from green to blue cities

Jakarta’s elite wants to learn – or copy? – from Singapore. However, what is copied? The high-rise buildings and mega shopping malls. What lessons are missed? Compared to Singapore, in Jakarta there is not much green space – asphalt and concrete rule – and in Jakarta private car ownership isn’t limited. Therefore, unlike in Singapore, in Jakarta air pollution is rampant. (The photo above was taken in Singapore – when was the last time Jakartans enjoyed a blue sky? – and this photo is not manipulated to make my point.)