HUMANS AND NATURE
Vol.III/Issue 6 - February 2020
ISSN # 2655-2566
HUMANS
AND NATURE
Table of Contents Editor’s Letter...........................................................................1 #KataMereka............................................................................3 HIGHLIGHTED NEWS How Climate Change Has Affected Australia.....................................5 FEATURES
Eco-Campaigns.......................................................................................9 Ecology, Individualization, and Systemic Change...............................14 Climate Change and Human Attitude...................................................17 Crash Course on Climate Change.........................................................23 Decaying Decade.................................................................................29 FInding A Way Back...........................................................................35 SELF-HELP
Becoming Greenie................................................................................40 5 Lessons from Nature to Nurture Everyday Life................................41 ARTS AND LITERATURE
Photojournal..........................................................................................44 Illustration.............................................................................................51 Movie Review.......................................................................................53 Book Review.........................................................................................54 MISCELLANEOUS
IULI INR Highlighted Events..............................................................55 Quiz: The Animal in You....................................................................58 HI!Folks’ Megahits...............................................................................63
Editor-in-Chief Alexandrina Medianti Sub-Editor Andrea Kurnadi
Vol.III / Issue 6
Humans and Nature ISSN # 2655-2566
Content Writer Amira Maulidine Aryo Setyotama Bening Dhaivina Damardjati Joy Matilda Winata Contributor Adzra Jilan Rana Adiyatma Kevin Akbar.L.I Alvin Putra Sisdwinugraha Andi Bramastha Ben Laksana Maganitri Putri Males Nyampah Rizky Sofy Samantha Deo Wulan Tsabita Design Team Alexandrina Medianti Amira Maulidine Publication Bening Dhaivina Damardjati Illustrator Alexandrina Medianti Contact We would like to hear from you; please send your feedback and contributions to us by email hifolks.magazine@gmail.com
Illustrated by Maganitri Putri
EDITOR’S LETTER
Hi, Folks! It has been a year since we have published a new edition of HI!folks magazine and yes, we are here again! We are finally back with a new theme, style and we are bringing even more insight to you. On this special edition, we have decided to have ‘Humans and Nature’ as our theme. As we want to give you more insights on how the relationship between human and nature works, whether it is mutually beneficial on giving advantages to one another or it is a one-side relationship filled with exploitation or abuse, and how we, as humans, are facing the impacts of our environment. Our team has decided to publish this issue because we consider this a grave issue of this era. Chiefly by seeing how our ‘TikTok’ generation has been pushed by our system and society to become more consumptive in consuming goods and creates more waste in the end which is harmful to our nature. Therefore, in this issue we are giving you insights through articles that contain information such as perspective related to International Relations issue; in regards of the relationship of humans and nature, life hacks, and tips and tricks to reduce waste, pollution and how to become more responsible in consuming. We hope through this edition, we are all be able to have better habits and create balances between humans and nature or maybe even give you ideas to create a utopia on how this world is supposed to work.
Warmly, Alexandrina - Editor-in-Chief 1
“ we scientist don’t know how to do that” “I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that thirty years of good science co
I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong.
The top environmental problems are
selfishness,
greed,
& apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don’t know how to do that.”
Gustave Speth 2
What do you do to help our environment in your everyday life?
KATA M Save water and electricity Ga buang sampah sembarangan
Buang sampah pada tempatnya dan mencoba untuk vegan yang 1 or 2 atau selama 7 hari Masih baru sekedar ga buang sampah sembarangan sih... kalo plastik masih suka pake:( 3
What do you do to help our environment in your everyday life?
MEREKA #lesswaste
Stop using plastic straw and bring my own metal straw
Use water wisely and educate people to realize that they’re doing bad habit on our environment
Eat less meat, bring a bag and your own bottle Don’t shop in HNM and Uniqlo guys mereka gak environmentally friendly so pick friendly brands
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Highlighted News
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Eco - Lifestyle Campaigns:
Are We Doing It the Right Way?
by Alvin Putra Sisdwinugraha Bandung Institute of Technology image source: https://www.grace-gordon.com/collections/baskets/products/french-net-market-bag-long-handle
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Living sustainably has been the latest trend to tackle the environmental turmoil for the last few decades. Various campaigns have spread across the internet, affecting our lifestyle, ranging from our diet to the way we spent our money on things. But are those campaigns cover the whole spectrum of the problem? The Anti-Plastic Sentiment
The anti-plastic sentiment has spread across the globe; the material has been the symbol of sea & landfill pollution, and also held responsible for damaging wildlife. As of 2015, approximately 6300 million metric tons of plastic waste had been generated, but only around 9% of which had been recycled, 12% was incinerated, and 79% was accumulated in landfills or the natural environment, mostly in the seas. It would stick around for quite some time, and while we are still having trouble to get rid of all those wastes laying around the planet, plastic waste generation is predicted to be at 25000 million metric tons by 2050. Plastic landfills contribute to methane releases to the atmosphere, but plastic pollution on sea life is more alarming than ever. In May 2018, a picture of a dead sperm whale washed up on the shore was going viral on the internet. It has consumed around 32 kg of plastic waste, sparking an online debate regarding the plastic catastrophe directly affecting wildlife. Furthermore, 51 trillion microplastics
floating on the ocean, swallowed by fish and all kinds of marine life. Those tiny forms of plastic travel up the food chain, infecting other species including
humans. Shred of evidence show that 8 out of 10 infants and nearly all adults have a measurable amount of phthalates, a common plastic additive, in their bodies.
It seems like an obvious choice to abandon plastic usage in our daily life. Several countries have reduced, even banned the use of plastic bags. Unfortunately, we don’t have many alternatives. Cotton and paper bags are often viewed as better options to replace plastic bags, but those cannot match plastic’s efficiency and robustness. Plastic production cost so little energy, water, and time, and for most cases, can be used for quite a several times. Cotton bags are very water-consuming and need to be used for roughly 7100 times to match the plastic bag’s environmental impact, based on research conducted in Denmark. Paper bags are not the better alternative, as they made out of woods. Plastic wraps usually 10
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used as a food container, as its water & air proof trait keep foods from being spoiled. Food waste is always been a major issue in climate change since it releases methane into the atmosphere, and until now, we still can’t find better material to replicate plastic’s performance and cost. It’s a complex trade-off between those alternatives, and there’s no one straightforward answer for this. Organic Foods: Another Pricey Scam?
Organic food selling has extremely increased worldwide, with an estimated worth of 80 million US dollars in 2014, compared to 15,2 million in 1999. While the definition of the term ‘organic’ varies among different countries & standards, in general, they are farmed without GMO (genetically-modified organism) seeds, synthetic fertilizers & pesticides. Traditional techniques such as crop rotation, are utilized to maximize the output. Endorsement of such lifestyle by worldwide figures & organizations played a crucial role in the trend, despite higher prices compared to conventional fruits and vegetables. It is widely believed that organic foods do not only offer better nutritional content but also grown in such a way that it produces fewer greenhouse 11
gases, thus reducing the impact on the environment. The agriculture sector is the second-highest greenhouse gas emission after energy. It has turned into moral and social responsibility, rather than alternatives. Several studies have tried to confirm these assumptions. In 2017, research was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact of both organic & conventional methods of farming, focusing on several aspects such as greenhouse gas emission, energy consumption, and land usage. The result shows that there’s no production method that is better for the environment. Greenhouse gas production is similar to the same output of food, but organic ones consume less energy. While conventional farming uses synthetic pesticides, they use fewer space. While organic farming uses less pesticides, but they have a higher level of eutrophication and acidification potential, leading to several ecological problems such as algal overgrowth, oxygen depletion on water bodies, and other impacts on the aquatic ecosystem. While we’re still having a debate on which method is better, demand on organic foods is rising constantly, bringing another impact on a broader
Features
level. The struggle to supply the market can shift organic methods into more unsustainable ways, for example, it could lead to into more energy consumption in vast greenhouse areas. The supply chain is becoming more complex to meet the demand across the globe, resulting in an increasing number of frauds, that some conventional products are labeled as pricey organic foods. The noble intention to shift worldwide lifestyle into more of an organic one has lead to unexpected consequences. Shift of Paradigm
From the examples above, it seems that all those wars on plastic and conventional farming lead to no exact conclusion. We’re stuck on the debate of which kind of bags should we use, should we buy those pricey aluminum straws, or which organic products are eco-friendlier. Those campaigns only show us partial truth, while the real problem still burning underneath our attention
But first of all, we need to tackle the biggest issue regarding environmental damage:
human’s greed & ignorance. We tend to feel insufficient with the resources available, thus wildly reap from the market, while our production & supply chain systems already suffer. We are not being resourceful and efficient enough on the end of the consumption cycle, and tend to do simple things rather than doing it correctly. The environmental campaign can also be misleading, if we perceived the alternatives as irreconcilable and labeled them as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, disregarding the fact that both sides offer different options on how to tackle those problems. Our habits of ‘demonizing’ available options could hinder our ability to search on new facts, and get in our way to make the most rational decisions.
We need a new way to think of the problem as a systematic, interrelated issue that requires a shift of paradigm rather than a one-fits-all solution. 12
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Campaigns promoting a more sustainable lifestyle such as anti-plastic sentiment & organic diet are some of the better ways to raise awareness on the big fight against environmental damage, but let’s not get blinded from the facts related to the subject involved. We can’t force a lifestyle to a certain society; instead, they need to grow environmental consciousness by themselves to truly formulate their action on the problem. Scientist and engineers are trying their best to provide us with solid facts and methods, but they can only get us as far as we allowed them to be. Climate change and ecological damage are not first world country problems as many believed, but a global challenge that we need to solve right away if we are willing to pass down a planet worth living for many generations to come.
Image source: https://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/10787/satisfying-pastel-paintings-of-balmy-summer-still-lifes
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ECOLOGY,
INDIVIDUALIZATION,
AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE
If recent news is anything to go by, there has been a surge of environmental awareness in Indonesia. A growing number of young people have become acutely more conscious of environmental destruction in their everyday lives. This can be seen in their heightened and at times angered response toward several of environmental issues, ranging from climate change to Jakarta’s suffocating air pollution and most predominately the problem of waste. Several of youth-led campaigns promoting less single-use plastic bags, less plastic straws, recycled clothing and of course tote bags have become ubiquitous amongst middle and upper class urban Indonesian youths. Being green it seems is slowly becoming the new hip lifestyle. by Ben K.C.Laksana
IULI’s International Relations Lecturer
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Is it commendable? Yes, without doubt it is, popularizing environmental awareness is indeed necessary. After all, we are to some extent, some more than others, responsible toward all of this destruction and thus there is the need for us to personally change not only our ways of living but also our relationship with nature. However, it must be made clear that environmental issues are not simply the problem of individual choice. There are limits to how much we can personally address problems that are very much rooted in the system. Lacking or ineffective policies, a socio-economic-political system that promotes over-industrialization, overconsumption, unequal distribution of resources, seeing nature only as an economic resource which in return engender over-exploitation of nature itself. This cannot be tackled only through individual means. If we understand what the sociologist C. Wright Mills once said about how the “personal is political”, then the personal, the everyday experience is 15
very much connected with larger social and political structures. The lives we live are tremendously shaped by the system in which we live in, and again, the act of personal change will be vastly limited by the confines of the system. Let us take an example that I have recently personally experienced. I have been struggling to separate my trash within my household. There are recyclable plastics, glass, organic matter, paper and cardboard and general waste that cannot be recycled or reused. All of which I have separated into different trash cans for later to be collected. This is an individual act based on wanting a better trash management system in hopes that it will overall lessen the use of polluting landfills and in the long run lessen my contribution toward climate change. This might look good for marketing our ‘green’ self on Instagram but this is also where my agency in dealing with environmental issues end. What happens next is also a question we need to answer? I have very little personal control over what happens after all of my waste
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of this exploitation and deteriorating ecosystems on our economy and our collective well-being. Despite the challenge toward these exploitative systems and widespread recognition and desire of an alternative sustainable socioeconomic system, the rise of globalization and thus the globalization of our economy and the resilience of aspects of the traditional ways of our socio-political economy, have hindered the shift to potential new models of economy and society. A socioeconomic model that understands and acknowledges the impact of having resources distribution heavily toward the hands of the few resulting in the overexploitation of natural resources. New models of a socioeconomic system that is based on both the well-being of not only the society but also the ecological ecosystem, such as an eco-socialist based system.
However, it must be reminded that in time, the effects of environmental destruction knows no politics, culture, class, race, creed nor nation, and thus the solution is also dependent on understanding the intersection of all this with individual agency. Essentially, radical personal change must be connected to a wider goal, and that is radical systemic change, be it a socio-cultural and/or political economy. Without it, there will be little effect and with the world, on the verge of collapse, these individual acts of change may easily end in heartbreaks, despair, and hopelessness. As the power to change is in the collective not in isolation from others.
To sum, the individualization of socioeconomic-political issues, which the problem of the environment is a part of, will not result in anything new. On the contrary, only those privileged enough will be able to free themselves, albeit temporarily, from environmental catastrophe. 16
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A quick reminder that we’re alive during the most critical moment in the history of humanity, and it’s our generation’s responsibility to stop irreversible damage being done to our planet - we can’t afford to wait for politicians or industries to save us, we must act urgently
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Marcus
@rcvrngcarnist
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Self-Help
Self-Help
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ARTS
&
LITERATURE
The Pet Cat
by Adiyatma Kevin
Parasite to Nature
by Akbar L.I.
Ignorance
by Akbar L.I.
Water Pollution
by Akbar L.I.
“Blinded by Self-Satisfaction”
Illustrated by Alexandrina M
“ What Should I Do? “
Illustrated by Males Nyampah
Moovie Review
Reviewed by Aryo Setyotama
PARASITE
Director: Bong Joon-ho Release: 30th May 2019 Score: 8.5/10
Parasite is a South-Korean black comedy film. The plot of the film revolves around the life of a wealthy family who is unknowingly housing a “parasite” within their very home in the form of another poorer family. Throughout the film, we see glimpses of how the poorer family evades detection whilst feeding on their hosts. Eventually, they discovered that they aren’t the only parasites infesting the household, and things soon deteriorate from there. The film shows the unequal wealth disparity within society may at times forces people to take drastic measures to ensure their own survival. 53
Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed:
Book Review
Author: Oliver Bowden Published: October 2013 Score: 8/10 Reviewed by Aryo Setyotama
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is a historical fiction novel written by Oliver Bowden, set within the golden age of piracy. The story takes place in the Caribbean, following a young man named Edward Kenway. Once a pirate until he found himself embroiled in the middle of a conflict between the secretive assassin brotherhood and the ruthless knights Templar. After navigating his way through the ancient conflict he will emerge to become a better man, a man of honor. This is a redemption story told time and time again and yet, the author manages to keep us interested whilst making his redemption believable through the losses and pain he had endured throughout the story. 54
INR HIGHLIGHTED
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EVENTS #HIWEEK
event timing November 23rd - 29th
2019
by Andi Bramastha
NOVEMBER The month of November was the pinnacle of this year’s IULI INR. On November 23rd marked the first event of Hi! WEEK. We conducted volume three of Hi! TALKS with the theme of “Understanding People’s Right to Freedom Democracy in Indonesia” in hopes to raise the topic of democracy that is often seen as a political paradigm. We were excited to have Puri K. Putri (Campaign Manager at Amnesty International Indonesia), Noory Okthariza (Researcher in Politics and Social Changes at CSIS), and Fatimah F. Izzati (Researcher at Center for Political Studies, LIPI) as our speakers with Aurelia Vizal (Ambassador of Youth Initiative for Political Participation) acting as the moderator. Up next is the Short Diplomatic Course with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as the council. This event was held on November 27th and lasted for two days. With the theme of “UNHCR: Global Refugee Crisis and Its effects on International Integration”, delegates are expected to come up with ideas in order to solve these global issues together. H.E. Dewa Made Juniarta Sastrawan S.E., M.A, briefed delegates in the Short Diplomatic Course with insights regarding the global migration and refugee before the session. This event also comes with MUN 101 which had Nugroho Indra and Galurayuda Kusumasubrata as the board of Directors. This year’s Hi! WEEK concludes during the Diplomatic Dinner, which was held on November 29th at Santika Premiere BSD. The Diplomatic Dinner consisted of three agendas. The first being a lesson of table manners as we proceed with our dinner. The second was a talk show about “Multi-Track Diplomacy and Indonesia’s Public Diplomacy Strategies”, which was delivered by the three guest speakers, Alfan Amiruddin (Representative of Directorate of Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia), Garda Arian (1st Diplomat Candidate at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia), and Jessica Natalie (Duta Muda ASEAN 2017). Lastly, we congratulate and reward selected delegates from the Short Diplomatic Course. 56
Miscellaneous
Q
U
I
Z
THE ANIMAL
IN YOU by Joy Winata
image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pattern-formation-wild-animals-south-africa-34098/
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Miscellaneous
Every person has their animal spirit th Find out yours by answ 1. How do you find yourself in a situation that happened without being planned?
a. I love unpredictable situations. I am challenged and highly spirited to encounter it. b. It depends on the situation itself, I am not too sure of how I would deal with it. c. I am okay with it, it does not make me feel uncomfortable. Though there are times when I detest surprises. d. I don’t like it and I’m not comfortable with it. I enjoy doing my routines and hate it when I can’t plan ahead of time
2. How emotional are you?
a. I am not emotional b. I am emotional, but people often told me that I am insensitive to other people’s feelings c. I remain calm on the outside, even when I am sad or angry. I tend to hide my feelings. d. I am very emotional and very sensitive
3. You are at a party when you hardly know anyone. What will you do?
a. I challenge people in conversations, and I am mostly at a superior state b. I make new friends and try to mingle with as many people as possible c. I remain calm and talk to anyone who approaches me d. I sit alone in a corner, prefer not to be bothered by anyone
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YOU
Miscellaneous
hat can best describe their personality wering these questions: 6. What is your ideal weekend?
a. I will use this extra time to learn new things and skills to help me achieve new things b. Do something new like trying out the new recipe you found c. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends d. I’ll have quality time with my partner. If I am single, I will indulge myself in romantic movies and reading books
5. What would you do if two of your friends are in a really bad fight?
a. I take sides to whom I think is right, I express my opinion firmly and proudly b. I play it safe and try to make them laugh with my jokes. If I am bored by their constant bickering, I’ll them on theirs c. I try my best to calm both sides and help them in reconciling with one another d. I am worried about them but decided not to do anything
4. If you have to define your energy level, how would it be?
a. I am always energized and ready at any given time b. My energy depends on my mood and the things happening in my life c. It is not that high or that low, pretty much steady. I can always force myself to carry on, even when I am not in the mood d. The energy level is simply a myth. I do not understand what you mean.
U are.... 60
Miscellaneous
The Choleric Lion
If you have ‘A’ as most of your answers, then you are a powerful choleric who likes to be in charge of everything, just like the lion who sits at the top of the food chain, you are a born leader with a keen sense of responsibility. You believe in fairness, practical and hardworking to achieve the goals you have set. You are ferocious as the lion in you will take a stand and stick with anything you have determined to do. One thing to note, you are the least sensitive or sympathizing with other people, compared to the others.
The Sanguine Otter If you have ‘B’ as most of your answers, then welcome to the world of popular sanguine who is the life of every party. Just like the cute and loveable otter, you are an extrovert who can attract people. You are known as someone bubbly and cheerful who tends to go with the flow and live for the moment. However, you have tendencies to be selfish and irresponsible as you are easily distracted in completing your job. You may speak before you think but fear not as your sincerity and compassion can always be found in your words and actions.
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Miscellaneous
The Phlegmatic Golden Retriever If you have ‘C’ as most of your answer, then you are a happy-go-lucky dog who always wants to be at peace with everyone around you and know how to stay out of trouble. Like a true golden retriever, you are sensitive to your surroundings and able to blend into any kind of situation. You have dry humor with a perfect sense of wittiness that allows you to attract people to love and be around you. Though you don’t like to get involved in actions and prefer to sit back and watch the show, when you are engaged in things you are passionate about, you’ll be an efficient worker.
The Melancholic Beaver If you have ‘D’ as most of your answers, then you are a perfectionist who is also an extreme introvert that does not seek group gatherings and/or new acquaintances. You prefer to stick with your old friends, who you are extremely loyal to. Selfsacrifice is a common thing for a melancholic, and you can feel things deeply even when you are not aware of it. There are times when you choose to read or study than interact with others as you are a born thinker and philosopher. Like a beaver, your systematic and detailed oriented usually caused you to procrastinate and legalism, but you are still strict to yourself and make sure to stay organized.
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