ANN/BERNAMA – If you want to discover the artistic, historic and cultural significance of the keris, you can visit the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur to catch the newly-opened Keris: Power And Identity exhibition, an inaugural collaboration between Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor (YRMS) and IAMM.
The keris (a distinctive, asymmetrical traditional dagger) exhibition, which runs until March 13 next year, is housed at the IAMM Special Gallery 2 space.
For Nusantara history buffs, the “Keris Alang“ that was used to execute criminals who were sentenced to death in the 19th Century is one of the attractions at the exhibition.
There is no shortage of stories and historical facts behind each exhibit.
IAMM is showcasing 94 keris artefacts, including 59 from the private collection of Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in addition to other ancient artefacts from the museum collection.
“We are always honoured to showcase the contributions of Muslim scholars and distinguished artists and craftsmen, as well as highlight and share the uniqueness of the Malay world’s arts and crafts with our local and foreign visitors,” said IAMM Head Curatorial Affairs Dr Heba Nayel Barakat.
ABOVE & BELOW: Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah viewing a keris exhibit at the event; and Islamic Art Museum Malaysia showcasing a total of 94 keris artefacts, including 59 from the private collection of Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. PHOTOS: BERNAMA
“Beyond doubt, the keris and keris-making are among the most important cultural manifestations of the Malay world. It is a dagger of distinction, an exquisite piece of art, crafted with passion and respect,” she added.
A line-up of educational programmes, such as wood-carving and puppet-making workshops, talks and a keris-making demonstration series will accompany the three-month exhibition.
The Keris: Power And Identity exhibition is designed to impress well-informed keris enthusiasts as well as curious newcomers. To keep things organised, it features six sections – The Realm And History Of Keris, The Art Of The Keris, The Shared Heritage, Symbol Of Sovereignty, Inspired By Faith and Continuity Of The Legacy.
Specially curated for the exhibition, the Continuity Of The Legacy section discusses the future of keris-making and the undertakings made by YRMS to preserve such heritage, through its “Talent For The World: Young Keris Makers” programme.
This programme is one of the major efforts carried out by YRMS – to help less fortunate but talented and skillful youth who may not have the chance to further their studies or to move forward in life.
In discussing and highlighting the keris-making trade and lost art forms, the conversations now are focussed on the next generation of keris artisans since the old masters are slowly disappearing.
At the IAMM, this section highlights three modern-day keris designs, produced by young keris-makers under the Talent For The World programme in an effort to ensure the continuity of keris-making.
The three keris-makers – Abdul Hakim Zulkifli, 29, Ahmad Azuan Othman, 33, and Muzaffar Mohd Zafri, 32 – underwent a three-year intensive programme under five master craftsmen who specialise in various aspects of the keris art form.
Keris: Power And Identity is also about understanding the rich history behind these traditional daggers, with new perspectives surrounding the distinctive features of each keris, regional origins, their royal associations and the influence of Islam on the design and development on the present day keris.
BEIJING (XINHUA) – The number of new charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) in China grew at a rapid pace this year to meet the demand of the country’s burgeoning EV community, industrial data showed.
By the end of November, the country had about 4.95 million charging facilities, up 107.5 per cent from the same period last year, according to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance (EVCIPA).
Some 2.33 million charging points were added from January to November this year, the EVCIPA said.
Of the total, the number of new public charging stations doubled from a year ago, while the number of private charging points more than quadrupled during the first 11 months compared to last year.
The rapid growth in charging facilities is generally in line with the country’s booming new energy vehicle sector.
From January to November, sales of new energy vehicles came in at 6.07 million units in China, which was 2.6 times the newly added charging points during the period, basically meeting the needs of the rapidly developing industry, the EVCIPA said.
HONOLULU, HAWAII (AP) – Scientists lowered the alert level for the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island from a warning to a watch on Saturday and said the mountain’s first eruption in nearly 40 years may soon end.
The United States (US) Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said in a bulletin that the eruption on the mountain’s northeast rift zone was continuing, but lava output and volcanic gas emissions were “greatly reduced”.
“High eruption rates will not resume based on past eruptive behaviour and current behaviour suggests that the eruption may end soon,” the observatory said. “However, an inflationary trend of Mauna Loa’s summit is accompanying the decreased activity and there is a small possibility that the eruption could continue at very low eruptive rates.”
Meanwhile, it said, a lava flow front had “stagnated” nearly 3.2 kilometres from Saddle Road, the vital highway that residents and tourists alike use to travel between the city of Hilo on the east side of the island and coastal resorts to the west.
Scientists said earlier this week that the road was no longer under imminent threat from the lava, allaying fears previously that it could be cut off.
Mauna Loa began spewing molten rock on November 27 after being quiet for 38 years, drawing onlookers to take in the incandescent spectacle and setting some nerves on edge early on among people who’ve lived through destructive eruptions.
For many Native Hawaiians, the phenomenon has a deep yet very personal cultural significance.The observatory said its scientists were continuing to monitor the volcano closely.
Spectators watch the lava flow down the mountain from the Mauna Loa eruption. PHOTO: AP
Five students will begin their weeklong study trip in Japan today, with hopes to build new friendships and acquire new experiences.
“This is the first time for all of us to visit Japan and we are really excited,” said Politeknik Brunei paramedic student Aiman Nurhadi bin Abdul in an interview with the Bulletin before their departure on Saturday.
“We hope to establish new friendships with Japanese students as well as learn their culture first hand.
“We also hope to promote Brunei Darussalam in our presentation to Japanese students,” he added.
Meanwhile, mechanical engineering student from Universiti Teknologi Brunei Lim Zhi Jian @ Nathan said he hopes to gain some ideas for his final year project.
The student delegation with Deputy General Manager of Brunei Liaison Office of Mitsubishi Corporation Naohide Koyutaka at the Brunei International Airport. PHOTO: JAMES KON
“My final year project is designing an offshore container for oil and gas, so I hope that this trip will help.”
Nathan and Aiman Nurhadi will be accompanied by UTB students Nur Alifah Amira binti Haji Abu Bakar, Daren Tang Jia Xien and Muhammad Aminin bin Haji Azlan.
Assistant Manager in Business Relations for Mitsubishi Corporation Brunei Liaison Office Hajah Rohayati binti Haji Damit will also join the students on their trip.
The week-long trip, sponsored by the Japan-Brunei Friendship Association, will see the students visiting Rikkyo University and University of Aizu, Sodegaura LNG terminal, Tsunami Disaster Memorial Museum, and other sites of interest.
Deputy General Manager of Brunei Liaison Office of Mitsubishi Corporation Naohide Koyutaka saw the group off on Saturday.
Brunei Darussalam made an impressive feat in the international esports scene after bagging the silver medal in the PUBG Mobile category with a total of 186 points during the 14th World Esports Championship 2022 in Bali, Indonesia.
The team only trailed Kazakhstan overall who won the event with 193 points, with Jordan coming in third place with 151 points.
The PUBG Mobile members comprised Muhd Safwan Hakimi Abdullah Husaini, Mohd Hadif Fadhli Haji Sufari, Md Danish Haqeeme Hizami bin Muhaimin and Md Danial Hadhrami Safiuddin bin Muhaimin.
The Sultanate also bested a field including the likes of Saudi Arabia, hosts Indonesia, Iraq, Taipei, Morocco, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil, Vietnam, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Egypt.
The association had sent six athletes and two officials including Tekken 7 participants Muhd Hafey Mirza bin Haji Mohd Shafiee and Muhd Abdul Qawiy Wafiyuddin bin Haji Zulaihee who competed in the eFootball 2023 accompanied by Esports Association of Brunei President Abdul ‘Azhiim bin Haji Abdul Latif and General Secretary Hawaii Yee.
The Brunei Darussalam PUBG Mobile team members. PHOTO: ESPORTS ASSOCIATION OF BRUNEI
Abdul ‘Azhiim said, “It is truly an honour to witness this amazing journey from these four young boys who for the first time representing their country abroad and put up such a top class performance.”
He added, “They have shown capabilities worthy of a champion since the play-in stage and onto the finals.”
The president also shared that Hafey managed to secure a round of 16 finish in his debut while Muhd Abdul Qawiy managed to give a good account of himself against professional players from Spain, Thailand and Bosnia.
Meanwhile, PUBG team captain Muhd Safwan Hakimi said, “It is our first time competing abroad and also against world class athletes.”
Organised by the International Esports Federation (IESF), a total of 106 countries participated in the global stage.
The game titles competed included PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends Bang Bang, eFootball 2023, Tekken 7, Dota 2, CSGO (Men) and CSGO (Women).
When it comes to running, there is a well-documented and general perception that people have a love-hate relationship with it – whether it is the fear of injury or admiring the scenic outdoor views, while at the same time enjoying the health benefits.
Personally, such disciplines never occurred to be my strongest suit the moment I started putting on my first running shoes and examining the cobbled pavements or meandering alleyways of a foreign country.
Although running is considered the most basic form of cardiovascular conditioning activity as opposed to cycling or swimming which require a certain level of skill and technique, it has never been in my DNA and I quite often struggled with a perceived lack of stamina.
However, my impression of running took a turn few months ago as I began to discover more fitness-themed activities to supplement my daily routine of attending classes at the gym. In what only can be interpreted as natural progression in my weight loss journey, my newfound desire for partaking in competitions compelled me to sign up for the 21.1-kilometre (km) half marathon event in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2022.
Of course, there is an element of risk as it is a big leap in distance, having never broken the 10 km mark before recreationally, never mind competitively.
The competitive spirit and drive in me had nonetheless persuaded me to attempt what could only be described as one of my biggest challenges yet in the fitness world, even though the 10km category would have been the easier option.
With the Singapore Marathon signalling the recovery of sports activities from the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, I simply could not let the opportunity pass by and began to prepare for the race once my registration, flight arrangements and accommodation were confirmed.
The writer with the other runners during the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) 2022. PHOTOS: SPORTOGRAFThe writer completed the half marathon in exactly two hours, five minutes and 47 seconds – his new personal best record.
After weeks and months of putting in the shifts and mileage, including a practice run simulating the actual event during Bandarku Ceria on the final weekend leading to the race, the time finally arrived.
After arriving at Changi Airport, the night before, I proceeded to a seafood place where, considering that I needed energy to fuel myself for the race, I went on a carbohydrate-loading diet designed to increase performance by storing energy in the form of glycogen.
It wasn’t the first time that I had done it, as the nutrition strategy approach seemed to work well during my previous Spartan competitions in Johor and Deka Fit competition in Kuching, Sarawak.
Accompanied by a close friend who happened to be on a two-week work trip there, we ordered a meal fit for a king as I dug into mud crab, lobster tail with braised ee-fu noodles and wasabi prawns.
I returned to my hotel satisfied and slept for a full two hours before taking a short walk to the venue (a five-minute walk from the hotel), where the excitement started to kick in.
Previously, I had never imagined myself as a runner, let alone attempting a half marathon, but the thought of pushing myself to new limits and boundaries drew my interest and it was something that I dreamt to achieve now my fitness levels have substantially improved.
As a novice in the competition, every single moment was a new experience, including waiting anxiously for the start of the race at the starting line.
I also felt quite excited to be one of the 12,000 runners who were involved in the race, easily making it one of the biggest sporting events in the region that weekend.
Just when it appeared that the race was about to start, the downpour forced thousands of runners including myself to seek cover, but we eventually still ended drenched. The rain eventually subsided but the race was delayed for an hour, with the emcees assuring that safety is in the best interest of the organisers.
There was good news in the end as the emcees announced that the first flag-off was at 5.30am – the race was originally scheduled at 4.30am – much to the delight of the runners who remained in high spirit despite the inclement weather.
It was finally my turn at the starting line-up as I took my first steps in the half-marathon with the skies still dark, though the streets were well lit enough for us to enjoy the spectacular views.
The thought of seeing a sea of people crowding the roads and running with no incoming vehicles, considering the partial closure of roads, while taking in Singapore’s scenic skyline is a surreal experience.
Going as fast as I could and overtaking people in the middle of the road, covering the distance and eventually contributing to my final time were among the main highlights of the long but exciting race for me.
On several occasions, I stopped short for a water break before continuing the race and even consumed one of the energy gels that I purchased from a running store in Brunei.
It was probably not the best of ideas wearing my brand-new running shoes for the first time, but it had been somewhat a ritual of wearing something new before the competition.
One of the reasons why I intended to join a half marathon was to find my threshold; where I finally break down both mentally and physically, but never at any point was I close to giving up.
In fact, the faster I breezed passed people, the more joy I felt, especially being able to speed up and find a burst of energy which proved beneficial in finishing the race with a decent time.
The thought of moving one step closer to the finish line with every passing kilometre drove me to pick up my speed, especially after learning how to manage my breathing and aerobic capacity during my countless classes at a local gym.
When I first registered, I put down my race prediction time at under three hours, but I came to realise that I could go under at least two hours and 30 minutes once I passed a group of pacers around the 15km mark.
Having only attempted a 21-km run the previous weekend, suddenly the thought of achieving a personal best time was within my reach, provided I maintained my pace.
Perhaps the turning point of achieving a personal best was when I was running along the Marina Boulevard stretch with a lightning quick pace of five full minutes.
It was the fastest I had been in my whole experience of running in general, especially coming from someone who was only able to post a pace of seven to eight minutes just two years ago.
In the final few corners and straight lines before the end of the race, I knew I was close to completion, especially since I was very familiar with the route aided by my long walks while in Singapore over the years.
To be able to see the time screen on the finishing line and crossing the line represented not only a reward for all the consistent training, but also the continuing progress that I have made since embarking on a weight loss journey.
Moments after the race, I logged on to the SCSM app and searched for my result using my bib number.
To my amazement, I found out that I finished the race in exactly two hours, five minutes and 47 seconds, a new personal best compared to my previous time of two hours, 14 minutes and 28 seconds the weekend before.
It was my third competition in four months but I still could not process the magnitude of my accomplishment seeing the finisher’s medal wrapped around my neck.
While it may be viewed as an individual triumph, I was also proud to represent my country in the international stage alongside runners from all over the world including Italy, Brazil, China, South Korea, India, Kenya and a number of Southeast Asian neighbours.
Last but not least, the organisers should also be applauded for their post-race service after supplying complimentary items such as water bottles, cold towels, banana and Himalayan salt sachets, while there were also carts with hydration bars in the race village.
Certainly, it was an experience that helped renew my interest in joining competitions and mark the start of my competitive running career.
AL KHOR, QATAR (AFP) – Olivier Giroud continued his magnificent World Cup by scoring France’s late winner in their quarter-final against England early yesterday and admitted that the holders’ battling performance in adversity evoked the spirit of their triumphant 2018 run.
France are now just two games away from becoming the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy after Giroud’s fourth goal of the tournament sunk an impressive England side in a titanic battle at Al Bayt Stadium.
The holders took the lead through Aurelien Tchouameni but were pegged back early in the second half and were on the ropes for long spells before Giroud headed in the decisive goal in the 78th minute to seal a 2-1 victory.
France had considerably less possession, half as many attempts on goal and got lucky late on as Harry Kane – having earlier scored from the spot – blazed an 84th-minute penalty over the bar.
And Giroud later said the game brought back memories of his team’s semi-final in Russia four years ago, when they edged out Belgium 1-0 in Saint-Petersburg before going on to beat Croatia and lift the trophy.
“This match reminds me of the Belgium game in 2018, even if the scenario is a bit different because England came back and believed in their chances and pushed forward,” Giroud said.
England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is beaten by a header from France’s Olivier Giroud to score his side’s second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal match at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. PHOTOS: APOlivier Giroud
“We showed superb spirit and worked so hard for each other. It is the same spirit as in 2018 and I hope we go as far as possible because this group is capable of great things.”
Giroud was a non-scoring member of the 2018 team but at 36 he is enjoying a memorable tournament in Qatar having earlier overtaken Thierry Henry to become France’s all-time top scorer.
It is a far cry from Euro 2020, when he was relegated to the bench following Karim Benzema’s return to the international fold.
This time he has taken full advantage of Benzema’s injury just before the World Cup began to become a key player again, and France have put their disappointing European Championship – when they lost to Switzerland on penalties in the last 16 – firmly behind them.
Their performance in Qatar also contrasts starkly with the trend at recent World Cups, with Italy, Spain and Germany going out of the last three tournaments as holders in the first round.
“The recent record of the holders has been rather negative so we can be pleased at reversing that trend,” said coach Didier Deschamps, whose team will now be strongly fancied to beat Morocco in the last four.
If France do go all the way to the final in Doha on Sunday and win it, they will be the first team since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the title.
“We are getting closer but now we have a very important next step.”
Forty-one 4×4 vehicles departed for Miri from Kuala Belait yesterday to participate in the 5th Sarawak 4×4 International Jamboree.
The jamboree, organised by the Sarawak 4×4 Travel and Adventure club (SAKTA) begins tomorrow and ends on December 16.
Participants will travel a distance of 500 kilometres beginning at the northern part of Miri and travel through Beluru, Marudi/Baram and Telang Usan. This includes travelling through access roads through Pekan Lapok, Long Sobeng to the Long Aton area, and through several unused log tracks in Baram, up to the Ulu Dapoi Plateau.
Yesterday, the Kampong Pandan ‘C’ Village Consultative Council organised a doa selamat ceremony for the offroad adventurers. The convoy comprised 28 vehicles from the Belait District, nine from Sabah and four from Sarawak, carrying about 108 participants led by Mohd Halid bin Mohd Ali.
Acting Belait District Officer Mohamad Yassin bin Haji Ahmed flagged off the convoy. A donation from the convoy was also presented to Sayyidina Ali Secondary School’s student welfare fund.
Meanwhile, the Tutong 4×4 Vehicle Association is also sending 15 vehicles to participate in the event.
Yesterday, Tutong District Officer Mohd Sofian bin Haji Basir flagged off the convoy.
The event will also be participated by other countries, including Indonesia, Germany and Canada.
ABOVE & BELOW: Acting Belait District Officer Mohamad Yassin bin Haji Ahmed; and Tutong District Officer Mohd Sofian bin Haji Basir flag off the convoys. PHOTOS: JAMES KON & MPK KAMPONG PANDAN ‘C’
LONDON (AP) – Britain’s press erupted in outrage on Friday at Prince Harry and Meghan’s documentary series, which lambasts the United Kingdom (UK) media over its treatment of the royal couple.
But much of Britain reacted to the Netflix show with a shrug. Buckingham Palace had no comment, and the prime minister didn’t watch.
The first three hour-long episodes of Harry and Meghan were released on Thursday, with three more due December 15. So far, the series has contained few of the bombshells the palace had feared.
In the programme the couple, along with friends and Meghan’s family members, recount their early lives and blossoming romance, leading up to their fairy-tale wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018, and their growing discontent with what they saw as the media’s racist treatment of Meghan and a lack of support from the palace.
Harry and Meghan walked away from royal duties in early 2020 and moved to California to start a new life as campaigners, charity benefactors and media personalities.
At the heart of the show is the symbiotic and sometimes toxic relationship between Britain’s royal family and the media. Each side needs the other, but both are often dissatisfied with the arrangements.
Prince Harry has long railed against press intrusion that he said clouded his childhood and contributed to the death of his mother, Princess Diana. She was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by photographers.
Duchess of Sussex Meghan and Prince Harry attend the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards Gala at the New York Hilton Midtown. PHOTOS: APABOVE & BELOW: Britain’s King Charles III and the Queen Consort Camilla speak to Wrexham Football team co-owners, US actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney during their visit to Wrexham Association Football Club’s Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, England; and Britain’s King Charles III meets the football players
Meghan claimed in the documentary that the media wanted to “destroy” her, while Harry said his wife was subjected to a press “feeding frenzy”.
That riled British newspapers, many of which splashed their anger across front pages and editorial columns.
Some objected to claims in the series that the Commonwealth of the UK and its former colonies – an organisation led until her death by Queen Elizabeth II – is an extension of the British Empire and its racism. The Daily Telegraph’s front page accused the show of being a “direct hit” on the queen’s legacy.
In an editorial, the conservative-leaning Daily Mail called the show “little more than a hatchet job from start to finish”.
The tabloid Sun said the documentary was “made for an American audience – cementing their money-making potential in the US – and to hell with everything and everybody else, including the truth”.
Scotland’s Daily Record said the palace was stunned by the couple’s allegations, running the headline: “We are not amused.”
A lawmaker with the governing Conservative Party Bob Seely said he would try to introduce a bill in Parliament to strip the couple’s off their royal titles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Seely said Prince Harry was attacking important British institutions, “as well as trashing his family and monetising his misery for public consumption”.
Employment Minister Guy Opperman branded the couple “utterly irrelevant” and urged people “to boycott Netflix and make sure that we focus on the things that matter”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office said it did not back Seely’s bill, or a Netflix boycott.
“It’s a matter for the public what channels they want to watch,” said spokesman Jamie Davies. He said the prime minister had not watched the series, and the government “would never comment on royal matters”.
The show comes at a crucial moment for the monarchy. King Charles III is trying to show that the institution still has a role to play after the death in September of the queen, whose personal popularity dampened criticism of the crown during her 70-year reign.
The king declined to comment on the Netflix series during public engagements in London on Thursday or during a visit on Friday to Welsh football club Wrexham AFC, where he met the team’s owners, Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
Both said they had not watched the series, with McElhenney joking, “I’ve never heard of it.”
Many in Britain had mixed feelings about a show that rehashes long-running grievances between the Sussexes, the palace and the press.
In London, 59-year-old Lucy Barratt said the documentary was “too much” – but that she might watch it anyway.
“I know it’s awful being a royal, but part of being a royal is not complaining,” she said. “Go on, have a drink with a mate and talk about it.
“I’m torn between watching it and slightly wanting to cancel Netflix. But then, as a sort of voyeur, I might watch it.”
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (AFP) – Tulips and bitcoin have both been associated with financial bubbles in their time, but in a giant greenhouse near Amsterdam the Dutch are trying to make them work together.
Engineer Bert de Groot inspects the six bitcoin miners as they perform complex sums to earn cryptocurrency, filling the air with a noisy whine along with a blast of warmth.
That warmth is now heating the hothouse where rows of tulips grow, cutting the farmers’ reliance on gas whose price has soared since the situation in Ukraine began.
The servers in turn are powered by solar energy from the roof, reducing the normally huge electricity costs for mining, and cutting the impact on the environment.
Meanwhile, both the farmers and de Groot’s company Bitcoin Brabant are earning crypto, which is still attracting investors despite a recent crash in the market.
“We think with this way of heating our greenhouse but also earning some bitcoin we have a win-win situation,” flower farmer Danielle Koning, 37, told AFP.
The Netherlands’ love of tulips caused the first stock market crash in the 17th Century when speculation bulb prices caused prices to soar, only to later collapse.
Now the Netherlands is the world’s biggest tulip producer and also the second biggest agricultural exporter overall after the United States, with much grown in greenhouses.
ABOVE & BELOW: Tulips and aloe vera plants growing in a greenhouse heated with bitcoin miners near Amsterdam; and Bitcoin mining hardwares used as heating at the greenhouse. PHOTOS: AFP
Bitcoin engineer and Bitcoin Brabant owner Bert De Groot stands in a greenhouse heated with bitcoin miners
‘IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT’
But the low-lying country is keenly aware of the effect of the agricultural industry on climate change, while farmers are struggling with high energy prices.
Mining for cryptocurrency meanwhile requires huge amounts of electricity to power computers, leading to an environmental impact amid global efforts to tackle climate change.
De Groot, 35, who only started his business earlier this year and now has 17 clients including restaurants and warehouses, says this makes bitcoin and tulips a perfect fit.
“This operation is actually carbon negative, as are all the operations I basically build,” says the long-haired de Groot, sporting an orange polo shirt with his firm’s logo.
“We’re actually improving the environment.”
He is also selling tulips online for bitcoin via a business called Bitcoinbloem.
The collaboration started when Koning saw a Twitter video de Groot had made about bitcoin mining, and called him up.
Now there are six servers at their hothouse, whose exact location Koning asked to keep secret to avoid thieves targetting the EUR15,000 machines.
Koning’s company owns half of them and keeps the bitcoin they produce, while de Groot is allowed to keep his three servers there in exchange for monthly visits to clean dust and insects out of the servers’ fans.
With a 20 degree Celsius difference between the air entering the machine and leaving them, this provides the heat needed to grow the tulips, and to dry the bulbs that produce them.
‘NO WORRIES’
“The most important thing we get out of it is, we save on natural gas,” says Koning.
“Secondly, well, we earn Bitcoin by running them in the greenhouse.”
Huge energy costs have driven some Dutch agricultural firms that often rely on greenhouses to stop growing this year, while others have even gone bankrupt, says Koning.
Meanwhile, the philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb, who developed the idea of the unpredictable but historic “black swan” event, has compared Bitcoin to the “Tulipmania” that engulfed the Netherlands nearly 400 years ago.
This saw prices for a single bulb rise to more than 100 times the average annual income at the time before the bubble burst in 1637, causing banks to fail and people to lose their life savings.
The cryptocurrency sector is currently reeling from the collapse of a major exchange – with Bitcoin currently worth around USD16,300 per unit, down from a high of USD68,000 in November 2021 – but De Groot isn’t worried.
“I have absolutely no worries about the long-term value proposition of an immutable monetary system,” he said.
