Climate Crisis Hits Jakarta

July 26th, 2007, in Opinion, by Ross

View the original article here.

Tags: Aksara, Barack Obama, Borobudur, British International School, Bugils Cafe, Climate Change, Communist, Environment, Hotel, Hotels, Jakarta, Jakarta Post, Julia Suryakusuma, Sex, Subur, Tourist

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10 Comments on “Climate Crisis Hits Jakarta”

Odinius Says:
July 26th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Climate change is accepted science, though aspects of it are still debated (are we hastening a global desert or slower currents, which would lead to a new ice age?).

Even if this wasn’t the case, the horrific smog in jakarta should be reason alone for Indonesia to go green.

And the “big money” promoting climate change awareness can’t possibly compare to that of energy companies deliberately trying to obfuscate the issue.
Peter Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 12:30 am
I would agree with Odinius.

Despite the irresistability of trashing Al Gore, the serious investigator will find that global climate change is happening, and furthermore that it is clearly evident that it is being brought about by our greenhouse gas emissions. And I would disagree with your caption saying that Al Gore is a climate change expert. He is not quite an expert, but more of a public relations person. And I do not base my conclusions on his movie (which I haven’t seen), but on scientific books and articles.

Patung, it seems that your “Indonesianness” is coming through in this article, in the form of distrust for America and “big money”.
Odinius Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 12:34 am
The big money in america has always been opposed to accepting climate change as science. If it was any other way, the US would have backed the kyoto protocols, which it has not.
Nenek Sihir Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Anyone who thinks the Jakarta Post is pro-communist cannot be taken seriously. This Ross dude, with his 1950s McCarthy-speak, hates anyone who is even slightly to the left of George W. And good heavens: Indonesian WOMEN with feminist views daring to write about climate change in haze and smog-choked Indonesia - the absolute cheek of them!
Mark Hanusz Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Interesting take on climate change…just want to clarify one small point. Attendance for the Emerald Starr event was free so I am not sure how that would have stopped “non-rich Indonesians” from participating. Also, from all the “big money” names you mentioned, no money changed hands and all support was provided in-kind. I should know - I organized it.
Patung Says:
July 27th, 2007 at 10:39 am
This article was written by Ross McKay(, see at the top), however I added the images and image captions.
Bas Says:
July 28th, 2007 at 2:03 am
First time I think an article on Indonesianmatters is real piece of sh*t.
I hope I won’t read more craps like that on my favorite blog.
Ross.. Patung.. don’t do it again please.
Ross Says:
August 3rd, 2007 at 5:19 pm
The fact that it was free should have meant a bigger turnout, surely.
Climate change is remarkable, a handy battle-wagon to carry Gore into 2008. As you all know, plenty of people doubt its bases, and that Czech politician is hardly a hard right crusader.
I certainly don’t have unmitigated admiration for Bush -anyone who apoints deviants to ambassadorships hardly merits conservative esteem.
But who is this Nenek -a Grandma of the La Pasionaria sort, who has lost her perspicacity with great age?
Anyone who reads the JP’s constant carping - its demands that we welcome the unrepentant totalitarians of the PKI back, or who sat appalled at the revolting eulogy of the late and unlamented Red butcher Ho Chi Minh in its editorial columns, can’t fail to recognise that they are playing the Commie Game. Sorry, Nenek nenek, I was too young for politics in the 50s, but I understand the reds were murdering millions then in China, just as they did in Russia through the 20s and 30s…. try studyng history.
Jakartass Says:
October 25th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Other than an opportunity to post a picture of Julia S., was there a point to this article?

That she states consistently that each of us is partly responsible for climate change and that each of us can be partly responsible for mitigating the effects seems to have eluded Ross, who only seems to be interested in denigrating those he feels uncomfortable with.

But if this is one of the few places where he is sighted, then I suppose we should be grateful. After all, his hot air leaves a very small carbon footprint.

If anyone is really interested in the effects of climate change on Indonesia, then have a good browse through the Worldwatch Institute website. And if you want to know what Jakarta could be like in 100 years time, then I’ve posted a possible scenario here.
Sam Murray Says:
January 9th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
At the end of the day Global Warming is happening. So whether it is Al Gore bringing peoples attention to it or someone else they dont deserve to get abuse. Fair enough he may be using it to hisfor his own gain in politics but aslong as he continues to bring a very serious issue to the whole world then where is the problem.

What we need to do is actually get the organisations to emply energy saving techniques and reduce theuir carbon emissions. If we can do this then we are half way there but at the moment it is still viewed as an avoidable cost.

Great article though.