This used to be a river…This used to be a river…The Citarum River on the western side of Java The Citarum River on the western side of Java

(in Indonesia)(in Indonesia)

is now a floating garbage dump! is now a floating garbage dump!

The The Citarum River near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta displays the near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta displays the abuse that mankind has subjected it to.abuse that mankind has subjected it to.

"What happens when nine million people "What happens when nine million people throw their trash in a river, and corporations throw their trash in a river, and corporations use it to dump hazardous waste?” use it to dump hazardous waste?”

It becomes like the Citarum in West Java, It becomes like the Citarum in West Java, Indonesia, choked with plastic, loaded with Indonesia, choked with plastic, loaded with chemicals and human waste. A generation chemicals and human waste. A generation ago, the Citarum River was a peaceful ago, the Citarum River was a peaceful waterway where wildlife enjoyed the clean, waterway where wildlife enjoyed the clean, fresh water and villagers caught fish and fresh water and villagers caught fish and made a living off the rice paddies. made a living off the rice paddies.

BOJONGBUAH, 23 June 2009 (IRIN) - The River BOJONGBUAH, 23 June 2009 (IRIN) - The River Citarum in Indonesia’s populous Java Island is Citarum in Indonesia’s populous Java Island is one of the world’s most polluted rivers but one of the world’s most polluted rivers but plans to clean it up are controversial. plans to clean it up are controversial.

By the time the 270km river, with its source By the time the 270km river, with its source in West Java, has passed some 2,000 in West Java, has passed some 2,000 factories and reached the Jakarta suburb of factories and reached the Jakarta suburb of Bekasi, it is highly polluted, though many Bekasi, it is highly polluted, though many residents use water from it to wash their residents use water from it to wash their dishes and clothes and even to cook food. dishes and clothes and even to cook food. Some 80 percent of Jakarta’s surface water Some 80 percent of Jakarta’s surface water comes from the river. comes from the river.

Indonesia regularly ranks as one of the Indonesia regularly ranks as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. most corrupt nations in the world. According to Transparency International’s According to Transparency International’s 2009 2009 Global Corruption Barometer, , Indonesia is perceived as the most graft-Indonesia is perceived as the most graft-ridden country in Asia, and its parliament ridden country in Asia, and its parliament the most corrupt public institution, the most corrupt public institution, followed by the judiciary and the police. followed by the judiciary and the police.

Where once fishermen cast their nets, now people forage for rubbish. A sad story…Where once fishermen cast their nets, now people forage for rubbish. A sad story…

It is not known whether the Citarum really is the It is not known whether the Citarum really is the most polluted river in the world since no study has most polluted river in the world since no study has ever been done to conclude such a thing. There ever been done to conclude such a thing. There are many other rivers that are also incredibly are many other rivers that are also incredibly polluted, and many of them are located in Asia and polluted, and many of them are located in Asia and east Europe. Part of the problem is that wealthy east Europe. Part of the problem is that wealthy countries like America pay poor Asian countries to countries like America pay poor Asian countries to take huge barges of their trash to dispose of. take huge barges of their trash to dispose of. Electronics make up the bulk of it, as today’s Electronics make up the bulk of it, as today’s equipment becomes obsolete and we purchase equipment becomes obsolete and we purchase tomorrow’s to replace it. Many of the world’s rivers tomorrow’s to replace it. Many of the world’s rivers may see a fate similar to that of the Citarum River may see a fate similar to that of the Citarum River if we don’t begin a major overhaul of our sanitation if we don’t begin a major overhaul of our sanitation systems, and help other countries with their waste systems, and help other countries with their waste management as much as we can. management as much as we can.