VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Deputy Minister of Environment and forestry Ministry - Alue Dohong                                                                          KLHK

The Indonesian Ministry of  Environment and Forestry ( KLHK)  holds a climate festival in Jakarta from  7 to 27 October  2020 virtually with the theme “Strengthening Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Actions during the Covid -19 pandemic. In the opening of the climate festival held virtually on Wednesday (07/10/20), Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry,  Alue Dohong stated that the climate festival is expected to accelerate the capability of people to adapt with  climate change in a bid to contribute to global temperature control.

“The Ministry hopes that this Climate Festival will provide a lot of  new innovations, either technologically or others in order to accelerate the government capability to adapt in mitigation of climate change in Indonesia  and to contribute in controlling global temperature in the world whose target is below 2 degrees” Deputy minister of environment and forestry said. 

Moreover, Deputy Minister Alue Dohong explained that the 2020 climate festival is held in a different situation that  makes the Ministry of Forestry Environment  adapt through technology by holding a virtual exhibition. At the festival, KLHK also launched a capacity building program for Indonesian negotiators in representing Indonesia in international environmental conventions such as the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) or Conference of Parties (COP)//(NK/ Trans:AF

Traveling to Magetan Regency, East Java, Sarangan Lake is the main destination for tourists who visit there. Apart from Telaga Sarangan, Magetan now has a new tourism icon namely Genilangit tourism village. It is located under the slopes of Mount Lawu and takes 1 hour from Magetan. Free from hustle bustle of big city, this tourism village offers beautiful natural scenery. To enter the Genilangit village, you have to pay a ticket of Rp. 5,000.

During you stay in Genilangit village, you will see views of the slopes of Mount Lawu with pine trees on the hills. You can take a leisurely walk while enjoying the beautiful atmosphere. You can also stop by the tree house or sit on the bench that has been provided. Hammocks are also available if you want to be relaxed in the shade of the trees. Don't worry if it rains, because the manager of the site has provided several gazebos in the middle of the forest. Besides enjoying cool atmosphere of the mountains, you can also take pictures at various photo spots which have been available.

Many kinds of interesting photo spots at Genilangit tourism village such as flying swings, hanging bikes, miniature Eiffel towers, hobbit houses and wooden boats on the edge of a cliff. There are also a photo spot with giant butterfly wings and a photo spot in the middle of a large lotus flower. Some photo spots are chargeable, especially photo spots that require safety equipment. Apart from these photo spots, there is also main photo spot, namely the Japan Corner.  On the spot the visitors can rent kimonos for women, and samurai clothes for men. With supporting properties such as umbrellas and swords, you can take Japanese-style photos. At Genilangit, you can also find children's playgrounds, ATV games and flying fox. Another interesting thing, you will find Tirtosari Waterfall which is located about two kilometers from the entrance gate of the Park. You will be treated by views of green agricultural land before reaching this waterfall.  You can try the freshness of the water at Tirtosari Waterfall.

photo : yorkshire cnd

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi said that since the establishment of the UN 75 years ago, and since the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 50 years ago, the world is still far from a complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In the High Level Meeting of Commemoration and Promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons which was held virtually on October 2, 2020, Minister Retno Marsudi explained that the absence of progress in efforts to eliminate nuclear arsenal had resulted in a decline in trust among countries in the world.

As quoted on the kemlu.go.id page (03/10), Minister Retno Marsudi also underlined three important points to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons: First, there must be the implementation and enforcement of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In this regard, she said that full participation and commitment from all countries, including countries with nuclear weapons, is essentially needed. The second point is to strengthen the mechanism and architecture of global disarmament. Several disarmament mechanisms such as the Conference of Disarmament, the prohibition of comprehensive nuclear testing and other mechanisms must be pursued in order to achieve the goal of total elimination of nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the third is to ensure that nuclear disarmament provides tangible benefits to global prosperity.

In addition, Minister Retno emphasized that the Covid-19 pandemic is a reminder of the world's nations that human and humanitarian protection can only be achieved through global solidarity and not through nuclear weapons.Minister Retno in her closing speech said that on the one hand, maintaining the existence of nuclear weapons does not provide benefits to the world (zero-sum). On the other hand, the complete elimination of nuclear weapons will precisely ensure the survival of mankind. The High Level Meeting for Commemoration and Promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons is part of the 75th UN General Assembly (SMU) High Level Meeting which is taking place from 21 September 2020 up to now.

photo : JP

Indonesia and UN Habitat commemorate World Habitat Day 2020. Surabaya is hosting the Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2020 (The Global Observance of World Habitat Day 2020) on 5 and 6 October 2020. The theme raised at this year's commemoration is “Housing for All: A Better Urban Future, Housing for All: A Better Urban Future. President Joko Widodo considered this theme very appropriate. In his speech delivered virtually, on Monday (5/10), he said, home is everyone's basic need. Home strengthens the family as the main pillar of the nation's strength. Homes are also a main stronghold against various health risks, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Facts have shown that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the house that becomes the major stronghold against the spread of the new coronavirus. Appeals to stay at home, school from home, work from home and worship from home, have been implemented in almost all affected countries, since the World Health Organization -WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic.

Then, a question arises ‘Do all families have a house that can be a strongholdfor their family?’ Housing is indeed a problem faced by a lot of countries. The UN Secretary General, Antonio Gutteres, in his statement on World Habitat Day 2020, said that currently, one billion people live in crowded settlements with inadequate housing. To meet global demand, more than 96,000 housing units must be completed every day - and they must be part of the green transition. The housing issue is also a special concern of President Joko Widodo's administration. Since 2015, Indonesia has planned to build one million housing units every year. Data shows that in 2018 and 2019, this target had been exceeded. In 2019, more than 1.2 million housing units were completed. This year’s the achievements are different from the previous years’ achievements. Based on data from the Directorate General of Housing of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing until the third quarter of August 2020, there were 264,457 housing units that have been built. The Covid-19 pandemic has a very significant impact on the implementation of the One-Million Home Program. However, Indonesia is optimistic that the target of one million houses this year can be achieved.

It’s hard to realize the construction of a million houses every year, especially for low-income residents. The awareness of all related stakeholders  to provide adequate housing is a shared responsibility to support the construction of a million houses. The full involvement of the government, financial institutions, the private sector and the community towards the One-Million Home Program can accelerate the achievement of the Indonesian government's target for fulfilling the rights of every citizen to housing. So, every family in Indonesia can have a livable house that can be a stronghold for every occupant. In the future, the houses that are built will not only function as housing, but also become a place of livelihood. Covid-19 has provided such lessons. The One-Million Home Program every year is a real proof of the responsibility of the Indonesian government that no one is left behind.