HAWAI INFORMATION
Getting to Hawaii
Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu is Hawaii's major airport, serving as the entry point for most of Hawaii's visitors. All twenty-three major domestic carriers and sixteen international carriers serve Oahu, so you can get here from just about anywhere.
There are also direct flights from the mainland to Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii's Big Island, but for the most part, you may need to connect through Oahu to get to the neighbor islands.
Staying in Hawaii
Finding accommodations is easy in Hawaii. You'll find everything here from historic hotels and boutiques, to bed and breakfasts, rental condos, and luxury resorts. You'll find more than 30,000 hotel rooms on Oahu alone.
Anytime of year is a good time to visit Hawaii. Summer, between April and November, is warmer and drier (average temperature is 75Ëš-88Ëš F) while winter, between December and March, is a bit cooler (68Ëš-80Ëš F). Trade winds keep things comfortable year-round.
Traveling in Hawaii
To really experience all that Hawaii offers, you should consider renting a car. Many visitors also enjoy taking bus tours to conveniently explore the Islands. Shuttles, taxis, and public transport are available on most islands.
> Learn more detailed Hawaii Travel Tips at: travelsmarthawaii.com
PT Lapindo Brantas Mud and Gas Leak
On May 28, 2006, at about 10:00 p.m. hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) leaked from a gas exploration rig in Sidoarjo, operated by PT Lapindo Brantas. The gas leak sprayed 10 meters high from cracks in the ground. The gas was followed by hot mud spewing as far as the residence area nearby.
The upwelling of hot mud created a large pool of mud, rendering the neighborhood uninhabitable, 10 factories had to be closed temporarily, 90 hectare paddy fields became useless, fish farms were destroyed and people had to flee from their muddy homes. In addition, the intercity turnpike to East Java capital Surabaya also had to be closed down for weeks. As of June 24, 2006, East Java Walhi recorded 1,528 families (6,116 people, 536 infants) were rendered refugees.
The cause of the gas leak
The crack in the gas well was not caused by the May 27 earthquake. The statement was one of the results of East Java Police investigation .The leak was a result of deliberate inaction of PT Lapindo Brantas. This was the greatest disaster in East Java this year. The gas leak was caused by a technical error while drilling the well. The drill was stalled when mechanics tried to pull it off. The gas couldn’t flow through the supposed fire pit channel, instead it flowed up through the swamp
The leak was not a natural disaster but rather because of a bad luck factor. Allegedly, when the well was drilled, the hole had not yet covered by concrete).The regulation of tolerable exposure standard of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), 20 ppm ceiling implemented by the company, may be implemented in the workplace but not in a residential area. In a particular space, the company can claim that theirs is a safe standard. But it’s not necessarily safe for the people living around the company who are exposed to the chemicals constantly.
The Lapindo mud flow was probably caused by errors in the procedures which led to blow out. In a blow out, the gas, which is the company’s target of exploitation, flowed up through drill holes. According to standard procedure, in the event of gas flowing up, the company would smother it with mud. But it was possible that the high-pressure gas forced up the mud while finding cracks to go out. The consequence was the gas and mud flow around the gas well. The mud could perhaps come from the mud covering the drill hole or covering the gas layer under the ground. Meanwhile, the assumption that it was caused by earthquake did not make sense. It would need a quake as strong as 6 Richter scale to create cracks like that in Yogyakarta. The quake felt in Surabaya was only 2 on the Richter scale.According to the monitoring, judging from the smell, the gas contained hydrocarbons which can cause cancer. Therefore the area has to be immediately isolated. Information gathered from the employees, the Blow Out Prevention/BOP tool had been broken before the mud flow. If the information is true, it can be safely concluded that there were mistakes in the standard operating procedure (SOP).
Impact of the mud flow
In addition to the physical damage in the neighborhood, the mud flow also put the people’s health at risk. The mud flow can cause respiratory infections and skin irritations. The mud also has toxic elements, which in the event of accumulation, can cause cancer. If the carcinogens enter children’s bodies , it can prevent the brain growth.
Based on sampling survey in three different locations, the ground water in the area has nine out 10 chemical elements exceeding the safe standard. For example, the heavy metal content reached 2.565 mg/liter Hg, whereas the safe standard is 0.002 mg/liter Hg Lab tests show that the mud has dangerous and toxic contents exceeding safety standards. In the mud sampling taken June 5 by the local administration, the team found phenol, which can burn skin in the event of direct contact, in addition to other effects like cardiac aritmia and haemolysis.
Corporate crime
Based on laws in the country (Law No. 23/1997 on Environmental Management and other like money laundering law) and several law textbooks on corporate crime like those of Sally S. Simpson and John Braithwaite, Walhi deems the mud flow case as a corporate crime.In his paper Corporate Crime, Patra Zen quoted Sally S. Simpson, who wrote that "corporate crime is a type of white-collar crime". Simpson, quoting John Braithwaite, defined corporate crime as "conduct of a corporation, or employees acting on behalf of a corporation, which is proscribed and punishable by law".
Series of ecological catastrophes in East Java
Lapindo’s mud case was not the first catastrophe or accident caused by industrial activities in East Java. Walhi recorded many cases since 1998. In 1998, there was a leak in Ajinomoto’s 3-ton ammoniac tank which had a great impact to the environment. But nothing was done to uphold the law and rehabilitate the environment. A whole kampong behind the factory had to be relocated, the land was bought at a low price. Until today only four people insist on living in the kampong. They joined the Forum for Environmental Fight.In 2000, there was a leak in Petrokimia. Like Ajinomoto’s case, there was never any action taken to uphold the law.In 2001, there was a leak in an oil and gas company belong to Devon Canada and Petrochina in Tuban. The leak contained hydrosulfide, and 26 farmers had to be rushed to hospital. A whole kampong wanted to see the mine, so they approached it. But Bojonegoro Police shot at them, 14 people was shot.
In 2002, there was an oil spill in the sea in East Java caused by an activity of Premier Oil. The fishermen protested the sea pollution but to no avail. They then blocked the access of the company. In 2003, there was a blast in Petrowidada. The blast burned several buildings and polluted the river. Only a security guard and a technician were convicted.The bad record of law implementation prompts doubt that the perpetrators of the mud flow case will be prosecuted. There’s also an indication that the case would only be seen as a minor accident instead of a serious corporate crime.Lapindo’s operations are not limited to Porong and Tanggulangin. The company also runs wells in Wunut and other places. The company is conduction exploration of three new wells in Mojokerto, where the residents have started becoming restless.
DO YOU KNOW?
Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu is Hawaii's major airport, serving as the entry point for most of Hawaii's visitors. All twenty-three major domestic carriers and sixteen international carriers serve Oahu, so you can get here from just about anywhere.
There are also direct flights from the mainland to Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii's Big Island, but for the most part, you may need to connect through Oahu to get to the neighbor islands.
Staying in Hawaii
Finding accommodations is easy in Hawaii. You'll find everything here from historic hotels and boutiques, to bed and breakfasts, rental condos, and luxury resorts. You'll find more than 30,000 hotel rooms on Oahu alone.
Anytime of year is a good time to visit Hawaii. Summer, between April and November, is warmer and drier (average temperature is 75Ëš-88Ëš F) while winter, between December and March, is a bit cooler (68Ëš-80Ëš F). Trade winds keep things comfortable year-round.
Traveling in Hawaii
To really experience all that Hawaii offers, you should consider renting a car. Many visitors also enjoy taking bus tours to conveniently explore the Islands. Shuttles, taxis, and public transport are available on most islands.
> Learn more detailed Hawaii Travel Tips at: travelsmarthawaii.com
PT Lapindo Brantas Mud and Gas Leak
On May 28, 2006, at about 10:00 p.m. hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) leaked from a gas exploration rig in Sidoarjo, operated by PT Lapindo Brantas. The gas leak sprayed 10 meters high from cracks in the ground. The gas was followed by hot mud spewing as far as the residence area nearby.
The upwelling of hot mud created a large pool of mud, rendering the neighborhood uninhabitable, 10 factories had to be closed temporarily, 90 hectare paddy fields became useless, fish farms were destroyed and people had to flee from their muddy homes. In addition, the intercity turnpike to East Java capital Surabaya also had to be closed down for weeks. As of June 24, 2006, East Java Walhi recorded 1,528 families (6,116 people, 536 infants) were rendered refugees.
The cause of the gas leak
The crack in the gas well was not caused by the May 27 earthquake. The statement was one of the results of East Java Police investigation .The leak was a result of deliberate inaction of PT Lapindo Brantas. This was the greatest disaster in East Java this year. The gas leak was caused by a technical error while drilling the well. The drill was stalled when mechanics tried to pull it off. The gas couldn’t flow through the supposed fire pit channel, instead it flowed up through the swamp
The leak was not a natural disaster but rather because of a bad luck factor. Allegedly, when the well was drilled, the hole had not yet covered by concrete).The regulation of tolerable exposure standard of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), 20 ppm ceiling implemented by the company, may be implemented in the workplace but not in a residential area. In a particular space, the company can claim that theirs is a safe standard. But it’s not necessarily safe for the people living around the company who are exposed to the chemicals constantly.
The Lapindo mud flow was probably caused by errors in the procedures which led to blow out. In a blow out, the gas, which is the company’s target of exploitation, flowed up through drill holes. According to standard procedure, in the event of gas flowing up, the company would smother it with mud. But it was possible that the high-pressure gas forced up the mud while finding cracks to go out. The consequence was the gas and mud flow around the gas well. The mud could perhaps come from the mud covering the drill hole or covering the gas layer under the ground. Meanwhile, the assumption that it was caused by earthquake did not make sense. It would need a quake as strong as 6 Richter scale to create cracks like that in Yogyakarta. The quake felt in Surabaya was only 2 on the Richter scale.According to the monitoring, judging from the smell, the gas contained hydrocarbons which can cause cancer. Therefore the area has to be immediately isolated. Information gathered from the employees, the Blow Out Prevention/BOP tool had been broken before the mud flow. If the information is true, it can be safely concluded that there were mistakes in the standard operating procedure (SOP).
Impact of the mud flow
In addition to the physical damage in the neighborhood, the mud flow also put the people’s health at risk. The mud flow can cause respiratory infections and skin irritations. The mud also has toxic elements, which in the event of accumulation, can cause cancer. If the carcinogens enter children’s bodies , it can prevent the brain growth.
Based on sampling survey in three different locations, the ground water in the area has nine out 10 chemical elements exceeding the safe standard. For example, the heavy metal content reached 2.565 mg/liter Hg, whereas the safe standard is 0.002 mg/liter Hg Lab tests show that the mud has dangerous and toxic contents exceeding safety standards. In the mud sampling taken June 5 by the local administration, the team found phenol, which can burn skin in the event of direct contact, in addition to other effects like cardiac aritmia and haemolysis.
Corporate crime
Based on laws in the country (Law No. 23/1997 on Environmental Management and other like money laundering law) and several law textbooks on corporate crime like those of Sally S. Simpson and John Braithwaite, Walhi deems the mud flow case as a corporate crime.In his paper Corporate Crime, Patra Zen quoted Sally S. Simpson, who wrote that "corporate crime is a type of white-collar crime". Simpson, quoting John Braithwaite, defined corporate crime as "conduct of a corporation, or employees acting on behalf of a corporation, which is proscribed and punishable by law".
Series of ecological catastrophes in East Java
Lapindo’s mud case was not the first catastrophe or accident caused by industrial activities in East Java. Walhi recorded many cases since 1998. In 1998, there was a leak in Ajinomoto’s 3-ton ammoniac tank which had a great impact to the environment. But nothing was done to uphold the law and rehabilitate the environment. A whole kampong behind the factory had to be relocated, the land was bought at a low price. Until today only four people insist on living in the kampong. They joined the Forum for Environmental Fight.In 2000, there was a leak in Petrokimia. Like Ajinomoto’s case, there was never any action taken to uphold the law.In 2001, there was a leak in an oil and gas company belong to Devon Canada and Petrochina in Tuban. The leak contained hydrosulfide, and 26 farmers had to be rushed to hospital. A whole kampong wanted to see the mine, so they approached it. But Bojonegoro Police shot at them, 14 people was shot.
In 2002, there was an oil spill in the sea in East Java caused by an activity of Premier Oil. The fishermen protested the sea pollution but to no avail. They then blocked the access of the company. In 2003, there was a blast in Petrowidada. The blast burned several buildings and polluted the river. Only a security guard and a technician were convicted.The bad record of law implementation prompts doubt that the perpetrators of the mud flow case will be prosecuted. There’s also an indication that the case would only be seen as a minor accident instead of a serious corporate crime.Lapindo’s operations are not limited to Porong and Tanggulangin. The company also runs wells in Wunut and other places. The company is conduction exploration of three new wells in Mojokerto, where the residents have started becoming restless.
DO YOU KNOW?
posted by jogjaGroups at
17.4.07
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