VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Ilustration; the incidence of sand and dust storms (Photo : WMO) - 

VOInews, Geneva : The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued its annual report on the incidence of sand and dust storms, as well as their impacts on society. Dust concentrations in the worst hit areas in 2023 were above the long-term average, but slightly lower than 2022, it says.

The most severe storm of the year swept across Mongolia in March 2023, affecting more than 4 million square kilometres, including 20 provinces in China, according to the Airborne Dust Bulletin.

It was released for the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms on 12 July.

Every year, around 2,000 million tons of dust enters the atmosphere, darkening skies and harming air quality in regions that can be thousands of kilometers away, and affecting economies, ecosystems, weather and climate. Much of this is a natural process, but a large part of it is the result of poor water and land management.

“We need to be vigilant in the face of continuing environmental degradation and current and future climate change. Scientific evidence shows that human activities are having an impact on sand and dust storms. For example higher temperatures, drought and higher evaporation lead to lower soil moisture. Combined with poor land management, this is conducive to more sand and dust storms,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday (12/07/24), monitoring and forecasting accuracy has improved in recent years due to the progress of numerical models and observation systems. The WMO Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS), set up in 2007, strives to improve warnings through dedicated regional centres and combines research and operational work.

The global average of annual mean surface dust concentrations in 2023 was slightly lower than that in 2022, mainly due to reduced dust emissions from several dust-active regions around the world, such as North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Iranian Plateau, northern India, central Australia and north-western China//VOI

Reading Aloud training in Badung Regency, Thursday, (11/7/2024), (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Badung;Bali : The reading culture of Indonesian society still needs to be improved. Various initiatives are provided ranging from providing wide access to reading materials, reading promotion campaigns, to developing library infrastructure. Reading Aloud Training is part of the Indonesia Reading Movement campaign which involves local governments, educational institutions, communities and society.

“Reading Aloud teaches book progression. "Makes it easier for readers to choose books that suit the reader's level of understanding and needs," said the Founder of the Reading Bugs Community, Rosi Setiawan at the Reading Aloud training in Badung Regency, Thursday, (11/7/2024).

Rosi added, there are five levels of books according to the age of readers, starting from early readers (0-7 years), beginning readers (6-10 years), intermediate readers (10-12 years), intermediate readers (13-15 years), and middle readers (13-15 years). advanced (>15 years).

"Reading aloud training targets teachers, librarians/literacy activists, and parents are the targeted parties," he added.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (11/07/24), reading aloud activities in the library are believed to be able to increase the level of visits to the library, help foster interest in reading, and make books more inclusive. Librarians have a significant contribution in increasing public literacy through the literacy programs they offer.

"The important role of librarians cannot be ignored," said librarian from National Library Restu Putri Solikhah.

In schools, the role of teachers is also similar to that of librarians. The emotional connection that is built between teachers and students when reading aloud is very important in their development.

"Reading aloud gives students the opportunity to listen to other people's reading, thereby helping develop their oral and written vocabulary," said literacy activist Gusti Ayu Mawarani.

Introducing reading aloud activities to parents, teachers, and librarians is an important step. National Library hopes that this activity can become a routine at home, school and in the library to foster children's interest in reading//VOI

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Pandjaitan giving his remarks at The 5Th Global Dialogue from The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership on Thursday (04/07/24), (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Bali : Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Pandjaitan attended the High Level Dinner The Global Dialogue on Sustainable Ocean Development (The 5Th Global Dialogue from The Global Ocean Accounts Partnership), Thursday (4-7-2024).

On this occasion, Coordinating Minister Luhut delivered a warm welcome to the delegates who had arrived in Bali. Today people from all over the world come together, united by a common goal, namely to ensure healthy and thriving oceans for future generations.

“The ocean is not just a vast expanse of water, it is the source of life for our planet. It regulates our climate, gives us food and has enormous economic potential,” he explained.

Today's oceans face unprecedented challenges, from overfishing and pollution to climate change and habitat loss. These threats not only endanger the ocean itself but also the well-being of humanity.

"This dialogue is proof of our collective commitment to overcoming these challenges, we have shared knowledge, explored innovative solutions, and forged new partnerships, we recognize the importance of action and the need for collaboration," said Coordinating Minister Luhut.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (04/07/24), the path to ocean sustainability requires sustained dedication, unwavering determination and a willingness to collaborate across borders, disciplines and sectors. Therefore, let's turn our knowledge into action and our plans into real initiatives.

Ideas that can be developed and implemented, especially in developing countries, are urgently needed.

"We can exchange experiences
"how to reduce waste entering the sea, overcome overfishing, grow mangroves, Indonesia is currently making a lot of moves, one of which is building a seaweed research center," he said.

Closing his remarks, Coordinating Minister Luhut invited us to work together to turn things around. "Together, we can ensure healthy and sustainable oceans for all."//VOI

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Pandjaitan, when giving his presentation at the G20 Bali Global Blended Finance Alliance (GBFA) in Bali on Thursday (04/07/24), (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Bali : The G20 Bali Global Blended Finance Alliance (GBFA) is an initiation from Indonesia in its chairmanship of the G20 in 2022. GBFA has been recognized in the G20 Bali Leaders' Declaration (para 43 and Way Forward para 3).

Following up on this, the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries held a follow-up Hybrid Meeting on GBFA, Thursday (4-7-2024) in Bali.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Pandjaitan, in his presentation said that GBFA is unique and superior as a form of Indonesia's contribution to fellow developing countries as a platform for South-South Cooperation, primarily helping to close the funding gap for climate action and achieving SDGs in developing countries.

“South South Cooperation through the formation of the South-South platform aims to build a mutually reinforcing mutual investment environment. GBFA facilitates the creation of country platforms for GBFA member developing countries and other developing countries as well as the preparation of Climate Change Action Policies." said Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut added that GBFA will be a forum for capacity development, one of which is by facilitating the preparation of standards, guidelines, financial or project financing templates, and capacity development related to blended finance policies under South-South Cooperation as well as a forum for training and knowledge exchange.

GBFA is also a forum and partnership for collaboration across entities, funding and the private sector, including investment.

"Through the benefits of GBFA, it is necessary to immediately accelerate the preparation of the Articles of Agreement (AoA) and other stages to become an international organization, so that the GBFA negotiation team that has been formed can immediately carry out negotiations and finalize the AoA," stressed Coordinating Minister Luhut.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday (04/07/24), the urgency for establishing GBFA includes the large financial gap to increase climate action and achieve the SDGs, in addition to the many systemic barriers such as the absence of a policy framework, limited human resource capacity, and the lack of a well-designed country platform in developing countries to encourage financing for a sustainable economic transition. to achieve SDGs targets.

GBFA is present as a strategy to overcome the financial gap for climate action. This was revealed by the Deputy for Environmental and Forestry Management Coordination, Nani Hendiarti.

GBFA was formed with the vision of a strong and dynamic global alliance dedicated to bridging the financing gap for the SDGs and climate transition in developing countries by mobilizing blended finance on a large scale.

Its mission is to enable developing countries to mobilize blended finance as a tool to bridge the financing gap in achieving the SDGs and achieving climate goals//VOI