Friday, 19 August 2005

On Global Warming

"Past and current emissions already commit the world to an increase in temperature of 1-1.5°C. A consensus has emerged that temperature rises beyond 2ºC are likely to trigger runaway global warming"

So the report read from NEF(New Economic Foundation), such a report has been in the public domain for quite a while. And our 'oil-based' life-style and habit are hard to change.

Knowing fully well that these 'habits' won't change overnight or any time soon, probably it is worth musing to join the 'gas-guzzler' of the planet instead, enjoying a 'Hobbesian' life rather than reluctantly turning 'green' and breeding sinister jealousy over the 'developed-industrialised-capitalistic' life of the North. The point is: 'what is the point of all these frugality, sustainability, end to poverty and so forth' if sometime[soon] 'ecological-justice' will come in the form of planetary cataclysm that will affect all Earth inhabitants?

Will it not be better to increase the pace of 'the guzzling' by participating as our economy permit? The rationale is simple: climate change, once pass the point of no return-will NOT return to normal. Joining in the 'guzzler' lifestyle will at least permit the deprived Southerner for a momentary 'joyride' of their life[isn't that a beautiful notion?]. Since quickening the process of planetary destruction is the most efficient form and [possibly] the cheapest economically to make that thresh-hold passed, so that a new world with-out the influence of oil can begin?*

*This ferment is not made by 'right-leaning,power-hungry, SUV-driving, oiled in greed or anti-bush administration; on the contrary it's written by a very 'acidic' post-new age, left-leaning, communist-hating, meta-environmentalist of Southern descent' a.k.a. "Cultural Creatives" person.

Sunday, 7 August 2005

Indonesia Sustainability Council

tanikota

Indonesia's equatorial location right in the middle of the 'sun-belt' of South East Asia gave alot of advantage to develop and harvest various source of renewable energies.

It is a shame that amidst the current fossil-fuel or 'krisis minyak' the government did not mention anything on this topic. Utilising the ever-available solar energy and its derivative the wind energy; surely Indonesia won't mired this crisis.

The media and for this matter the acdemia and inteligentsia are not doing much either. The driving-force of Indonesia's technology i.e: BPPT, ITB and Pertamina and KLH should discus this matter with NGOs such as WALHI, Greenpeace, WWF including the academia to format a 'sustainable energy forum' as as possibly can.

BPPT can flex its manufacturing muscles to make affordable solar panel and wind-generator appropriate for archipellago environment. ITB can come up with new ideas and designs; Pertamina can use its extensive network to help with marketing and distribution. The Ministery of Environment or KLH can provide the regulating principles or manual. And NGOs can participate as 'watch-dog' or even better integrated into the 'structure'.

And of course president SBY has to endorse this 'structure' and if possible personaly involve in its development. If this is possible we the people of this republic will 'Allah's willing' be self-sufficient in our energy generation.

For an ex-oil exporting country, Indonesia should have thought of alternative energy long before becoming an .oil importing country