The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI – Friends of the Earth Indonesia

As you all know I am passionate about the environment of Indonesia and there is, unfortunately, evil people out there bent on destroying it. There is, however, one organisation in Indonesia that cares for the environment and all that live in it – WAHLI.

Here’s some of the information about WAHLI from their website. It is a website well worth marking if you are interested in environmental matters in the country:

The Indonesian Forum for Environment (WALHI – Friends of the Earth Indonesia) is the largest forum of non-government and community-based organisations in Indonesia. It is represented in 25 provinces and has over 438 member organisations (as of June 2004). It stands for social transformation, people’s sovereignty, and sustainability of life and livelihoods. WALHI works to defend Indonesia’s natural world and local communities from injustice carried out in the name of economic development.

During WALHI’s 25-year-old struggle alongside other groups, it has succeeded in developing environmental awareness and promoting peoples’ sovereignty in environment rights and over natural resources management. We have developed into a massive network of over 430 community organisations, non-governmental organisations, and student environment groups. However there is still so much to do to ensure the long term survival of our environment and peoples.

Human beings have always been the focus of WALHI’s fighting in defending the environment. Local communities and indigenous peoples often become victims of unjust treatment under the name of economic development.

During 25 years of struggle, WALHI and the communities have:

1. Helped grow awareness of environmental issues and promote the sovereignty of local communities and indigenous peoples in managing natural resources.

2. Become the vanguard of the environmental movement in the country and become a significant part of the global environmental movement.

3. Advocated problems of marginalized people to the attention of the lawmakers, who in turn take grassroots problem into consideration when deliberating laws.

4. Supported the struggle of grassroots communities of maintaining their rights to a healthy environment and to self-management of the natural resources.

5. Become the major source of information about environmental problems in Indonesia for the press, industry and lawmakers.