
            Changes in our environment are happening right now, in front of our eyes. The film Semesta (Islands of Faith) shows these changes through the perspectives of different religions and beliefs. It uses the voices of seven communities taking a stance and making a change in seven provinces across Indonesia.The film begins in Bali, following the daily routines of our protagonist, Tjokorda, a well-respected cultural figure living in Ubud. Hindus in Bali undergo several rituals, beginning with Melasti and followed by Ogoh-ogoh, before Nyepi, the universe's "rest" day in the year. During Nyepi, all activities must cease, including the use of electricity. The texts explain how this one-day rest not only realigns humans with nature, but also cuts daily emissions in the popular tourism island by a third, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.The journey continues on to Sungai Utik, West Kalimantan. The village where the Dayak Iban people live has more than 9,000 hectares of forests, divided into zones of usage and protection. The preserved forests function as a "supermarket" for the indigenous peoples there, providing everything they need to sustain life. Our protagonist, Inam, the head of the sub-village, elaborates on the forest's zoning system and how their ancestral religion has taught them how to protect and preserve forests. The way indigenous peoples use and manage forests have been proven to be the best in sustaining forests.We then go to Manggarai in East Nusa Tenggara, where six years ago, a Catholic priest brought dramatic change to a village that had never had electricity before. Father Marsel and villagers there independently built a micro-hydro power plant, thereby securing a sustainable and clean source of electricity. Unfortunately, in 2018 the village was struck by flash flood that ruined the levees and generator. Residents, led by Father Marsel, rebuilt the facility, with a strong belief that their efforts constitute as ecological repentance called for by the Pope in his renowned Laudato Si. Their success shows how areas without access to electricity in Indonesia could utilise environmentally-friendly renewable energy to help with reducing emissions and mitigating climate change.In Papua, locals assist the rebalancing of nature through sasi, an Eastern Indonesian tradition where fishing or hunting is banned for a certain period of time, and when it is opened, only certain animals and products can be harvested over an agreed period. Almina, the head of the local church's women group in Kapatcol village in Misool, organises the opening of sasi laut for seven days, with the blessing of the church. The women would use the additional income from this short period for various uses, like education. Sasi shows how traditions provide a chance for marine biota to reproduce, sustaining their numbers and ensuring that the bounty exists in the future.Another practice to live in harmony with nature is used in Aceh, where we go to Pameu, a village surrounded by forests. Whenever wild elephants enter the village's gardens and damage the harvest, locals believe that the best and only way to address this is by making peace with nature. This is done by holding a kenduri (prayer and feast), as a reflection of Islamic teachings on how to live alongside nature, and is led by Imam Yusuf, their religious leader. Imam Yusuf emphasises this peaceful practice in his sermons to make sure that villages use this instead of resorting to injuring wildlife by poison or snares when there is conflict. Texts in the film explain how protecting elephants means protecting the forests and the role of ecosystems in managing climate change.Coming to Java, Indonesia's most populous island, the film journeys to Yogyakarta, where a family is committed to practice thayyib, where everything consumed must originate from virtue and good values. Pak Is, the head of the family, years ago decided to relocate to Imogiri and make a living out of its dry land, building a place called Bumi Langit (Earth and Sky). There, the family live by learning from nature, going through a continuous process of adapting and creatively innovating. They practice permaculture to reconnect with nature and open workshops classes to spread this practice and understanding, partly to undo some of the negative impacts that the food industry has on the environment.The film ends in Jakarta, zooming in on Kebun Kumara, gardens located in the outskirts of the capital that produce organic vegetables on a piece of non-productive land formerly used to burn trash. Kebun Kumara campaigns on their principles to learn from nature, creatively turning the land green again, all through a modern urban lifestyle. The texts highlight the necessity to change the lifestyle of urbanites to preserve and improve the environment.
    

Agustinus Pius Inam

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