I found it somewhat troubling after learning about Indonesian government’s focus on the forestry sector for its 2020 goal of 26% carbon emissions reduction. An article from Reuters indicates that Indonesia is the world’s No. 3 greenhouse gas emitter due to deforestation, peatland degradation and forest fires [article]. The pledge for cutting 26% carbon emissions by Indonesian government is then welcomed by international [article], although some say that it is pretty ambitious. The interesting part is what President SBY said:
“This target is entirely achievable because most of our emissions come from forest-related issues, such as forest fires and deforestation,”
During my propososal writing, I found this clearinghouse website that explains how transportation has a strong connection with climate change. I know it is a little too late for me finding out the existence of this website considering that I am studying this area. But it is certainly not too late for my proposal and my research.
An article in Kompas reports how Indonesian government plans to achieve the 26% carbon emission reduction by 2020. The article also further notes about potential 41% reduction assuming the presence of international supports.
These are pretty ambitious goals. But there is nothing wrong with these goals because we need to have that kind of goals in order for us to move forward; in order for us to make a big change for our next generations.
The simple yet critical challenge that has been the challenge in every case, how are we translating that goals into actions, that can actually bring all of us to the point where the goals of carbon emissions reduction is indeed achieved.
I am excatic!! Two publications with my name appears as an author came out last summer.
First, a book “The Unheard Voices: Community Organization and Service Learning.” This book came out from a Community Based Research course, back in Spring 2006. We interviewed a total of 67 community organizations about the practice of service learning. I contributed a chapter titled “Principles for Success for Service Learning-The three Cs,” collaborated with my colleague graduate student Samuel Pratsch and my advisor Randy Stoecker.
Does this mean I will receive royalty from the selling of this book? You betcha!! So, please take a look and see if you are interested to learn more from this book. I put a link too to amazon on the front cover image located in the right sidebar.
When my 9 mos daughter suffered dengue hemorrhagic fever back in 2008 in Indonesia, it was in the month of June. My wife reflected on the timing of the disease to spread, which to her is rather uncommon. Based on her medical training, dengue hemorrhagic fever disease normally occurs in the months of January and February in Indonesia.
Recently, I read two articles in the Jakarta Post and Kompas reporting the spread of malaria in Banten, Western Indonesia. Banten, however, is not a location where malaria disease typically occurs. Central and Eastern Indonesia have long been considered as the endemic locations for malaria due to relatively warmer temperatures.
This may not be new for some of you, but this one is really creative in delivering the message about our [sometimes] unthoughtful consumption decision. The story of stuff by Annie Leonard elaborates how a product was produced and finally thrown in a garbace can. This clearly shows how a long process is associated in a product and how it is associated with the quality of environment. It does make me think differently about my buying decision. Does it make you think differently? Click on the image to go to the Story of Stuff website.
TransJakarta Busway, a Bus Rapit Transit (BRT) system, has been implemented in Jakarta, Indonesia, since February 2004. The media publicities largely covered the system as a new hope for an unending congestion mitigation in Jakarta. As many have learned, the BRT system has far more potentials than merely congestion mitigation. BRT has effectively and effiently reduced carbon emission from transportation sector, the second largest contributors to green house gasses emissions leading to the change of global environment. The fact that there were limited discussions about climate change when TransJakarta Busway was initiated is worth to study.
