VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

In Western Europe people may be paying attention to the visit of US President Donald Trump to Britain. As well as to  the 75th anniversary of the Allied troops landing in Normandy. In the east, two leaders whose countries share less warm relations with the United States and Western Europe met. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin.

The United States is moving  away from China with a trade war and later because of the case of a telecommunications equipment company that was considered to carry out espionage activities. Russia shunned the United States and Western Europe for their support of militias in Ukraine and occupation of the Crimean peninsula. At a meeting with Putin on Wednesday (June 5, 2019), President Xi Jinping regarded Putin as a friend. Putin responded by saying he was happy because the relations between the two countries had increased.

This relationship will likely more increase because this feeling of being shunned will encourage closer relations in various sectors including the military. Among others by  allowing a Russian telecommunications company to be supported by a Chinese company in developing the 5G network. Thursday Xi Jinping spoke at the economic forum in St. Petersburg. Nevertheless Russia's dependence on China is greater than that of China to Russia. So far the Chinese products has been aimed more at the US and the European Union  market than Russia. While Russia sent 15% of its exports to China.

This visit has indeed become a new chapter for Sino-Russian bilateral relations. This is a solution for the two countries to be able to withstand sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe. The world would  look forward to this closeness in a positive perspective and not at the two unite to conflict with the Western alliance.

World Environment Day is commemorated every June 5 to increase global awareness on the need to take positive environmental action for nature protection and the planet Earth. The commemoration began when UN General Assembly during Stockholm Conference in 1972 designed 5 of June as World Environment Day. All human being is expected to be part of global act in voicing protection for earth, sustainable use of natural resources, and eco-friendly lifestyle. Then, how is the active role of Indonesian government in supporting the Day this year?

Twenty-four years after the day designation, Indonesia held Environment and Forestry Week, a part of routine agenda from the government through its Environment and Forestry Ministry to commemorate the World Environment Day. Until now, the event has been held for 23 times. The Environment and Forestry Week will be held at Jakarta Convention Centre, on July 11-13 2019. During the event, there will be various environment management product and services being showcased. One hundred participants join the event and they are from ministries, related non-ministerial government bodies, friend countries, regional governments of Indonesia, state-owned enterprises, private companies, NGO on environment and energy, and higher education. There will be exhibition on environment management performance, seminar, talk show, and many more.

Theme for this year’s Environment and Forestry Week is Clean Environment Free from Waste. Why? It’s to support waste reduction campaign. During Ramadan month, there had been many education events for the people on waste management and reduction. The events targeted many markets to convey the message on reducing plastic bag, using reusable bottles, and others. Meanwhile, for the homecoming people, there had been campaign on the same matter across some toll road rest areas.

All that moves are necessary because the global worry on waste, especially the plastic ones, has strong basis. Data from worldenvironmentday.global showed, everyone on this planet bought 1 million plastic bottle and 50% of them are single-use types. Everyone also used 500 billion plastic bags, and plastic is 10% of the total waste we produce. Not only that, plastic pollution has been threatening the nature. Many plastics washed into the sea can kill millions of seabirds and thousands sea mammals every single year.

With all that threats against the planet, its nature, and even us, increasing awareness and keep promoting environment preservation should go beyond a mere plan. They need real action which is done together. It can begin from ourselves, but it’ll be far better if done together.

In Indonesia yesterday was the end of Ramadan month and  the arrival of Eid al-Fitr. Muslims throughout the world welcome the day with  traditions of each country or nation. Indonesian Muslims who are the majority of the population,   celebrate  it with silaturakhim. It means getting together with family and friends, asking forgiveness or forgiving each other for any mistakes in the past. In Indonesia Eid al-Fitr is characterized by the movement of people from  cities to villages. The homeward bound journey is often called “mudik”.  It is one of the largest human movement in the world.

Whatever differences between various nations, Eid Al-Fitr should be marked by a spirit of togetherness and peace. Fasting and Ramadhan worship, as taught by Muhammad the Prophet, gave guidance that fasting is to make  human morality become  better. Muslims are expected to make Ramadhan a momentum  to increase piety. To realize that  people should  understand, love, and appreciate each other because they are all  God's creations. People must live in peace and harmony,  try to find similarities in life rather than to  focus  on differences .

But the ideals of Ramadhan and Eid al-Fitr clash with the reality of the continuing conflicts, upheaval, hostility and war, among fellow Muslims. What happened in Syria is a real example. The Muslim Civil War continues. Thousands of people have died as a result of armed conflicts. In Sudan, ahead of Eid al-Fitr, there was a turmoil that killed some demonstrators.

During Ramadan, Palestinian Muslims in the Gaza Strip have become victims of Israeli military attacks.

Meanwhile, some Muslims in other part of the world  have to celebrate Eid al-Fitr within economic constraints, even poverty. Rohingya refugees of Myanmar for instance, are difficult to  fully welcome  Eid al-Fitr with great happiness in their make-shift  camps in Bangladesh.

On the other hand, it is undeniable that today many  Muslims who are part of a minority in a majority non-Muslim country can carry out Ramadan worship solemnly, and peacefully before   welcoming  Eid al-Fitr with joy.

May all  Muslims anywhere in the world can be happy in  welcoming  Eid al-Fitr. The spirit of peace and togetherness, should spread from  Eid al-Fitr.

The Indonesian government has set 1 Shawwal 1440 Hijriah on June 5, 2019. This means that in Indonesia which is predominantly Moslems, Moslems are going to jointly celebrate Idul Fitri on that day. For Moslems all over the world, Idul Fitri reflects a victory over a month-long struggle to resist lust.

Welcoming this special day, in particular, President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo congratulated 'Idul Fitri' to the people of Indonesia. In his message, he prayed for the safety of those who returned home to celebrate Idul Fitri and stay in touch with all their families, neighbors and friends. Homecoming is a typical tradition for some Indonesians, especially those who live in cities. But more interestingly, he suggests making Idul Fitri a medium to strengthen the unity and brotherhood among Indonesian people. President Joko Widodo also calls on all Indonesians with a clean heart after undergoing fasting in a bid to build a better, more advanced and prosperous Indonesian nation.

This year's Idul Fitri for Indonesia is a special value. Because, Indonesia just held a presidential and legislative elections on 17 April. The national election results were already announced by the General Election Commission -KPU on May 21st, 2019. Candidate pairs: Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf won the election with 55.50 percent, defeating candidate pair: Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno. The determination of the 2019 presidential election winner is still awaiting the outcome of the dispute trial, which is scheduled to be announced on June 15, 2019.

The appeal of President Joko Widodo to re-strengthen unity and brotherhood as a nation has enormous meaning. Because since September 2018 until the announcement of the election, some Indonesians had different choices with fanaticism towards each of the candidate they supported. Narration war to support their candidates on social media is also very sharp. It is very appropriate in his Idul Fitri message that President Joko Widodo appeals for all Indonesians to strengthen unity and brotherhood as one of the foundations for the Unitary Republic of Indonesia to become a strong and advanced country. The president's appeal must be sounded. We do not expect someone's fanaticism to defeat his or her obligation to build the Indonesian nation and state towards being peaceful and prosperous.

Idul Fitri 1440 Hijriah becomes the right momentum for the Indonesian nation with a clean heart, and full of determination to strengthen brotherhood and unity towards a strong nation and to play a major role regionally and globally, especially in every effort to create peace.

Happy celebrating Idul Fitri for all Moslems in the world!