INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Environmental Outreach with National Geographic

Published: Mon 17 Mar 2008 10:38 AM
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DE RUEHJA #0548/01 0771038
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171038Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8370
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2188
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4829
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1681
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4474
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 3374
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
RUEAUSA/DEPT OF HHS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHJS/AMCONSUL SURABAYA 2127
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000548
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/PD, OES/ETC, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/PCI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SENV TPHY TBIO TRGY ID
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENTAL OUTREACH WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
JAKARTA 00000548 001.2 OF 002
1. (U) Summary: Embassy Jakarta co-hosted a reception on March 14
with National Geographic (NG) and Indonesian television network ANTV
at the Ambassador's residence. More than 200 guests from the media,
government, civil society, and the private sector attended. The
event, titled "Celebrate Indonesia's Natural and Cultural
Diversity", thanked NG for its efforts to raise public awareness
about the environment and for its contribution to the "Art in
Embassies" program; commemorated the first "all-Indonesia" issue of
National Geographic magazine; and provided a forum for a diverse
group of stakeholders to meet and discuss potential future
environmental projects. ANTV and other local print media covered the
unique evening, which doubled as both a representational event and a
program. End Summary.
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
-------------------------------
2. (U) Using a giant version of current March 2008 NG all-Indonesia
issue as a backdrop, the event featured a gallery of photographs
from the new issue, a live demonstration of Indonesian traditional
martial arts and music, NG photographers taking pictures of guests,
a looped video presentation of National Geographic Television's
"Wild Indonesia" and a special "dessert volcano." The Ambassador
and his co-hosts opened the giant issue to reveal a large-scale
version NG's newly updated political map of Indonesia.
3. (U) Joining Ambassador Hume in commemorating this edition was
media mogul Jakob Oetama, whose Gramedia company publishes National
Geographic in Indonesian as well as ANTV President-Director Anin
Bakrie. Among the VIP and celebrity guests attending were the Hong
Kong-based CEO of Star, Ltd., which is ANTV's partner in Asia; Dr.
Birute Galdikas, co-founder of the Orangutan Foundation
International, which USAID assists and who has appeard twice on the
cover of the international editio of "National Geographic";* and
over 30 televisio and film stars.
A FORUM FOR NEW PARTNERSHIPS
----------------------------
4. (U) Embassy offcers facilitated introductions among the diversegroup of celebrities, activists, government officils, and business
representatives in attendance. or many guests, the reception
provided an opportnity to meet contacts outside of their usual
sphees. Participants discussed environmental projectsranging from
a proposed eco-village outside of Jkarta to broader Indonesian and
regional priorites such as the Heart of Borneo and Coral Triangle
Initiatives. Copies of the new "Art in Embassies"brochure, which
included photography from Nationl Geographic featuring images of
Indonesia on diplay in the residence, were given to guests.
MEIA COVERAGE
--------------
5. (U) ANTV's "Topc Paggi" mnj*n* news program on March 15,
featured a story about the r`a tion.nesian
natural diversity and its importance for Indonesians and thewworld.
"Wild Indonesia," a National Geography dou mentary which will be
aired on ANTV soon, was asso mentioned as well as the launch of the
new Ino*nesian political map inside the March issue.
6. (U) On March 16, ANTV's infotainment program "Espresso" ran a
feature story on the event, using short interviews from artists and
celebrities who attended. The piece showed ANTV President-Director
Bakrie on camera, specifically talking about the cooperation between
the Embassy, ANTV and National Geography, and their shared common
vision. The program was rebroadcast later the same day.
7. (U) March 17 coverage in "Kompas," Indonesia's leading national
daily newspaper, featured an article on the event. Post anticipates
further coverage in several magazines -- all of which is unusual for
a private diplomatic event.
Comment
----------
8. (U) The event served as an effective follow-up to the recent
United Nations COP-13 Climate Change Conference hosted in Bali in
December of 2007. It brought together a good cross-section of
public and private Embassy partners and key media players, and
JAKARTA 00000548 002.2 OF 002
clearly demonstrated the U.S. Government's interest in working
together with Indonesia to increase environmental cooperation and
partnership.
HUME
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