RI must help protect ozone layer: Expert<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
For many, the ozone layer is just something up there in the sky
\nthat has nothing to do with people's lives down here.<\/p>\n
In fact, the ozone layer is vital to the survival of mankind.<\/p>\n
Depletions in the ozone layer have led to increases in harmful
\nultra-violet B (UV-B) radiation that cause various serious
\ndiseases, such as skin cancers, cataracts and decreases in the
\nbody's immunity.<\/p>\n
Millions of women around the globe are spending their money on
\ncosmetic whitening products that contain protection against UV-B.<\/p>\n
A World Health Organization report in 2002 showed that over
\n130,000 malignant melanomas occur globally each year, with 66,000
\npeople dying as a result.<\/p>\n
Children are the most vulnerable to UV radiation. Aside from
\nthe possibility of developing skin cancer, UV radiation can
\nincrease the risk of infection and decrease the effectiveness of
\nvaccines on children.<\/p>\n
The discovery of a massive hole in the ozone layer in 1974 at
\nthe South Pole shocked the world. People considered it to be a
\nmajor environmental disaster caused by human-produced chemicals.<\/p>\n
Although no ozone hole has been found over Indonesia as yet,
\nthe annual forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan might to a
\nsmall extent be compounded by global warming, another phenomena
\nthat goes hand-in-hand with the depletion of the ozone layer.<\/p>\n
\"It should be understood that chemicals we use here may
\ncontribute to ozone depletion anywhere around the globe, and vice
\nversa,\" explained Agus Hidayat of the Office of the State
\nMinister for the Environment.<\/p>\n
Agus's office, in conjunction with World Ozone Day, which is
\nmarked on Sept. 16 globally, is organizing a fun walk on Sept. 26
\nat the National Monument (Monas) Park.<\/p>\n
\"We need to increase people's awareness of the vital role of
\nozone. It won't be easy to make them understand, but we have to
\ngive it a try,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The ozone layer is considered normal when its thickness
\nmeasures about 300 Dobson Units (equal to three millimeters),
\nwhile a hole occurs when its thickness declines to 100 Dobson
\nUnits, he said.<\/p>\n
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) is the most common ozone-depleting
\nsubstance. It is used in refrigerators, air conditioners, spray
\ncans, solvents and foams and the halon used in fire
\nextinguishers.<\/p>\n
The world's countries have signed several international
\nagreements on ozone, including the Vienna Convention for the
\nProtection of the Ozone Layer in 1985 and the Montreal Protocol
\nin 1987.<\/p>\n
Liana Bratasida, an expert advisor to the state minister of
\nthe environment, said Indonesia, which ratified both conventions
\nthrough Presidential Decree No. 23\/1992, had set a target of
\nphasing out 4,900 metric tons of CFC by the end of 2007.<\/p>\n
Various programs are underway in the country to achieve the
\nCFC phase-out target. At the moment, Indonesia has executed a
\ntotal of 29 investment projects in the foam sector and 14
\nprojects in the refrigeration sector.<\/p>\n
The projects in these two sectors have helped reduced
\nIndonesia's CFC production by 498 and 117 metric tons
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
The programs have been funded by the Montreal Protocol
\nMultilateral Fund (MLF). Some US$6.4 has been approved by the MLF
\nfor projects here.<\/p>\n
Liana said the ozone layer was important, and so was phasing
\nout ozone-depleting substances.<\/p>\n
\"However, we have encountered problems in meeting developed
\ncountries' requests to phase out ozone-depleting substances,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Liana said that the list of substances was added to at almost
\nevery international meeting.<\/p>\n
\"For a country like Indonesia, where there is a lack of both
\ntechnology and money, we could well face further difficulties in
\nmeeting their requests,\" she said.<\/p>",
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