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Jakarta Post

`Rujak.org', a hub for the hubbub

If you type rujak

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Mon, June 29, 2009

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`Rujak.org', a hub for the hubbub

If you type rujak.org into your internet navigator, do not expect to find information about one of Indonesia's tangy, spiced fruit dishes.

Instead, look out for an online forum dedicated to improving the country's problematic capital, Jakarta. The page is colorful, multilingual and sports the motivating slogan "Rujak - For a better Jakarta. Everyone is invited".

Marco Kusumawijaya, the founder of Rujak.org, said the website's name was derived from the "melting pot" nature of Jakarta.

"The city is akin to rujak's color and mix of tastes," he said. Marco said rujak.org was the end result of many years of wanting to draw together all those who wanted more for Jakarta, and to offer them a forum to share their ideas.

The website is run by architects and environmental activists, among others, who have for years pursued this dream of improving Jakarta via their own avenues. "There are many groups and individual aspiring to make Jakarta greener, friendlier, and nicer altogether," Marco, also chairman of the Jakarta Arts Council, said.

"This hub aims to bring them all together." Armely Meiviana, the moderator of GreenLifestyle Googlegroups mailing list and rujak.org, said some of these groups were known for their ecofriendly approaches.

"There are a lot of independent green communities in Jakarta that we want to bring together," she said. The portal will shine the spotlight on Jakarta's environmental problems but not in a negative way. "We don't want to just complain. We want to find a solution," Amely said. Through the website, Armely said, a community will an excess of compost could, for example, post a message offering it to areas lacking the natural fertilizer. "The website is a form of public space, first and foremost," he said, adding that this role was crucial considering Jakarta lacked such spaces.

"In the future, those who participate virtually will also gather in the real world and organize events and conferences that will bring Jakarta's people closer together." Everyone is allowed to contribute articles, events and comments to the website, Marco said.

"Of course we will first edit the articles, but comments go up on the website unless they are unethical, trivial or simply not practical."

He said that with rujak.org ultimately being on the internet, only those of a certain economic status would be able to peruse the website, considering the city's limited Internet access. "This website is aimed at the middle class," he said, "But that is the perfect target actually, because they are the ones who care the most about Jakarta. Those living in poverty are too busy making ends meet, while the rich can simply pack their bags and head to other places if they become fed up with the city." (dis)

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