Vice President Kalla Orders Expansion of Bali Airport Be Completed by 2011

Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla has apparently brought to an end the long-standing debate on the future of Bali's international airport by instructing that a Rp. 1.2 trillion (US$108 million) expansion must be completed by 2011.

As reported by Bisnis Indonesia, the Vice President issued his instructions following an inspection visit to the airport over the Christmas/New Year period. He was accompanied on his visit by the Minister of Communications Jusman Syafii Djamal, the Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik, the governor of Bali Made Mangku Pastika, the Regent (Bupati) of Badung A.A. Gde Agung and the Director of Angkasa Pura I Bambang Darwoto.

Declaring there was no immediate need to extend the length of the current airport, Kalla directed that the current expansion of the Ngurah Rai Airport should be completed by 2011, declaring the expanded airport sufficient to meet Bali's transportation needs through 2020.

Rejecting calls to make the current runway long enough to handle jumbo Airbus 380 aircraft, Vice President Kalla discounted the importance of creating an airport capable of handling the super-jumbo at the end of a 12 hour flight from the U.S. or Europe. According to Kalla, "the cost exceeds the benefit if we extend the length of the current runway to accommodate airplanes that handle 500 passengers."

Bambang Darwoto of the airport management authority said the current 15,000 square meter domestic terminal would be moved to the larger 70,000 square meter international terminal. Darwoto also said that the Vice President vetoed the idea of building a mall between the international and domestic terminals, saying the airport was not a transit facility but a destination airport.

Other changes will see the international terminal moved to the space occupied by the current domestic terminal and expanded to 70,000 square meters.

Also on tap for the improved airport is more apron space to accommodate more parked aircraft, a four floor parking facility, and a new control tower.

In 2008 the Bali airport handled an estimated 5 million domestic and international passengers.

How Green is Our Island?

Bali's provincial government has begun sounding warning alarms due to the degradation of the island's natural environment over the past decade. In an article published in Kompas, the erosion of Bali's shore line now approaches 20%, 55,000 hectares of land mass are considered in a critical state and the island’s average temperature has increased to 33 degree Celsius. According to that report, much of the blame for the rapid decline in Bali's natural environment is being laid at the door of the Island’s tourism industry.

The head of the Bali Environmental Agency, Gede Putu Wardana, confirmed the government’s growing concern over the environment, and said a long-term environmental protection plan stretching to 2050 is now being formulated.

According to Wardana, in the shorter term of 2009 to 2014 there are plans to replant Bali's forests, stop the erosion of shorelines and re-green critical water-absorbent green zones.

Data provided by the Director General of Water Resources the air temperature in November 2008 reached 22-33 degrees Celsius. Previous to that, the average temperature ranges between 28-30 degrees Celsius.

At the same time, water levels are now 50 centimeters higher on almost all beaches of Bali.

The fast-declining condition of Bali’s environment is also underlined by the fact that the 51,950 kilometers of eroded shore line recorded in 1987 has now grown to 91,070 kilometers or approximately 20% of Bali's entire shoreline (436,500). At the same time, officials report that the intrusion of sea water into the water table has become a major concern in many areas of the island.

A local activist from Conservation International Indonesia, Made Iwan Dewantama, has characterized the soon-to-be-announced timetable for preventing further environmental degradation as coming too late. He points to the many environmental and green conferences held in Bali, including the U.N. Climate Change Conference held in December 2007, as demonstrating that Bali has done little for the environment despite the dire warnings sounded during numerous conference held at the Island’s conventions centers.

Balinale International Film Festival 2008

50 Films from 20 countries and 5 stimulating workshops will highlight the Balinale International Film Festival 2008 being held in Bali October 21-31, 2008.

To help you enjoy the interesting range of films and other activities being held in conjunciton with the Balinale, we present an overview of the planned program:

● Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - Galleria 21 Theatre, Simpang Siur, Kuta

- 7:00 p.m. Red Carpet Premiere and Reception

- 8:00 p.m. Man of Cinema: Pierre Rissient

● Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - Galleria 21 Theatre, Simpang Siur, Kuta

- 4:00 p.m. Son of a Lion - Indonesian premiere

- 6:00 p.m. Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai - Asian premiere

- 8:00 p.m. El Viaje de la Nonna (Nonna’s Trip) Asian premiere with Director's intro followed by an after film reception sponsored by the Mexican Embassy, Jakarta.

● Thursday, October 23, 2008 - Galleria 21 Theatre, Simpang Siur, Kuta

- 1:00 p.m. Children's Film: Alla Vi Barn I Bullerbyn (The Children of Butterby Village)

- 4:00 p.m. Lezioni di vola (Flying Lessons) - Asian Premiere

- 6:00 p.m. Opera Jawa Bali premiere

- 8:00 p.m. Ping Pong Playa Asian premiere with Filmaker’s intro.

● Friday, October 24, 2008 - Oriental Theatre, Seminyak

- TBA "Why Hollywood is Looking East" – a panel discussion. Check website for time and location.

- 7:00 p.m. God Made Them Blind - Indonesian premiere. Director's introduction, pre-screening receptiom sponsored by The Government of Western Australia.

- 9:00 p.m. Shelter Asian premiere with filmaker's introduction, question and answer.

● Saturday, October 25, 2008 - Casa Luna Lounge, Ubud

- 9:00 a,m. Photojournalism Workshop for High School Students with Syamsul Hadi- Day One

- 10:00 a.m. Asian Pacific Shorts and Documentaries International premiere

- 2:00 p.m. Rome International Film Festival – Selections Asian premiere

- 4:00 p.m. Flow Southeast Asian premiere

- 6:00 p.m. Deep Sea with Director's introduction at Tony Raka Gallery, Ubud.

● Sunday, October 26, 2008

- 10:00 a.m. Day 2 of Photojournalism Workshop for High School Studnets with Syamsul Hadi

- 6:00 p.m. Echoes of Bali premiere

- 6:45 p.m. Photo Exhibition from the feature movie "Drupadi" (25-30 October). Photos by Anton Ismael and Andry Dillindra for 'Third Eye Studio'

- 8:15 p.m. In Person: Richard Horowitz presents – "The Importance of Traditional Eastern Music in Film" with a live performance.

● Monday, October 27, 2008 - New Media School, Denpasar

- 12:00 The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lama. Flimkaer workshops with Directors Catherine Madigan & Richardr Todd. Check website for time and venue.

● Tuesday, October 28, 2008 - Galleria 21 Theatre, Simpang Siur, Kuta

- 1:00 p.m. Children's Films: Du är Inte klok Madicken (You're Out of Your Mind, Madicken)

- 4:00 p.m. The Gold Rush - Classic Charlie Chaplin

- 600 p.m. Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin

- 8:00 p.m. Footage of Charlie's Visit to Bali in 1932 with introduction by the Chaplin Association

● Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - Galleria 21 Theatre, Simpang Siur, Kuta

- 1:00 p.m. Children's Film: Bröderna Lejonhjärta (The Brothers Lion Heart)

- 4:00 p.m. Into the Tsangpo Gorge Indonesian premiere

- 6:00 p.m. 9808: An Anthology of 10 Years of Indonesian Reform Indonesian premiere

- 8:00 p.m. Perempuan Punya Cerita (Chants of Lotus) Bali premiere. Introduced by Vivian Idris (scriptwriter) and Santy (actress).

● Thursday, October 30, 2008

- Eagle Awards 2007-2008. Screening and critiques by visiting international filmmakers.

● Friday, October 31, 2008

- Closing program TBA

Film Ticket Prices

Film ticket prices Adults Rp. 50,000 (US$5.10) Students (with ID) Rp. 25,000 (US$2.55)