VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mosaic of Archipelago presents information as follows: Ngawi residents discover ancient elephant ivory fossil; hydroponic plant is for Citarum river preservation; and songket-embroidery mix is displayed in Revealed Minangkabau.

Residents of Pelang Lor village, Kedunggalar district, Ngawi regency, East Java discovered fossilized ancient elephant’s ivory. According to Suyatno – a resident of Pelang Lor, the fossil was discovered when the people were digging land for septic tank on Monday (3/12). The ancient ivory fossil is predicted to be 120 centimeters long with 10 centimeter diameter. Sangiran Museum official, Juwita Nugraha who came to the location confirmed that it was really ancient elephant ivory fossil. More precisely, it came from a predictably 700 thousand years old Stegodon. The fossil is brought to Trinil Museum in Ngawi for conservation and further research.

Next information is hydroponic plants for Citarum River preservation. Academicians of Mercu Buana University introduced hydroponic plantation for Citarum River preservation. Head of Mercu Buana’s Community Service, Inge Hutagalung in a written statement received by Antara News Agency in Jakarta on Monday said that the introduction is aimed to make people more aware on the importance of preserving the ecosystem. Greening can function as environment’s regulator and protector. Hydroponic itself is planting without soil which prioritizes mix of water and nutrition as medium.

Last information of Mosaic of Archipelago is Songket-Embroidery mix displayed in Revealed Minangkabau. Nusantara Marandang Festival held in Jakarta on Sunday, besides delicious cuisine of Minangkabau, also presented arts and culture exhibition, including fashion. Two Minang designers: Emi Arlin and Rona Rahayu Yunus exhibited their works. Fashion show dubbed “Revealed Minangkabau” focused on two most prominent textile of West Sumatera: songket and embroidery. They assimilate Minangkabau fashion heritage with more courageous and modern concept. Erni on Monday said, songket and embroidery which previously were identical to customs, are now presented aesthetically and suitably for modern women.

Rona added that since hundreds of years ago, songket and embroidery have been inseparable part of Minangkabau culture. Meanwhile, West Sumatra Chapter National Handicraft Council Chairman, Nevi Zuairina stated their support for creative people who want to bring Minangkabau culture forward. She said, fashion is one of important industries in Indonesian creative industry development which contributes 30 percent of the whole creative industry sector to the national gross domestic product.

Welcome back to Diplomatic Corner, presenting information on Indonesian diplomacy, both domestically and internationally.

First information is from Manado, North Sulawesi. Navigation security in South China Sea is the interest and responsibility of all countries and the sides that use one of the most crowded sea lanes in the world. Therefore, every user of South China Sea must ensure effective communication system, especially for search and rescue, sea connectivity development, research and science & maritime equipment development, as well as human resource competence in maritime sector. This statement came up during ASEAN-China on Safety of Navigation and Communication in the South China Sea held by Indonesian Foreign Affair Ministry’s ASEAN Cooperation Directorate General in Manado, North Sulawesi on November 30 – December 1.

Director General of ASEAN Cooperation, Jose Tavares opened the workshop and expected it to enable countries around South China Sea to cooperate in guaranteeing safety and efficiency for all shipping aspects in the region. Next is from Moscow, Russia. Sumatera Utara University collaborated with Peoples’ Friendship University of Russiaor RUDN University in Russia to further develop the medical science, agriculture, science and technology, law, and economy. The cooperation was agreed in the meeting of both universities’ rectors at RUDN University, Moscow on Wednesday (28/11).The cooperation included exchange of administration staff, lecturers, and students, joint research, new program creation, information exchange and publication, workshop, and conference. Last information came from the Belgium. Indonesian Ambassador to Belgium, Yuri O. Thamrin asked Indonesian people to know the rapid and fundamental change of the world, including in geopolitics and industrial revolution 4.0.  Ambassador Yuri Thamrin in his speech during Voters Education in Gent, Belgium on Saturday said that Indonesian people need to love the country, make more achievements, and keep being solid to be more respected internationally.

Today in History over RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia. We start from an event on December 6 on the independent of Finland.

Kingdom of Finland had colonized by Russian Empire in 1809 and became autonomous region. But Bolshevik revolution by Russian Communist in October 1917 opened way for Finland to obtain independence. Declaration of Finland independence was determined by Finland parliamentary on December 6, 1917. The declaration stated that Finland was an independent state and ended its status as autonomous region of Russian empire. But Finland officially reached independence on January 3, 1918, and conflict on border of territory was solved in Tartu Treaty that was signed in 1920.

The next event was in 1922, on declaration the independence of Ireland.

United Kingdom has controlled Ireland since the 12th century. In the 16th century, the UK queen, Elizabeth I encouraged massive immigration of Protestant Scottish community to Ireland. Over the next several centuries, rebellions which were inflamed by native people, Catholic Irish people were extinguished by Anglo-Irish minorities. Irish movement gained momentum in the last 19th century. In 1921, the two parties agreed to hold ceasefire. Nationalism faction of Ireland signed peace agreement with the UK. They asked separation of Ireland with autonomous rights for the Southern region, while 6 states in the North of Irish Islands still became part of the UK kingdom. Civil war broke before declaration of the independence of Ireland on December 6, 1922. The victory was obtained by the soldiers of the independent Ireland in 1923. In 1937, constitution of Ireland declared Ireland as "sovereign, independent and democratic country." The independent Ireland was named as Eire, and still neutral during World War II. In 1949, Bill of Republic of Ireland decided the remaining relations with the United Kingdom Commonwealth.

And the last event is that in 2014, Indonesian Film Festival was opened and attended by President.

Indonesian Film Festival 2014 in Palembang, South Sumatra is the first film festival which was attended and directly opened by Indonesian President, Joko Widodo. Since 1955 and 7-times change of president, it was just for the first time to be attended and opened by the Indonesian President. In addition, the Indonesian Film Festival also made a new history, namely the Citra award for the big screen and the Vidia award for television films combined into one.

This is RRI World Service, Voice of Indonesia with Today in History.

The first information is about the resignation of Muhammad Hatta as the Indonesian Vice President.

Muhammad Hatta or better known as Bung Hatta was an Indonesian fighter, statesman, economist, as well as the first Indonesian Vice President. Along with Soekarno, Muhammad Hatta contributed significantly to achieving the independence of Indonesian nation from the invasion of the Netherlands and proclaimed the Indonesian independence on August the 17th, 1945. Hatta had also become the Indonesian Prime Minister.  On December the 1956, Hatta resigned as the Indonesian Vice President due to having disagreement with President Soekarno.

The second information is about the signing of the Antarctic Treaty

The Antarctic Continent is the last continent discovered by human. There are many nations which want to take control of the continent. Therefore, in a bid to regulate the management of the continent, the Antarctic treaty was established and signed on December the 1st 1959. According to the treaty, the Antarctic Content would be used for peaceful purposes so that all activities related to military, such as the establishment of Military base, military exercise, and weapon testing are forbidden to take place in the continent. Besides, the treaty allows the continent to be used, especially for scientific purposes. Scientists must inform about the continent to the other scientists. They even can freely explore the continent. All biodiversity in the continent is protected communally. The countries which agree with treaty include Argentine, Belgium, Chili, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, UK, North Ireland, and the USA.

The last information is about the International AIDS Day

The International AIDS Day was firstly initiated in 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two officials of the World Health Organization -WHO in Geneva, Switzerland. They conveyed the idea to Head of the UNAIDS (a joint committee established for HIV-AIDS Programs) at the UN named Dr. Jonathan Mann. Dr. Mann liked the concept of the International AIDS Day and agreed to establish the International AIDS Day on 1st of December 1988. Bunn initiated 1 December as the date. He estimated a date which could attract mass media in the USA, a date which coincided with the 1988 US General Elections. Despite of having been initiated since 1988, the International AIDS Day was activated in 1966. The commemoration has been used to promote the harm of the disease and ways to prevent it.