by Jonathan Thatcher | 1 Feb 2024 | Asia, Politics
The upcoming election pits employment against the environment. Meanwhile China and the United States wait to see whether the new president will look east or west. Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, right, and his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka,...
by Jonathan Thatcher | 31 Mar 2023 | Climate decoders, Writing's on the Wall
Billions in international funds have gone to weaning the populous nation off coal. But the country continues to build coal plants despite its pledge to go green. A woman leads her goats as Suralaya coal power plant looms in the background in Cilegon, Indonesia, 8...
by Jonathan Thatcher | 31 May 2022 | Human Rights, Politics, Ukraine
Dictators can be loathed. But their abrupt departure from office can trigger turmoil because they have put themselves alone at the centre of power. U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland, 16 June 2021 (Saul Loeb/Pool via...
by Jonathan Thatcher | 12 Jul 2021 | Asia, Economy, Educators' Catalog, Health and Wellness
The world’s fourth most populous nation, Indonesia is struggling to keep fast-spreading COVID-19 from undermining its economic growth prospects. A man falls to the ground during the burial of a relative who died of COVID-19, Jakarta, Indonesia, 7 July 7 2021....
News Decoder aims to spotlight regions of the world that often don’t make the headlines. With an estimated 270 million people, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country after China, India and the United States. Correspondent Jonathan Thatcher, former Jakarta bureau chief for Reuters, draws our attention to the devastating impact of the pandemic on the island nation and why it matters. His article explains how COVID-19 tore through the country, stalling economic growth, and warns of the potential long-term impact on youth employment — what he calls “an especially frightening prospect.”
Exercise: Ask students how they think the pandemic will impact economic opportunity for young people in their country.
by Jonathan Thatcher | 28 Sep 2020 | Asia, Environment, Health and Wellness
COVID-19 has slashed incomes in Indonesia, spurring illegal logging, poaching and mining. The environment and wildlife habitats are taking a hit. Activists protest against a government bill they say would harm the environment, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14 July 2020. (AP...