Taking the lead

Indonesia made a big leap forward in cutting back air pollution with the introduction of unleaded gasoline in selected gas stations in Jakarta on Sunday. The public indifference towards such an important national event, however, underlined the prevailing attitude of people in this country, including residents of notoriously polluted Jakarta, towards environmental issues: They couldn't care less.

Part of the problem is caused by the poor, or the lack of, preparations ahead of the introduction of unleaded gasoline. Only selected gasoline stations in the capital were offering unleaded gasoline on Sunday. Most were not even aware that they were supposed to phase out leaded gasoline starting on July 1.

Another problem was the poor dissemination of information about the campaign to phase out lead from gasoline. The indifference on the part of the majority of the media in Indonesia is symptomatic of people's ignorance of the impact that lead has had on the lives of people, particularly children. This is a story that should have drawn greater public attention because of the impact it will have on people's lives. In terms of significance, this is probably a more important story than those on the endless petty bickering between our politicians that have occupied our attention these past few weeks. Yet, a quick glance at the front pages of major newspapers in Indonesia last week would lead on to believe that the campaign to phase out lead from gasoline was not an important story at all.

Understandably, the initial impact on people's lives of the introduction of unleaded gasoline will be limited. Few motorists will venture making the conversion unless they are sure that there are enough supplies, not only in the capital, but also surrounding towns to ensure that they will never be without gasoline.

This is nevertheless an important initial step for Indonesia to take in phasing out lead from gasoline. Indonesia, in fact, is one of the few remaining countries in Asia still using lead in gasoline. Sunday's campaign marks the beginning in a two-year campaign by the government to completely phase out leaded gasoline nationwide by 2003. How Jakarta fares with the introduction of unleaded gasoline in the capital starting this week will determine the success of the nationwide campaign.

There is little doubt that Indonesia must, sooner or later, remove lead from gasoline. There is already a whole body of scientific evidence proving that the presence of lead residue in the air, left behind from fuel burning, is affecting the health of the people. Children are most vulnerable as a high content of lead in their blood would severely reduce their intelligence.

That Indonesia should be one of the last Asian countries to switch to unleaded gasoline raises questions about the commitment of the government and the people to improving the environment.

The conversion to unleaded gasoline is turning out to be a painless process. There is no real additional costs to Pertamina, the giant state oil company, which has a monopoly over gasoline supplies, and therefore no additional costs to pass to motorists. With all cars built after 1985 already designed to take both leaded and unleaded gasoline, most car owners will not incur heavy costs in making the conversion to a more environmental friendly gasoline.

There is no real reason for Indonesia to delay any further the move to take lead out of gasoline. More than anything else, the problem has always been one of attitude, or call it lack of political will. The government has now taken the lead with the introduction of unleaded gasoline. Now it is up to the public to response in kind, that is, by showing that they do care about the environment, about their health, and most of all, about their children. Our children.