VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report published on Tuesday which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health.

The region, which includes the world's most polluted countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, accounts for more than half of the total life years lost globally to pollution, the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) said in its latest Air Quality Life Index.

Rapid industrialization and population growth have contributed to declining air quality in South Asia, where particulate pollution levels are currently more than 50% higher than at the start of the century and now overshadow dangers posed by larger health threats.

People in Bangladesh, the world's most polluted country, stands to lose 6.8 years of life on average per person, compared to 3.6 months in the United States, according to the study, which uses satellite data to calculate the impact of an increase in airborne fine particles on life expectancy.

India is responsible for about 59% of the world's increase in pollution since 2013, the report said, as hazardous air threatens to shorten lives further in some of the country's more polluted regions. In the densely populated New Delhi, the world's most polluted mega-city, the average life span is down by more than 10 years.

Reducing global levels of lung-damaging airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, to levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) could raise average life expectancy by 2.3 years, or a combined 17.8 billion life years, the report said.

An average resident of Pakistan would gain 3.9 years from meeting the WHO guidelines of limiting average annual PM 2.5 concentration to 5 micrograms per cubic meter, while someone in Nepal would live 4.6 years longer if the guideline was met, according to the report.

China, meanwhile, has worked to reduce pollution by 42.3% between 2013 and 2021, the report said, highlighting the need for governments to generate accessible air quality data to help bridge global inequalities in accessing tools to combat pollution. (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia, along with the United States and five other countries, will begin the Super Garuda Shield 2023 military exercise as a form of multilateral solidarity to safeguard a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Several military service personnel from the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and France will participate in Super Garuda Shield 2023 at multiple training locations in Indonesia from August 31 to September 13, the US Embassy in Jakarta noted in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the statement, additional observing nations during the exercises will include Brunei, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Timor-Leste.

"Super Garuda Shield 2023 builds on last year's tremendous success," General Charles Flynn, commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific, stated.

"This joint, multinational training exercise displays our collective commitment and like-minded unity, allowing for a stable, secure, and more peaceful, free and open Indo-Pacific," Flynn stated.

Super Garuda Shield is the largest military exchange each year between the United States and Indonesia, with this year’s iteration expanding upon the number of participating nations.

Approximately 2,100 US and 1,900 Indonesian TNI service members from across multiple military branches will enhance interoperability capabilities through training and cultural exchanges, according to the US Embassy.

The exercise continues to solidify the US-Indonesia Major Defense Partnership and advances cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

With professional training and combat exercises taking place in Surabaya and Banyuwangi, Super Garuda Shield 2023 strengthens the US-Indonesian defense partnership through cooperative learning and enhanced trust among the two militaries, the Embassy noted in its statement.

The training includes expert academic exchanges and professional development workshops, a command and control simulation, an amphibious exercise, airborne operations, an airfield seizure exercise, and a combined joint field training that culminates with a live fire event.

Meanwhile, the command post exercise will focus on mission planning staff tasks in a combined military setting. A field training exercise will involve battalion-strength elements from each nation exercising war-fighting skills to enhance interoperability and combined operational capacity. (antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that political affairs related to the 2024 General Election should not disrupt the stability of the domestic economy that has been well-maintained.

"Do not let political affairs in 2024 disturb our economic stability because once it is affected, it will be difficult to return it to normal," the head of state noted at the Opening of the National Independence Network Meeting accessed from Jakarta on Tuesday.

Jokowi reminded that if domestic economic stability is disrupted amid a difficult global situation, then recovery efforts will be hindered by several obstacles.

Hence, he advised all parties to prioritize performance in developing the domestic economy without harboring concerns over the 2024 election.

The president also pointed out that currently, all countries are in an unsafe condition. Developed countries, such as the United States, and countries in Europe are also in a difficult position, both in achieving economic growth and controlling the prices of goods to anchor inflation.

"All prices are soaring now," he remarked.

In fact, Jokowi drew attention to one country in Europe that had experienced an up to 700-percent increase in the prices of energy commodities, such as gas, electricity, and gasoline.

The president then compared it to a slight increase in energy prices in Indonesia that could provoke large protests.

“Imagine a 700-percent increase. In Indonesia, an increase of 10-15 percent could trigger a three-month protest. Food prices have also doubled," he stated.

However, Jokowi highlighted that Indonesia can still maintain inflation at around 3.1 percent and economic growth of 5.17 percent in the second quarter of 2023. This achievement has brought Indonesia to rank among the top three in the world.

"Our economy in the second quarter still grew 5.17 percent, including in the world's three best. Countries with good economies are members of G20, namely Indonesia, India, and China. Other countries have very bad economic conditions. The world is full of challenges, whether it is a food crisis, energy crisis, or geopolitics conflict," he stated.  (Antaranews)

VOInews, Jakarta: Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi encourages joint efforts in combating intolerance based on religion. According to her, the United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted Resolution 16/18 which provides a blueprint for fostering religious tolerance, peace and respect.

"Now is the right time for us to review our commitments in this Resolution," she said at the opening of the Jakarta Plurilateral Dialogue 2023, Tuesday (29/8/2023).

In this regard, Retno Marsudi encouraged a balance between freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination. According to her, the two rights must be promoted synergistically and coherently, because freedom of expression does not mean freedom to discriminate and harm others.

"Therefore, As such freedom of expression cannot be promoted at the expense of freedom from discrimination," she said.Retno Marsudi also encouraged the establishment of a clear legal framework against discriminatory behavior based on religion. According to her, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has prohibited all forms of religious hatred.

"Such a legal framework will prevent, deter, and ultimately combat discrimination," she said.

Retno Marsudi also encouraged innovative efforts to combat intolerance. She also highlighted the rampant use of technology in spreading disinformation, inciting hatred and violence, based on religion or belief.

"Our task today is to make technology our ally to foster mutual understanding and respect, spread the value of tolerance, and mainstream the commitments of Resolution 16/18," she concluded. (VOI/Andy)