Trails of Trash in Ranupani

Youth and residents of Ranupani village, Lumajang subdistrict, East Java have work together to tackle waste issues following the increased interest in Hiking Mount Semeru. Local government is yet to weigh in on the problem.

Farmers Suffer as Illegal Water Extractions Remain Unregulated

Excessive water exploitation has lead to the drying up of rivers and paddy fields in villages of Kudus district. Efforts have been taken including the prohibition of selling surface water from Mount Muria but water discharge is yet to improve. Water scarcity in Kudus calls for concerted effort in the conservation of protected forest of Mount Muria.

Bongkoran Farmers : A Grim Face of Indonesia’s Agrarian Reform

Bongkoran farmers of Wongsorejo, Banyuwangi district of East Java, who have occupied lands under the Dutch colonialization in the 10402, found themselves still struggling to get their lands to be recognized by the state nearly five decades later. Tensions between farmers, a local cotton manufacturer and local government continue to mount amid efforts to revive the Agrarian Reform by the Joko Widodo administration. Read full article here.

Microplastic: The Invisible Threat

Humans are predicted to be producing up to 12 billion waste by 2050. While each year, at least 8 million tonnes of plastics leak into the ocean. Among this mass waste is microplastic – a plastic with less than five millimeter diameter that is making its way into the human body system. It enters through bottled water, tap water and cosmetics.