rubbish to the landfill problem.

Lots of creative ways and innovative that we can do as is done by the Soffia Seffen. Like Replace (changing environment friendly goods), Reduce (reduce waste), Reuse (use the rest of the trash can in use), Recycle (recycling). This trip was ended with lunch at the main hall building of Riau Pos. After this event, we hope another Soffia Seffen will born.

Written by Maya Mahdalena, Pekanbaru MAN 2 Model Pekanbaru
Translate by Hendrawan Online, Blogger Riau.

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