An Indonesian court has instructed the governor of Aceh province in northern Sumatra to revoke the licence granted to the palm oil company PT Kallista Alam, accused of destroying large areas of […]
Court orders palm oil licence to be revoked
Annette Gartland
Risking life and limb diving for sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are a popular delicacy throughout Asia. On the international market, they sell for hundreds, even thousands, of US dollars a kilo, but Indonesian divers who supply them earn as little […]
Feed, spay, love
The Bali Animal Welfare Association feeds, vaccinates, and sterilises street dogs. It finds homes for puppies, and educates local people about animal care. When rabies hit the island in 2008, it led […]
Tripa still burning
Environmentalists in Sumatra say there is evidence that the Tripa peat swamp is still being burned. They are calling on the Indonesian authorities to take more action to halt the destruction. The […]
Tripa peat forest back on protected list
Thanks to international pressure on the Indonesian government, the Tripa peat forest in northern Sumatra has once again been officially declared a nature reserve. It was being burned to a cinder by […]
Koalas get some protection from developers
Koalas have been classified as a vulnerable species in several areas of Australia. Australia’s Environment Minister Tony Burke announced today that the iconic creatures will be listed as vulnerable in Queensland, New […]
Koala listing ‘doesn’t go far enough’
Australia’s Environment Minister Tony Burke is due to make a long-awaited announcement tomorrow about the listing of the koala as an endangered species. He is expected to list koalas in southeast Queensland […]
Orangutans rescued in Sumatra
Two orangutans were rescued in northern Sumatra this week. The first, rescued on April 18, was a large adult male, who was trapped in a small pocket of forest in the Tripa […]
Indonesia to investigate forest destruction
Indonesia’s Environment Ministry is to launch an investigation into the issuance of a palm oil plantation concession inside the Tripa peat swamp forest in northern Sumatra. The peat swamp is home to […]
Environmentalists urge president to halt forest destruction in Indonesia
A group of leading environmentalists have written to the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asking him to halt the destruction of Sumatra’s rainforests and enforce laws to protect orangutans and their habitat. […]
Judges slammed for refusing to rule on fate of peat swamp forest
The administrative court in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, has refused to rule in a case brought by environmentalists who are trying to halt the destruction of the Tripa peat swamp forest. The decision […]
Indonesian court throws out environmental case
The administrative court in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, has refused to rule in a case brought by environmentalists who are trying to halt the destruction of the Tripa peat swamp forest. Animal protection […]
Land burning in Indonesia is wiping out orangutans
The Tripa peat swamp forest on the northwestern coast of Sumatra is being ravaged by fires set to clear land for palm oil. Orangutans are being wiped out in the companies’ race […]
Land of the Lord of the Rings
I’ve published a new article, “Land of the Lord of the Rings”, about New Zealand. Here’s an extract: New Zealand is a strange country: a very British land out in the Pacific […]
Koalas still waiting
Australia’s Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, has postponed until February 17, 2012, his decision about whether or not the koala should be listed as a threatened species. He said he wanted time […]
11/11/11
Tomorrow is 11/11/2011. Many people believe that important energy portals around the world are set to open on that date. Some say the excitement around the date is misplaced. Whatever tomorrow does […]
Senate publishes report
The Australian senate has issued its report on the status, health, and sustainability of the koala. The head of the Australian Koala Foundation, Deborah Tabart, praised those who wrote the document, but […]
Shale gas licences revoked
The French government has revoked the shale gas licences held by the oil and gas multinationals Schuepbach and Total. The licences in question are the Nant and Villeneuve-de-Berg licences held by Schuepbach, […]
Oil giant appeals against shale gas fracking bans
The American oil and gas company Schuepbach Energy is appealing against bans ordered by mayors in France who are fighting against planned shale gas fracking in their regions. Mayors in about 50 […]
Koala foundation optimistic
The head of the Australian Koala Foundation, Deborah Tabart, says she is optimistic after the second Senate inquiry hearing into the status, health, and sustainability of the koala. “I am feeling very […]
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