A Letter to The Leaders

Dr. Anies Baswedan, Mr. Muhaimin Iskandar, Mr. Prabowo Subianto, Mr. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Mr. Ganjar Pranowo, Prof. Mahfud MD,

May you all be in good health and excited for the election in just a few days.

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This is a letter from one person, one of your constituents. I may represent the millennial generation, or the aspiring middle-class group, or the privileged 10% Indonesian having access to higher education, or even environmentalists and activists – thing is, it does not matter to what group I belong. ?

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I am sending you a distress signal.

From a daughter to her father, as you all are.

I have two very important life lessons from my two ‘fathers’: my late, biological father and my former research advisor; one on being ‘cekap’ (literally translate to sufficient, enough) and being ‘local’ (sourced from your nearest).

Urip iku cekap (More of less: life is about understanding content and sufficiency)

As a farmer and firm believer of environmental harmony, my late father taught and showed me conscious consumption and to respect the nature. He took me to the paddy field to help him, to play in the river, so often to let me appreciate the rice on our table (we never buy rice until now!) and how the ecosystem works in a balancing act. He rarely bought new clothes or shoes, and for the longest time (over 2 decades), his only vehicle was a Yamaha AlfaIIR motorcycle. Many of his colleagues ‘mocked’ him over his old bike, but he shrugged it off.

Technically, he never really explained those actions and choices; and that’s the beauty of his teachings: without speaking a word, he made me understand what it means to be content with what we have, take care of things for as long as possible, to care for the nature. I am sure he was not familiar or understood sustainable lifestyle or environmental activism, yet he was one practicing it.

Cekap had been his life principle, and I hope it could be mine too.

We must drink Taiwan beer! ?(More of less: sourced locally)

My former research advisor is a bit dreamy: he is smart, kind, friendly, fatherly, and good looking. Not only did he provide guidance for my research and academic life back then, but he also gave emotional support for my personal life and growth. He let me take the day off when I was heartbroken, he invited his students to his house for dinner with his family, he encouraged me to take part in leadership programs.?

Just like any other Taiwanese, he likes to drink and often took us to rechao restaurants (an informal night-eating place, usually with outdoor squat seating, all the foods are stir-fried, with lots of beers). And while there are diverse brands of beer in rechao restaurants, he always ordered Taiwan beer and asked us to only drink that. His typical statement, “This beer is environmentally friendly because it is produced here, slashing emissions from logistics and transportation.” Well, they have ESG report you can read.

Rechao is also an embodiment of his sentiment on sourcing locally, many restaurants have 100-200 dishes on the menu (you read it right) and the ingredients reflect the abundance of vegetables, crops, and proteins in the country. You will not find fancy imported meat or seafood on the menu.

As he was head of environmental engineering laboratory, sure he could discuss things in a more academic, serious conversations and in class – but it was his wittiness that I remember deeply.

Dear presidential candidates, if those stories are not sufficient to explain why I wrote this letter, then let me put it writing:

I need all of you, as president or not, to use your power to make bold climate decisions soon to avoid the environmental disasters and catastrophes we are now walking into.

Indonesia has borne the brunt of extreme weather events, excessive and deadly floods, wrecking typhoons, too-long dry seasons, lack of clean water, air pollution, the ‘eviction’ of indigenous communities from their homeland, to famine – caused by human destruction of the ecosystem and ignorance in sacrificing the environment for the sake of development.

In terms of experiencing impact, I have no skin in the game because I am privileged and so are you – but being empathetic and not being tone-deaf should come naturally and if not, our responsibility. Need I remind you the story of Suku Laut , the sea keeper s, and their struggles to find daily staples; Suku Mului and Orang Rimba , the forest keepers, fighting to keep their home intact; or how people in Wawonii no longer can drink clean water due to nickel mining activities there?

I am so worried and anxious that I wrote this op-ed : as oppose to Indonesia Emas 2045, maybe we are heading towards Indonesia Cemas 2045?

What disappoint me greatly is the lack of lofty climate actions, including accelerated energy transition, in your visi misi documents, your debates, your public statements. While you or your team could hide behind, “It is not a popular issue, it does not sit well with most voters, we cannot make it into catchy TikTok bits,” – how can you as a father making the choice not to fully support the creation of better life for your children? Or as a stateman, for fellow Indonesians impacted by climate crisis? Or as a religious being, as one of you wrote, to practice ecological repentance ?

I was once told that a politician should not give reading homework to their voters (i.e., to spell it out), but on the reverse, I am giving you references on how Indonesia has not done much in terms of climate commitments and energy transition progress. In there, we provide data-driven, evidence-based recommendations for more ambitious, climate-compatible actions. Sure, you can always opt for other scientifically-sound references. ?

My hope is simple: that you listen and act. This most defining issue of our generation needs visionary commitment, far beyond the five or ten years you will have been in office.

Tomorrow, I will cast a vote – and no matter for whom I give that vote, my cry for help remains the same.

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Sincerely,

Marlistya Citraningrum

A millennial, a daughter, a middle-class person, an environmentalist, just a normal citizen among other 204 million eligible voters – once again asking for a climate conscious, committed leader.

?----- originally written for Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) newsletter, January 2024 edition.