Net still unpopular for environmental news<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Whenever you are seeking information on specific
\nissues like which animals are on the endangered species list, or
\nif you just want to learn more about conservation, the Internet
\nis generally the easiest place to find what you are looking for.<\/p>\n
Since the introduction of the Internet, many environmental
\norganizations have used this tool to disseminate information
\nabout ecological issues.<\/p>\n
One of the most comprehensive websites on the environment
\nbelongs to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP),
\nwww.unep.ch.<\/p>\n
The site offers information on diverse topics, such as the
\nBasel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous
\nWaste, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered
\nSpecies, the Rotterdam Convention on Trade in Hazardous
\nChemicals, the UN System-Wide Earthwatch and a global resource
\ninformation database.<\/p>\n
The World Conservation Union (IUCN)'s latest report, Red List
\n2000: Confirming the Global Extinction Crisis, can be found at
\nits website, www.iucn.org, along with the latest news on
\nthe recent World Conservation Congress in Amman, Jordan. The site
\nalso highlights the congress' conclusion: \"No loss of species is
\nacceptable\".<\/p>\n
IUCN, whose programs cover biodiversity policy, forests,
\nenvironmental law, marine and coastal monitoring and evaluation,
\nspecies survival and wetlands, also calls for people to join in
\nits environmental fight for Earth's animals and plant diversity
\nthrough its website.<\/p>\n
The website of the Swiss-based World Wide Fund for Nature
\n(WWF), a well-known non-governmental organization, is also a good
\nsource of information for those wanting to learn about its major
\ncampaigns, which are grouped in five categories -- living planet,
\nclimate change, endangered seas, forests for life and living
\nwaters.<\/p>\n
WWF's site also publishes the latest news and feature articles
\nfocusing on different environmental topics, including the result
\nof its latest study: Warmer world intensified extreme weather,
\n'natural disaster'. Apart from news, one can also look at its
\nphoto gallery, video library, art gallery, earth reports and a
\nspecial section for kids.<\/p>\n
The Washington-based Conservation International Foundation's
\neye-catching website, www.conservation.org, provides information
\nof its on-going programs in 25 countries, mainly in Asia-Pacific
\nregion, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico and
\nBrazil, including in endangered hotspot regions.<\/p>\n
Through the website, the group is trying to preserve and
\npromote awareness about the world's most endangered biodiversity
\nthrough scientific programs, local awareness campaigns and
\neconomic initiatives.<\/p>\n
Local NGOs<\/p>\n
Indonesia's rich biodiversity is not well-protected through
\nstrict law enforcement, making information through the media a
\ncrucial and determining factor to ensuring the existing problems
\nwill be heard by concerned parties.<\/p>\n
However, most local environmental NGOs still prefer using
\n\"common\" media such as newspapers and television to disseminate
\nenvironmental messages. The use of the Internet is still
\nunpopular.<\/p>\n
\"Maybe because the audience of local NGOs is mainly
\nIndonesians, only a few of whom have access to the Internet.
\nThat's why the Internet is not yet considered strategic to spread
\nenvironmental news and campaigns,\" A. Ruwindrijarto of the
\nTelapak Indonesia Foundation told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
He did say that Telapak Indonesia has its own website,
\nwww.telapak.org. \"But we haven't officially launched the site
\nyet ... hopefully, we can do it this year.\"<\/p>\n
He said the decision to have a website was mainly intended to
\nstrengthen its networks with other activists and NGOs, both here
\nand abroad.<\/p>\n
\"Through the website, our main goal is to improve our
\nnetworking so we can share and manage information with other
\nactivists and NGOs. The general public is our second target,
\nalthough in the future we realize that the Internet will be a
\nmain and widespread media,\" Ruwindrijarto said.<\/p>\n
The executive director of the Indonesian Center for
\nEnvironmental Law (ICEL), Wiwiek Awiati, said the decision on
\nwhether to use the Internet to spread environmental information
\nwould depend on the group's target, in this case people who are
\nconcerned with the environment.<\/p>\n
\"Looking at the present general situation in Indonesia, the
\npercentage of Internet users is still very limited. But if we
\nwant environmental issues to become international issues, the
\nInternet is a good media to use,\" she told the Post.<\/p>\n
Wiwiek said Icel already has its own website, www.icel.or.id,
\nbut at the moment it is being upgraded.<\/p>\n
Apart from environmental news, the website, which is both in
\nIndonesian and English, also consists of various information
\nabout environmental laws and regulations, such as on forestry,
\nmining and spatial plans, she said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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