Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indonesia. Show all posts
That freaking mud volcano still going, 2 years later. Gov't gives up.
I can't believe this is still going on! In 2006, I posted about this bad boy a lot. Dang. They tried to "choke it" by dropping in a lot of concrete- one idea, that has, unsurprisingly, failed.
Well, it looks like the Indonesian government is giving up on it.
"Indonesia's vice president said on Friday the government had given up all hope of halting a mud volcano in East Java which has displaced thousands of people, hurt businesses, and destroyed the local environment.
The disastrous mud volcano, which started erupting in May 2006 near Indonesia's second-biggest city of Surabaya, has proved a huge problem for the government.
The hot, noxious mud has displaced more than 50,000 people, submerged homes, factories and schools and is now flowing at a rate of more than 100,000 cubic meters a day. Various attempts to halt the flow have all failed." LINK
The disastrous mud volcano, which started erupting in May 2006 near Indonesia's second-biggest city of Surabaya, has proved a huge problem for the government.
The hot, noxious mud has displaced more than 50,000 people, submerged homes, factories and schools and is now flowing at a rate of more than 100,000 cubic meters a day. Various attempts to halt the flow have all failed." LINK
Biofuels and ethics...
Pretty intense article about increases in the cost of food, the ethics of biofuel, and the real life day to day impact of the food crisis. Great read.
"And, as a result of the vast tracts of farmland now being given over to corn for ethanol production, the price has risen sharply. Hence the tortilla riots in Mexico, last summer, over the price rise in the corn flour that makes the pancakes. Some claim that there is now a war between the 850 million chronically hungry of the world and the 800 million motorists - all fighting for the same food crop. It's a pretty unbalanced battle: the maize to fill a tank for a 'Chelsea tractor' would feed a family of four for three months. In October the United Nations' spokesman on famine, Jean Ziegler, called the biofuel boom 'a crime against humanity'. And as the Economist magazine recently noted: 'The 30 million tonnes of extra corn going to ethanol this year amounts to half the fall in the world's overall grain stocks.'
Last week, after a mass protest at the price of soya beans in Indonesia (which rose because of the shortage of corn and other crops to supply the biofuel industry), Ashok Gulati, director at the International Food Policy Research Institute said: 'It's finally a trade-off between filling stomachs and filling diesel tanks in cars and trucks.'"
Indonesians getting suspicious about their bad luck, turning to the supernatural for explanations.
Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't blame them. This has been a really bad couple of years to be in Indonesia.
"Over the past two years, Indonesia has suffered an encyclopedia of troubles, from the devastating tsunami of December 2004 to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, bird flu outbreaks, landslides, airline crashes and a vast, bizarre geyser of mud — a constant pounding of catastrophes that has worn down the national psyche and convinced many that something supernatural is going on." LINK
Interestingly, some have decided that it is the president who is cursed.
"“Since the day he took office there have been unending disasters,” said Permadi, a member of Parliament and a mystic, of the president. Like many Indonesians, he uses only one name. Mr. Yudhoyono was born under a bad sign, he said, and nature is demonstrating its anger at him and the nation."
Well, a cursed president might be easier to deal with than the epic, mega-sized infrastructure issues that they have.
"As the economy grows about 6 percent a year, with a proliferation of homes, offices and shopping centers, almost no new roads, bridges, airports, power lines or water systems have been built since the Asian economic crisis a decade ago. More malls, more squatter communities, more hillside villas: all contribute to breakdowns in urban services and to disasters like the flood."
Also, the floods? Have left people dying in their wake. The receding floodwaters have left thousands suffering with diarrhea, dengue fever, and severe respiratory problems. LINK
related posts
Jakarta situation gets even worse- 480,000 refugees
Jakarta under water
Choke a volcano? Are you sure?
Time for another look at disaster central, Indonesia
Goodish news about those displaced Indonesians
"Over the past two years, Indonesia has suffered an encyclopedia of troubles, from the devastating tsunami of December 2004 to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, bird flu outbreaks, landslides, airline crashes and a vast, bizarre geyser of mud — a constant pounding of catastrophes that has worn down the national psyche and convinced many that something supernatural is going on." LINK
Interestingly, some have decided that it is the president who is cursed.
"“Since the day he took office there have been unending disasters,” said Permadi, a member of Parliament and a mystic, of the president. Like many Indonesians, he uses only one name. Mr. Yudhoyono was born under a bad sign, he said, and nature is demonstrating its anger at him and the nation."
Well, a cursed president might be easier to deal with than the epic, mega-sized infrastructure issues that they have.
"As the economy grows about 6 percent a year, with a proliferation of homes, offices and shopping centers, almost no new roads, bridges, airports, power lines or water systems have been built since the Asian economic crisis a decade ago. More malls, more squatter communities, more hillside villas: all contribute to breakdowns in urban services and to disasters like the flood."
Also, the floods? Have left people dying in their wake. The receding floodwaters have left thousands suffering with diarrhea, dengue fever, and severe respiratory problems. LINK
related posts
Jakarta situation gets even worse- 480,000 refugees
Jakarta under water
Choke a volcano? Are you sure?
Time for another look at disaster central, Indonesia
Goodish news about those displaced Indonesians
Jakarta situation gets worse- now 480,000 refugees
The flooding in Jakarta has now driven 480,000 people out of their homes. 480,000. I wish you could do numbers in caps. 480,000.
That's another New Orleans, that's an epic disaster. And there will just be more and more of this to come. It might not be on the news here that much, but these stories will happen more and more.
"Authorities earlier estimated that up to 60 percent of Jakarta was submerged by waters reaching up to 4 meters deep in some places.
The Meteorological and Geophysics Agency has forecast that heavy rains will continue to hit Jakarta in the coming weeks. February is the peak of the rainy season in the country.
Environmentalists blame the frequent flooding in Jakarta on poor urban planning and deforestation of hillside areas to the south of the city. " LINK
That's another New Orleans, that's an epic disaster. And there will just be more and more of this to come. It might not be on the news here that much, but these stories will happen more and more.
"Authorities earlier estimated that up to 60 percent of Jakarta was submerged by waters reaching up to 4 meters deep in some places.
The Meteorological and Geophysics Agency has forecast that heavy rains will continue to hit Jakarta in the coming weeks. February is the peak of the rainy season in the country.
Environmentalists blame the frequent flooding in Jakarta on poor urban planning and deforestation of hillside areas to the south of the city. " LINK
Jakarta under water
Indonesia. Does it ever stop?
"Floods kill 25, displace 340,000 in Indonesia
Water rises to 13 feet in Jakarta; forecasts call for two more weeks of rain " LINK
Water rises to 13 feet in Jakarta; forecasts call for two more weeks of rain " LINK
"Indonesian officials fear an outbreak of disease could take hold amid severe flooding in the capital Jakarta, which has already left 25 people dead.
"We fear that diarrhoea and dysentery may break out, as well as illnesses spread by rats," one official said. " LINK
"We fear that diarrhoea and dysentery may break out, as well as illnesses spread by rats," one official said. " LINK
Another green fuel leading to ecological disaster.
"Rising demand for palm oil in Europe brought about the clearing of huge tracts of Southeast Asian rainforest and the overuse of chemical fertilizer there.
Worse still, the scientists said, space for the expanding palm plantations was often created by draining and burning peatland, which sent huge amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. "
LINK
It looks like it's going to take a while to sort all this out.
Worse still, the scientists said, space for the expanding palm plantations was often created by draining and burning peatland, which sent huge amounts of carbon emissions into the atmosphere. "
LINK
It looks like it's going to take a while to sort all this out.
Choke a volcano? Are you sure?
Hm. This sounds like it could end badly. Really badly.
Geophysicists have a plan to shut off the Indonesian mud volcano- the one caused by the drilling company.
"Indonesian geophysicists hope to stem the flow of a destructive mud volcano on East Java by dropping chains of concrete balls into its mouth."
Well then. That sound like a good idea. Now the volcano will just spit out cannon balls.
LINK
Geophysicists have a plan to shut off the Indonesian mud volcano- the one caused by the drilling company.
"Indonesian geophysicists hope to stem the flow of a destructive mud volcano on East Java by dropping chains of concrete balls into its mouth."
Well then. That sound like a good idea. Now the volcano will just spit out cannon balls.
LINK
Update on coffee grown in wildlife conservation areas
A few days ago I wrote about Indonesians clearing land within protected areas to farm coffee.
"The WWF reported that about 15,000 local farmers worked illegally inside the park, cultivating 45,000 hectares of conserved land to grow more than 19,600 tons of coffee. Their illegal activities had destroyed about 20 percent of the forest.
Seventy percent of the 365,800-hectare Bukit Barisan Selatan national park is located in Lampung, while the rest is in Bengkulu province. It is home to a number of critically endangered species, including populations of approximately 40 Sumatran tigers, 500 Sumatran elephants and between 60 and 85 Sumatran rhinoceroses."
Starbucks denies purchasing the beans, which were grown illegally in a sanctuary for endangered rhinos, tigers, and elephants, while Nestle "regrets" purchasing the beans, but claims they didn't know the origin of the beans. LINK
"The WWF reported that about 15,000 local farmers worked illegally inside the park, cultivating 45,000 hectares of conserved land to grow more than 19,600 tons of coffee. Their illegal activities had destroyed about 20 percent of the forest.
Seventy percent of the 365,800-hectare Bukit Barisan Selatan national park is located in Lampung, while the rest is in Bengkulu province. It is home to a number of critically endangered species, including populations of approximately 40 Sumatran tigers, 500 Sumatran elephants and between 60 and 85 Sumatran rhinoceroses."
Starbucks denies purchasing the beans, which were grown illegally in a sanctuary for endangered rhinos, tigers, and elephants, while Nestle "regrets" purchasing the beans, but claims they didn't know the origin of the beans. LINK
Time for another look at disaster central, Indonesia.
Been a week or so since I've posted anything from there, but not because nothing happened- just because the sheer amount of Indonesian news about various disasters, natural and man made is overwhelming, and I didn't set out to make a blog called Lexacat's Guide To The Doom In Indonesia, did I.
Right.
In one of the most mind-bending stories, the mud continues to flow (it's been about a year now) at a site where a mining company drilled right down into what is called a 'mud volcano', setting off epic landslides and mudflows that have killed people and swallowed towns whole. The toxic stew (now mixed right up with mining byproducts- notoriously toxic slagheaps, etc) was headed for the ocean, last time I wrote about it. Biologists, understandably, are worried about what will happen to the ocean's ecosystem when tons of hot, toxic mud pour in, but people really want the mud to stop drowning their villages, and I guess I can see their point to. "Geologists fear the technology may not exist to stop the eruption, saying mud could flow for years or even centuries _ or stop on its own at any time." LINK
Well, anyway, in an update on that nightmare, the nations Welfare minister, a fellow with family ties to the mining company, claims that it was all natural, and that the $425 million in compensation the company has been ordered to pay is wrong, as it wasn't their fault. Right. Fox guarding the freaking henhouse, as usual. LINK
Also, some entrepenerial Indonesians are growing coffee beans in the protected habitats of 3 of the most endangered species in Asia. "Coffee beans exported to the West are being illegally grown inside an Indonesian national park, threatening the habitat of endangered tigers, elephants and rhinos, the WWF said Wednesday.
"If this trend of clearing park land for coffee isn't halted, the rhinos and tigers will be locally extinct in less than a decade," Nazir Foead, WWF-Indonesia's Director of Policy and Corporate Engagement, said in a statement.
"We think even the world's most committed coffee drinkers will find this an unacceptable price to pay for their daily caffeine buzz." LINK
Right.
In one of the most mind-bending stories, the mud continues to flow (it's been about a year now) at a site where a mining company drilled right down into what is called a 'mud volcano', setting off epic landslides and mudflows that have killed people and swallowed towns whole. The toxic stew (now mixed right up with mining byproducts- notoriously toxic slagheaps, etc) was headed for the ocean, last time I wrote about it. Biologists, understandably, are worried about what will happen to the ocean's ecosystem when tons of hot, toxic mud pour in, but people really want the mud to stop drowning their villages, and I guess I can see their point to. "Geologists fear the technology may not exist to stop the eruption, saying mud could flow for years or even centuries _ or stop on its own at any time." LINK
Well, anyway, in an update on that nightmare, the nations Welfare minister, a fellow with family ties to the mining company, claims that it was all natural, and that the $425 million in compensation the company has been ordered to pay is wrong, as it wasn't their fault. Right. Fox guarding the freaking henhouse, as usual. LINK
Also, some entrepenerial Indonesians are growing coffee beans in the protected habitats of 3 of the most endangered species in Asia. "Coffee beans exported to the West are being illegally grown inside an Indonesian national park, threatening the habitat of endangered tigers, elephants and rhinos, the WWF said Wednesday.
"If this trend of clearing park land for coffee isn't halted, the rhinos and tigers will be locally extinct in less than a decade," Nazir Foead, WWF-Indonesia's Director of Policy and Corporate Engagement, said in a statement.
"We think even the world's most committed coffee drinkers will find this an unacceptable price to pay for their daily caffeine buzz." LINK
h5n1 in the news again.
In Japan - "TOKYO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The bird flu virus that killed about 3,500 chickens in southwestern Japan last week was determined as the highly contagious and lethal H5N1 strain, Japan's farm ministry said in a statement Tuesday. "
In Thailand - "Laboratory tests have confirmed that four pigeons died after becoming infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus strain, the most virulent one. The four birds were part of a group of wild birds that suddenly died one month ago in the Suphan Buri province, Thailand."
In Vietnam - "Vietnam government issues emergency call to contain bird flu"
In Indonesia - "Concerns grew as four Indonesians died this year after a six-week lull in cases, taking the number of human deaths from bird flu in the country to 61, the highest in the world."
In Thailand - "Laboratory tests have confirmed that four pigeons died after becoming infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus strain, the most virulent one. The four birds were part of a group of wild birds that suddenly died one month ago in the Suphan Buri province, Thailand."
In Vietnam - "Vietnam government issues emergency call to contain bird flu"
In Indonesia - "Concerns grew as four Indonesians died this year after a six-week lull in cases, taking the number of human deaths from bird flu in the country to 61, the highest in the world."
A list of recent disasters in Indonesia. Damn, I'm glad I don't live in Indonesia.
LINK to full list, but some highlights below.
-Jan. 1: An Indonesian plane disappears in stormy weather after issuing a distress signal during a two-hour flight from East Java to Manado.
- Dec. 29, 2006: A crowded Indonesian ferry, carrying nearly 640 passengers, breaks apart and sinks in the Java Sea during a violent storm. At least 400 are still missing.
- Dec. 23, 2006: Days of heavy rain touch off floods that kill more than 100 people and displace over 400,000 on northwestern Sumatra island.
- June 19, 2006: Heavy rains cause floods and mud flows that kill as many as 300 people in southern Sulawesi province.
- May 27, 2006: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake in central Java island kills at least 5,800 people and injures more than 36,000.
- May 2006: A series of explosions spew hot ash down the slopes of Mount Merapi, eventually forcing at least 15,000 villagers to flee their homes.
- May 2006: Mud flows, set off by an accident deep in a drilling shaft operated by a gas exploration company, displace more than 10,000 people and cover over 1,000 acres of land on Java island.
-Jan. 1: An Indonesian plane disappears in stormy weather after issuing a distress signal during a two-hour flight from East Java to Manado.
- Dec. 29, 2006: A crowded Indonesian ferry, carrying nearly 640 passengers, breaks apart and sinks in the Java Sea during a violent storm. At least 400 are still missing.
- Dec. 23, 2006: Days of heavy rain touch off floods that kill more than 100 people and displace over 400,000 on northwestern Sumatra island.
- June 19, 2006: Heavy rains cause floods and mud flows that kill as many as 300 people in southern Sulawesi province.
- May 27, 2006: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake in central Java island kills at least 5,800 people and injures more than 36,000.
- May 2006: A series of explosions spew hot ash down the slopes of Mount Merapi, eventually forcing at least 15,000 villagers to flee their homes.
- May 2006: Mud flows, set off by an accident deep in a drilling shaft operated by a gas exploration company, displace more than 10,000 people and cover over 1,000 acres of land on Java island.
Goodish news about those displaced Indonesians.
WTF is up with Indonesia? I mean, damn.
Apparently the flooding is the worst since 1969.
Although "the number of displaced fell from 400,000 to nearer 200,000 as people returned from shelters on high ground and temporary government camps, There are still five villages and two districts that we cannot reach because of the rain," health ministry crisis chief Rustam Pakaya told Reuters, adding that 155 people were still missing and 222,231 remained displaced."
That is just freaking beastly. The dreadful thing is, I was reading that the earthquake/tsunami survivors are being just totally, entirely screwed. Corruption, graft, and embezzlement, eating away at the worldwide surge of generosity.
Man oh man. Oh, the humanity. Oh, the huge manatees.
Apparently the flooding is the worst since 1969.
Although "the number of displaced fell from 400,000 to nearer 200,000 as people returned from shelters on high ground and temporary government camps, There are still five villages and two districts that we cannot reach because of the rain," health ministry crisis chief Rustam Pakaya told Reuters, adding that 155 people were still missing and 222,231 remained displaced."
That is just freaking beastly. The dreadful thing is, I was reading that the earthquake/tsunami survivors are being just totally, entirely screwed. Corruption, graft, and embezzlement, eating away at the worldwide surge of generosity.
Man oh man. Oh, the humanity. Oh, the huge manatees.
7.1 Earthquake off Taiwan knocks out communications
Link to BBC article.
"Taiwan's largest telephone company, Chunghwa Telecom Co, said damage to an undersea cable had disrupted 98% of Taiwan's communications with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Some foreign exchange trading was reportedly affected.
"Trading of the Korean won has mostly halted due to the communication problem," a dealer at one South Korean domestic bank told Reuters news agency."
Hm. Wow, December 26th is a hell of a day for earthquakes. 6.7 in Bam, Iran in 2003, and the 9.3 Sumatra Andaman earthquake in 2004. The annoying invisible Scottish non-earthquake and a this 7.1 off Taiwan yesterday.
"Taiwan's largest telephone company, Chunghwa Telecom Co, said damage to an undersea cable had disrupted 98% of Taiwan's communications with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
Some foreign exchange trading was reportedly affected.
"Trading of the Korean won has mostly halted due to the communication problem," a dealer at one South Korean domestic bank told Reuters news agency."
Hm. Wow, December 26th is a hell of a day for earthquakes. 6.7 in Bam, Iran in 2003, and the 9.3 Sumatra Andaman earthquake in 2004. The annoying invisible Scottish non-earthquake and a this 7.1 off Taiwan yesterday.
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