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)

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Diding Khaerudin: Making life beautiful for farmers

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

Farmers in Tajurhalang, Bogor, West Java, never seemed to be able to get ahead until they switched to growing decorative plants at the advice of Diding Khaerudin.

"I was concerned by how hard farmers worked just to produce a few hundred thousand rupiah. Therefore, I encouraged them to grow decorative plants instead of taro, pineapples and bananas," Diding said.

Born in Bogor on Dec. 22, 1964, Diding has transformed the valley of Mount Salak into a decorative plant center.

Diding, who graduated from Muslim junior high school Tsanawiyah, used to work at the PTP XI state plantation at Mount Salak, but resigned in 1996. He found work as a gardener at a golf course in Tangerang, but was more interested in farming and eventually returned to his home village.

Like other farmers in the village, in 1997 and 1998 he planted bananas, pineapples and taro. But he quickly learned that the farmers were suffering losses as the result of the low prices of their produce.

A farmer might spend Rp 1.2 million on seedlings, fertilizer and transportation, for example, but only make Rp 200,000-300,000. As a result, the farmers were becoming poorer and poorer.

"We cannot make a living from farming. We don't even have the money to buy rice. We end up eating the produce we can't sell," he said.

Diding was determined to improve the lives of the farmers but he did not know how. Things started to change in 1999 when he met Benny Tjia, the technical advisor of PT. Mandiri Jaya Flora, who owned fields of Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) in Mount Salak valley.

"As soon as I met Pak Benny I knew I had found the answer. I learned all I could about growing plants," he said.

After receiving Rp 500,000 in start-up capital from Benny, Diding asked the other farmers in his village to join him. But most of them refused. They kept on growing bananas, pineapples and taro, and eating the fruit and tubers they could not sell.

Only five farmers agreed to grow the new plants and all of them received financial support from Benny. Diding then formed a farmers' group called Violces, making himself its head and the five farmers as members.

They grew various kinds of decorative plants and once a month Benny came to supervise them. The farmers chose the plants because they were easy to grow and there was a good market for them. A plant sells for Rp 3,000-10,000.

"I earn between Rp 1.5 million and 2 million a month. Some members make even more," Diding said.

Their success prompted other farmers in Tajurhalang village to follow suit. Today the Violces Farmers' Group has 180 members who grow many kinds of flowers and decorative plants, including anthurium. Their monthly turnover has reached Rp 120 million.

Diding and the other members of the farmers' group do not have to worry anymore about feeding their families or their children's education.

Tajurhalang village, which used to be dirty and gloomy, is now clean and neat. Even though the farmers live in simple houses, they are surrounded by beautiful gardens. On Saturdays and Sundays the village attracts visitors who come to buy the plants.

Observing the fast growth of the decorative plant business in the village, the Bogor regency administration finally disbursed Rp 75 million to help the Violces Farmers' Group expand their business.

"Thanks to the success of the gardening business I have been able to give my children a good education. One of them now works as a teacher," said Diding, who is often asked to talk at seminars at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.

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