Environment still ignored<\/p>\n
From Neraca<\/p>\n
According to an assessment made by the Forum for
\nEnvironmental Affairs (Walhi) East Java office, the government --
\nduring the New Order regime and B.J. Habibie presidency and at
\npresent under President Abdurrahman Wahid -- has never shown
\nconcrete efforts and measures to pay more attention to
\nenvironmental affairs.<\/p>\n
The administrations of Soeharto, Habibie or Abdurrahman were
\nand are only concerned with how to exploit natural resources to
\nthe optimum. In fact, 90 percent of the environment in Indonesia
\nis now confronted with very serious problems of damage.<\/p>\n
In determining its development platform, the present Cabinet
\nis just the same as the previous ones. It has never considered
\nwhether the carrying capacity and the accommodating capacity of
\nnatural resources are limited or whether they are renewable.<\/p>\n
In our opinion, the main focus of the present administration
\nis how to generate as much foreign exchange as possible. Most
\nprograms of exploitation of even renewable natural resources are
\nstill not properly controlled. In fact, the government should
\nthink about how to renew these resources to ensure they will be
\nsustainable and the environmental balance will not be disrupted.<\/p>\n
In our view, careful observation must be made of the three
\nissues that the government prioritizes: human rights, regional
\nautonomy and the plan to exploit marine resources. Efforts must
\nbe made to ensure that a marine institution has not been
\nestablished just to serve as a new instrument to exploit marine
\nresources with the risk of more serious environmental damage.<\/p>\n
SUSIANTO<\/p>\n
Executive Director<\/p>\n
Walhi East Java<\/p>\n
Surabaya<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environment-still-ignored-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }