Environmental tragedy<\/p>\n
A friend and I recently completed a trek in the Gunung Leuser
\nNational Park in Sumatra. During our stay we were greatly
\ndisturbed by the flagrant disregard for the park's boundaries
\nshown by a few unscrupulous residents. Significant areas of the
\nforest have been chopped down, with the wood being either burnt
\nor left to rot. The cause of this apparent insanity is for the
\ngrowing of tomato and chili plants.<\/p>\n
Whilst I appreciate that Indonesia's ever increasing
\npopulation must have more land, if this unique environment is
\nlost it will be an environmental tragedy for them as well as the
\nwhole world. The irony is that whilst the park officials sit
\nbehind their desks taking money from tourists, no one is out in
\nthe field protecting the very thing we're paying to see. I see
\nthe press, i.e. The Jakarta Post, as the only mechanism for
\nembarrassing those responsible into action.<\/p>\n
Given the current controversy over the Indonesian Timber
\ncompanies marketing campaign in the West, this will prove to be
\nvaluable fuel to those who advocate black listing Indonesian
\nproduce and discouraging tourism to the archipelago. If the sound
\nof the chain saw is to replace that of the forest in Gunung
\nLeuser then this government charade should be exposed for what it
\nis -- a betrayal of the Indonesian people, the international
\ncommunity and most importantly, our children.<\/p>\n
R.S. WEINSTEIN<\/p>\n
Manchester, UK<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmental-tragedy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }