The Sungai Seria Wetlands is one of Brunei’s best places to see waterbirds, especially migratory birds, with some rare and unusual visitors. At least six bird species that are globally threatened according to Birdlife International can be seen there: Oriental Darter, Chinese Egret, Lesser Adjutant, Malaysian Plover, Black-tailed Godwit and Asiatic Dowitcher. The wetlands including Sungai Seria and surrounding grasslands between Seria and Mumong are home to many resident species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. — Andrea Bloem | The Brunei Times
[tweetmeme] First up, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has bought the Penan greeting cards since they were made available. Your contributions however big or small have made a difference in collective efforts to ensure Penan kids receive the education they deserve. However, raising money from sale of greeting cards is just one of a number of proactive efforts to save the Penans from possible extinction (Penans are South East Asia’s last Nomadic tribe). So, in a continuing effort to create awareness of their plight, the Panaga Natural History Society (PNHS) together with Jacky McLaren and her team of volunteers held a talk entitled “PENAN, LOST OR FOUND” last night at the Panaga Club. Selected photographs from Noah Jackson were also featured in the presentation slides.
Jacky McLaren begins her talk and to her left are authentic Penan craft and an actual blowpipe that used for hunting and self-defence.
Like many indigenous tribes, the Penans are great with their handicrafts and have produced these wonderful hand made items to purchase. Like the greeting cards, proceeds from sale of these crafts also go to building their future. If you’re interested in buying these items, you may contact Violette (contact details at bottom of post). Among the items available but not shown here are the unique Penan ear rings. Because they’re hand made, no two of them are alike and I’m honoured to have been presented a unique box set by Violette and Shida as token of appreciation.
Most of the Penan craft are made from a complex network of intricately twisted rattan.
Yes, a familiar scene. It all begins with a smile and once contact is made, it’s sold. What I saw last night confirmed a long suspicion about women and bags!
Azri whose ancestral roots connect him to the Penans and a passion for photography takes a close-up photo of a Penan craft with the aid of a Kenko Extension Tube.Penan crafts can be extremely colourful too evident of this being the hand weaved basketsEsther demos how to put on a traditional Penan basket.A wooden container of darts used by the Penans to hunt with the blowpipes.Violette took over my camera and had me pose with the Penan weapon. Pictured here are (from left): Gavin, Asri and the guy without his choice of weapon 🙂A view of the darts and opening of the blowpipeThe tip of the spear that’s strapped to the end of the blowpipe and the darts.Blowpipe with spear head fitted and tied securely with rattan.
More than one reason to smile about. Besides contributing to help the Penans, the craft makes a great personal collection.The angels—Shida, Esther, Jacky and Violette—championing the Penan cause to save South East Asia’s last nomadic tribe from extinction.
Many thanks to the Panaga Natural History Society (PNHS) for organising this opportunity to watch an eco-documentary “HOME” in high definition. This is a real visual treat for photographers and cinematographers alike who can appreciate the film in another dimension. Despite being 2 hour long, the sequencing and Glenn Close’s narration kept things interesting throughout. My son whose favourite subjects in school are science and geography enjoyed the film and it was an opportunity to hang out together in spite of a school night. Thank you, PNHS!
This visually dramatic film illustrates the planet’s fragile state entirely from a birds-eye view in stunning high definition. With spectacular aerial views from more than 50 countries, viewers will see the extent of human impact on our landscapes. “Home” is a celebration of Earth’s beauty and an impassioned call to protect it from destruction. Compelling and consistently optimistic, the film focuses on practical solutions for today’s environmental challenges. As Bertrand says; ‘It isn’t the 50 per cent of forest that has disappeared that’s important, but the 50 per cent that’s left‘.
Note: Video embed code disabled by owner.
Follow this link to watch video (available in 720p HD with English subtitles)
Download PDF for an in-depth study of the film (84 pgs | 2.42MB)
For more information, visit the Good Planet Foundation website.
“We have shaped the Earth in our image. We have very little time to change. How can this century carry the burden of 9 billion human beings if we refused to be called to account for everything we alone have done?”
20% of the world’s population consumes 80% of its resources
The world spends 12 times more on military expenditures than on aid to developing countries
5,000 people a day die because of dirty drinking water. 1 billion people have no access to safe drinking water.
Nearly 1 billion people are going hungry
Over 50% of grain traded around the world is used for animal feed or biofuels
40% of arable land has suffered long-term damage
Every year, 13 millions hectares of forest disappear
The ice cap is 40% thinner than 40 years ago
They may be at least 200 million climate refugees by 2050
IT’S UP TO US TO WRITE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT—TOGETHER!
[ click on image for a panoramic view of Sungai Seria Wetlands ]
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