Rhett Ayers Butler
Indonesia’s government has emphasized that the recent catastrophe in Sumatra was triggered by an extraordinary meteorological event. Cyclone Senyar formed in the Malacca Strait — where such storms are “extremely rare” — before unloading record rainfall on Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. Scientists are cautious about attributing any single storm to climate change. Yet [Continue reading]
Before dawn breaks over Surabaya, Indonesia’s “City of Heroes,” Akhyari Hananto is already at work. After morning prayers, he opens Google Analytics to watch the night’s reading patterns unfold—what stories drew attention, which headlines resonated, and where curiosity faded. “That information often determines how I’ll prioritize my work for the rest of the day,” he [Continue reading]
Do you want to contribute to something impactful in a place where you’re an outsider? Here’s what I learned starting Mongabay-Indonesia, an environmental news service in a country where I didn’t even speak the language. 1) Find the right people. The real secret? It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about finding people who do. [Continue reading]
Raja Ampat, located off the northwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia’s West Papua province, is known for its biodiversity-rich marine environments. The archipelago consists of over 1,500 small islands and islets, and its waters are home to a significant number of coral and fish species. Despite its [Continue reading]