INDONESIA Archbishop highlights folk wisdom to prevent calamity

A story from UCAN

MERAUKE, Indonesia (UCAN) — An archbishop in Papua, Indonesia’s easternmost province, says local people should learn from folk wisdom to avert natural disasters.

Sacred Heart Archbishop Nicolaus Adi Saputra of Merauke has suggested people return to the practice of building wambad, mounds on which sago trees and other crops can be planted, to protect against rising tides.

The archbishop made these comments in the wake of tidal flooding in early January that hit five of the 16 Catholic villages in Wan subdistrict, part of Merauke district.