by David McKinnie, NOAA Liaison, American Embassy Jakarta
July 2, 2010
At American Embassies around the world, one of the most important events of the year is the 4th of July celebration. Indonesia is large enough to merit three of them – in Surabaya, Jakarta, and Medan – on different days. This year, Jakarta celebrated the 4th on July 2nd. The celebration was special for NOAA and its ocean exploration partners in Indonesia.
The Ambassador requested that we highlight ocean exploration with displays in the foyer outside the ballroom. Four screens showed loops of remotely operated vehicle footage from this week and banners highlighted the INDEX-SATAL ocean exploration partnership. The Ambassador featured NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer in his remarks before about 1,000 guests, using our ocean exploration partnership to describe the kind of relationship that Indonesia and the United States can and should have.
The 4th of July celebration also brought together many friends and supporters who made the Okeanos Explorer visit and INDEX-SATAL possible. The photos in this log show Nada Marsuda (Ministry of Science and Technology), who coached us through the research permit process, and Murni Murniati (U.S. Embassy) who has been critical to every aspect of bringing the Okeanos Explorer to Indonesia. The Embassy IT team, which has adopted the Okeanos Explorer as its own, is also featured. And Dr. Jim Holden, chief scientist at the Jakarta Exploration Command Center, enjoyed his first ever Embassy 4th of July party.
On Monday, the Ambassador will visit the Baruna Jaya IV and participate in a ceremony to launch the ship to North Sulawesi and its rendezvous with the Okeanos Explorer on July 20.