On environmental crisis

On environmental crisis

The Bukit Lawang flash flood is yet more proof that Indonesia
faces a major environmental crisis. This requires a response from
the government that is both immediate and rigorous. The usual
"Crisis? What crisis?" response is just not good enough.

Every means of disseminating information should be deployed,
TV, cinema, radio, print media, street theater to demonstrate to
the general public, whose ignorance of ecology is both vast and
deep, the link between cause and effect; deforestation leads to
negative environmental changes.

A special environmental court should be set up. Above all, the
President should demonstrate that she takes an interest in such
things by making a public statement on the seriousness of the
issue.

DAVID JARDINE
Jakarta