Refrain from driving on Earth Day: Government<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior government official has suggested that
\nIndonesians limit the use of their cars and motorbikes for one
\nday on April 23 to commemorate Earth Day and raise environmental
\nawareness.<\/p>\n
The date was chosen primarily because it is a Sunday, which
\nmeans that traffic is usually lighter than on weekdays.<\/p>\n
Earth Day itself falls on April 22.<\/p>\n
The plan is part of a series of programs organized by the
\noffice of the State Minister and nongovernmental organizations to
\nraise environmental awareness.<\/p>\n
\"Many (exhaust gas) emissions from vehicles in the city exceed
\ntolerable limits, which contributes to the low air quality,\" Aca
\nSugandhy, the state minister of environment's assistant for
\nenvironmental management said while unveiling the proposal.<\/p>\n
He said there would be an air quality check before and after
\nthe date to see if the program had made a difference to current
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
\"If the quality of the air improves, we will consider
\ncontinuing the program to reduce the use of motor vehicles,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
But the move appears to be nothing more than a symbolic
\ngesture; Aca failed to elaborate on how Indonesians were to cope
\nwith their daily lives if they did not use motor vehicles.<\/p>\n
He did not say whether there would be any incentive for people
\nnot to use their cars or motorbikes, or whether there would be an
\nalternative mode of transportation available for those who needed
\nto commute.<\/p>\n
Public transportation drivers in particular scoffed at the
\nidea.<\/p>\n
Several public minivan drivers said the proposal was silly and
\nimpossible to carry out.<\/p>\n
\"I won't do it,\" Ai, 39, a driver based in Kebayoran Lama,
\nSouth Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"It's impossible not to operate public transport. How will
\npeople go places?\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
\"But it may be possible for private cars. Rich families have
\nthree or four cars and all of them are on the road everyday,\" he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Earth Day was first held in 1970 in the United States under
\nthe initiative of U.S. senator Gaylord Nelson. It is aimed at
\nreminding people of the need to preserve the Earth.<\/p>\n
Hira Jhamtani, an environment expert from the National
\nConsortium for Forest and Nature Conservation in Indonesia
\n(Konphalindo), told the Post she fully supported the idea as a
\nmeans of raising awareness.<\/p>\n
While conceding that the immediate impact of such a move might
\nwell be marginal, she said, however, it allowed each individual
\nto make a personal contribution to the environment.<\/p>\n
\"Earth Day is meant as a reminder that everybody should do
\nsomething,\" Hira said. \"Nothing is too small to preserve the
\nearth,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Other plans for Earth Day include a campaign to substitute the
\nozone depleting CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon) with safer substances
\nsuch as hydrocarbons (HC).<\/p>\n
CFCs are compounds consisting of chlorine, fluorine, and
\ncarbon and are commonly used as coolants in refrigerators and air
\nconditioners, and as propellants in aerosol sprays.<\/p>\n
Aca also said the government would run a campaign against
\ntortoise exploitation. He lamented that despite efforts to
\nconserve tortoises, Indonesia still allows their export.<\/p>\n
\"Our language of agreement is often not the same as the
\nreality,\" he remarked. (08)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/refrain-from-driving-on-earth-day-government-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}