On an overcrowded and overheated Earth, humanity squabbles over scarce and rapidly diminishing resources, goaded by politicians in thrall to businessfolk who take orders from the gods created by their own delusions.
That is surely the only way sane folk can interpret deforestation, the rapid depletion of non-renewable minerals and energy resources, impoverished tenant farmers growing cash crops for export rather than food for their families, the manufacture and worldwide distribution of non-essential knick-knacks and the obsession with celebrities dressed in tawdry fashions.
This post is intended as the Jakartass contribution to the annual global village initiative, Blog Action Day (which is today). I have added a year round links resource to my sidebar for all those Indonesians and friends of Indonesia wishing to protect, preserve and enhance Planet Earth for future generations of all species.
Any omissions are a result of poor telecommunications rather than deliberate choices. Please email me with details of organisations you feel should be included, preferably those with an internet presence.
"Al Gore has proven very eloquently that you don't have to be president to change the world."
Indonesia possesses a remarkable and valuable natural environment. The country is home to the world's largest reef system and one of the world's largest rain forests, both of which are home to thousands of unique species. Moreover, Indonesia's huge forests function as one of the world's main "carbon sinks" (natural means of sequestering world carbon emissions). The preservation of such sinks is an important aspect of avoiding climate change.
Two decades of rapid economic development, significant population expansion, and regulatory neglect have placed much of Indonesia's environment in jeopardy. As the country recovers from the economic and political turmoil of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Indonesian government faces the challenge of enacting and enforcing stricter environmental legislation
While the Indonesian government already has had some environmental improvements, such as the elimination of leaded gasoline in Jakarta, considerable scope for improvement remains. In particular, Indonesia will have to address the infrastructure-related problems of deforestation, renewable energy, and inadequate sewerage.
Two decades of rapid economic development, significant population expansion, and regulatory neglect have placed much of Indonesia's environment in jeopardy. As the country recovers from the economic and political turmoil of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Indonesian government faces the challenge of enacting and enforcing stricter environmental legislation
While the Indonesian government already has had some environmental improvements, such as the elimination of leaded gasoline in Jakarta, considerable scope for improvement remains. In particular, Indonesia will have to address the infrastructure-related problems of deforestation, renewable energy, and inadequate sewerage.
I would add many other priorities, such as the enfranchising of communities by respecting local cultures and customs, and by seeking local input in development plans. There is an urgent need for national education programmes about waste disposal, energy conservation, sustainable development and ...... the list is nigh on endless.
Poverty eradication is undoubtedly a key, but only insofar as the distribution of wealth does not breed a new greedy class. Corruption must be eradicated at all levels, but this can only be achieved through a radical change in mindset from all sector of society, including theologians who must re-examine the role of their religions.
Could Abidah Setyowati have an answer?
His project aims to conserve critically endangered, endemic species and their rainforest habitats in Sumatra through an innovative approach to community outreach that incorporates the importance of religious beliefs towards nature conservation. Local religious and traditional leaders in Sumatra have a far-reaching influence on the daily lives of a large number of people. Training and support will therefore be provided to these leaders by conservationists to use the Islamic principles on biodiversity conservation to promote sustainable natural resources management in West Sumatra.
Make every day an Earth day.
(Bloggers in Indonesia joining in the Blog Action Day can be found here and here.)
