The Post takes a stance.An editorial in today's
Jakarta Post that I could have written, but didn't because I think my English is better, includes the following points:
- The notion to build a nuclear power station in Java has been declared haram, forbidden in Islamic law, as the potential hazards far outweigh the potential benefits. Muslim clerics particularly doubted the ability of the future project operator to ensure the safety of the plant, "especially the handling of radioactive waste."
- Although nuclear plants can be built to withstand temblors (sic), the public remains unconfident, especially after a recent quake in Japan caused radioactive leaks at a a nuclear plant there. Such a disaster could easily happen in Indonesia, where the safety record is lousy ....
- With corruption so extant in this country, what if some of the money budgeted for safety measures is stolen?
- There are abundant alternative energy sources, some of which are still unexplored.
- To tap these we need investment and to attract investment we need to .... tackle problems in tax, customs and the labour market, as well as reducing the high transaction costs that are a result of inflation.
- Most importantly, we need to launch a campaign for energy conservation.
Some years ago, pre-
krismon, there was a TV infomercial (which I think is a fancy word for a public service announcement). It made sense then, and still does today.
Hemat energi, hemat biaya.
Save energy, save costs.
The Post's closing statement is the most categorical of any I can recall.
If all our calls and efforts fail, and the current government, with the backing of parliament, goes ahead with its nuclear policy, we will leave it to the people to punish them by voting them out of office.
Further ReadingA recent survey indicates that about two-thirds of Americans would support expanding nuclear power significantly if "effective waste storage" were not an issue. However, fewer than one in three believes nuclear power plant waste can be stored safely, . Biofuel is not the answer:
biofuel from cleared forest land actually outstrips petrol fuel in its carbon dioxide intensity because of the massive loss of carbon dioxide absorption capacity when virgin forest is cut down.
SBY on Corruption"
Corruption eradication must be done now, iy may not be delayed and without exemption. If it is not stopped right now, the corruption will continuously encumber the nation economy and hamper Indonesian people."
Indonesia Corruption Watch - First Crush the Oligarchy
The previous presidents of Indonesia have failed to eradicate corruption, although a lot of regulations have been reviewed and new laws enacted. However, corruption in this country has not been reduced, but has spread further to every level of the government and beyond.
Labels: biofuels, Indonesia. Environment, nuclear power
Dear XXX ...I received this personal ("
Dear XXX" ??) email this morning and thought I ought to share it with you, especially as I "seem to" deal with this country.
This little phrase got me pondering just what it is that I do 'seem to' do, but then, hey, I do agree with the central message ~ bio-fuels may well f**k up the planet faster than fossil fuels ever did.
I admit that I haven't watched the video and you might not be able to either: a dial up connection with its exceedingly narrow bandwidth or the excessive numbers of subscribers for the appallingly serviced broadband in this country does not really allow multi-media presentations. On the other hand, the 70% of my visitors who don't live here may well have an interesting viewing experience.
.....................................................Dear XXX
I am contacting you to share this video created by Greenpeace regarding Bio-fuels and their potential detrimental effect of increased deforestation in Indonesia.
As your site seems to deal with the country and reaches people who might be interested in this information, I was wondering if the video content would be of relevance to you and your site.
I am one of many people trying to get some exposure for this campaign and spread the word about the issues surrounding bio-fuels that people, even your perhaps more informed site visitors, might not know. This is a video I think they and everyone else should at least watch and be aware of the message it contains. Green economics, politics and practices are becoming increasingly complex and tied into business.
What people are doing that they think IS green might really be making things much worse. It's important for people to know they donʼt have to preach, take sides or chain themselves to the nearest shrub! Just be informed and help make others.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all. If you do choose to help please just drop me an email so I mention your good work to others.
Thank you
Andrew Hunter
(The campaign also has some web links here and here.)
.....................................................
Those without access to YouTube would do well to read
this article by George Monbiot.
Oil produced from plants sets up competition for food between cars and people. People - and the environment - will lose.
Since the beginning of last year, the price of maize has doubled. The price of wheat has also reached a 10-year high, while global stockpiles of both grains have reached 25-year lows. According to the UN food and agriculture organisation, the main reason is the demand for ethanol: the alcohol used for motor fuel, which can be made from maize and wheat.
The UN has just published a report suggesting that 98% of the natural rainforest in Indonesia will be degraded or gone by 2022. Just five years ago, the same agencies predicted that this wouldn't happen until 2032. But they reckoned without the planting of palm oil to turn into biodiesel for the European market. This is now the main cause of deforestation there and it is likely soon to become responsible for the extinction of the orang-utan in the wild.
Alice Friedemann adds further fuel to the contention that biofuels are a very bad alternative in
a well-researched and very detailed report.
Ethanol is an agribusiness get-rich-quick scheme that will bankrupt our topsoil. Loss of topsoil has been a major factor in the fall of civilizations. You end up with a country like Iraq, formerly Mesopotamia, where 75% of the farm land became a salty desert."
We stand, in most places on earth, only six inches from desolation, for that is the thickness of the topsoil layer upon which the entire life of the planet depends"
Labels: biofuels
