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