'We cannot get safe food anymore'<\/p>\n
The government has issued warning against fish consumption caught
\nin Jakarta Bay upon the discovery of dead fish on the beaches of
\nAncol, Kamal Muara and the Thousand Islands since May 7. The
\nJakarta Post asked a few residents how they would deal with the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Ferdi, 22, is a university student who is currently doing an
\ninternship at Kompas daily. He lives with his parents in
\nCilangkap, East Jakarta:<\/p>\n
I rarely eat fish to be frank, but if I happen to do so I
\nwill, of course, keep the warning in mind.<\/p>\n
For fish that's size indicates it comes from the deep sea --
\nwhich I can also verify with the seller -- I don't think I will
\nhave any problem consuming it.<\/p>\n
I will, however, be cautious of small fish which might be of
\nthe type that lives in the shallow waters of Jakarta Bay.<\/p>\n
I will also stop consuming clams and oysters -- not just
\ntemporarily but maybe forever -- since I now know that they are
\nvery susceptible to the accumulation of dangerous toxic
\nsubstances and heavy metals from polluted waters.<\/p>\n
Budijanto, 29, is a computer administrator at a private
\ncompany in Setiabudi, Central Jakarta. He lives with his wife and
\nson in Cipinang, East Jakarta:<\/p>\n
Actually, the warnings are quite clear: it only refers to fish
\nand clams that are caught in Jakarta Bay.<\/p>\n
But then, how are we supposed to know which fish and clams
\ncome from the bay, and which do not?<\/p>\n
Come to think of it, how can we make sure which fish and clams
\nare free from any dangerous substances, because I'm pretty sure
\nthat pollution is now present everywhere.<\/p>\n
You can't even be a vegetarian nowadays to escape the
\npollutants and diseases that plague beef, poultry and now fish,
\nbecause even vegetables are cultivated using chemical fertilizers
\nand pesticides.<\/p>\n
We just have to accept this polluted world that we ourselves
\nhave created, and contemplate it each time casualties arise
\nbecause of pollution.<\/p>\n
To keep my family safe, I think we'll stick to freshwater fish
\nfor the meantime, at least until the government says that they're
\npolluted too, and then it wouldn't matter anymore -- whatever we
\neat will be dangerous to our health.<\/p>\n
-- The Jakarta Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/we-cannot-get-safe-food-anymore-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }