I spent my happy childhood in the town of Pematangsiantar, near the enchanting Lake Toba. I grew up with my big extended family, and I always looked forward to the weekends when we could go to my grandparents’ farm or visit relatives in the villages. The area was also near the forest where Sumatran Tigers used to roam.
But when a tiger descended into the village, it would attack and kill buffalos. A villager told me that the tigers came because prey was hard to find as the forest had been depleted so much. During high school I joined my school’s science club. We spent our school holiday at natural parks, forests or mountain areas.
My deep interest in nature was sparked around this time and has become my real passion ever since. As a young adult I enjoyed learning more about how “things work in nature” and began making herbariums. I was hungry to study nature, and after graduating from high school I took a Forestry Science program at the University of Mulawarman, in Samarinda.
In my second semester at university I volunteered for an organisation called PLASMA Foundation, a local NGO in Samarinda. I started my activism there, as a member of the group that was supporting the struggle of the Dayak indigenous people whose forests and environments were deeply impacted by logging operations in the area.
Being with the indigenous communities was the best time of my life. The forest is their home, their survival and their life. They know the forest like the palms of their hands. They have domesticated bees for which they prepare trees as homes, and they name these trees just like they would name their children. They have developed sustainable ways to grow and maintain hundreds of varieties of rice using sophisticated techniques of shifting cultivation.
Mainstream theorists, however, have really misunderstood them and put blame on them, claiming they are responsible for degradation of the forest because they cut and burn trees. The mainstream modern perception of forests sees forests as merely trees. The focus is pretty much exclusively on productivity and growth in the forest.
This same thinking is also applied to how they see forest ownership – the fewer the hands, the better. It’s no wonder we are seeing more and more of our natural forests being transformed into monocultures.
Indonesia’s rainforests being destroyed faster than any other on earth. The country’s rainforests and peatlands contain some of the largest stores of terrestrial carbon in the world. One in ten of all known species of plants and animals in the world are found here.
the new country manager of greenpeace, longgena ginting, raps about his life, eco-activism pursuits and bali
I spent my happy childhood in the town of Pematangsiantar, near the enchanting Lake Toba. I grew up with my big extended family, and I always looked forward to the weekends when we could go to my grandparents’ farm or visit relatives in the villages. The area was also near the forest where Sumatran Tigers used to roam.
But when a tiger descended into the village, it would attack and kill buffalos. A villager told me that the tigers came because prey was hard to find as the forest had been depleted so much. During high school I joined my school’s science club. We spent our school holiday at natural parks, forests or mountain areas.
My deep interest in nature was sparked around this time and has become my real passion ever since. As a young adult I enjoyed learning more about how “things work in nature” and began making herbariums. I was hungry to study nature, and after graduating from high school I took a Forestry Science program at the University of Mulawarman, in Samarinda.
In my second semester at university I volunteered for an organisation called PLASMA Foundation, a local NGO in Samarinda. I started my activism there, as a member of the group that was supporting the struggle of the Dayak indigenous people whose forests and environments were deeply impacted by logging operations in the area.
Being with the indigenous communities was the best time of my life. The forest is their home, their survival and their life. They know the forest like the palms of their hands. They have domesticated bees for which they prepare trees as homes, and they name these trees just like they would name their children. They have developed sustainable ways to grow and maintain hundreds of varieties of rice using sophisticated techniques of shifting cultivation.
Mainstream theorists, however, have really misunderstood them and put blame on them, claiming they are responsible for degradation of the forest because they cut and burn trees. The mainstream modern perception of forests sees forests as merely trees. The focus is pretty much exclusively on productivity and growth in the forest.
This same thinking is also applied to how they see forest ownership – the fewer the hands, the better. It’s no wonder we are seeing more and more of our natural forests being transformed into monocultures.
Indonesia’s rainforests being destroyed faster than any other on earth. The country’s rainforests and peatlands contain some of the largest stores of terrestrial carbon in the world. One in ten of all known species of plants and animals in the world are found here.
It is so unfortunate that due to the rapid and rampant habitat destruction happening, hundreds of Indonesia’s flora and fauna species are in immediate threat of extinction.
The impact of climate change is already being seen in our country as we experience more intense and more frequent occurrences of drought and flooding. Meanwhile, energy demand is increasing dramatically, as are pollution levels associated with urban and industrial growth.
Greenpeace is pushing for positive changes. We tackle the powers that stand in the way of change and help drive real solutions. We campaign with people, rather than for them.
Bali is inspirational, a peaceful place with open-minded people. There is so much you can do and learn in Bali. Bali is “glocal” – global and local. It’s very cosmopolitan yet very down to earth.
www.greenpeace.org/seasia/id/