'Karma exists in human, environment affairs'

The World Environment Day was commemorated on June 5 and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) picked "Wanted! Seas and Oceans -- Dead or Alive?" as its theme. In conjunction with the commemoration, The Jakarta Post talked to some residents on their opinion about the environment in the city, particularly the worsening pollution in the air and the sea.

Didiek, 29, is a security officer at Koja Hospital in North Jakarta. He lives at nearby Rawa Badak district with his wife:

I believe there is karma in human-environment relationships. If we take care of the environment properly, our lives will be fine. But if we treat the environment unfairly, by destroying it or polluting it, then it's our own fault if our lives turn out miserable.

Look what happens in and around our forests after we excessively cut down trees there, the land is barren. Droughts and floods will hit the land, while pests will also proliferate.

The same thing happens when we litter and pollute the environment: Diseases and side-effects will eventually occur.

We have actually been told by our ancestors and also our religion how to keep our environment nice and clean, but I don't know why we keep ignoring it. Maybe it is because we are now living in such a fast-paced, modern world.

Patrisia, 28, is a researcher in a survey company in Central Jakarta. She lives in a boarding house in Karet, Central Jakarta:

For me, the environmental issues always relate to garbage problems and air pollution in Jakarta.

We should be more concerned about treating waste and reducing air pollution. We see that Jakartans still litter in any place they want.

The city administration should take stronger action against public buses for the pollution they cause. The old public transportation vehicles are the main source of air pollution in the capital.

I think those two issues are the most urgent and must be handled by the administration, even before we discuss how to "regreen" the city.

-- The Jakarta Post