You get a better view with socialist resistance Early February saw massive floods in Jakarta and surrounding heavily populated areas which have resulted in more than 30 deaths and the displacement of over 40,000
There are real fears that dysentery and other water borne diseases could spread in the unhygienic conditions that people are having to survive in. But this isn't the USA and so the story gets only miniscule coverage in comparison with the tragedy that was Katrina.
Poor drainage systems and a lack of flood control facilities meant that many residential areas, including the urban poor shantytowns that often line the now overflowing storm drains, are totally inundated by the flood waters
Environment Minister, Racmat Witoelar blamed poor urban planning: "Authorities hand out building permits even though they clearly violate environmental impact studies", he told the Jakarta Post
Jakarta's governor Sutiyoso on the other hand has blamed widespread deforestation in the Puncak area wich, he argues, has destroyed the water catchment areas.
In fact both are almost certainly right, but it is the combination of the two which is particularly deadly. Although as we go to press there is a break in the rainfall, forecasts predict further heavy downpours are on the way over the next two weeks.
As one Indonesian told the BBC: "Unless politicians start paying attention to the environment, further disasters like this are on the way."
Meanwhile the Australian socialist paper, Green Left Weekly, has received a desperate appeal from Papernas (the National Liberation Party of Unity) in Indonesia for emergency solidarity.
"Thousands of our members and thousands of the urban poor have been seeking our assistance", Papernas's Katarina Pujiastuti told GLW. "Even the home of Dita Sari, our candidate for the 2009 presidential election, is flooded to the ceiling.
"Papernas and its member mass organisations have opened our offices in Jakarta and Bekasi to organise
assistance for the main evacuation sites. "The Urban Poor Union (SRMK) that works daily in helping the urban poor get free health treatment has opened emergency tents in two evacuation sites in West Jakarta Barat, each sheltering about 3000 people. "But we urgently need help in obtaining emergency supplies of food, drinking water, vitamins, clothes, medicine, milk, blankets and sanitary napkins." • Please send emergency contributions to Papernas via the following account: Account number: 1000596325 Bank: Bank Commonwealth Indonesia Swiftcode: BICNIDJA Clearingcode: 9500307 Account holder: Yulia Evina Bhara Or via Socialist Resistance marked Papernas SUBSCRIBE! SOCIALIST RESISTANCE is a monthly marxist paper. Our subscription rate is 1 year for £12 (UK), £15 (Europe) or £20 (other overseas. For more details fill in this coupon, ticking the appropriate box and send to us at: PO Box 1109, London N4 200 Please make cheques payable to RESISTANCE Tuesday February 20 Birmingham Socialist Resistance public forum: The new Centre Left government and the communist movement in Italy. 7.30 pm. Bennett's Bar Bennett's Hill City Centre Wednesday February 21 London Venezuela and Bolivia - what's happening now? Socialist Resistance forum. Indian YMCA, Fitzroy Square, London W1 (Warren St tube) Saturday February 24 London National Demonstration. No Trident. Troops out of Iraq. Assemble noon in Hyde Park -March to Trafalgar Square Glasgow Assemble 11.30 George Square, organised by Scotland's for Peace Monday February 26 Sheffield Organising Fighting Unions rally with Mark Serwotka, Val Wise (former Labour leader Preston council), John Rees, local trade unionists. Library Theatre, Tudor Square [email protected]
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Saturday March 3 National Day of Action on NHS -for local activities see www.keepournhspublic.com Respect Women's Conference 9.30-5pm South Camden Community School, Ossultston Rd, NW1 Monday March 5 Birmingham Organising Fighting Unions rally with Mark Serwotka (PCS), Tony Kearns (CWU), John Rees, local trade unionists. Adrian Boult Hall (nr Central Library) Tuesday March 6 Birmingham Socialist Resistance Marxist education series. Imperialism. 7.30 pm Bennett's Bar Bennett's Hill City Centre Tuesday March 13 Birmingham Socialist Resistance public forum on the French Presidential election LCR speaker. 7.30 pm Bennett's Bar Bennett's Hill City Centre Wednesday March 14 Bristol Organising Fighting Unions rally with Tony Benn, Matt Wrack, John Rees, local trade unionists If you like what you've read or you want to find out more about Socialist Resistance, get in touch with us by ringing 020 8800 7460, or email • Please send me a year's subscription to I enclose £12 • £15 • £20 • I enclose a donation of £.... • Please put me in touch with the nearest RESISTANCE readers' group. Tuesday March 20 Birmingham Socialist Resistance public forum The 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery and Africa today 7.30 pm Bennett's Bar Bennett's Hill City Centre. Saturday March 24 Middle East Day School organised by Socialist Resistance. ULU, Malet Street. Saturday May 12 Brighton, "Socialism in the 21st Century? Lessons from Latin America" at Sussex University Students Union. Speakers include a representative from the UNT trade unions in Venezuela, Humberto Rios from Cuba, Richard Gott, Sue Branford, Eric Toussaint, President of Campaign Against Third World Debt, Bolivia and Colombia solidarity groups, etc. Party with live music in the evening. Organised by Brighton Hands Off Venezuela and Sussex University Students Union. Further details: http://www.brightonhov.org.uk
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