SimpleViewer Gallery Id 13 has been deleted.

We live in a fast paced world. Issues, problems and concerns are all easily forgotten, just as quickly as they appear. An issue becomes the center of attention only while the topic is hot.

Now, as 2011 comes to an end, social media in Indonesia is filled with stories of orangutans being slaughtered. But in a matter of weeks, it’s as if the issue was over. Orangutans are still at risk. Indonesia is still rife with deforestation, and land for palm oil plantations continues to expand without any significant resistance.

Palm oil companies actively implement greenwashing tactics to conceal the fact that they are the orangutans’ main enemy. This is the second effort to improve their image after their first tactic to convince people that palm oil plantations are part of “reforestation” efforts.

From Bali, as a participative alternative media, Akarumput.com put on the event “Orangutan – suara untuk alam II” (sounds for nature II), in partnership with Sawit Watch and Walhi Bali at Seaman’s Club Sanur, this December 17^th. The event started with a discussion “End of the Year Environmental Reflections” with Albert Nego Tarigan (executive director of Sawit Watch), Wayan Suardana known as Gendo (WALHI Bali), and Gede Robi Supriyanto (vocalist of Navicula).

Albert talked about the importance of stopping the expansion of palm oil plantations. “Palm oil plantations are competing with the livelihood of local residents and endangered species such as orangutan. In Aceh, Riau, and East Kalimantan, orangutans are slaughtered,” said Albert.

Albert also drew attention to the violence related to palm oil plantations in Mesuji, Lampung. Five people were killed during a conflict between the local community and the security personnel of a palm oil plantation. According to Albert this type of incident also occurs in other areas. “In Riau, a woman died because she was accused of allegedly occupying land owned by a large palm oil company. In Jambi, seven people were shot, and we have video footage of this,” said Albert.

After the discussion, the event moved to the stage with musical performances by the Listen, Balian, Nosstress, Geekssmile, and Navicula.

In between the performances, there was also an art auction of artwork with orangutan themes created by Balinese artists such as Made Bayak and ISI students are part of Komunitas Djamur. The funding raised was over Rp. 6,000,000, which was donated to WALHI Bali to support their environmental advocacy work.

The moment everyone had been waiting for was the release of Navicula’s latest single titled “Orangutan”. Navicula dedicated the song to encourage people to do more in orangutan conservation, to protect this endangered species. Robi wrote the song “Orangutan” in April 2011 as a track to be included on their Navicula’s new album, which will be released sometime next year. The song “Orangutan” is available for free download here.

Not only did they release a song, but Navicula also released a music video to the song “Orangutan”. Shots of the band performing live were edited together with shots from Green the Film. This documentary film by Patrick Rouxel follows the story of Green, a female orangutan who is on the verge of dying. The film needs no narration; it is a montage of both beautiful and heartbreaking footage.

Green is a victim of deforestation and exploitation of natural resources. This film is an emotional journey of a rare primate, alone in this world that is not on her side.

Photos by Vifick Bolang and Green the Film.

The artists behind Bali-based grunge/psychedelic rock outfit Navicula are no novices when it comes to environmental activism. In their 15-year history the group has penned a number of songs addressing specific environmental concerns, in Indonesia and worldwide. Navicula’s sixth studio album Salto was largely dedicated to environmental awareness. Songs like “Over Konsumsi” (Over-consumption) implicate consumerism for current global environmental crises. “Kill the Fireflies” deplores the decline of these luminescent insects in Bali as a result of the use of pesticides in rice fields. “Pantai Mimpi” was written in response to the privatization and destruction of Bali’s beaches and was the anthem for Navicula’s campaign to boycott the infamous Pecatu Resort and Dreamland in Bukit. Finally, their 2010 single “Metropolutan,” is a response to the pollution crisis in Jakarta.

As they entered the studio earlier this year to begin work on their seventh album, scheduled for release in 2012, the “Green Grunge Gentlemen” turned their attention to Indonesian wildlife. Indonesia is famous for its biodiversity; it is home to more than 12% of the planet’s plant and animal species. But habitat loss and poaching are pervasive and increasingly catastrophic realities that have led to the extinction of a number of Indonesia’s majestic animals, including both the Java and Bali Tiger. Experts predict species like the Javan rhinoceros, Sumatran tiger, and Sumatran orangutan will soon follow.

Throughout Navicula’s anticipated album runs a decidedly animalistic thread: Recording just wrapped for their song “Harimau! Harimau!” (Tiger), and now Navicula prepares to launch the single “Orangutan.” The song tells the story of a young orangutan which, following the slaughter of his parents, is kidnapped and brought to the city. The orangutan, maddened by his new environment and longing for his jungle home, turns the tables on his human captors, wreaking havoc in the city.

Navicula vocalist Gede Roby Supriyanto explains why the band chose the orangutan as the focus for its latest single: “Orangutans are one of the many animals that are threatened due to the transfer of the functions of forests in Indonesia. Orangutans will become a legend.”

As of 2008, there were less than 6,600 Sumatran orangutans remaining, down from 7,300 in 2004. According to the Sumatran Orangutan Society, “The decline of the orangutan in Borneo and Sumatra in recent years symbolizes the devastation of one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots—the lowland rainforests of Southeast Asia.”

In other words, the declining orangutan population corresponds to the loss of their habitat, a result of logging and the conversion of rainforests to palm oil plantations. In the last decade more than 9% of Kalimantan and Sumatra’s forest cover was lost.

Erik Meijaard, an ecologist who has worked in Indonesia since 1993, warns that hunting, which has largely gone unchecked by both conservationists and the government, is also a major cause for the endangerment of Indonesian animal species. Additionally, orangutan populations are threatened by the illegal pet trade and conflicts between humans and orangutans, two problems Navicula addresses in the lyrics for “Orangutan.”

Navicula joins other artists who are using the stage and media channels to advocate for orangutan conservation. In 2010 Shaggydog and Superman Is Dead performed together for a benefit concert in Yogyakarta, Konser Amal Peduli Orangutan (Charity Concert for the Care of Orangutans). Seringai frontman Arian13 has actively advocated for orangutan conservation, most frequently through his Twitter account with nearly 19,000 followers.

Upon hearing “Orangutan” for the first time this week, Arian13 responded in email correspondence, “Not many local bands are actually voicing concerns for the environment, but Navicula is a band that is active with environmental issues. This includs orangutans, which are endangered or extinction if we do not prevent it. The song also voices anger against the conditions for the orangutan, now increasingly sad: murdered by man, a case of genocide.”

Roby hopes the song will help raise awareness for the current plight of one of Indonesia’s unique species, as well as encourage the government to take action: “Our hope is for improvements in policy, power, and government control over the palm oil industry, because right now the palm oil industry has a “law” itself outside the law of the state of Indonesia. We also need tighter control to support the preservation of the environment and local economy, so that they become healthier for more local communities, the forest, and so that they are more sustainable.”

Navicula will launch “Orangutan” during the second installment of Suara Untuk Alam (Voice for the Environment), an initiative of Walhi Bali (the Bali division of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment). Suara Untuk Alam II, scheduled for 17 December at Bali Seamans’ Club in Sanur, will feature an art auction, woodcutting workshop, and performances by bands Nosstress, Geekssmile, and Navicula. Proceeds will benefit Walhi and Akarumput’s Sumatran Forest Initiative, a campaign to combat deforestation and orangutan slaughter.

For one week following Suara Untuk Alam II, “Orangutan” can be downloaded for free exclusively on Akarumput.com.

Recently, the Indonesian press has released shocking coverage of orangutans (pongo pygmaeus), which were hunted down in Puan Cepak village, Muara Ancalong Region, Kutai Kartanegara. The orangutans in the area were allegedly damaging palm trees, causing the palm oil harvest to fail, so villagers caught and tortured the orangutans.

Akarumput.com, WALHI Bali, and musicians such as Gede Robi (Navicula) and Made Bayak (Geekssmile) feel it is important to bring attention to these issues through a creative event in Bali. This initiative received a positive reaction from Edi Sutrisno of Sawit Watch, who offered to support it. This event will also be partnering with other organizations who share these concerns, especially those with a focus on orangutan survival.

Following an initial discussion, these groups agreed to collaborate in the event “Suara untuk Alam II” (Sounds for Nature II). Suara untuk Alam is an initiative started by WALHI Bali, the first in this series of events was held at Twice Bar, Kuta on August 19th, 2011. During the first event, hardcore band Geekssmile also launched a single titled Yeah Yeah Yeah Indonesia. Suara untuk Alam II will be held on December 17, 2011 at Seamen’s Center, Sanur.

The following is a short preview of the event agenda: 

Orangutan artwork auction: During the Bali Creative Festival at Grand Bali Beach in Sanur this 25-27 November, many artists created artwork with an orangutan theme. These works of art are paintings on chipboard, illustrations on paper, and woodcut prints. During the event, many people asked if the artwork was for sale. This gave way to the idea to auction the artwork for a bigger purpose. So these artists could contribute to an environmental charity, as well as raising awareness about orangutan issues through their art. The funds raised through this auction will be donated to an environmental organization based in Bali (WALHI Bali) and an organization focused on the survival of orangutans.

Launching Navicula’s new single “Orangutan”: Navicula is dedicated their latest track “Orangutan” to environmental conservation efforts in Indonesia. This new single will also make up a track of their upcoming album, due to be completed early next year. Besides the track Orangutan, Navicula has also recorded two other songs Harimau Harimau (which means Tiger in Indonesian) dedicated to the Sumatran tiger and Refuse to Forget a track for the campaign in rememberance of the human rights activist Munir who was murdered in 2004 and the case has still not been brought to justice.