Walhi told to focus on human resources<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) needs to be
\ninternally strengthened if it wants to cope with increasingly
\nsophisticated environmental problems, observers say.<\/p>\n
Former environment minister Sonny Keraf said on the sidelines
\nof Walhi's 25th anniversary celebration in Jakarta on Saturday
\nthat during the past three or four years, the quality and the
\nquantity of Walhi's work had been in decline.<\/p>\n
\"There were several issues that Walhi was unable to deal with.
\nOne of the examples was when the House of Representatives
\ndiscussed imported toxic waste; Walhi kept silent about it,\" said
\nSonny, who is also a member of the House's Commission VII on
\nenvironmental issues.<\/p>\n
\"When I talked to Walhi's executives about their silence, they
\nsaid they didn't have enough human resources and data regarding
\nthese problems.\"<\/p>\n
A professor in environmental law at Gadjah Mada University in
\nYogyakarta, Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri, said despite Walhi's
\nachievements in advocating for environmental issues, the
\norganization had failed to develop its human resources.<\/p>\n
\"Walhi should improve its members' capacity to deal with
\nspecific issues. They need to employ specialists in certain
\nfields,\" Koesnadi said.<\/p>\n
He urged Walhi to cooperate with universities to research and
\nadvocate for environmental issues.<\/p>\n
To ensure Walhi had a better relationship with the government
\nand businesses, Koesnadi suggested the group not always take an
\nadversarial stance.<\/p>\n
\"Public demand for good corporate governance has been
\nwidespread. Several companies have even established their own
\nenvironmental divisions under their corporate social
\nresponsibility departments. This allows Walhi to cooperate with
\nbig businesses,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the criticism, executive director Chalid
\nMuhammad said the organization needed to do a lot of homework to
\nimprove its capacity.<\/p>\n
He said Walhi was preparing three programs to overcome the
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
\"First, we aim to focus on specific fields, instead of dealing
\nwith almost every social issue people wish us to,\" he told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Walhi would also strive for people's participation in
\nenvironmental conservation and raise more funds domestically, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We want to build an inclusive organization and make the
\ncountry's environmental movement an open, deep-rooted and
\nsustainable activity,\" he said, adding that one of the strategies
\nwas to encourage urban people to become its volunteers, a group
\ncalled \"Sahabat (friends of) Walhi.\"<\/p>\n
Chalid said foreign donors were funding 80 percent of Walhi's
\noperational costs.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/walhi-told-to-focus-on-human-resources-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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