At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, I’d like to  sound off a bit about today’s generation of socially-internet-linked ‘activists’.

I grew up in the late sixties / early seventies. The hippie revolution was just coming to a close. The war was over. John Lennon was spreading power to the people. Aids was an un-known, gangs (and tattoos) were only for the really really mean guys – not for school kids. My mum and dad weren’t really into the ’scene’. They may have smoked the rare joint at a party, but no flares or tie-dyed jeans in the cupboards. Just Business magazines and science books. My uncle and aunty on the other hand were die hard hippies. Uncle Paul had side burns a mustache and cool brown sunglasses. He went knee boarding at Wamberal beach. Aunty Lindy had hair down to her knees, was always laughing and to me  epitomized  ‘hippie’ They went kayaking and drove half way round Australia in a  Kombi  van. I thought they were so cool. Growing up, I was always waiting for the next wave of the hippie revolution. The next ’sleep in’  ,  ‘woodstock’ , people-power movement. It never came  and i wonder if it ever will.

This is an encouraging article from the Jakarta Post.

Encouraging because of the inclusion of education. Both governments look like they are willing and at least trying to take positive steps to solve global environmental problems .

With education there can be a sensible transfer of knowledge. In this case Brazil has developed technology for bio-fuel and can teach Indonesia how to use it properly and effectively. A step in the right direction.

A big problem in Indonesia these days is the structure of the legal system and it’s inability to uphold certain laws. especially those concerning the environment, protection of forests ect.

L.Green , R.Kersey – sung by the Trammps (or was the Bee Gees ?) on the Saturday night Fever album.

It might well be the theme song for Indonesia in the dry season.

My first posting in Indonesia was in a small Kampung (Village) called Jabung.
Jabung is miles from nowhere. Way out in the scrub. They have tigers and elephants roaming around out there.
I was sent to check on a cattle feedlot project (now there’s some serious green house gas generation right there for you, but that’s another story for later.) I know jack about cows. I’ve milked one once and been chased up a tree by a pack off young bulls, but that’s about as much experience I’ve had with them. I landed the job through connections and because I had some high school Bahasa. When I found out there was only one person who spoke broken English in Jabung, I wished I’d paid more attention in class. 6 months in the scrub was a good teacher though and I learned to speak the lingo pretty fluently and more importantly got a good handle on local customs and an insight into Islam.

Hi my name is Andrew Benson. I have been living in Indonesia for about 20 years now. Almost half my life.

I aim to use this blog to chronicle some work I’m involved in regarding the development of bamboo products.

I’ve also just had a baby. Well my wife did the baby having part, but it makes me a daddy and has given me a re-newed sense of responsibility toward the environment.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when it comes to Indonesia and the environment. Indo Greenie ? Are you kidding me ? This place is an environmental disaster ! A glimpse into the end of the world even ! ‘Kiamat’ as they like to say over here. The standard of air quality here went way off the radar past ‘Hazardous’ years ago. You can still see a meter that was set up to measure air quality under the overpass down by Gambir train station. It was turned off a couple of years ago – probably because it only ever showed the worst possible rating. About the same time the government launched a ‘Blue skys’ committee. Their motto “In search of….”