Taking the lead<\/p>\n
Indonesia made a big leap forward in cutting back air
\npollution with the introduction of unleaded gasoline in selected
\ngas stations in Jakarta on Sunday. The public indifference
\ntowards such an important national event, however, underlined the
\nprevailing attitude of people in this country, including
\nresidents of notoriously polluted Jakarta, towards environmental
\nissues: They couldn't care less.<\/p>\n
Part of the problem is caused by the poor, or the lack of,
\npreparations ahead of the introduction of unleaded gasoline. Only
\nselected gasoline stations in the capital were offering unleaded
\ngasoline on Sunday. Most were not even aware that they were
\nsupposed to phase out leaded gasoline starting on July 1.<\/p>\n
Another problem was the poor dissemination of information
\nabout the campaign to phase out lead from gasoline. The
\nindifference on the part of the majority of the media in
\nIndonesia is symptomatic of people's ignorance of the impact that
\nlead has had on the lives of people, particularly children.
\nThis is a story that should have drawn greater public attention
\nbecause of the impact it will have on people's lives. In terms of
\nsignificance, this is probably a more important story than those
\non the endless petty bickering between our politicians that have
\noccupied our attention these past few weeks. Yet, a quick glance
\nat the front pages of major newspapers in Indonesia last week
\nwould lead on to believe that the campaign to phase out lead from
\ngasoline was not an important story at all.<\/p>\n
Understandably, the initial impact on people's lives of the
\nintroduction of unleaded gasoline will be limited. Few motorists
\nwill venture making the conversion unless they are sure that
\nthere are enough supplies, not only in the capital, but also
\nsurrounding towns to ensure that they will never be without
\ngasoline.<\/p>\n
This is nevertheless an important initial step for Indonesia
\nto take in phasing out lead from gasoline. Indonesia, in fact, is
\none of the few remaining countries in Asia still using lead in
\ngasoline. Sunday's campaign marks the beginning in a two-year
\ncampaign by the government to completely phase out leaded
\ngasoline nationwide by 2003. How Jakarta fares with the
\nintroduction of unleaded gasoline in the capital starting this
\nweek will determine the success of the nationwide campaign.<\/p>\n
There is little doubt that Indonesia must, sooner or later,
\nremove lead from gasoline. There is already a whole body of
\nscientific evidence proving that the presence of lead residue in
\nthe air, left behind from fuel burning, is affecting the health
\nof the people. Children are most vulnerable as a high content of
\nlead in their blood would severely reduce their intelligence.<\/p>\n
That Indonesia should be one of the last Asian countries to
\nswitch to unleaded gasoline raises questions about the commitment
\nof the government and the people to improving the environment.<\/p>\n
The conversion to unleaded gasoline is turning out to be a
\npainless process. There is no real additional costs to Pertamina,
\nthe giant state oil company, which has a monopoly over gasoline
\nsupplies, and therefore no additional costs to pass to motorists.
\nWith all cars built after 1985 already designed to take both
\nleaded and unleaded gasoline, most car owners will not incur
\nheavy costs in making the conversion to a more environmental
\nfriendly gasoline.<\/p>\n
There is no real reason for Indonesia to delay any further the
\nmove to take lead out of gasoline. More than anything else, the
\nproblem has always been one of attitude, or call it lack of
\npolitical will. The government has now taken the lead with the
\nintroduction of unleaded gasoline. Now it is up to the public to
\nresponse in kind, that is, by showing that they do care about the
\nenvironment, about their health, and most of all, about their
\nchildren. Our children.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/taking-the-lead-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}