Robber fly - Nature photographer Thomas Shahan specializes in amazing portraits of tiny insects. It isn't easy. Shahan says that this Robber Fly (Holcocephala fusca), for instance, is "skittish" and doesn't like its picture taken.

Nature by Numbers (Video)

"The Greater Akashic System" – July 15, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) (Subjects: Lightworkers, Intent, To meet God, Past lives, Universe/Galaxy, Earth, Pleiadians, Souls Reincarnate, Invention: Measure Quantum state in 3D, Recalibrates, Multi-Dimensional/Divine, Akashic System to change to new system, Before religion changed the system, DNA, Old system react to Karma, New system react to intent now for next life, Animals (around humans) reincarnate again, This Animal want to come back to the same human, Akashic Inheritance, Reincarnate as Family, Other Planets, Global Unity … etc.)

Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.

Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.

(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."

(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.

(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.

Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle
American zoologist played by Sigourney Weaver in the film Gorillas in the Mist would have been 82 on Thursday (16 January 2014)

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Dairy Farming Beneath the City’s Bustle

Ismira Lutfia, The Jakarta Globe, December 30, 2008

Dairy farmers in Jakarta continue the family tradition as they raise their own families and milk their cows just blocks from high-end malls and international businesses. (Photo: Rezza Estily, Antara)

Hidden in the mazes of houses and office towers in Jakarta’s business districts are traditional backyard cow farms whose existence has spanned three generations.

When one looks at the modern malls, hotels, apartment buildings and embassies that line the Mega Kuningan area, one doesn’t expect to see a barn occupied by 70 cows tucked beneath the glitzy facade.

The 2,500-meter-square parcel of land belongs to the 14 children of Kyai Zarkasi, who inherited the land from his father, Guru Mugni.

Mirdan and Ridho, two of Zarkasi’s sons, run the business and produce 400 liters of milk daily.

“The farm has been here since 1977,” said Abdul Rahman, another brother and the eighth-born child.

Rahman said they sell half the day’s production to individual milk vendors for Rp 3,500 (32 cents) to Rp 4,500 per liter depending on quality. The remainder goes to a regional farmers’ cooperative in Poltangan, Pasar Minggu, that sells milk to large dairy producers such as Indomilk.

He said there used to be a number of backyard farms in the area but many were relocated to Pondok Ranggon in East Jakarta, or to Depok, in West Java Province, when much of the land was relinquished to set up the Mega Kuningan area.

Another farmer, Ahmad, simply moved to the neighboring subdistrict of Mampang Prapatan.

Ahmad said the farm his grandfather passed to his father was located in Kuningan. His father did not want to move to Depok so in 1990 he moved his family and eight cows to a 1,200-square-meter property in Mampang instead. Ahmad now occupies the land with his five siblings and their families.

Despite pre-existing dairy farms in the area, he said his father faced objections from new settlers.


“I remember seeing my father distribute ‘envelopes’ to officials from the subdistrict and the mayoralty almost every day during our first year here,” Ahmad said.

Eventually the objections faded and Ahmad now runs the farm with two brothers, Zainal and M. Yusuf. The 16 cows in the barn at the back of their house produce around 100 liters of milk daily. He said he would like to relocate his farm to Bogor but did not have the necessary capital.

One of the biggest farmers in the area is Haji A. Wardi, whose modern-looking house on Mampang Prapatan XV does not show any signs of the traditional cow farm in its backyard. Wardi said there are at least five other farms along his street.

His farm, which was also passed on to him and his siblings by their grandfather, houses 70 cows.

On the other side of the street, in the myriad of alleys between Mampang Prapatan XI and XIV, brothers Lufti and Barkah run a smaller farm with 12 cows entrusted to them by their father, who also inherited the business from his father.

Lutfi said that the profit they make from selling milk was enough to support their family. “This is our way of living and we don’t think of doing anything else,” he said.

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