Have you ever imagined that people who have existed and lived long before the existence of the state suddenly have their land now claimed by the state? In fact, they have been present and living from the time of their ancestors for generations before the existence of the state.
Or have you ever come across a power outage or disconnection for a development project? People who should have the right to electricity suddenly don’t have access to it.
We still see this in several countries, including Indonesia. Many people have lost their land and their right to live. Their right to life is taken away in the name of the interests of big oligarchs under the pretext of development. The people of Pari Island, Thousand Islands, Jakarta. Being one of the victims of the greed of large corporate oligarchs supported by the state.
Departing from these problems, Enter Nusantara on June 21, 2024, through Enter Nusantara’s Beragam Project and Solar Generation in collaboration with HIMASOS (Sociology Student Association) of Jakarta State Islamic University held a discussion to raise awareness of young people about the benefits of renewable energy, especially for marginalized communities.
Beragam Project is an initiative launched by youth organizations such as Enter Nusantara and Solar Generation, which aims to harness green energy. The movement started in 2020 and will continue until the energy transition is achieved. In line with government targets, the renewable energy transition is expected to be completed by 2050, although it is projected to only reach 31% by then. The program is designed to meet the needs of affected communities, supporting their resistance to the climate crisis and corporate land grabs. The journey of the Diverse Project has brought us into contact with communities who are fiercely defending their living space and environmental sustainability. They are on the front lines against extractive companies such as PT Jogja Magasa Iron (JMI) and development projects that often violate community rights. The zine aims to showcase inspiring stories that have a real impact, both for other affected communities and for policymakers. Beragam Project also actively collaborates with communities and organizations that are at the forefront of environmental struggles, especially those directly affected by the climate crisis. One example is the support for the residents of Dago Elos in Bandung, who are fighting to protect their village from eviction from a hotel development project. In addition to Dago Elos, the Beragam Project is also present for the people of Pari Island, who are being deprived of their rights today.
Pari Island, part of the Thousand Islands, is one example of the environmental conflicts that many communities in Indonesia face today. The people of Pari Island, especially the women’s group of Pari Island, have been struggling to defend their land rights as they work to develop renewable energy sources to fulfill their needs.
The conflict on Pari Island began in 2014 when PT Bumi Pari Asri claimed 90% of the island’s land for a resort project. Due to this claim, many hundreds of local residents who have lived there for four generations now have their lives threatened. The company has also used controversial routes from the start. From controversially applying for land certificates to using intimidation and criminalization against residents who rejected the land claim.
In this case, the people and women of Pari Island are at the forefront of defending and fighting for their land by gardening on land claimed by the company. However, their struggle in gardening is constrained by the lack of access to electricity and clean water flow, which is very important for their agriculture.
In this case, Enter Nusantara in October 2024 supports and helps the Pari Island community to meet these needs by contributing through program efforts such as the Beragam Project. Enter Nusantara continues to strive to ensure that marginalized groups are not left behind in the policies being discussed by the government regarding renewable energy. In an effort to address such challenges, the Beragam Project worked with the residents of Pari Island to develop a community-scale solar power plant (PLTS) as well as a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for clean water supply. The installation took place over four days with the following results:
- The installed solar farm produces a peak power of 1,576 watts, with a daily average of 1,193 watts.
- The RO system is capable of producing 3 liters of clean water per minute, reducing residents’ dependence on RO water that previously had to be purchased at a high price.
The impact of this initiative includes:
- Residents are sensitized and understand the role of clean energy in improving community resilience.
- Economically, the cost of purchasing clean water is reduced, thus improving the welfare of the community.
- Citizens are becoming more aware and more active in working on energy transition and climate crisis issues.
- The community can also understand the management of solar power plants independently.
In addition to installing renewable energy systems, the Beragam Project participates in community protests against the influx of industrial ships carrying heavy equipment to displace community land. We also participated in community gardening. During this activity, we learned about Pari Island’s rich soil and planting techniques that help preserve its natural integrity. This led to an organic fertilizer workshop, where we taught residents how to make fertilizer from easily available natural ingredients. The ingredients used to make fertilizer include grass, banana tree trunks, lamtoro leaves, and sugar. Sugar serves as food for beneficial bacteria during the composting process. Pari Islanders wisely utilize all available resources, showing how simple and eco-friendly technologies can support their lives without harming the environment. In addition, in this activity we engaged the children by drawing pictures and asking questions about sources of electricity and how they feel the impact of the climate crisis. With innocent curiosity, they shared their thoughts about the changes happening around them. In the simplicity of being together, we felt the hope emerging from these children, the next generation who will continue to protect Pari Island.
The struggle of the Pari Island community to defend their land rights continues to this day. The struggle cannot be solved individually, but it requires millions of mass works. The program has also been an inspiration to other communities facing similar challenges. Enter Nusantara shows that change can start at the community level and is a push for the government to support equitable energy decentralization. With a high spirit of solidarity, Pulau Pari has not only survived but also grown even stronger and become an example of an equitable environmental struggle.
With the ever-increasing threat and exploitation of land and climate change, initiatives like the Beragam Project are proof that community-based movements have great potential to create real change. Pari Island symbolizes that a just energy transition is not just a dream but a reality that can be realized together.
Read the zine through the link below:
s.id/ZineBeragamProject
