Selasa, 25 Januari 2011

Access to Clean Water: A Problem for Indonesia


Access to clean water is one of Indonesia's biggest problem. According to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Report 2007, published by the National Development Planning Board, piped water is accessible to 30.8 percent of households in the country's cities and 9 percent in its villages. Such figures show the limitations of the municipality's water service provider, PDAM.
Lack of investment in clean water is one reason PDAM gives for its limited outreach. Based on a government statement, to meet the MDGs target by 2015, Indonesia needs Rp43 trillion (US$4.6 billion) in clean water funding. The government currently provides Rp500 billion.
In order to close the funding gap, the government expects private investment in drinking water infrastructure.
The need for clean water funding is something that cannot be covered by private investment. In Indonesia, most PDAM utilities have small scales of economy and are therefore unattractive to investors.
There is no evidence to suggest private investors will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water services, whereas the government has a duty to do so.
Increasing public funding for clean water infrastructure is the most rational approach for Indonesia. This effort should begin with an analysis of the needs of locals. This should be done through a democratic and participatory process.
There are resources and mechanisms the government could employ to increase clean water funding, such as state and local budgets, grants, government bonds and community-public partnership.
In order to use a grant system, the government should improve its proposal management and clearly focus on real needs in order to widen clean water services.




PDAM could use existing funds more efficiently. if it could reduce leakages from 40 per cent to 20 percent, it would have more disposable funds to invest in infrastructure. PDAM should use cost recovery principles, as long as costs are not passed on to consumers. Cost recovery principles should also be supported by a proper subsidy mechanism.
Bond investing is a traditional lending instrument for public services. The mechanism needs conditions, such as strong capital structure at local level.
A few of mechanisms in place now do help the poor access clean water at affordable prices. The most important thing is to make sure the mechanisms run properly and that the needs of people at the local level are met through appropriate funding.


Taken from The Jakarta Post, April 5, 2008

The Importance of Rainforests


Rainforests are one of the most complicated environments on Earth. They are recognized worldwide as containing the richest source of plants and animals and are believed to contain nearly three-quarters of all the varieties of life on Earth. This is remarkable because rainforests cover only about six percent of the Earth's land surface.
Rainforest are the oldest major ecosystem, having survived climate changes for more than one million years. They provide habitats for more species of plants, animals, insects and birds than any other environment found on our planet. Scientists estimate that between 60 and 90 percent of all species of life are to be found in rain forests. Unfortunately, the widespread destruction of many of the world's rainforests has caused a significant decline in the number of plant and animal species on Earth.
Rainforests influence both our local and global climates. For example, between 50 and 80 percent of the moisture in the air above rainforests comes from the rainforest's trees. If large areas of these lush rainforests are cleared, the average rainfall in the area will drop. Eventually, the area's climate will get hotter and drier. This process could convert rainforests into a sparse grassland or desert.
Rainforests are also able to absorb over 90 percent of the rainfall in their leaves and mosses. By doing this, they are able to slow down water run-off by gradually releasing the water over time into streams and rivers. This helps to control soil erosion and flooding.


Rainforests are vital to the Earth in helping to recycle carbon and oxygen. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the gas put into the air globally by humans, mainly by the burning of fossil fuels (for example in cars and factories). Rainforests are able to remove carbon dioxide from the air and return oxygen in its place. This is why our global rainforests are often called the Earth's ‘lungs'.
Rainforests are major producers of the Earth's oxygen. In fact, scientists believe that nearly 50 percent of the Earth's oxygen is produced by rainforest in the Amazon region alone.
Nearly 40 percent of the world's carbon is contained in the trees of the rainforests. As rainforests are cut down and burned, carbon dioxide is released into the Earth's atmosphere. Eventually, as this gas builds up the atmosphere, leading to what scientists call the enhanced greenhouse effect.



To sum up, the role of the rainforest is essential for human life. It creates equilibrium in our environment and its resources are significant for human beings survival.
Taken from SOSE: Studies of Society and Environment, 2000