Jakartass Home thoughts from abroad. Alien thoughts from home.

The United Nations has declared today, July 18th, as the International Mandela Day.

When he walked out of prison he declared that his mission was to "liberate the oppressed and the oppressor both."

When he took the reins as President in post-apartheid South Africa, he said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chain, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning.”

Fine words which all Indonesians should take to heart.

To be free means that oppressors as exemplified by the so-called Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and Abdurizal Bakrie with his arrogant display of wealth to the disadvantage of others, particularly the long-suffering oppressed refugees of the Lapindo mudflow, should face up to their responsibilities as members of a pluralistic society.

Power and wealth are ephemeral – you can't take them with you, both are as dust. Sure, there are dynasties, but bodies politic, familial and imperial inevitably fade away. I believe that there is still time to build a fair society, one that cares for future generations rather than bankrupting them before they're even born, and one that creates and maintains a world of enlightened rather than straitened (strait-jacketed?) people, regardless of our differences.

What this country needs are heroes. Yes, there is a National Heroes Day on November 10th, and a dedicated cemetery originally set aside for fighters for this country's independence, but now a final resting place for those who've served successive governments. However, I'm not referring to public figures, nor to our parents or other personal heroes.

I'm thinking more of unsung heroes whose vision and endeavour make a difference. We don't have to know the name(s) of these social entrepreneurs and perhaps they too are happy to stay out of the limelight because they know that the causes they believe in are just. And because we are free to support them, to follow their examples, that we can all make the world a better place.

Although I regularly provide examples of my 'heroes', today I offer the Bicycle Congress of Indonesia (KSI), a group which includes Bike2Work, the Indonesian Antique Bicycle Community (Kosti) and Ontel Jakarta Sehat.

The Congress is a coming together of like-minded individuals, an example of a community driven, bottom up, development which, at last, is effecting changes in the governmental mindset.

Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, who opened the congress, said [that] given the large number of cyclists in Indonesia – estimated at 23 million – there were no reasons for the Transportation Ministry not to provide bicycle lanes.

Hoorah. I hope all riders, estimated at 50,000, who participated in today's carnival had a good Mandela Day.
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Postscript.
I've added a page of Indonesian Environmental Groups at the top. This is most probably out of date, so please let me know of any glaring errors, broken links etc.and of any groups you think should be included, esp. Jakarta specific.