Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Seems Indonesia is intent on continuing it's reign as a champion of incompetence and an international laughing stock in the field of public transportation and public safety.

"AN Indonesian court has overturned a pilot's criminal negligence conviction for crashing at Yogyakarta airport in March 2007, killing 21 people, including five Australians.
Komar said at his trial that faulty wing flaps were to blame for the jet's excessive airspeed as it came in to land."

"A report by an Indonesian safety committee, however, found that Komar had ignored 15 automatic warnings telling him he was coming in too fast".

That’s right not one, not two but 15 warnings. Anyone who has heard the alleged cockpit recordings and the voice of his co-pilot would be simply be stunned at the that fact this man has ever been allowed to see the light of day again, let alone had his verdict overturned.

In a mindboggling statement at the time of the first verdict, a Stephanus Gerrardus, chief of the Garuda Pilots' Association, said Komar's trial was "a mess" and it had set a dangerous precedent of criminalising pilots.

"Our main concern is this decision could actually disturb aviation safety," he said. (Idiot, The plane crashed after the pilot ignored 15 warning signals and people died, what does it take to disturb this complacency towards a professional’s responsibility to others?)

"Imagine how hard it would be for a pilot to perform his duty when he's burdened with something like this. (Something like what, actually getting the passengers safely to their destination?)

"It makes pilots doubtful, and could lead to mistakes. (After ignoring 15 WARNING SIGNALS and killing 21 people, one wonders how many more mistakes a pilot could fit into one flight?)

Not that anyone should really be surprised, the public safety and well being of others is not a issue in Indonesia and the lives of the great unwashed have no value. Despite a litany of ferry disasters, any regular traveler will tell you that these floating (sinking) accidents waiting to happen continue to sail with inadequate or more often non-existent safety equipment, over loaded and crews with little or no training.

The joke that is the public rail service suffers almost weekly derailments, level crossing deaths and major equipment failures and it is not unreasonable to suggest that in 60 years of independence that only thing Indonesia has done is to run an effective rail system built by the Dutch into a traveling death trap (interesting and sad to note there is now 50% less rail service than under Dutch rule).

Whilst within the inner city, the smog belching, rusted out, multi patched, filthy pieces boxes on wheels that are Indonesia’s excuse for a bus service are a daily reminder that those who can pay never have to worry about roadworthy or public safety inspections. It’s sometime ironic watching these death traps carry signs or protesters to anti-corruption rallies when the transportation industry is a living, belching example of money over public safety.

AND YET THE PROVEN IN THE BLOOD OF OTHERS, INEPT POWERS THAT BE STILL WANT TO BUILD A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN INDONESIA...Where running a bus or ferry service is beyond the compentence of public officials to ensure the most basic safety standards are enforced. Insanity does not cover the concept well enough.

VISIT INDONESIA WHERE EVEN THE PEOPLE GLOW IN THE DARK (But hey, a couple of us got rich)

Nuclear NGO's

NGO's serve a real need but unfortunately a large number of NGO's seem to think the principles of accountability and transparency they demand from others does not apply to them. An abject failure to realise that one bad act can ruin years of good work has compromised a number of NGO's to the stage where they a little more than fronts for political and corperate thugs.

Unspun has a number of posts and articles (search for WALHI) on this and other issues. Perhaps aptly should be titled "Where's WALHI as they seem to have little to say about their own internal practices.

The relative ease of which allegations are made, careers ruined and the selective nature of environmental and other protests are made should be a concern for any reasonable person (Newmont vs Lapindo anyone).

More importantly (I am not singling out any particular sleazy mob here) it is common practice to engage "rent a mob" under an environmental, nationalist or whatever umbrella to force more favourable company take-overs. Of course, once the share price has been driven down, the environmental or other issues just fade away.

There is an interesting article here about the control regulation of various NGO's (both environmental and religious). Something has to be done in Indonesia to restrict the damage they do with their secret and unaccountable agendas.

Some excerpts of the article below for your enjoyment..

"The Trade Practices Act has long recognised that there is a clear line between a business or a union criticising a corporation and organising with others to harm that corporation or prevent it from competing. It’s similar to religious vilification laws. I can say I think Christianity is wrong, even evil. But I can’t organise with others to hurt Christians. So in future, NGOs can speak out all they want but if they cross the line by using business blackmail, they like other extortionists, will be zapped by the new laws. (WALHI would find this kind of law worth a lot of study)

For some time, the Australian Taxation Office has been pursuing a related path. It has been cracking down on politicians dressed up as charities. An ATO probe has been cross-checking Australian Electoral Commission records on political donations against the names of tax-deductible bodies. The rule is simple. If a charity spends most of its time politicking, then it’s not a charity. (Gee wouldn't that sit MUI on their arse in Indonesia)

Some NGOs have long operated in a nether world of tax scamming and lack of accountability. Whilst always the first to proclaim their virtues and the vices of others, applying the blow torch (even on very low heat) to them produces screams of indignation."

All of the above...TOO BLOODY TRUE!

Of course, these is any number of real environmental issues in Indonesia that need pursuing, for instance:


INDONESIA – Agreement on nuclear plans dated 28 Aug 07

Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co (KHNP) have signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia's PT Medco Energi Internasional (Why does this name ring a bell..clear as mud?) to start implementing the country's nuclear plans.

This will involve construction of two standard 1000 MWe OPR-1000 units from KHNP at a cost of US$3 billion.

The agreement was part of a wider energy collaboration. Earlier plans were to call for tenders for these Muria units in 2008.

- News sourced from Australian Uranium Association Weekly News Digest"

Three Billion USD!!!!!!!!!.. What kind of drugs are these idiots on and where's WALHI??

Three Billion from a nation where you cannot throw a stick in the ground without hitting oil/gas or coal!!..

Here's a bizarre idea for discussion:

Instead of syphoning off billions in royalties and taxes to build yet another obscene palace in Jakarta or Singapore. How about a contract with a provision for the building and running of a non-nuclear power station? Ok, just kidding..We know why, its easier to steal cash, power stations are hard to fit into a brown paper bag.

That said, its a disgrace that a nation who exports millions of tonnes of coal and and gas every single year cannot provide a semblance of reliable domestic power to its own people.

They say these nuke poisoning plants will be up and running by 2014, so the stump still has a couple of years before its time to move upwind of Indonesia. Fortunately the nuke stations will have little impact on the native jungles in 2014 as it is unlikely there will any left by then, just "glow in the dark" people

DILBERT GOES NUCLEAR

As promised, more from the National Office of Shallow Thought (also known as Indonesian Nuclear Technology Supervisory Agency)

Now just because I do not support the wholesale alarmist calls of the more radical Green groups does not mean (as some have suggested) that we at the stump are blind to moronic plans to turn us all into glowing mutants.

With Indonesian’s Nuclear Power proposal even Blind Freddy could see that a Nuclear Power Plant/Industry in Indonesia would be an unmitigated economic and environmental disaster! Fortunately, us ANTI – NUKES have secret ally in fighting such a proposal, none other than the Nuclear Technology Supervisory Agency itself. Even the dullest moss rock upon reading the tripe that issues forth from this tomb of creative thought would be left in any doubt that Indonesia is not ready for a Nuclear Industry.

Risk Management is a fairly basic industry requirement (any industry) requiring a risk management study to be performed before any project is begun. This requires an honest and open assessment of any and all risks in the project that may be encountered. Fortunately, our very own agency has come up with these RISK MANAGEMENT “Howlers” to keep us all amused.

"All forms of technology involve certain risks, but since the early development of our reactors we have surveyed all probabilities”.

All probabilities???? Very godlike, most professional risk management strategies at least have the humility to allow for the unforeseen in some fashion but not these guys! Direct line to the Gods apparently.

"Regulations oblige us to choose power plant technology that has been proven safe, rather than new, untested technology,"

One assume these are similar to the regulations and regulated in the same manner that ensure our “SAFE” air travel, sea travel and train travel.

“Many Asian countries frequently affected by earthquakes such as Japan and Korea had long been developing their own nuclear power plants. Japan has built more than 50 power plants and South Korea has built more than 20 power plants. Japan is often hit by earthquakes but has avoided nuclear accidents. Why are we so worried about risks we are able to anticipate?"

Honest assessments of the risk remember? Is our Agency of Stupid suggesting that Indonesia is on technological par with South Korea and Japan? Sheesh.. There comes a time that even self delusion needs medication before we do serious harm! Seriously, we have not even been able to dig a flood mitigation channel in our capital city in 60 years or maintain a sidewalk fit for pedestrians, on what planet do we think we could maintain a Nuclear Power Plant?

What kind of self serving, dodgy risk management study has been done if you cannot even acknowledge that countries like Japan and South Korea just might just have a technological edge on Indonesia.

Ok maybe I am a cynic, but with a radio-active fallout having a half life of hundreds if not thousands of years, surely we are entitled ask…”WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?”

Of course, it would naïve to think this about bettering the lives of the general populace. Everyone knows that Nuclear Power Plants are hideously expensive and there would be MEGA BUCKS to be made. You can just see Ma Baker (ie) and the boys waiting for honey pot(pun intended) to be opened.

For those who do think I am being overly cynical perhaps you could point me to something/anything that would put our hearts at rest that we could trust these guys not to make us glow green in the night!

As a side issue, I have never understood the concept of why Nuke Power in Indonesia (or Iran for that matter). Millions of tonnes of free coal, free gas and free oil in the ground but Indonesia just sells it off and seeks in import hideously expensive glow in the dark technology. Less to do with a realistic approach to a problem and more to do with macho erections and mega bucks perhaps.

I don’t claim to a economist, but surely one way out of the power crisis (without glowing green) would be to build into future coal, oil contracts a requirement to build and supply fuel for public access power stations, the cost of which could be offset against normally paid taxes and royalties. This would mean there would be fewer opportunities for the parasites of this country to sneak their fingers into the honey jar, so it won’t happen anytime soon, don’t hold your breath waiting ok.

Anyway for those who would like to read the silliest statement made in support of Nuclear Energy, check out May 9th edition of the Jakarta Post. Once again where are our reporters to challenge such blatant “Dilbert” statements? Seriously guys/girls there is more to reporting than spewing out mindless press releases on behalf of some self serving public servant (Ok its a risk using that term here).

Disclaimer:
1. I am actually a supporter of Nuclear Energy, but why I would trust the blokes talking and speaking so far to organize a hooker in a knock shop

2. Sorry about the picture, I was looking for mutants and found “Communist Mutants From Outer Space”..Gotta love the title anyway

From Breadbasket to basketcase

After having seen their work up close, I am not a big fan of the United Nations . With some very notable personal exceptions, at best the UN could reasonably be called inept, corrupt and nothing more than a talkfest (and I do excise WHO from this assessment, which has done some remarkable things for humanity over the years).

However the UN does provide grim amusement (?) from time to time. The latest in grim insanity is ZIMBABWE has been elected to head a key UN environmental commission. Despite ruining its economy and being under sanctions for human rights abuses, Zimbabwe was elected by a 26-21 vote and will replace Qatar as the head of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

Sustainable development???????? An inflation rate of 2200% unable to meet more than 50% of its food needs for the coming year and an 80% poverty rate from a country than was once renown as Africa's bread basket. What the hell is going on in the UN, I can only assume WHO is trialing new drugs within the UN.

Sheesh next thing you know.. they will be appointing countries who cannot guarantee human rights activists will not be murdered on their National Carrier to the human rights commission.

The more it goes on the more, the more stump thinks perhaps its time for a new Organisation with entry requirements based more on actions rather than political correctness. For those that don't like it .., those who cannot get entry, those who suddenly find the money trough has dried up, ...stiff..get your act together or complain to the UN, the stump is sure they will write a very mean letter to someone.

Later in the week, the stump will keep with the insanity theme and discuss the latest howlers from temple of stupid, the Indonesian Nuclear Support Agency (ok..I forget the actual name ..how about "the office of shallow thought"). However as taste, check this out for a quote gushing from the office of shallow thought in support of a Indonesian Nuclear Power Industry.

“Many Asian countries frequently affected by earthquakes such as Japan and Korea had long been developing their own nuclear power plants. "

Gee there is so much wrong with that sentence its scary! Perhaps we should also compare Japan and Korea's air, rail and sea transport industry as well just to see how far we need to go before we start playing with things that kill people for thousands of years. Still more later..