Forget Kendeng Not Article Indonesia’s diversity is a blessing and a curse. While foreign investors, particularly cement and mining companies, have brought in significant investment to the country, it has often come at the expense of the environment. Since 1998, Pati Regency in Central Java has been experiencing flooding, which has caused damages to properties, and livelihood. However, instead of addressing the root cause of the problem, the region opened up to cement mining, thereby, increasing the threats of disasters. By Dewi Candraningrum
Water Scarcity: The Cave’s Freshwater for Life Article Not many people realize that human life has been sustained by only 0.5% of freshwater on Earth. A very small part of this freshwater is hidden – unseen water that is stored deep under the earth in limestone, or karst aquifers. These water sources are now at serious risk due to mining activities, and local communities are trying to find creative ways to access and maintain their freshwater supply. By A.B. Rodhial Falah
In Quest for Change in Timor’s Politics Analysis Current politics in Timor centers on personalities, history, and using ‘oil money’ as the solution to problems – it cannot cope with the rapidly changing the world and its domestic development challenges. Changing its way of doing politics and the way society is being governed is imperative to address structural issues in Timor’s development and maintain the relevancy and legitimacy of democratic institutions. By Guteriano Neves
Urban Groundwater as Commons Article This article explores the challenges and sustainability dilemma of groundwater as the ‘ungoverned’ urban commons with examples from Indonesia. By Anindrya Nastiti
Mekong Community Resilience in the Face of Dam Development, Environmental Degradation and Climate Change Article Hydropower dams on the Mekong mainstream have resulted in many negative impacts on riverine communities who depend on the river’s transboundary ecological web for their livelihoods. Ongoing plans for development continue to impact people’s lives – can it be halted before it reaches a tipping point? By Tipakson Manpati
Indigenous Communal Land Titling: Still a Hundred Years to Go? Article Cambodia’s laws for preserving indigenous land were enacted over 20 years ago but are increasingly difficult to navigate and achieve official legal recognition for its indigenous peoples. But the more time passes, the more the land has become encroached upon, and the effects of this loss will be compounded. By Chhuonvuoch Koem
Raising Public Awareness in the Kendeng Movement via Speleology Article The mineral industry sector is the cause of conflict in various karst regions in Indonesia as companies are keen to exploit natural resources to make cement. But the science of exploring caves – speleology – can help local communities understand the potential of their unique landscapes, contribute to furthering local solidarity, and empower them to make clearer decisions about mining in their areas. By A.B. Rodhial Falah
Right to Clean Air: The People v. Haze across Southeast Asia Article Transboundary haze has plagued Southeast Asia for decades, with the most recent episodes occurring in 2015 and 2019. While COVID-19's constraints on economic activity delivered the qualified blessing of two comparatively haze-free years, the region is now bracing itself for the return of the almost annual haze as countries shift to endemic mode. By Helena Varkkey
Timor-Leste’s Petroleum Revenues: The Challenges of Managing ‘Easy Money’ Article Since the restoration of independence, the petroleum sector is the dominant sector in Timor-Leste’s economy and for state revenue. While petroleum income enables the government to finance its development needs, it also poses significant challenges for public policy and public institutions in terms of its management. By Guteriano Neves
Thailand’s Plastic Challenge and Circular Economy Dossier While Zero-Waste communities, Urban Refill-Shops and student initiatives are challenging Thailand's mindset on plastic usage, an increasing amount of COVID-19 related plastic trash and waste imports from overseas seem to undermine the progress made for a sustainable foundation of a circular economy in the country. From interviews with committed young people who are trying to make a difference, to the effects of policy implementation on the ground. This web-dossier sheds a light on Thailand's plastic pollution problem from a mainly urban perspective.
