Upriver Events
Here in Gunung Mas we are planning to hold a conference of the ‘Ulema of Aceh (Islamic Scholars). We will be inviting some international personalities to enjoy the rural pleasures of our eco-community in West Aceh. We intend to discuss issues of the environment from an Islamic point of view, delving into fiqh and usul to find useful solutions to Aceh’s growing environmental imbalances. Especially of concern will be matters concerning the damaged forests which constitute our heritage. Our village, Gunung Mas is at the heart of a movement to replant the depleted forests of Aceh’s ravaged interior. It is to this purpose that we have established a multi-species tree nursery in the community.
We will also discuss issues of conservation and perhaps revive some legal instruments derived from Sharia’ah designed especially to conserve wild areas. Such legal instruments, or hima, were formerly used by the Khalifate and have fallen into disuse in modern times. It may just happen that we find in the sharia’ah viable legal tools to conserve what’s left of our natural heritage.
On the Agenda also will be issues of the Palm oil plantations which inexorably spread across Aceh, devastating forests, impoverishing the land, drying up the water resources, displacing traditional rural communities and diminishing available land for food production just to feed the motor cars of the world.
Lastly, recognizing the amazing heritage of the Leuser Forest Ecosystem, we intend to discuss ideas on how best to conserve this unique place for the future pride of our children and the world. We will post the information concerning the conference as arrangements develop. So watch this page for news!
At present we are building some traditional Acenese houses to accommodate the conference in appropriate style. We regard the ‘ulema as very important people who deserve to be received in style even though we don’t ourselves live in such grand dwellings.
CONFERENCE IN
GUNUNG MAS-PEULANTEU
Traditional Aceh House in various stages of construction for conference in Gunung Mas/Peulanteu
Conference of ASEAN 'ulema in West Aceh March/April, 2010
An ASEAN international Conference of 'Ulema in West Aceh is an opportunity not to be lost.
The conference will be in a village context - Offering what Aceh has to offer best: The traditional Achenese village experience and Traditional Achenese Adat.
Aceh, the original heartland of Islam in S.E.Asia, and reputedly the country most attached to traditional Islam in the region, takes the opportunity to make a statement of international importance not only to S.E. Asia but to the entire Muslim world and to the rest of the world. This is especially significant as such a statement would in fact be one of Aceh's first statements to the world from it's 'ulema (religious scholars) since Aceh acquired special autonomy.
In order to do this issues of international concern will be discussed from an Islamic perspective, especially those issues where Aceh can make a positive contribution by its particular circumstances, history and preoccupations.
The two prime issues of the day are Global Terrorism and Global warming.
With the first issue Muslims are on the defensive, kept busy denying accusations. Since 9-11 the entire Muslim world with its 'ulema seem to have been wasting time discussing issues of "Who Muslims are NOT" (i.e denying accusations that Islam is the religion of terrorism).
Is it not about time that the 'ulema discussed issues of "What are real Islamic values and wisdom" and how Islam can positively address world issues?
On the other hand with issues of Global warming, Climate Change, etc Islam has a whole wealth of wisdom to offer. For these are issues of global balance, man in his environment and as part of creation khuluq, stewardship, khulafah and respect (adab), which are of the very essence of Islam. Aceh in particular has even more to contribute. Firstly on account of its sophisticated and elaborate system of Adat (customary behavior) and respect for the environment. Secondly in the light of the Government of Aceh's "Aceh Green" Policy, which purports to make Aceh into an environmentally balanced country, harmonizing a traditional sustenance farming and fishing people with the conservation of some of the most extraordinary and bio-diverse tropical rainforests on the planet.
Issues to be discussed will include: Creation (Khuluq), Pollution (Fasad), Balance (Mizan) and stewardship (Khulafah), Custom (Adat).
Other issues which will be discussed are Aceh's unique Qanun Adat, in which there is much guidance for environmental balance and welfare. This especially as most Achenese live on the land.
There exist in Sharia'ah legal instruments such as haram and hima which effectively were designed to conserve places of special interest or wild places. These legal instruments were used by Khalifs in the past. Such issues will be discussed among the 'ulema and their revival considered for the conservation of Aceh's precious forests.
The world has shown itself incapable of devising means to maintain the balance of the environment. Islam in fact can and has the cultural tools from its authentic sources for this. Muslims should be reminded of this. In Aceh the religious scholars pronounce and the people listen and generally follow. Their pronouncements are discussed in the coffee houses of Banda Aceh.
When Prince Charles of England said in Yok Jakarta in 2008 "Islam is the way to conserve the environment" he was of course right. But it may well be that in the modern world it is now only in Aceh that this can be demonstrated to be true. Insha’Allah.
Tree Planting Operation in the Ulu Mazen Ecosystem, Aceh Besar.
October 25th 2010.
Upriver Projects in collaboration with IFEES and local Aceh environment agency IKAPALA is organizing a tree planting operation in the Ulu Mazen Ecosystem in the district of Indrapuri, Aceh Besar. The operation will take the form of an inter-pesantren competition. The pesantren (religious school) which plants the most trees will receive a substantial prize of a collection of religious books, tafsir, hadith, etc to grace its library. Enthusiasm is high and we are hoping that the event will take place within the next three months. Rafly, Aceh’s extraordinary singer, said he would come and sing to add to the semangat (spirit).
We will announce the launch date for the operation as soon as we know. The tree saplings will be monitored over three years by the various Pesantrens as part of their educational, religious and environmental programme.
