Society, Environment and Culture
Unravel the intricate threads of justice, societal transformation, and cultural narratives shaping Indonesian society.
FDI detects Cesium-137 in Indonesian cloves, government declares special incident
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported the discovery of radioactive material Cesium-137 in cloves exported from Indonesia.
Basarnas leads race against time to rescue dozens trapped in E. Java school collapse
The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) in a race against time is leading a massive rescue operation after the collapse of Al-Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Buduran, Sidoarjo, East Java, with more than 90 students feared trapped beneath the rubble.
“Special Radiation Emergency” announced after Cs-137 contamination in Banten
The government has declared a special radiation emergency following the discovery of radioactive contamination in frozen shrimp exports traced to cesium-137 (Cs-137) in the Modern Industrial Estate, Cikande, Serang, Banten Province.
Ombudsman identifies eight key problems in free nutritious meal program
The Indonesian Ombudsman has highlighted eight major issues in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, based on a rapid assessment study to prevent maladministration.
Building energy efficiency: Potential savings of US$168.2 Million, CO₂ emission reduction
Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) reported that there are 679 commercial buildings across Indonesia that need to implement energy management in line with the 500 TOE threshold, in a way that with an energy-saving assumption of 10 percent, potential efficiency savings could reach US$59.9 million annually.
Rights commission urges probe into violent August protest, demand accountability
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has called on the government and law enforcement institutions to ensure the rights of detainees and expedite the investigation into the deaths, injuries, and acts of violence during the late August 2025 violent protests in Jakarta and other cities across the country.
Civil Society Coalition demands cancelation of 2025-2060 National Electricity Plan
A coalition of civil society organizations has filed a lawsuit against the newly approved 2025-2060 National Electricity Plan (RUKN), citing concerns that it adopts the most wasteful methods for achieving Indonesia’s Net Zero Emission (NZE) target by 2060 and could result in higher electricity prices for citizens and a greater burden on energy subsidies.
Indonesia urged to accelerate waste-to-energy projects
Indonesia is facing what experts describe as a “waste emergency,” as growing volumes of trash overwhelm the available landfill space and pose mounting health risks.
Bahlil tells Freeport to focus on rescuing trapped workers
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, expresses deep condolences and concerns at the same time for landslide incident at Freeport's underground mining area in Papua early this month, where seven workers had been trapped but only two of them have been found.
Nickel mining in Raja Ampat raises concerns over tourism, people livelihoods, coral reefs
Mining activities in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, are drawing criticism amid warnings that nickel extraction in the UNESCO Global Geopark could endanger local tourism, indigenous livelihoods, and fragile marine ecosystems.
Jatam questions task force's effectiveness on forest destruction, mining injustices
The Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) has quesioned the effectiveness of the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) in preventing forest destruction and mining injustices faced by communities despite claim of successful reclamation by the government.
First Borneo Group accused of massive deforestation in W. Kalimantan biosphere reserve
First Borneo Group has been implicated in large-scale deforestation activities within the Betung Kerihun Danau Sentarum Biosphere Reserve in West Kalimantan, a UNESCO-recognized biosphere.