They must be joking!Whilst stuck in a horrendous traffic jam on the way home, I finally got to read today's
Jakarta Post.
I was shocked to read that the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) has awarded a
Scroll of Honour to Jakarta Metropolitan City "
for successfully improving and greening the urban infrastructure to create an inclusive, cosmopolitan city".
A cynic might point to the fact that World Habitat Day was celebrated yesterday, the first Monday in October as per usual, here in Jakarta "
to remind the world that countless thousands of homes were destroyed last December by the tsunami killer wave that devastated Indonesia?s Banda Aceh coastline and other Indian Ocean countries."
Do we need reminding? And what is the connection between the natural disaster and this year's theme, The Millennium Development Goals and the City ?
A cynic might also point out that the delegates will be spending their 'quality time' in 5-star hotels and will, no doubt, not experience horrendous traffic jams, overcrowded buses and the lack of sidewalks as they get shuttled around in air-conditioned splendour unable to breath the noxious traffic fumes, with police escorts to clear the way for them.
A cynic might say all that.
I'll leave you to imagine what Jakartass really thinks.
A Sunny Afternoon in Green Jakarta
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