May 31, 2006

A Terrible Earthquake in Indonesia (again).

Knowing that there was, again, another disaster in my beloved country-Indonesia, I just can ask “ God, is it the beginning of the end of the world?” or “is it just another warning from You to remind us of our ignorance?”. I hope it is just the second one as I wish that the end of this world comes when I am already in Paradise . The earthquake o that killed more than 4 thousands of people in Jogyakarta region ( I ever stayed in Jogya as the capital city for around three years when I took my master degree, and I love this city of intellectuals and culturists very much) and some parts of Central Java Province last Saturday morning really-really shocked me. I never thought that such a terrible disaster would happen in my beloved city and especially that it also destroyed my father’s hometown-Klaten. I still remember how I loved spending my holidays in my grandparents’ house as it had a wide yard with many banana, mango, guava, and coconut trees. My father told me that his village was terribly destroyed-nearly all houses broke down. Luckily, none of our relatives were injured.
This disaster becomes the second biggest one after Tsunami that destroyed Aceh and killed nearly 3 hundred thousands of people in 2004. It also adds the perpetual calamities happening in Indonesia during the reformation era. As long as I remember, riots, violence, strikes, plane and ship accidents, mountain explosions, floods, earthquakes haven’t stopped yet since President Soeharto was forced to leave his presidential seat. Of course, I did not mean saying that the perpetual disasters happened because of the presidential turnover. Yet, some Javanese people relates this endless calamities with the president and vice president figures. My aunt said jokingly that it is because SBY becomes the president whereas his name is “Yudo”. Yudo means ‘”war” in Javanese language. While The vice president’s name is Yusuf Kalla. “Kalla” in Javanese means evil. I just smiled to hear this. No relation at all, of course, and I know she was not serious. But I know some have a similar thought as my aunts-relating the calamities with the charisma and power of our president.
There is always more than one perspective toward one fact, right? When Tsunami struck down Aceh two years ago, people from varied backgrounds gave their perspectives. Certainly the same thing will happen now. An ulama will see it from religious side, a politician will see it from political point of view, and a scientist will see it as a scientific and natural phenomenon. And I, as an individual, attempt to see it in my own perspective. I believe in the law of “cause and effect”. There is always a cause or reason why something happens, even when one says that he or she has no reasons of doing something. The cause can be empirical such as the reason given by scientists that the earthquake happened due to the movement of soil in beneath the earth. It naturally happens yet people cannot predict it promptly. The victims can be minimized by erecting houses that are safe from earthquake. So far, Indonesian people have forgotten that they live in a land that is high risk of disasters- see, there are a lot of volcanoes in Indonesia including Krakatau mountain that its explosion in 1883 could be felt in Europe and change the world civilization radically. We can see now the number of high and modern houses built of concrete. Most people forget whether the buildings are strong and safe enough from earthquake that is much likely to happen. Well, obviously I cannot use this ignorance as the exclusive cause. There are many reasons why people start to forget or ignore nature. Social, economic, and even political reasons can be interdependently related in creating this overlook or ignorance.
First, let’s look at the number of Indonesia’s population. It is more 300 millions, right? How many houses do we need to build in this limited space? In addition, most occupy Java island, which is relatively small. Inevitably, they begin to use the forested area even the mangrove area as settlement. There are some housings built on the hill that its soil moves. As a result, some time ago a landslide destroyed some houses. There is also a real estate in Semarang built on mangrove area, not too long after the occupation, sea tide came to the area. I just can’t imagine how sorry the people who bought the houses were. They cannot sell them as who wants to live in such a terrible place? I am also worried of my city-Semarang- because its surface drops every years. Sea water has also come to neighborhood every afternoon in the dry season and its height is increasing year after year (this is something that I never expected to happen as my house is quite far from the coast). While I insist my mom to sell the house and move to another higher area, my mom seems to be fine living there. Well, that is a very small example of how people (including me?) have ignored nature. I haven’t mentioned how many Indonesians would rather drive their new cars to their near workplace than take a bus or ride a bike though they know they will spend much gasoline and other destructive habits of Indonesians.
In addition, many Indonesian begin to appraise material as the symbol of success. Big, modern and story buildings are Indonesian successful people’s fancy. Wooden or bamboo houses are usually perceived as a symbol of primitivism and poverty. Here, Indonesian start to forget that they live in a high risk land. Prestige, luxuries and comfort are things they seek for. As a result, millions of trees are cut down and the timbers are sold abroad. Now, the number of forests dramatically decreases and the price of wood is getting “crazy”. I just hope that after what happened in Aceh and Yogya, Indonesian people start to re-think of building secure houses rather than merely luxurious but dangerous ones. Using more woods or bamboo as the material may be a good alternative .
Political atmosphere is also very significant in making the ignorant Indonesian people. I see there are so many political chaos that make the government gives a little notice on the environment issues. If only the government through his officers from the top to low level campaigned seriously the importance of environment awareness, the destruction of nature could be minimized. I really do not know what my country will be like in ten or twenty years ahead. I just can hope that things will be much better.
Anyway, I believe that what happened in Indonesia is also an impact of global destruction of nature. It is not only in Indonesia but also in many other countries that destruction of nature is happening. We can recall the number of disasters that happened in India, Bangladesh, China, US and so on. Nearly all of them are caused by man’s ignorance and destruction toward nature.
At last, my Holy Al Qu’ran (QS. Ar-Rum:41) has stated “ there have been devastation in land and sea due to man’s deed. God shows it to let them feel some impact of their deed in order to make them back to the right way”. So, it is clear that a disaster that happens in this earth is due to the destruction of nature done by humans, and God shows it to remind them. This verse teaches humans to treat nature well. It also explicitly tells the un-separated unity : God, man and nature. God creates man and nature thus the greatness of God is reflected in his both creation (in man and nature). Nature is created to provide man’s need both materially and spiritually. When man destroys nature it means he destroys himself, right? This unity reminds me of Waldo Emerson’s essay “ Nature”, which also tells about the relationship between man, nature and God. Perhaps it will be a profound idea to translate that essay into Indonesian and other languages so that people will be more aware of nature. Why not, right?
As the closing of my writing, I want to cite some lines of Ebiet ( an Indonesian singer who loves singing songs about human life and nature)’s song “ Bahasa Matahari” (the Language of The Sun) that I translate into English
Frequently I can’t read your signs
The weather, the sun, and the sea waves
Often whisper what will happen
At times I choose to lie,
Betray the voice of my heart.
Actually honesty can prevent calamity.
Let’s try to be kind to nature.
The earth, the sky, and the sun
Let’s learn their languages
Of course with the language of secret soul.
….

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