5.3 Magnitude Quake Jolts West Sumatra
A magnitude 5.3 quake jolted West Sumatra Monday (19/10) night at around 11.35 pm with its epicenter 20km deep in Pesisir Selatan. The head of the Padang Panjang Meteorology, Climatiology and Geophysics Agency, Tautif Gunawan, confirmed the quake but said it did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. He said the tremor was felt in various regions such as Pesisir Selatan, Padang, Pariaman and Padang Panjang. Residents of Pondok Kota Padang fled their homes when the quake struck but they returned soon afterwards. (October 20th 2009, Antara news)
Farmer in North Bali Caught ‘In the Act’ With a Cow
A 33 year-old farmer, I Made Widiana, from Kebutambahan on Bali’s north shore, has been caught in flagrante delicto with a local cow on October 13, 2009, just as Bali began its Galungan celebrations marking the victory of good over evil. Although Widiana’s unnatural act was witnessed by a neighbor, it was the perpetrator himself who admitted his act to local community leaders. Widiana claims in mitigation that the cow cast some sort of spell over him causing him to see a beautiful woman instead of a cow. It was only when his neighbor scolded him for his behavior that he awoke from his smitten stupor and became aware of his act. This is second time such an incident has occurred in that otherwise quiet corner of Bali. On August 17, 2008, a 70 year-old man, Sutarya, who lives only a few kilometers from Widiana, committed a similar act that demanded elaborate ritual cleansing and the sacrificial drowning of the pregnant cow in the nearby ocean. Both Widiana and his “contented” cow await the decision of local religious leaders as to what must be done to restore good order to the Universe. (October 17th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com.)
Sumatran Tiger Population Now Only 500
The number of the Sumatran tigers (Phantera Tigris Sumatrae) living in the forests of Sumatra now only number 500 according to head of the Gunung Lauser National Park, Area I, Rusman said in Tapaktuan Thursday (15/10). The declining population of the rare animals may have been caused by their being hunted, trapped or chased away by the opening of plantations by the villagers. “The hunting had actually declined, but the opening of plantations is still posing a serious threat to the Sumatra tigers,” he said. “Their declining habitat had often triggered conflicts between the tigers and the local population near the forests,” he said. He said South Aceh regency is one of the areas in Gunung Leuser which is most prone to disturbances by the tigers and other wild animals, like elephants and bears. The disturbances by tigers in the nutmeg producing area had been increasing each year and in the 2006-2008 period more than 10 villagers had been killed by tigers. Rustam said that to minimize the risk of conflict between the wild animals and people in the Indian Ocean costal areas, he has been familiarizing the local population with the law on animal protection and natural conservation. (October 20th 2009, Antara news)
Earthquake Rocks Papua
A strong earthquake has shaken eastern Indonesia’s remote Papua province, causing panic among residents and reportedly toppling a building. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Friday’s (23/10) quake came as Indonesia is still recovering from another more powerful earthquake on western Sumatra that killed more than 1,000 people last month. The latest 6.0 magnitude quake was centred about 15km southeast of Manokwari in West Papua province and had a depth of about 35km, the US Geological Survey said. It struck about 8.15pm local time (2215 AEDT). The epicentre was about 3,000km east of the capital Jakarta. Local MetroTV channel said the quake brought down a building. Officials could not immediately be reached to confirm the report and there were no other details. (October 24th 2009, AAP)
Kuwau Bird May Detect Imminent Earthquake
Kuwau (Argusianus) is the name of a bird believed to have an instinct to detect an imminent earthquake, Coordinator of the West Sumatra relief aid coordinating agency Ade Edwar said in Padang on Thursday (Oct 22). She said the bird which is one of the Argusianus (or pheasant) species, is reportedly able to detect an imminent major earthquake up to two days before it really strikes. “This bird will be acting rather unusual and sings very often which is a sign that a major earthquake is coming”, Ade said. She said that as the sound of the bird singing may reach as far as up to 1 kilometer, it may be useful to keep a Kuau as an early earthquake warning system. “The problem now is that this bird is now very hard to find,” she added. This bird is also quite big, and its length may reach 120 cm weighing up to 11.5 kg. Its feathers are very much like those of a bird of paradise. She also said it would be good to conduct a scientific study on the Kuau`s ability to detect a major quake because theoretically a big earthquake is always preceded by a initial small quake. Before the big earthquake struck three weeks ago she was disturbed and restless by her Kuau`s singing very loud and too often. (October 23rd 2009, Antara News)
KL-Jakarta to Sign MoU on Cultural Heritage
A Memorandum of Understanding which will define what constitutes each other’s cultural heritage will be signed between Malaysia and Indonesia next year to avoid further cultural disputes. Information Communication and Culture Ministry Secretary-General Kamaruddin Siaraf said the MoU would encompass all aspects of cultural heritage, including arts, handicraft, dances and songs. With the signing of the MoU, any cultural disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia would be resolved through negotiations, he told reporters at a function organized by the Indonesian Culture and Tourism Ministry here Monday.The function was held in conjunction with Visit Indonesia Year 2009. Meanwhile, Indonesian Culture and Tourism Ministry secretary-general Dr Wardiyatmo said Monday`s function was part of the efforts by the Indonesian government to improve its relation with Malaysia, which had been soured lately. (October 20th 2009, Antara News)
Major Quake Strikes off Maluku - Indonesia
A major quake with tsunami potential hit off eastern Indonesia overnight, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of any damage and the tsunami warning was later lifted. The 7.3-magnitude quake struck at 11.40pm on Saturday (24/10) (0140 AEDT Sunday) about 209 kilometers northwest of Saumlaki, Maluku province, at a depth of 165 kilometers, the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said. A later US Geological Survey report registered the quake, in the Banda Sea, at a magnitude of 7.0. “There is no report of any death toll yet. The Maluku health agency is sending a team to Saumlaki to check on the situation. Communication there is difficult,” health ministry crisis centre head Rustam Pakaya said in a text message. “The quake was not felt in Ambon but it was felt strongly in Manokwari in west Papua.” The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency technical head Suharjono said the tsunami warning had been lifted and that the quake had no potential to damage surrounding areas. An Agence France-Presse reporter in Manokwari said there was no damage in the town. The quake was followed several hours later by two smaller tremors elsewhere in Indonesia. (October 25th 2009, AFP)
5 Magnitude Quake Strikes N Sulawesi, W Sumatra
An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck North Sulawesi with its epicenter 106 kilometers northeast of Bitung at a depth of 10 km, 2.34 degrees northern latitude, and 125.55 eastern longitude on Sunday (25/10) at 9.25 am local time. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Jakarta also registered a quake measuring 5 on the Richter scale which struck West Sumatra with its epicenter 69 km southeast of Siberut, Mentawai, at a depth of 13 km, 1.58 degrees southern latitude, and 99.43 eastern longitude at 8.50 a.m local time. The agency said the quake in Mentawai, West Sumatera, was felt up to position II and III in Padang Panjang regency.(October 27th 2009, Antara News)
Bali Weather Warning
The Bali office of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) have warned that Bali’s current weather conditions are ripe for the production of angin puting beliung - water and land spouts resembling small-scale tornadoes. Kompas.com quotes Made Wijendra, a meteorologist at Denpasar’s BMG office, saying: “the increased air temperature caused by the Sun’s position directly over Bali brings the potential of local showers and angin puting beliung.” Wijendra explained that the sun’s concentration over Bali’s latitude will last through early November as the sun moves towards its “summertime” position above the southern hemisphere. During the sun’s transition period, daily temperatures in Bali will get as high a 33-34 degrees Celsius. The high temperatures in combination with the cumulonimbus clouds that bring local rains can produce localized tornadoes or whirlwinds. In recent years this weather phenomenon have threatened local shipping and caused damage to structures in coastal areas of Bali. Bali residents should be aware of this weather threat, seeking immediate cover in an inner room of the strongest available structure if a wind spout is sighted. The high winds connected to these wind spouts are a threat to life and property and the public should take all necessary precautions when encountering such weather. (October 26th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com.)
Bali Gov. Angered by Villagers Demanding More ‘Fees’ from ‘Eat, Pray, Love.’
As reported by balidiscovery.com the commencement of filming of the major Hollywood film “Eat, Pray, Love” starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem got off to a less than smooth start as Balinese villagers demanded extra compensation to allow the film to proceed. Radar Bali reports that Bali’s governor, Made Mangku Pastika, was not pleased with what appears to be coercive efforts to extract additional fees from Sony Picture/Columbia Pictures. The governor told the press that the villagers’ opportunistic behavior was embarrassing for the people of Bali and not in keeping with the many honors and accolades earned by the island known as a “paradise on earth.” Shortly after the villagers of Bentuyung village demanded Rp. 200 million (US$ 20,000) from the filmmakers, the villagers of Pengosekan - another location in the film, have followed suit and are now requesting compensation. (October 26th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com.)
Yudhoyono, Boediono Officially Inaugurated as President, Vice President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Boediono were officially inaugurated as Indonesia’s President and Vice President respectively for the 2009-2014 period at a special plenary session of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) here Tuesday (20/10). The inauguration included the two leaders` oath-taking led by Supreme Court Chairman Arifin Tumpa. Then, Yudhoyono and Boediono signed the inauguration document followed by all MPR high officials. Several leaders from neighboring countries also attended the inauguration process at the MPR building, namely Timor Leste President Ramos Horta, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Singapore`s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei Darussalam`s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Other foreign representatives at the inauguration were Special Representatives from Japan`s Parliament Kozo Watanabe, a member of South Korean Parliament Lee Sang-deuk, New Zealand`s Minister of Trade Tim Grosser and Philippine`s Minister of Foreign Affairs Alberto Gatmaitan Romulo. (October 20th 2009, Antara News)
73 Rivers in Bali Have Run Dry
The prolonged dry season currently being experienced in Bali is having profound impact on the island’s ecology. As reported by Bali Post, of the 165 rivers found on the island, 73 have now run dry. Of the remaining 92 river still flowing, most of these are doing so with substantially reduced flow rates. The Head of the Public Works Department for Bali, Ir. I Gusti Nyoman Sura Adnyana, M. Sc., said on Monday, October 19, 2009, the worst affected areas of Bali in the current water shortage are in mountainous regions, with water that is still available lying in lower elevations. Overcoming the current water deficit won’t be easy or happen overnight. Adnyana said plans are in hand to capture the overflow from Dam II of the Tukad Unda River and its estuaries, but such schemes are expensive. Because of this, the Public Works Department is focusing on rivers close to the Badung and Gianyar regencies, and Denpasar. Rubber dams have been established on Tukad Penet River in the border areas between Badung and Tabanan. Plans are to take between 300-500 liters of water per second to help meet the tap water requirements of Denpasar and South Badung. The exploitation of the waters of the Tukad Penet river is being done on the downstream areas in order not to disrupt the traditional subak water distribution systems that feeds Bali’s agricultural lands. Meanwhile, the water deficit occurring in East Denpasar, Nusa Dua and parts of Gianyar will be addressed, at least in part, by a planed dam to be built in 2010 on the Tukad Petanu River projected to also provide between 300-500 liters of water per second. Bali’s drought-like conditions are also affecting the rivers in Bali’s east, in the areas surrounding Candi Dasa. A member of the regional House of Representatives (DPRRD-Karangasem), I Nyoman Sadra, B.A., reports that the watercourses in the area of Nyuh Tebel are now dry. When the rivers still flowed in that region, the rice fields north of Candida were still productive, even in drought periods through reliance on the subak system and the employment of crop rotation techniques. However, now that the rivers have run dry, the rice fields have also gone dry yielding no agricultural crops. (October 26th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com.)
