Jakarta...No emission stickers, no parking in our lots

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said Sunday the Jakarta administration would only allow cars that have passed emission tests to use the city offices’ parking areas.

“We are moving forward on air quality improvement. Beginning Monday, two parking areas in the Jakarta hall will only allow cars that have emission test stickers to park inside,” Fauzi said during Car Free Day at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

This new arrangement will also be applied to sections of the parking area at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta.

“This policy will also be applied in other city offices. This is our way of raising public awareness about the importance of emission testing,” he said.

Ridwan Panjaitan, head of the law enforcement unit at the Jakarta Environment Management Agency (BPLHD), said there were already five places that only provided parking areas for cars with emission stickers.

Cars without the stickers are not allowed to park inside PT Martina Berto and PT Dankos buildings in East Jakarta, Dharmais Hospital in West Jakarta, Sahid Jaya Hotel in Central Jakarta, and the BPLHD office in South Jakarta.

Ridwan said some sections of parking areas in Ciputra Mall and Trisakti University in West Jakarta, Senayan City in Central Jakarta, Indonesian Christian University in East Jakarta, Pondok Indah Mall in South Jakarta, Kelapa Gading Mall in North Jakarta, the five municipalities offices, and several other company buildings had also applied the policy.

“The companies, universities, and city administration that want to take this step are members of the Clean Emission Appreciation Movement. We are a group that aims to improve air quality,” he said.

“The movement has about 50 institutional members and I hope all of them will soon implement this policy,” Ridwan said.

Fauzi Bowo also officiated the city’s first air quality monitoring station on the same day.

The city spent Rp 5.5 billion to build the 6-square-meter station, which is equipped with various electronic tools that can measure air pollution in the area.

The station’s machines are directly connected to the BPLHD’s data center.

“This station helps us measure the city’s condition. By measuring the level of air pollution, we can really know how bad pollution is,” Fauzi said.

Though Fauzi said that his administration has been doing its best to improve the city’s air quality, he had not decided when the administration would begin the long planned mandatory testing.

“Someday, we will surely make the emission test mandatory, but everything must be prepared first,” said Fauzi.

Harry, a car user, said that he agreed with environmental policies such as mandatory emission tests.
“As long as these efforts are done continuously, I support them. The city administration just have to show they are serious,” he said. (mrs)

Source: The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 11/30/2009

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Death toll from Russian train derailment hits 26

MOSCOW — Russian news agencies are quoting the country's health minister as saying one of the wounded passengers from last week's deadly train derailment has died, taking the death toll to 26. Dozens remain hospitalized.

Three news agencies on Monday cited Health Minister Tatyana Golikova as saying a woman had died of her injuries in a Moscow clinic.

Authorities say Friday's derailment of an express train speeding from Moscow to St. Petersburg was caused by a bomb planted on the track.

Conflicting figures from different officials have led to confusion over the number of victims.

On Sunday health officials reduced the toll by one, citing more reliable information.

Source: The Associated Press | Mon, 11/30/2009

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Viva Jakarta! Latin spirit benefits local communities

An exuberant inquiry of como esta might sound perfectly at home when you are gazing towards the ruins of Medina Azzahra in Andalusia or eating tapas in Madrid.

However, on a recent morning, the equivalent of "how do you do" was frequently heard over the echoes of gamelan music and the fragrant aroma of satay.

"It is usually louder than this," Giselle Arroyo, a member of the Club de Senoras de Habla Hispana, or the Spanish Speaking Women Association, told The Jakarta Post.

"Perhaps the atmosphere is calmer because it is Indonesia's turn."

She was attending the annual coffee morning, which is held by the association every third Thursday of the month. Women of different nationalities take turns organizing the event, and that month was Indonesia's turn.

Thus, that sunny morning witnessed the ladies from Spain, Columbia, and other countries, including Indonesia, enjoying traditional Indonesian performing arts such as kuda lumping, and browsing batik garments in between eating and chatting in the main room of a sports club in South Jakarta.

The association currently has around 120 members from 22 nationalities, said Giselle, who is an editor at the club's monthly publication El Pregonero.

Most of the association's members are women whose husbands are working in Indonesia.

Such traits, however, are not necessarily a prerequisite for one to enter the association, said Sirlady Santosa, one of the associations' most senior members and also its Coordinator of Programs.

"As long as the person can speak Spanish, one is welcome," she explained.

The associations' members include those from the United States and Indonesia, in addition to two male members.

"They are very helpful when we want to dress them up in costumes from their homelands," said Giselle, laughing.

The pluralism means that each month the coffee morning has its own special colors.

However, Giselle said that the Latin members of the club, who were essentially "happy and liked to laugh" became even more spirited when it was one of their motherland's turn to organize the coffee morning.

"We are excited to hear our music and eat our food, so it gets more noisy," said the Columbian national. smiling.

The club is not just a cure for homesickness. It is also often involved in various philanthropic activities ranging from feeding the hungry to providing tuition fees for higher education.

"We have a list of special programs," Giselle said.

"We give money to kampung kids, medicine and money to Flores *East Nusa Tenggara*, and we pay tuition fees for students in universities. Every year the social program changes according to the people that reach us."

The association's most recent project is the community kitchen in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. Each week, a local ibu (mother) cooks in the kitchen to feed 100 children.

There were various ways in which those in need could reach the association, such as by letters, Giselle said.

"Sometimes its personal. Sometimes the person who works at the house of the ladies know someone in need," she said

An Indonesian member approached Sirlady and Giselle's table and produced a small book of coupons just as she was explaining the charity programs.

"This is one of the ways to raise money," Sirlady said, smiling.

"we make ruffles, we have fees, and our main activity is the Gala Latina, the Latin Ball."

According to her, philanthropy had been a long-standing feature of the association, albeit not one that existed from the start, when it was still in its embryonic phase in the late 1970s.

When Sirlady came to the country in February of 1977, the club was already established, albeit only with eight members, she said.

"*The association* started gradually you know, by this time the ladies have been getting together to have lunch together, socialize and exchange ideas."

Eventually, the annual gatherings fostered the idea of charity.

"The reason *for the association* was there was nothing to do, no activities for the ladies, just lunch. So why not make a club and help people?" Sirlady said.

Susana MRS de Sanz de Urquiza, wife of His Excellency Javier A Sanz de Urquiza, the Ambassador of Argentina to Indonesia, said she found the group very helpful.

"*It is* very welcoming to the newcomers, very warm. They make charitable projects and through them, we not only get to learn about each other's cultures but we can also help each other." (dis)

Source: The Jakarta Post , Wed, 09/09/2009

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Gas stations in Jakarta green areas closed

Several gas stations located in Jakarta green areas have been closed for a week.

Kompas.com reported one gas station on Jl. Sumenep, two on Jl. Kwitang, and one in front of Ciptomangunkusumo Hospital were among those no longer serving customers.

"We have not received any fuel supplies since Oct. 20," Kantiman, a gas station employee on Jl. Sumenep, said.

A buyer had bought the gas station assets and the money from the sale would be used to pay the 12 gas station employees, he added.

Earlier on Monday, the head of the Jakarta park and cemetery agency, Ery Baskoro, said he had sent a letter to state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina to stop supplying fuel to 27 gas stations in green areas and Pertamina had agreed to do so.

The measure is part of the city administration's efforts to restore green spaces in Jakarta.

Source: The Jakarta Post , Sat, 10/31/2009

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Jakarta administration told to seal Senayan City

A top city councilor has urged the Jakarta building supervision and order agency to seal Senayan City shopping mall in Central Jakarta following a dispute over the land the commercial facility is built on.

Deputy speaker of the city council, Lulung Lunggana, said Tuesday the agency should uphold the law indiscriminately.

“The agency needs to seal the building immediately in order to avoid an impression that it acts quickly against slum areas but acts hesitantly against luxury buildings,” Lulung was quoted by Antara.

Fellow city councilor Taufik Hadiawan said the case served as a test for Governor Fauzi Bowo’s commitment to the people.

“The governor’s image is at stake. People are curious if he will side with big businesspeople or defend the public’s interests,” Taufik said.

The two councilors were responding to the agency’s decision to suspend the shopping mall’s operational permit, which followed a claim from offspring of the late land owner Toyib bin Kiming that the Senayan City developer had yet to pay compensation for the land transfer.

Head of the agency Hari Sasongko has said no further action will be taken as the dispute is being heard in court.

Source: The Jakarta Post , Tue, 11/24/2009

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Agnes rules MTV Indonesia Award

JAKARTA: She’s young, she’s talented and most recently she gained further recognition at the MTV Indonesia Awards 2009. Yup, she’s our young diva Agnes Monica.

Agnes, the 23-year-old singer who started her career way back when she was a child, received two awards on Wednesday, news portal Kapanlagi.com reported on Thursday. She took home the “Most Favorite Female” award, as well as being hailed as “The Best Artist of the Year.”

“It seems a lot of people believed in me. I’m very proud of this,” said the woman who succeeded in winning the awards, beating her fellow musicians Gita Gutawa, Rossa, Nidji, Slank and d’Masiv.

“I’m not your typical ordinary person, I always strive to produce something I can be proud of,” she added.

Her recent recognition is a proof that one can dream and make one’s dreams come true, she says. “No dream is too big. Everyone can achieve their best if only they try.”

Her current dream of going international is one she’s still struggling to turn into reality. Well, good luck, girl! — The Jakarta Post | Mon, 11/30/2009

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