Robber fly - Nature photographer Thomas Shahan specializes in amazing portraits of tiny insects. It isn't easy. Shahan says that this Robber Fly (Holcocephala fusca), for instance, is "skittish" and doesn't like its picture taken.

Nature by Numbers (Video)

"The Greater Akashic System" – July 15, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Caroll) (Subjects: Lightworkers, Intent, To meet God, Past lives, Universe/Galaxy, Earth, Pleiadians, Souls Reincarnate, Invention: Measure Quantum state in 3D, Recalibrates, Multi-Dimensional/Divine, Akashic System to change to new system, Before religion changed the system, DNA, Old system react to Karma, New system react to intent now for next life, Animals (around humans) reincarnate again, This Animal want to come back to the same human, Akashic Inheritance, Reincarnate as Family, Other Planets, Global Unity … etc.)

Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.

Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.

(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."

(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.

(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.

Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle

Dian Fossey's birthday celebrated with a Google doodle
American zoologist played by Sigourney Weaver in the film Gorillas in the Mist would have been 82 on Thursday (16 January 2014)

Monday, March 2, 2009

Farmers need a hand: Minister

The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA | Mon, 03/02/2009 10:34 AM

Despite the massive potential of Indonesia’s agriculture industry, farmers still face many difficulties gaining access to capital from banks, a minister says.

“The banking sector is still reluctant to provide credit to farmers. This is a pity because Indonesia is one of the world’s major players in terms of its agricultural commodity industries,” Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said at the launch of an agriculture expo event last Friday.

According to the Bank Indonesia website, last year the Indonesian banking sector extended around Rp 236.8 trillion (US$19.75 billion) in loans to the agriculture industry. This amount represents around one-third of the total loans disbursed by the bank (around Rp 736 trillion).

Despite these seemingly respectable proportions, last year’s loans to agriculture businesses — largely channelled into the country’s top export commodities — in fact represent a decline from the 2007 total of Rp 237.7 trillion, defying the more than 30 percent growth in loans disbursed overall from 2007 to 2008.

In the end, credit difficulties hinder local middle-up scale businesses from investing in or venturing into the industry, Anton said.

“Indonesia has one of the biggest agriculture industries in the world, but there are only a few local middle-up scale business ventures that have invested in the industry.”

“Local businesses should realize that the huge potential of our agriculture industry could enable us to feed the world if we wanted to.”

During his speech at the expo, Adi Sasono, chairman of the Indonesian Cooperatives Council (Dekopin), shared Anton’s sentiments, saying that the agriculture industries needed to start thinking of the bigger picture.

“Now is not a time to think locally. Indonesia’s agriculture industry needs to start thinking about how we can become the top regional players,” Adi said.

“We have more than enough natural resources for the bio-energy industry and organic farming, both of which are growing trends worldwide. That is why it is important for the government to push for easier access to credit in the real sectors, especially in the agriculture sector.”

According to Ryan Kiryanto of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), there are several factors that can prevent banks from choosing to provide loans to farmers.

“Banks may feel reluctant to give out loans after reviewing the worthiness or business prospects of proposals submitted. If there are legal documents or collateral missing it can make banks less willing,” he said.

“However, these issues can be resolved through partnerships between the farmers and middle-up business ventures. Those business ventures would become the ones guaranteeing the collateral of loans.”

Guaranteeing the sustainability of farming land is also another major problem facing the industry.

In 1986, the Agriculture Ministry recorded 7.7 million hectares of rice paddies in Indonesia. By 1996 there had only been a slight increase in that amount, to 8.25 million hectares, but by 2000 the total had dropped back to 7.79 million hectares.

Lawmakers are currently working on passing a bill which aims to protect the sustainability of agricultural lands and prevent farming zones from being used for industrial or commercial purposes. The bill would also contain clauses on the provision of easier access to bank loans so that farmers can borrow money to buy their own land. (hdt)

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