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, April 7, 2010

Indonesian Greens Push Plantation Moratorium

Jakarta Globe, Fidelis E Satriastanti, April 06, 2010

InMajor Indonesian green groups on Tuesday stepped up calls for a moratorium on converting forests into palm oil plantations.

They were responding to a call from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for more cooperation with civil groups on forestry-related issues.

“A moratorium is the key, it’s very urgent” in the battle to save remaining forests, said Bustar Maitar, the team leader of Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s forest campaign.

Bustar said a moratorium would not stop production but would stop the expansion of palm oil plantations.

Environmental groups have welcomed Yudhoyono’s call for government institutions, including law enforcers, to fight illegal logging, but have pointed out that the expansion of palm oil plantations was the main culprit of deforestation in the country.

“The concept of [regional autonomy] is actually good. However, most district heads have been using this opportunity to issue permits to convert more forest to palm oil plantations as their regional spatial plans are not yet completed,” Bustar said.

He said that the government should instead intensify existing plantations.

Teguh Surya, head of advocacy at the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said efforts to halt deforestation would rely heavily on Yudhoyono’s own commitment to stopping forest conversions.

“We have been pushing the moratorium issue for many years and we keep on reminding the government about this because almost every policy that is made and implemented favors forest conversions into palm oil plantations,” Teguh said.

He said the plantations caused environmental degradation, especially concerning water resources, but this was often ignored by the government.

Bustar said there was no proof that people, especially farmers, received any direct benefits from the conversions.

“Most palm oil is for export, not our domestic needs,” he said. “So the question is, what economic benefits are we talking about, who is benefitting?”

Gindo Nadapdap, from North Sumatra’s labor alliance, or Kelompok Pelita Sejahtera, said the expansion of palm oil plantations did not necessarily mean farmers’ welfare was improving.

“Based on cases in North Sumatra, these farmers receive very low pay compared with the regional minimum wage, which is set at Rp 700,000 to Rp 800,000,” Gindo said.

He said private plantation companies not only paid low wages, but also required workers to do a lot more.

On private plantations, about 22 farmers work 100 hectares, meaning about five hectares for every farmer, he said.

“Meanwhile, on the average plantation owned by farmers, four to six people work two hectares. So you can figure out how efficient these companies are,” he said.

National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) research has revealed that palm oil plantations on peatland, which cover about 840,000 hectares, contribute 0.85 percent to gross domestic product and have created about three million jobs.

According to the nongovernmental organization Sawit Watch, the palm oil industry contributed 12 percent, or Rp 720 trillion ($75.8 billion), to the state budget in 2008. But this was at the expense of as much as 100,000 hectares of peatland and 300,000 hectares of natural forests being converted to palm oil plantations every year.

Jefri Saragih, head of advocacy and public education at Sawit Watch, said there were seven million hectares of degraded land across the country that could be used for plantations, rather than opening up forests, but this fact had been ignored.

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