'Environmental concerns not widely shared'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Public and government indifference has hampered
\nthe effectiveness of environmental campaigns, environmentalists
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
Mas Achmad Santosa, director of the Indonesian Center for
\nEnvironmental Law, said the bureaucrats and the public had
\nperipheral values on the environment.<\/p>\n
According to Achmad, many ministers ostentatiously urged
\nbusinesses to be environmentally responsible without truly caring
\nabout the dangers of environmental destruction.<\/p>\n
The public's awareness on environmental issues and
\nenvironmental dangers was scarcely sufficient to support the
\ncampaigns, he said.<\/p>\n
\"People are only reminded of the importance of caring for the
\nenvironment when an ecological tragedy occurs,\" Achmad told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Faced with these challenges, environmental non-governmental
\norganizations are crucial because they push for greater public
\npressure on environmental issues, Achmad said. But this task
\nseems to be hampered by the non conducive political climate.<\/p>\n
\"If we try to raise people's consciousness on their rights
\nwhen environmental degradation occurs, we will be labeled all
\nsorts of names,\" he said, referring to the government's
\nidiosyncratic way of labeling ideas which differ from its own as
\nleftist or communist.<\/p>\n
According to Achmad, the existing environmental law provides a
\ngood starting point for environmental campaigns. But there are
\nstill problems with the coordination and control of watchdog
\nagencies.<\/p>\n
Rusdian Lubis, the director for development control and
\nmonitoring of environmental impact assessment from the
\nEnvironmental Impact Management Agency, said that some
\nenvironmental campaigns were hampered because some businesses did
\nnot conduct environmental impact assessments.<\/p>\n
The businesses wanting to build factories, which may produce
\nhazardous and toxic substances, are required to build waste
\ntreatment facilities according to their business licenses.<\/p>\n
\"But in reality, many businessmen are given licenses without
\never conducting an (environmental) assessment,\" Achmad said.<\/p>\n
Rusdian retorted that because of conflicting interests among
\nagencies, many businesses were given trial periods during which
\nassessments were conducted before their permanent licenses were
\nissued.<\/p>\n
\"Though we try to link business' permits with environmental
\nimpact assessments, conflicts of interest among various agencies
\nloosen the control, especially when there are no sanctions for
\nnot conducting the assessment,\" Rusdian said.<\/p>\n
According to Rusdian, three reasons caused the ineffectiveness
\nof environmental impact assessments. They included different
\nperceptions on the importance of assessments, the lengthy
\nadministrative process involved in the assessments and the
\nmethodologies of the assessments.<\/p>\n
\"The government considers it a regulation, while businesses
\nconsider it an additional burden which wastes time and money, so
\nthey avoid it altogether,\" Rusdian explained.<\/p>\n
The center for environmental law is helping the government
\ndraft new bills.<\/p>\n
\"New regulations should be drafted in line with economic
\nderegulation,\" Achmad said. (14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmental-concerns-not-widely-shared-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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