'It was much greener back then'

'It was much greener back then'

"Think globally, act locally" is a slogan used universally by
environmentalists to encourage people to adopt a green lifestyle.
In conjunction with World Environment Day on June 5, The Jakarta
Post asked people if they were personally involved in
environmental action in the city.

Dedi, 30, is a sidewalk fruit vendor on Jl. Cililitan Besar,
East Jakarta. He lives nearby with his family:

I don't really know much about environmental issues, but if it
has anything to do with pollution, then I can say a word or two
about that.

I think we should really do something about the air pollution
in the city, because it is getting worse by the day.

If we were to pay close attention, we would notice that there
is always a slight haze in the air from the emissions of
thousands of buses, motorcycles, bajaj and private cars on the
streets.

Adults, like us, can cover our mouths and noses to avoid
inhaling the air when a vehicle spews smoke in our face, but what
about children and babies?

If I had children, I would rather raise them back in the
village, where the pollution is not so bad.

Acip Sumarya, 36, is a taxi driver. He lives in a rental house
in an alley on Jl. Perdatam, South Jakarta:

I've been living in Jakarta since 1989, and as far as I
remember this city was much greener back then, with less
high-rises and toll roads.

My neighborhood is a densely populated one, but the people who
live there understand that we have to maintain a healthy
environment.

We don't litter, for instance, and together dredge the gutter
-- it's actually a small river -- once in a while. As we don't
have a sewage system, all household liquid waste goes to the
gutter.

Who doesn't want to have trees in their yard? But my yard
isn't big enough, and I can't afford to move. Most people who own
a big plot of land in the city build huge houses rather than
planting trees.

-- The Jakarta Post