Absurd acts of obstruction

I sat amazed in a traffic jam observing Indonesian drivers vying for an inch of space, while outside their mostly leaded cars, poor children hawking their wares or musical talents for spare change. It wasn't until we reached the traffic lights that the gridlock revealed a shameful picture. The intersection was blocked perpendicularly only. Directly ahead of us the road was absolutely clear of traffic. What's wrong with this picture I thought? It reeked of a painful and sorry truth and that is a dire need for compassion.

1. For our humanity. Shouldn't these children be at school wanting to become a pilot or something instead of one day becoming a medical burden, for all the poisonous lead their little growing lungs consume?

2. For our environment. People now assume that as long as the lights are green it is their right to enter and sit within the intersection, and commit other countless acts of obstruction to the natural flow of traffic. It's so wrong allowing this inconsiderate behavior to continue.

What can be done immediately to improve this appalling onslaught of pollution on this astonishing planet of ours? This planet which generously bestrew the gift of life itself. Humbly enough, not only in Indonesia. Though it's largely populated, its people are hugely ignorant of environment issues and the impact of Indonesia's pollution on the rest of the world. We all concur that poverty and lack of education are the key factors. Until the day of better distribution of funds and education. Here are two simple suggestions with immediate benefits.

1. Call on multinationals or manufacturers of air filter masks to print their logos or slogans on the actual masks and have them distributed among traffic beggars. What a powerful advertising tool and sensational message, not to mention humanitarian act.

2. Make it an offense to enter an intersection until the intersection has been cleared of all traffic. Why don't you, the educated passenger, refrain your driver from committing these selfish, absurd acts of obstruction?

Our planet and our people are suffering. I'm not a multinational nor a manufacturer, all I have is 18 years of advertising to bring to a worthy cause, who else will contribute toward a healthier future?

L. SHAW

Jakarta