VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The existence of trees, including living things in this world is very important. This existence has contributed significantly to all other living things, especially to humans who consciously have to maintain and preserve it. Trees are the lungs of the earth and also play a major role in the chain of life on earth.

Trees are living things with extraordinary ability to carry out photosynthesis which can reduce the levels of CO2 in the air and produce O2 which is needed by humans and animals. However, trees are often forgotten and their presence is not appreciated because as fellow living creatures, there are actually interdependencies. Today, global warming is undeniably caused by industrial pollution and forest loss is caused by illegal logging so that oxygen is reduced in the earth.

The advantages of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a trigger for climate change can be caused by many factors. In one year, one hectare of mature trees can absorb the amount of CO2 produced or equivalent when driving a car as far as 26,000 miles. Trees also absorb odors and pollution gases, such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and ozone and filter out the particulates that come out of the air by holding them in leaves and tree trunks. Instead, trees produce oxygen (O2) for the source of our life's breath. Within a year, about 1 hectare of trees can produce enough oxygen for 18 people.

World Tree Day, which falls on November 21, calls us to move and prevent the extinction of trees or plants on this earth. The Tree Day is raised to remind people of the importance of trees to the lives of other living beings, fight global warming, prevent natural disasters, and protect living things in the world. The commemoration of the World Tree Day is also to remember and honor the services of J. Sterling Morton, a nature lover from the United States. Morton was so persistent in campaigning for tree planting movements.

Seeing the importance of the role of trees in the life of living things in the world, the World Tree Day should be commemorated not only ina ceremonial ceremony, but also the existence of policy that emphasizes the expansion of green areas and strict regulations for environmental impact analysis in every infrastructure project and industrial project. What we have to remember is "If the trees go extinct, humans and animals are also threatened to go extinct".

That’s Commentary.

Welcome back to Indonesian Wonder, a daily segment featuring tourism, culinary arts, fine arts, and culture from various regions across Indonesia. Today, we will present you about Payangan Beach, East java. So, stay tuned.

Jember is one of regencies in East Java. The regency becomes one of main tourism destinations in East Java. The tourism destinations in Jember mostly dominated with beach because it borders directly with Indian Ocean to the south. There are various   interesting beach tourism objects in Jember. One of them is Payangan Beach.

Listener, Payangan Beach is located at Payangan Hamlet, Sumberrejo Village, Ambulu Sub-district. The distance of the beach from Jember is around 32 kilometres which takes about one hour trip. The entrance tariff of Payangan Beach is quite affordable. It is onlyRp5.000. When you arrived at the beach, you will see a vast Payangan Beach area. The shape extends to the north, then turns to thewest. Payangan Beach actually consists of three parts of the beach that can be visited. The first part is fishermen beach area facing tosouthwest. The second part is in the form of beach with coral reefs separated by hills. The last part is located at the north of the beach with coral reefs which separated by small hills. The Payangan Beach has black sands with clear blue sea water. You can swimming, or travel the beach with riding a horse. You can rent a horse only on the weekend with Rp20.000 rental tariff. The Payangan Beach has full facilities. There are food stalls, toilets, and mushola ( worship place).

After swimming, you can try to hike the hill around the beach. There is Samboja Hill inthe southwest which borders fishermen beach and coral reefs beach. To go to Samboja Hill, you must pass the row of stairs. And paying Rp5.000 for the entrance ticket. When you arrived the object, you will see colorful flowers on the edge of the path. In addition, there are many gazebos for taking a rest as well as photo spots.

While on the east, you can find Roro Ayu coastline to Canga’an Beach that curved like giant crescent moon. There are also a row of green mountains which part of Meru Betiri National Park at southeast of Jember Regency. Seeing to the northwest, there is a vast beach to Watu Ulo Beach and Tanjung Papuma Beach with their white sands. While onthe west and the south, there is a vast blue sea. If the weather is sunny, Nusa Barong is seen vaguely in the western horizon, an inhabited island which now becomes natural preservation area. In addition, there is also historical site of the Japanese colonial era, namely Japanese cave at the shore hill.

That was Indonesian Wonder for today featuring Payangan Beach. 

Last Sunday October of 28th, hundreds of people from 7 villages in East Manggarai Regency flocked Muara Limbu Lea, Nangarawa, Bamo Billahe. They flocked the place to hold a tradition called ‘Kebhu’, the local tradition of Iowa ethnic. The tradition is started by reaping corn seeds in Pinggir Limbu Mpubu Lea and Mpube Amu (Pond). The corn seeds reaped are the ones that have been milled. The corn seeds are reaped by the heir of the Iowa ethnic. He is the one who fully controls the procession during the Kebhu tradition. He must also come from a family who only has one child as the tradition cannot be held by descendants who have siblings in their family.

When the heir reaps the milled corn, he recites a kind of incantation in their local language namley ‘Rongga Language’. The incantation says that "rengo ika lere liang, oro lau mbahu oro lau". It means that fish and various creatures are to get out from their sanctuary. The incantation is used to ask for god's blessing so that people can obtain abundant fish and other creatures easily from the pond. After reciting the incantation, the heir of the tradition throws Ndala, a special fishing net used only for local tradition. The heir who throws the fishing net must be the first and only child in his family. The Ndala is made from neither nylon nor plastic but thread. The fishing net is an environmentally-friendly heritage. After the heir throws the net, people get into the pond to catch fish and other creatures. Unfortunately, pregnant women cannot participate in this ritual as they will get nothing. People are only allowed to catch fish and other creatures until afternoon.

Kefore the Kebhu tradition is held, there are a number of indigenous rituals held earlier. For example, the first ritual is called ‘Mbaru Gendrang’ (Zao Mrhje) in Iowa ethnic. The next ritual is carried out in Watu Nurung (servings for god are placed on this round stone). The stone is located under the tamarind tree called ‘Ponange’ near to the Nangaranga coast. The Ponange tree has been selected in Iowa's ancestors in a bid to perform rituals before they get into the estuary or the Mbupu Lea and Ama pond. The indigenous people of Iowa give serving dedicated to their ancestors and the universe such as betel, limestone paste, pinang tree, ketupat jagung (ricecake made from corn), chicken, and milled corn. Afterwards, the first heir of Iowa ethnic embeds a wood from a tree branch surrounding the stone. The ketupat jagung is hanged on the wood. As this ritual finishes, the chief of the tribe recites incantation to ask for god's blessing and permission so that the Kebhu ritual can be accepted.

Legend says the fish living in the pond used to be chickens. Thus, people present them the milled corn. The mystique legend is based on the explanation of Iowa's ancestors in Nangarawa. The tradition is maintained by local people and it is held once in five years.

That was Indonesian Wonder about Kebhu Tradition. See you on our next edition.

RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia with Mosaic of Archipelago. In today’s edition, I will present some items of information. First, being conducive situation, the working environment in Central Java is the best in Indonesia; Second, students are committed to building the country's economy through entrepreneurship, and the last information is that Bali Election Supervisory Board encourages women to become election supervisors.

The Ministry of Manpower gave an award to the Central Java Provincial Government because the conducive situation of the work environment in Central Java is the best when compared to other provinces in Indonesia. According to Antara press release received in Semarang on Monday, Central Java succeeded in surpassing 33 other provinces in Indonesia with the highest Employment Achievement Index (IPK) from the category of conducive working environment. The award was given directly by the Minister of Manpower, Hanif Dhakiri to Governor of Central Java,  Ganjar Pranowo in the 2018 Employment Development Index Award at the Ministry of Manpower Office. In the event, Central Java Province is also named the third national best as a Province with Large Employment Affairs. Governor Ganjar Pranowo, after receiving the award, said that this award is actually a collective work of the government, employers and employees in Central Java. Meanwhile, Minister of Manpower, Hanif Dhakiri on the occasion said that the awards given were a manifestation of the country's appreciation for the regions that have excelled in labor development. He also emphasized that the government in the future will increasingly focus on improving the quality of human resources because skilled human resources are the key to boosting national economic growth.

The 9th Indonesian Student Entrepreneurship Expo (KMI) held at the Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Campus, Dramaga, Bogor, West Java (10/11) has several series of events; one of which is the ISEN (Indonesia Student Entrepreneur Network) Workshop. Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of IPB, Dr. Ir. SyarifahIis Aisyah and Chair of the 2018 KMI Expo said that ISEN is expected to be a forum for young entrepreneurs to collaborate so that they can move forward together to improve the Indonesian economy. In addition, Head of the Sub-Directorate of Welfare and Entrepreneurship at the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs, Dr. Ismet Yusputra in his speech, hoped that through this workshop, it would spark the spirit of students in achieving entrepreneurship.

The Bali Provincial Election Supervisory Board –Bawaslu encourages women in Bali to participate as supervisors in the 2019 Election and can cast their voting rights according to their conscience. This was affirmed by Chairman of the Bawaslu Bali, Ketut Ariyani during the 2019 Election Supervision Socialization event in Denpasar, Bali on Monday. In terms of quality, Ariyani regards women in Bali as potentially "plunging" as supervisors, but face a number of obstacles starting from the family environment and lack of understanding regarding the role of election supervisors. At the socialization program which was attended by women representatives from various campuses, NGOs, professional circles, beginner voters and media representatives, she said that  with these activities, they are encouraged by their enthusiasm to actively become election supervisors. Moreover, participatory supervision is carried out by women, according to Ariyani, its role is very important to help create elections that run smoothly and democratically amid the limited number of election supervisors. To keep strengthening the understanding of Balinese women about the 2019 Election and supervision, Bali Election Supervisory Board also plans to re-organize socialization by targeting PKK members along with a number of competitions, women's gatherings in villages that learn joint Rejang dance, youth organizations and so on.

That was Mosaic of Archipelago.