VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Illustration : Green earth for the future (Photo : WMO) - 

VOInews, Geneva : The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Executive Council has approved a detailed road map to speed up and scale up efforts to ensure that life-saving early warnings cover everyone on the planet.

The seventy-eighth session of the Executive Council (EC78) took place in Geneva from 10 to 14 June 2024. In addition to an Early Warnings for All (EW4All) road map, it adopted an implementation plan for a Global Greenhouse Gas Watch and scaled up action on the cryosphere (ice and snow) in the face of dramatic changes.

The council agreed to a raft of other resolutions to strengthen Earth system observations, predictions and information systems. It adopted resolutions on climate monitoring and climate services, and research and innovation.

It also set the scene for more intense collaboration with the United Nations system, and to support humanitarian action through initiatives such as the WMO Coordination Mechanism (WCM) supported by the  Weather 4 UN project.

One of the highlights of this Executive Council was the adoption of a Road Map for the Early Warnings for All initiative which outlines the vision and actions to enhance the delivery and use of multi-hazard early warning systems.

It covers the period from 2024-2027 with detailed dates, deliverables and defined responsibilities. This is in line with the target date set by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres.

“Strong early warning systems require stronger political and policy support from the international community and governments, in addition to significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and training. We must all champion the EW4All Initiative globally, advocating for increased investment and political will”, said Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the WMO.

“People’s lives and people’s safety are our top priority. Every single forecast that is issued has a human dimension. Every life we save has a human face, a family, a future”, said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

“It makes economic sense. Early warning systems provide a ninefold return on investment. They are the low-hanging fruit of climate adaptation. If we don’t invest, the cost of inaction will be much higher than the cost of action,” she said.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (17/06/24), early warning systems have helped decrease the number of deaths and have reduced losses and damages resulting from hazardous weather, water, or climate events. They provide a nearly tenfold return on investment.

But major gaps still exist, especially in small island developing states and least developed countries. Some 70% of all deaths from climate-related disasters have occurred in the 46 poorest countries over the past 50 years.

The road map seeks to leverage the entire WMO network and enhance the capabilities of its NMHSs to protect lives and livelihoods. WMO Members have already endorsed the structure underpinning the priority activities, with defined roles and responsibilities//VOI

Members of Darussalam Mosque's Eid al-Adha Celebration Committee carry a sacrificial cow donated by President Joko Widodo in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, on Monday (June 17, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Biro SDM dan Humas OIKN) - 

VOInews, Samarinda : The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) handed over a 900-kilogram sacrificial cow provided by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to Darussalam Mosque, located within the development site of the new capital city Nusantara.

"This Limousine cow was earlier handed over by the Presidential Palace to the OIKN on Saturday (June 15) before being delivered to Darussalam Mosque," OIKN Director of Basic Services, Suwito, noted in the authority's statement as cited in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Monday.

He said that the meat of President Jokowi's Qurbani cow will then be distributed to the residents of Tengin Baru Village in Sepaku Sub-district, North Penajam Paser District, where the Darussalam Mosque is located.

The official remarked that the president donated the cow in an effort to support religious activities in Nusantara and to foster a sense of togetherness on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

"In addition to serving religious purposes, this activity can be seen as a momentum to solidify bonds between the government and people. Hopefully, this sense of togetherness will last and become our foundation in developing Nusantara," he said.

According to Suwito, the central government will provide a higher number of Qurbani animals to those residing in Nusantara in years to come.

"God willing, the residents of Nusantara will receive more cattle from the Indonesian president in the following years. A higher number of Qurbani cattle provided will increase the number of people receiving meat," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Darussalam Mosque's Eid al-Adha Celebration Committee, Imron, praised President Jokowi for donating a sacrificial cow to the region.

He expressed hope that the government would provide more Qurbani animals and continue to support religious activities in Nusantara to foster harmonious relations with locals and encourage a broader population to donate animals during Eid al-Adha//Antara - VOI 

Illustration - Indonesian pilgrims prepare to carry out worship in the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. ANTARA FOTO/Wahyu Putro A. - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, stated that Indonesia would receive shipments of sacrificial meat from Hajj pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

"This has received approval from the minister of agriculture and other authorities both domestically and in Saudi Arabia," he remarked when met after the Eid al-Adha prayers in the courtyard of the Central Muhammadiyah Office (PP), Menteng, Jakarta, on Monday.

According to Effendy, the meat came from sacrificial animals from Indonesian pilgrims in the 2024 Hajj, whose slaughter was carried out at slaughterhouses in Mecca and the surrounding area.

However, his ministry has not received detailed information regarding the meat's arrival and the total weight from Saudi Arabia.

Effendy ensured that the sacrificial meat would be clinically inspected during packaging, along with maintaining hygiene, before being distributed to the Indonesian people.

For the distribution, the ministry also targets handing over the meat to the poor or underprivileged Islamic boarding school students.

On the other hand, the minister also appealed to the public, especially sacrificial organizing committees across Indonesia, to prioritize animal or meat cleanliness in accordance with Islamic law, starting from the slaughtering of sacrificial animals to their distribution to the community.

"Do not forget to use environmentally friendly meat packaging, such as leaves or tree fronds, and if you use materials that are difficult to decompose, such as plastic, then clean them and do not throw them away," he emphasized.

It is in line with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's (KLHK's) circular about celebrating Eid al-Adha without plastic waste, one of which calls for a ban on plastic bags and for people to use reusable containers.

Through the circular issued on June 13, 2024, the ministry also urged governors, mayors, and district heads to give directions to the sacrificial meat distribution committee to avoid using plastic while distributing the sacrificial meat and to use reusable containers//Antara-VOI

Tourism and creative economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno take a picture with participants of BBTF 2024 in Bali (Photo : Kemenparekraf) - 

VOInews, Badung, Bali : Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno appreciated the re-organization of the travel exhibition "Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2024)" as a business to business platform which is expected to further strengthen the achievement of tourist visit targets abroad in 2024.

"Last year we managed to reach 11.7 million foreign tourists, and this year we are projecting 14 million visits. We believe, with support from all (BBTF) we can even reach the pre-pandemic figures again," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga when attending the closing event. "Bali & Beyond Travel Fair 2024", Friday (14/6/2024) at Bali Nusa Dua Center (BNCC), Nusa Dua, Badung.

Not just the number of visits, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy hopes that the tourists who come will be quality tourists. Namely, tourists with a longer stay also have a higher expenditure value.

So it will have an impact on improving the economy and opening up job opportunities and business opportunities for the community.

"That tourists who visit Bali and Indonesia appreciate local culture also has an economic impact on MSMEs and local creative economy players," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga.

The 2024 Bali Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) will be held at the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) Nusa Dua, Bali on June 12-14.

The 10th BBTF brought together 282 companies as sellers from 8 countries in the world, namely, Indonesia, Nepal, Timor Leste, China, the United States, Malaysia, South Africa and Iran with 460 buyers from 45 countries. The largest number of buyers came from India, Malaysia, Russia, Turkey, Thailand, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday (15/06/24), based on data submitted by the organizers, BBTF 2024 succeeded in collecting potential transactions of IDR 7.61 trillion. This amount is an increase compared to last year's BBTF achievement of IDR 6.7 trillion.

"Bali and Beyond Travel Fair 2024 truly shows extraordinary collaboration," said Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga.

Chair of the BBTF Committee who is also Chair of ASITA Bali, I Putu Winastra, said that during the two days of implementation, BBTF 2024 received a very positive response from all parties. Starting from sellers and buyers.

"Therefore, we are committed to continuing the Bali and Beyond Travel Fair as the leading annual travel fair in Indonesia," said Putu Winastra.

He confirmed that next year the BBTF will be held from 4 to 6 June with a theme related to sustainable tourism which is in line with Indonesia's tourism ideals, namely quality and sustainable tourism//VOI