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)

Friday, November 2, 2012

Switch to Sustainable Palm Oil Just a Matter of Time, Industry Figures Say

Jakarta Globe, Nivell Rayda, November 02, 2012

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Singapore. The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil has often been met with resistance, suspicion and lack of government support in Indonesia since its establishment in 2001. But former Indonesian Agriculture Minister Bungaran Saragih believes this will change within five years.

Although Indonesia supplies 43 percent of the world’s certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO), only 12 percent of palm oil companies in the country have obtained certification from the group.

“There are [palm oil] companies that have been doing bad things for many years and are now struggling to meet the criteria [set by the RSPO],” the former minister told the Jakarta Globe on the sidelines of the 10th Annual Roundtable Meeting on Sustainable Palm Oil in Singapore.

“The criteria is basically the same [as stipulated by Indonesian laws] because they are based on common sense. But it takes a change in mind-set and a change of culture for some,” he said. “Right now we [Indonesians] haven’t reached that tipping point yet but it takes time and we will get there.”

Bungaran predicts that the way Indonesia’s palm oil companies do business will be greatly transformed by 2015, when major consumer goods companies begin buying only certified palm oil products.

The RSPO has attracted several multinational consumer goods companies, such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever, and retailers such as Wal-Mart and Carrefour, which have all pledged to use only certified palm oil by 2015.

“Once that happens, [Indonesian palm oil] companies will have no choice. I say in 2017 we will see a lot more companies joining RSPO,” he said.

Cherie Tan, Unilever’s global procurement director for renewables and smallholder development, said her company was ahead of the curve by purchasing 100 percent certified palm oil this year.

As of May, only three million metric tons out of 25 million tons of palm oil produced in Indonesia received RSPO certification, which means selling Indonesian palm oil to multinational manufacturers like Unilever, which alone buys 3 percent of the world’s palm oil, would be almost impossible.

Convincing palm oil producers in Indonesia to acquire sustainability certification from the RSPO has proven to be a daunting task, said the body’s vice president, Edi Suhardi.

Edi, who is also the head of sustainability at palm oil producer Agro Harapan Lestari, said only 68 oil palm growers, processing and trading companies and users in Indonesia were certified. And 14 of them, including Unilever, were international companies operating in Indonesia.

“There is some skepticism and suspicion from [Indonesian] business associations and the government,” he said.

Desi Kusumadewi, director of RSPO Indonesia, confirmed that some palm oil companies were hesitant to get RSPO certification, with some even accusing the group of acting on behalf of foreign agendas.

The Indonesian government has been reluctant to recognize the environmental standards set by the RSPO, which is used by many European buyers. Instead, Indonesia created its own standard aided by the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (Gapki), which exited the RSPO last year after its members expressed frustration at the tough environmental standards set.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has defended uncertified palm oil companies, urging developing countries to review restrictions on trade beyond tariff walls at the World Export Development Forum in Jakarta last month.

Desi said since the market was turning its attention to sustainable palm oil, Indonesian palm oil companies would soon have little choice but to adopt RSPO standards.

“There are some [companies] that are hesitant but there are those that have already met the criteria but lack documentation,” she said.

Then there are the smallholders — small, independent palm-oil growers — who cannot afford to pay auditing firms, a key requirement for an RSPO certification. Desi said the RSPO has plans for the smallholders, who make up around 38 percent of Indonesia’s palm oil output.

“The RSPO has earmarked 10 percent of its income to help these smallholders acquire certifications. We are now deliberating the exact procedures and requirements, but I can tell you now that we won’t cover 100 percent of the [certification] costs to give them a sense of ownership,” she said.

Desi said she hoped that most of the earmarked money, which had already reached $951,000, would go to Indonesian smallholders.

“It’s a worldwide amount but as the largest CSPO producer we should get a significant portion of it,” she said.

Bungaran said Indonesia was moving in the right direction to meet the world’s need for sustainable palm oil. “Even today we have major palm oil companies joining RSPO and we are the number one producer of sustainable palm oil.”


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