VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo reiterated the important role of the ASEAN Outlook when inaugurating the new ASEAN Secretariat building, Thursday morning (08/08/2019), in Jakarta. This condition is developing with increasing challenges, both in the region and in the global arena. The President said, the ASEAN Outlook initiated by Indonesia would be able to become a guideline for ASEAN countries to face dynamics in the region, especially in the Indo -Pacific.

“Within 52 years, ASEAN has been able to play a role as a motor for regional peace, stability and prosperity. And in June 2019, ASEAN leaders have adopted the Asean Outlook Indo Pacific. This Outlook holds and ASEAN's stance in responding to dynamics in the Indo Pacific region. ASEAN is concerned, with the sharpening of the rivalry of large countries and the weakening of multiculturalism and the frequent violation of international law. ASEAN Outlook in building momentum in a culture of strategic trust and mutually beneficial cooperation. ASEAN spread the value of dialogue and became a magnet in the development of dialogue. This is not an easy mission but I am sure, the mission can be carried out by ASEAN,” said Jokowi.

Through the ASEAN Outlook, countries in ASEAN will be able to take a role to bridge the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific document states that the Indo-Pacific perspective is motivated by the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean, which is the most dynamic region in the the world as well as the center of economic growth for decades. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

Google.org announces the granting of US $ 189,000 to the Indonesian Anti-Defamation Community (Mafindo). Supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics, this grant will be used to develop and launch a comprehensive media literacy program, to help local communities in Indonesia in recognizing disinformation widely spread on the internet. This grant is also to fund various workshops to be held in 16 cities in Indonesia. This was conveyed by Google Indonesia Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager Ryan Rahardjo, in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 7. He said, through a short educational video, the Indonesian Anti-Defamation Society wanted to provide an understanding of how the hoaxes were circulating in everyday life, so that it can be understood by non-journalists, especially women and students.

“We are working with Mafindo (Indonesian Anti-Defamation Society). There is a grant that google.org spends to Mafindo. What mafindo will do through this Indonesia stop hoax, mafindo will travel to 16 cities doing workshop, where the workshop itself wants to provide information to the community, especially women and also students, how to easily identify hoax,” said Ryan Rahardjo.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Anti-Defamation Society (Mafindo) Presidium, Septiaji Eko Nugroho, hopes the program will make the process of learning media literacy more enjoyable and easier to understand. or even for students in schools and in universities. (VOI/Rizky/AHM)

Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar said, Batam will be the first city to implement the concept of forest city in Indonesia. According to her, this is in accordance with President Joko Widodo's instructions in conservation efforts that are in line with education.

“Actually, the president ordered me, every Natural Tourism Park or conservation area near the city, really has to be injected, given development interventions, because it becomes very useful not only for conservation, but also education for the community,” said Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar in her speech at the peak of the commemoration of the National Nature Conservation Day at Taman Muka Kuning Tourism Park, Wednesday, August 7.

Minister Siti further explained that development with an environmental dimension must link at lake conservation or in its natural habitat with ex lake conservation or in external habitat, to support other functions, such as social, economic, welfare, and aesthetics. The completeness of the elements for development with environmental dimensions, such as the availability of clean water, clean and healthy air, natural beauty, and cleanliness, are very important aspects. city. The concept of forest city is sustainable city development. /(VOI/Sekar/AHM)

The Swedish Energy Agency and Business Sweden have expressed their keenness to invest in the waste management sector of the North Sumatra Province, the North Sumatra Provincial Government's Secretary, Sabrina, said on Wednesday.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with the representatives of the company here, Sabrina said, "The Swedish investors said North Sumatra has been potentially chosen as their investment destination. We are ready to work with them."

The North Sumatra provincial government itself has planned to build a large landfill and is keen to adopt Japan's style of managing its waste, Sabrina said.

"This waste management sector can later produce energy and other valuable products, including fertilizers," she said.

According to Business Sweden's consultant, Fuad Hasan, the Swedish investors were interested in investing or cooperating with related authorities in the waste management sector due to its huge potential.

"In Indonesia, the Swedish company has handled waste management in Sunter, North Jakarta," said Hasan, who was accompanied by the Swedish Energy Agency's Country Manager, Paul Westin, and Business Sweden's Consultant, Farida, at the meeting.

The Swedish company is prepared to work with the North Sumatra Environment Agency in the waste management sector, he added.

Waste has become a common problem for lots of regional and provincial governments. In terms of plastic bags, some 9.8 billion plastic bags are used in Indonesia every year, and almost 95 percent of them end up as waste.

The total number of plastic straws used by Indonesians daily reaches some 93 million, an increase from nine percent in 1995 to 16 percent in 2018, according to the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry.

In this regard, the West Java provincial government, for instance, has revealed its keenness to turn plastic waste into low-carbon fuels. West Java Governor, Ridwan Kamil, recently visited the United Kingdom-based Plastic Energy Limited.

At his meeting with the representatives of Plastic Energy Limited at their headquarters, he discussed issues related to an investment worth Rp3 trillion to turn plastic waste into diesel fuel.