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)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

RI CPO exporters seek to comply with EU certification rules

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 02/18/2009 2:06 PM

Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) exporters are preparing themselves to have their products meet the "sustainable certification" requirement.

This requirement is soon to be applied in international markets, and Indonesian exporters need to comply so as not to lose their competitive edge, a minister and business players said on Tuesday.

Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono awarded on Tuesday the first ever Sustainable CPO Certificate to PT Musim Mas, one of the industry's major players, and said at least four other companies would follow suit in the following months.

"Crude palm oil contributed around US$10.7 billion to the country's economy in 2008 and the industry absorbs around 3.7 million laborers," Apriyantono said, speaking on how vital the commodity's contribution to the economy is.

"Right now, there are four other companies which are preparing themselves to meet the standard needed for the certification. They are PT Hindoli in South Sumatra, PT Lonsum and PTPN 3 in North Sumatra, and PT Sime Indo Agro in West Kalimantan," he added.

The certification, which is issued by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), is vital to the Indonesia CPO industry because it will help the world's largest CPO producing nation to maintain its market share, especially in EU countries.

The European Union EU requires that starting in 2010, all of the CPO imported into EU countries will have Sustainable CPO Certification to ensure that the production process of the commodity was carried out in an environmentally friendly way.

This measure was adopted because EU environmentalists felt the rapid expansion of Southeast Asia's oil palm estates was in part responsible for the destruction of tropical forests and wildlife.

One of the requirements for the certification test is that CPO producers must prove that their production process can reduce the greenhouse gas effect, or greenhouse effect, by as much as 35 percent.

The certification also requires CPO producing companies to meet eight main principles including transparency, legal and regulatory compliance, long term financing capability, best production practices, environmental responsibility, and labor welfare assurances along with 39 other standard criteria.

"We invested around $20 to $40 per hectare in our plantation to meet the standard. In total, the investment was around $600,000," PT Musim Mas president director Bactiar Karim said.

The secretary general of RSPO, a non profit-oriented organization grouping growers from CPO_producing countries, Vengeta Rao, said the organization, along with the government, would help smaller growers to acquire certification.

"The cost to acquire the certificate will be much lower for smaller growers, but we have yet to determine how much that will be," Rao said.

The country exported around 13 million out of 17 million tons of palm oil produced in 2007. The volume of CPO exports increased the following year to 14.5 million tons out of a total production of 18.5 million tons.

"We exported around 1.5 million tons of CPO with a value of $1 billion to the EU last year," Derom Bangun, former chairman of the Indonesia Palm Oil Producer Association (Gapki) and vice chairman of Indonesian Palm Oil Board (DMSI), said.

"Another advantage of having a certificate is that certified companies may sell their products $40 higher per ton, compared to companies who do not have certification."

DMSI marketing head Susanto said that the certification would not have much immediate impact on the industry, but it would definitely give an edge to Indonesian CPO producers in the long run.

"PT Musim Mas is just the beginning. Slowly but surely, all of the palm oil estates in Indonesia will be receive the certification," he said.

The country's CPO prices were booming in the first half of 2008. Prices hit a peak of $1,200 per ton, generating huge profits.

The global financial crisis, however, inevitably turned the tables around. Lack of demand from the market caused an oversupply that slashed the average price of the commodity by around 60 percent by October, although the prices have started to climb and stabilize again since the start of this year.

Industry players recently projected a conservative forecast of 20 million tons of production capacity this year, targeting 14 to 16 million tons of exports, with a favorable average price level at $400 per ton. (hdt)

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