Another excellent TED Talk by James Balog. This is the shocking truth about the climate change situation right NOW. Wake-up those who are still disputing the scientific evidence and making this a political issue!

James Balog’s latest work, the Extreme Ice Survey, captures the twisting, soaring forms of threatened wild ice.

To see the natural world through James Balog’s lens is to see it as an artist would — through fresh eyes, as if for the first time, with no preconceived notions. His photos of jungle animals, for instance, are arresting in their directness, simplicity, even sensuality. His subjects assume the same weight and importance as a human portrait sitter, and demand (as a human subject would) that the viewer engage with them rather than simply spectate.

His newest work is no less powerful, no less engaging — and it carries an urgent message. For several years, Balog has been going up north to shoot the half-alive ice of the mammoth glaciers for his Extreme Ice Survey, a look at the shocking effects of abrupt climate change in Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. Soaring, dripping, glowing and crumbling, arctic ice under Balog’s eye requires the viewer to engage.

A new Nova/PBS TV special and a new book, Extreme Ice Now, are helping him spread the word that this glorious world is degrading at a speed we couldn’t imagine until we saw it through his eyes.

“Each new series by James Balog represents a quantum leap in creativity, which takes us deeper into the ultimate mystery of humanity’s relationship to the natural world.”

James Nachtwey, photographer and TED Prize winner

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_balog_time_lapse_proof_of_extreme_ice_loss.html

This is an amazing talk by Willie Smits on integrated approach to rain forest restoration in Kalimantan. It is never too late to reverse damages caused by humans. The local community life was restored as the nature and wild animal habitat is restored. Willie Smits has devoted his life to saving the forest habitat of orangutans, the "thinkers of the jungle." →

On the day of the Organic Island declaration, we had an opportunity to visit our friend's home town in the highlands of Kintamani. After driving for half an hour, we arrived where a small bamboo cabin overlooking the misty hills. Kintamani is a well known for its organic Arabica coffee production and Jeruk Kintamani (small oranges). There are still wooden buildings built →

Anton Muhajir wrote another excellent article on The Jakarta Post about the struggle against the rising cost of farming and the declining price of crops. Many conventional farmers today rely heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a legacy of "Green Revolution". Traditional irrigation system known as Subak is beginning to fail as Bali begin to experience shortage of water supply, cutting off →

To understand some of the challenges faced by organic farmers in Indonedia, read this article by Anton Muhajir published on The Jakarta Post. http://www.rumahtulisan.com/18/09/2008/aneka-rupa/bedugul-organic-farmers-struggle-against-long-distribution.html

On Saturday 21 Nov, Bali declared itself to be an Organic Island, a commitment by the provincial government, NGOs and local businesses. This declaration is initiated by Ibu Dr Kartini of Bali Organic Association (BOA). Ibu Kartini is known in the organic circle as "Dr Cacin" (Dr Earthworm) and she warns us of the condition of agricultural resources in this island such →