National Symbols of Indonesia

Pretty much like other countries in the world, Indonesia has created some objects as its national symbols. Among these symbols are the national emblem, motto, flag, anthem, and language. In addition to these man-made symbols, Indonesia has also designated a number of plants and animals as its national flora and fauna. Unlike most countries, however, Indonesia has got not only one species of plant and animal to represent the country--it's got three under the titles 'national' (satwa nasional), 'of charm' (satwa pesona), and 'rare' (satwa langka) respectively. In fact, each province in Indonesia has designated one plant and one animal as its provincial identities (here and here). Hopefully, this symbolic expression would bring an effective preservation of the said species. 

PS: This infographic was made using images gathered from the Internet.

How diverse is Indonesia?

To talk about Indonesia is to talk about diversity. It is of little wonder that the idea of diversity is the first topic an Indonesian points out when presenting their country before the public. Indonesia is diverse, both naturally and culturally. And that's why I decided to make this infographic.

Along the process, I realised that the cultural diversity of Indonesia implies something wonderful: these different groups of people living on scattered islands for generations, who have developed their own distinct cultural identities, customs, and languages, can be united in a single political entity called Indonesia. Similarly, the extremely high biodiversity of Indonesia is something one can't help but be grateful for. The flora and fauna, both on land and under water, make up an immense ecosystem that these people have been trying to learn and live in harmony with.

And yet such diversity is now put in danger. A number of languages are predicted to be extinct in the future, and so are some species of animals. Human activities are to blame for the loss of Indonesia's rainforest and for the damaged fluvial and marine life. I am wondering if the best service an Indonesian can do for their country is to preserve natural and cultural diversity; since diversity is the identity of the country.

PS: This infographic was made using images gathered from the Internet.

How large is Indonesia?

I often take for granted the extent of Indonesian archipelago, partly because of its maritime feature, which makes Indonesia look dominated by water, rather than land. And map projection does create some distortion so that Indonesia, which is located along the equator, seems tinier than countries far to the north or to the south, such as China or the US.

However, upon Internet research, I found that the flight distance from the westernmost to easternmost towns of the country (popularly called 'dari Sabang sampai Merauke', from Sabang to Merauke) is longer than that in China, the US, or even the whole Europe. Travelling by flight from Banda Aceh in Aceh to Jayapura in Papua takes a longer time than from Lisbon to Moscow, or from San Fransisco to New York city.

I created this infographics as a light reminder and, hopefully, an eye-opener that our homeland is indeed large. And such vast territory consequently brings a demand for an effective government. We should be reminded that Indonesia is unlike China or the US, the territory of which is mostly land area. Indonesia is a huge maritime nation, which poses a challenge of maintaining security over the archipelago, especially in the areas close to the borders.

PS: I gathered the images from various websites since I don't know yet how to work with Photoshop, Corel Draw, and the like. Many thanks to the creators.

'To be One' rendered into French

'To be One' is one of the most recognisable songs used during the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP) since 2000s. Performed by Indonesian singer Gita Gutawa, the lyrics tell about friendship and willingness to be one despite differences. The original rendition is in English, and I've rendered it into French. Enjoy.

Je vois un arc-en-ciel

Couleurs qui brillent dans ma vie

J’entends des oiseaux-mouches

chantant une belle chanson

Chanson d’amour et de joie

Chanson de paix, d’espoir

Je veux pas que ça s’achève

Je veux que ça dure sans cesse

Bien qu’on ne soit pas pareil

Alors même qu’on prend des chemins divers

dans ma vie, dans ta vie

Tenons-nous par la main

ensemble dans ce monde

Unissons-nous

Le monde sera une maison pour nous tous

qui nous donne l’esprit tranquille

plein d’amour, sans larme

où toi et moi, on peut rire

sans pleurer, tout sourire

L’endroit pour nous, nous unir

Unissons-nous