Chernobyl accident commemorated here

By Zane T. Redman

JAKARTA (JP): Keeping up the information campaign against the development of nuclear power in Indonesia, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and other citizen advocacy groups sponsored a day-long seminar recently at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Arts Center to discuss nuclear power and remember the eighth anniversary of the tragic nuclear accident at Chernobyl.

The event included a presentation by Yuko Fujita, a Japanese expert on nuclear power, which focused on the effects of Chernobyl and the dangers to the people of Indonesia, specifically Java.

Panel discussions, question and answer periods, a children's theater presentation, and a poetry reading by Indonesia's premier poet, Rendra, were included.

The audience was a diverse group of students, members of government, scientists, musicians, artists, children, representatives of the private sector and many NGOs.

The seminar focused on providing more information to the public in an effort to create a mass movement to oppose the development of nuclear power in Indonesia. Organizers estimated that upwards of 2,000 people attended, though many came to see Rendra's presentation later in the evening rather than the earlier seminar.

Public reaction to the seminar was mixed, with some people remaining unaware that the purpose of the seminar was to oppose the government's plan to go nuclear.

One informed individual, Joyce, a 17-year-old high school student who chose not to reveal her last name, felt that "nuclear power will destroy people's lives, particularly in Indonesia. Indonesian people are still poor and lack the information to make informed decisions. They don't know about the dangers involved in nuclear power."

Joyce went on to add that though she was informed about the issue, most of her information came from sources outside her school. "Our teachers never discuss issues like this. Most of my information comes from an extracurricular environmental club I am a member of."

Crazy

Some university students who chose to remain anonymous stated that "without more information the people will never know what is happening, or could happen."

Confronted with images detailing the size of the nuclear accident at Chernobyl, some said "it's crazy to pursue something that could contaminate more than half the island of Java where most of the Indonesian people live."

Several participants stated that "it seemed that the government was trying to push through the development of nuclear power without informing the public." Further, more humorous, comments were directed towards the development of what one called "Habibie's baby," that is, the nuclear power station on the Muria Peninsula.

Some students favored international pressure to stop the development as they felt that "without international support the plans would never get off the ground."

"We need more information," was a common response to questions about the issue, though a few university students were well aware of the dangers and cited "waste storage, earthquakes, and volcanic activity" as some of their main worries.

Some other students urged greater development of Indonesia's cleaner sources of energy which include geothermal, solar, wind and hydroelectric. "These are much more rational choices," said one student.

A few people stated they felt nuclear power to be a "clean source of energy." But this was not a common response. Most people leaving the seminar felt they "had gained a lot of information, but still needed more."

"From what I learned today, I know I must learn more to fully understand the issue. There is so much involved; the benefits, the dangers, I just don't know," said one participant.

Wealth transfer

Technological and human issues were also prominent in many students minds. In Indonesia "we don't have the technology or skills to develop or maintain nuclear power, so money will be sent outside the country, both for the technology, and the workers," said one student.

This transfer of wealth out of Indonesia and the technological dependence that could ensue are prime worries of the organizers, thus it appears that their message is falling on receptive ears.

The issue of developing nuclear power across Java, a highly unstable geological zone and also the home of many active volcanoes seems "against logical thought," stated Dicky, a student who also chose not to give his last name. "But if the people of Indonesian don't know what's going on they will never act."

Thus, the information campaign about this critical issue goes on. It seems the seminar at TIM was a step in the right direction for the cause of Walhi and other citizen advocacy groups, but the fight is far from over. As one representative of Walhi claimed, "we are still unsure of the public's reaction."