'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