By: Ciptanti Putri

Beside actively working in the field, WWF-Indonesia also keen to spread the message of conservation to the various levels of society. One of them recently happened in the biggest society event in Jakarta, which was entitled ""Indonesia Tatler-Panda Ball"" on last Friday evening (29/11). This event was a synergy between fundraising activities of WWF-Indonesia and Indonesia Tatler magazine's annual ball which was attended by more than 300 high-society figures, such as the Indonesian government officials, ambassadors, leaders of social organizations, public figures, as well as other VVIP guests.
 
The theme chosen for this first Ball is “A Tribute to the Sea”, specifically aimed at raising awareness of the WWF’s Coral Triangle Program. The Coral Triangle is a geographical term that refers to a roughly triangular shape of marine waters between the Pacific and Indian oceans, and includes Indonesia within its boundary. This initiative is a partnership of six countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and East Timor) that was formed in 2007 to address urgent threats facing the coastal and marine resources of one of the most biologically diverse and ecologically rich regions on earth.
 
""We are very pleased to partner with WWF-Indonesia, which opened our eyes of the real conditions of the sea and the life in it,"" said Millie Stephanie, CEO and founder of Mobiliari Group (Indonesia Tatler Magazine Publishers), in a press conference held earlier in the morning. She personally admitted to have just known a shark fin-harvesting process that later on become mandatory course in her family tradition. ""The fin is cut, taken, and the shark is left to slowly die in the ocean, only for a bowl of soup. That fact is truly heartbreaking and encouraged us to do something. Moreover, lowering number of shark population also disturbs the life circle of creatures in the sea.""
 
Millie added, ""We feel the information based on research and facts such as these need to be well-informed to our society members who have an established economic level, which is given the ability to get what they want. Therefore, they become wiser in choosing their menu."" Further more, she hoped the members of the community will gain responsibility to to protect natural resources for the sake of themselves, the Earth, as well as for the next generation.
 
The event began with a red carpet photo session and welcoming remark from the Minister of Marine and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, Sharif Cicip Sutardjo. After that, the duo hosts, Nadya Hutagalung--the WWF Earth Hour Ambassador--and Dalton Tanonaka, opened the evening Gala. Successively words from Millie Stephanie (Mobiliari Group CEO) and Dr. Efransjah (CEO of WWF-Indonesia), interspersed by short films showed the actual condition of the Coral Triangle zone as well as the implementation of WWF's Coral Triangle Program.
 
Efransjah expressed his appreciation for the initiative of Mobiliari Group in their effort to convey the message of conservation to the members of their society. ""WWF would like to highlight the importance of our oceans in supporting life on Earth, as well as a reminder that each person has the power to reduce pressure and take action to preserve the Coral Triangle. We believe that the partnership is the key to achieve our mission.""
An interesting session that evening was hosted by Bobby Chinn, celebrity chef and WWF Responsible Seafood Ambassador, who demonstrated a creation of Mahi-Mahi which is easy to prepare and using environmental friendly ingredient. While cooking, Bobby told his experience when he was diving in the under water of Papua. Bobby, who owned fine-dinning restaurants in London and Hanoi, mentioned his admiration for the beauty of the Indonesian underwater world, which he described as “the Amazon of the sea”. He hoped the audience had the opportunity to enjoy the Indonesian underwater beauty and preserve it for the future generation.
 
The guests served with a special menu from chef of Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta. The meal were made from seafood that was categorized as Sustainable Seafood. While enjoying the evening, the guests were actively engaged in a silent auction that result will be donated to WWF’s conservation program. The atmosphere became more festive with special performing of a British singer Danielle Hope, a musical group Los Merenitos, a tenor Tarik Akman, as well as professional ballroom dancers Ratih Soe, Fabian Peralta and Josefina Bermudez.