Restore old glory of Batavia

Restore old glory of Batavia

While moving in and around the beautiful city of Jakarta, one
can easily spot various bonfires, emitting "dense smoke". Tons of
garbage is burned every day. Sure, it is a convenient way to get
rid of waste material, but at what cost?

All of us know that there is no "free lunch". We will
certainly have to pay through the nose for our deeds in the near
future.

Needless to say that the burning of garbage -- which consists
of various hazardous materials such as plastics, packaging
materials, etc. -- produces obnoxious and toxic fumes. These
gases pollute the environment and have a detrimental effect on
the health of all "living beings". Furthermore, vehicle
emissions, particularly from buses and minibuses, create havoc in
polluting the environment.

All of us notice this happening every day, but prefer to
remain silent sufferers, expecting someone else to take the
action. It is observed that the authorities are normally
sensitive tot he people's concern and objections, provided they
are repeatedly reported, collectively or individually.

The media can certainly play an important role in protecting
the environment by creating an awareness among the people and
urging the authorities to take the necessary steps.

Let us pledge to return the old glory to "Batavia" in the
coming millennium by returning the original color to its sky.

R.K. CHOPRA

Jakarta