Minister calls for alternatif energy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja said yesterday Indonesia should never stop seeking
\nalternative sources of energy to ensure sustainable development.<\/p>\n
Indonesia should reduce its dependency on fossil fuel, Sarwono
\nsaid at the opening session of a three-day seminar titled
\nObserving Indonesia's Sustainable Development Facing the 21st
\nCentury.<\/p>\n
Within three to four years, Sarwono predicted, the world would
\nhave no other choice but start thinking about alternative energy
\nsources because fossil fuel was running out.<\/p>\n
\"Sources of alternative energy abound, including solar, wind,
\nand possibly even nuclear,\" Sarwono said. He did not say nuclear
\nenergy was a high priority.<\/p>\n
The controversial bill on nuclear energy is currently under
\ndeliberation at the House of Representatives. Critics say that if
\npassed, the bill would endorse the building of Indonesia's first
\nnuclear power plant in Central Java.<\/p>\n
A persisting problem linked to environmental degradation was
\nthe public's lack of awareness about environmental issues,
\nSarwono said.<\/p>\n
\"Including environment in the school curriculum and improving
\nlaw enforcement will better this,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Emil Salim, former State Minister for Environment, seconded
\nSarwono's opinion saying sustainable development should no longer
\nbe considered an empty slogan.<\/p>\n
\"Sustainable development specifically focuses on environmental
\nconcerns because it relates to trade and businesses that can no
\nlonger viewed as isolated sectors,\" Emil said.<\/p>\n
To cope with the inevitable global environmental challenges,
\nIndonesia must have a vision of sustainable development because
\nthe country was predicted to have 220 million people by the year
\n2014, he said.<\/p>\n
\"This means economics and ecology can no longer be viewed as
\nseparate entities,\" said Emil, also a lecturer at the University
\nof Indonesia's School of Economics.<\/p>\n
A holistic ideological, political, economic, social and
\ncultural approach was necessary to implement the vision, he
\nargued.<\/p>\n
Other speaker on the first day were Surna Djajadiningrat from
\nthe office of the State Ministry for the Environment, academics
\nRiga Adiwoso and Darmanto Yatman, P.M. Laksono, Tini Hadad from
\nthe Indonesian Consumers Protection Foundation.<\/p>\n
The conference was held by the State Ministry for the
\nEnvironment and the National Consortium for Forest and Nature
\nConservation in Indonesia. (06)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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