Environmental issues

During the formative stages of the World Commission on Environment and Development there were those who then wanted to limit the scope of the commission to environmental issues only. This, in the words of chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland, "would have been a grave mistake" because "the environment does not exist as a sphere separate from human actions, ambitions and needs."

Environment and development are inextricably linked to issues of population, economics as well as politics and social justice.

The decision of an industrialist to embark on environmentally detrimental lumbering activities are not only pertinent to the environment and development but it also involves issues of the population, economic balance and political decision making.

This is because the ability of the industrialist to pursue business practices that are not sustainable may be directly influenced by existing, or lack of, laws and regulations that are prevalent within a country's political system.

Without laws and regulations that protect the environment and enforces sustainable development policies, it becomes a one-sided battle for those organizations that are actively promoting environmentally friendly development activities.

It also means that people that have less access to political power will continue to be marginalized and live in poverty in spite of a country's strong economic growth.

The awareness that the issues of environment and development are inseparable from politics need to be recognized.

It is disheartening to hear the assistant to the state minister of environment openly discouraging NGOs from addressing the political side of development and the environment during the Global Diversity Forum ("NGOs Told to Shun Political Activities", The Jakarta Post, Oct. 7, 1995).

The assistant minister said that NGOs' activities were all right "as long as they are relevant to the agenda" but she qualified her statement by defining relevant agenda as issues of biodiversity protocol and that NGOs should be wary of "political maneuvers".

The trees may be already distinguished from the forests in the efforts of tackling the problems of sustainable development. What needs to be recognized is that the roots of the problems may lie deeper in the ground.

MARKUS KRISETYA

Salatiga

Central Java