Nature Alert: Environment State Decree Approved

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

Environment State Decree Approved

Wednesday, 09 September, 2009 |

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:

The House of Representatives (DPR) officially approved the state decree regarding the protection and management of the environmental yesterday.

The Minister for the Environment, Rachmat Witoelar, said that this new state decree improved the previous state decree No.23/1997 regards the management of the environment.

According to Rachmat, the new state decree obligates central and regional governments in making strategic environment studies, including the usage of natural resources.

Industries producing dangerous and poisonous waste are also obligated to manage their own waste.

He explained that the environmental impact analysis report (amdal) would be used as a tool to prevent more environmental damage and as a reason to give permits to industries.

“We will not issue a permit if the industry does not have complete environmental documents.”

Legal sanctions will be imposed on officials giving permits to industries that damage the environment.

“The sanctions are for those issuing the permits as well as those allowing the environmental damage to take place,” said Rachmat.

In addition, Rachmat said he welcomed the environmental supervisory body and civil investigators (PPNS) now having more authority.

“They can arrest people damaging the environment by coordinating with the police,” Rachmat said.

Ten factions in the environmental commission agreed to approve this state decree.

Dianing sari

http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2009/09/09/brk,20090909-197064,uk.html

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.