Regional Greenpeace head to be Indonesian
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Global environmental group Greenpeace has named Emmy Hafild, a seasoned environmentalist and former director of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), as the new executive director of its Southeast Asian arm.
Emmy will lead the regional office in its "nonviolent and direct actions" against environmental abuses and destruction.
"Mrs. Hafild will lead Greenpeace Southeast Asia through its mission to protect Southeast Asia's abundant ecosystems," the group said in a press statement on Monday.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia board chairman Opart Panya said the group "is proud" to have Emmy joining it and looked forward to seeing her take Greenpeace Southeast Asia forward.
"We have a lot of work to do in this region -- rapid industrialization has made the region one of the most economically dynamic regions in the world today, and along with that comes the threat of pollution, deforestation, climate change and genetic contamination," Panya said.
Commenting on the appointment, Emmy said she would focus on promoting reforestation and curbing illegal logging in the region, as well as reducing pollution and encouraging the use of alternative energies.
"As for Indonesia, as the world's fourth largest contributor to the greenhouse effect, we suggest that the government use part of the subsidy money it is saving by raising fuel prices to develop alternative energy sources," she said.
As Greenpeace Southeast Asia regional director, Emmy will be based in both Bangkok and Bogor, West Java.
Prior to her appointment, Emmy was the secretary-general of the Jakarta-based corruption watchdog Transparency International Indonesia.
The holder of a master of science in environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin, U.S., Emmy has several awards under her belt for her work on environmental issues, including the Satya Lencana Pembangunan medal conferred by president Megawati Soekarnoputri in 2001. Emmy was also named by Time magazine as one of the "Heroes of the Planet" in 1999.