Green Building Concept in Timor-Leste

It had been a long time not hearing about green building, neither in a public discussion, or reading a public document. I don’t know whether the green building concept is not for the country like Timor-Leste which is struggling to cope with many basic priorities. But, thanks to UNDP who brought up the green building concept into the public arena. It was this year in March 2020 before COVID lockdown phenomena, UNDP organized a green building workshop, and I was excited to attend the workshop.

The goal of the workshop was to mobilize individuals and organizations to discuss about the concept, and possibly UNDP, under its project scheme, would recruit a potential individual or group to design a green building prototype. The winner will get funding, and the prototype will then be built. I have been asking around to ex-participants of the workshop if UNDP has done with the prototype and what is the actual green building project? It would be interesting to see the outcome.  

The workshop was a very good event to talk with engineers, architects, professionals, and even private developers who are interested to work on sustainable building technology in Timor-Leste. The concept was not new to all the participants. Media bombards news about climate change and its impacts to the society, and the world. The participants have been aware of the importance of climate change mitigation, and adaptation from the angle of built-environment. It was recognized that the building industry and its embodied energy is one of the biggest that emit a lot of CO2 to the environment.

Even though every discussion on the green building concept started always from the global climate change context, some were discussing more about how the green building concept can benefit the local before global. For example, they discussed about how to tap existing local resources for cost efficient and other multiple benefits coming out of this. However, the challenge of adopting the green building concept into the very own local context requires a lot of research and innovation. This kind of attitude is the most important one. And I think future discussions should be local-focused, and that everyone in the circle should weight the benefits of using green building concept in making their building, or community.

In our Timor-Leste, it is difficult to define exactly where to start. However, bringing the concept into the public arena often time is enough, at least. I am sure that some of sustainable design professionals do have green principles already in mind when they make designs. The action might still be sporadic, and that a community of professions in the area need to make the concept widely recognized, and have well-structured, and even more ambitious one is to have TL’s own green building design principles. Minister of Public Works also attended the workshop, so it can start with public buildings, and public built-environment.

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Dolok Oan Beach Cleanup

Do you see in the photo people with white shirts flocking all over the beach holding black trash bags? they are not playing a game or something, but cleaningup the beach.  

It was on 19 September 2020, around 3:30pm. I also went there after seeing Facebook event notification. It was to commemorate the World Beach Cleanup Day. The activity got support from various national and international organizations, but was organized by Movimento Tasi Mos (MTM) or in English called  Movement for Clean Ocean. The activity took place at Dolok Oan beach, behind the Cristo Rei statue. 

The MTM group has been proactively advocating and organizing beach cleanup activities in Dili started several years ago. Multiple cleanup activities conducted inviting all elements of the society, government agencies, and even ministers. The first time I saw this movement, I was thinking this is massive and it would become a national movement which is very progressive attitude and action. 

  

In my opinion, the movement is pretty consistent and determined even though there are so many vivid challenges lie right in their eyes. Cleanup after cleanup, but beaches get littered again just within hours; plastics reinstate the beaches like normal days. The movement does not give up though, they keep doing it. 

 

It was Saturday so Dolok Oan visitors came there on day time for picnic and some came later for overnight camping. When we were wandering and collecting trash, it was ironic to see that they did not bother at all to join or at least stop doing their activity. Even the visitors did not care when we asked them to move to get the trash out under their butts. From a moral perspective, if any voluntary action that benefits the public, everyone around should feel ashamed to join. As far as I observe, Dolok Oan beach littering comes from that kind of visitors.

There must be something wrong that makes the effort of cleaningup does not have sustainable effect. Like you, I also see two problems. One is about behavior. The visitors just don't see a clean beach is for their benefit, so they don't care and keep littering, and changing that behavior takes time, you know. Second is about unavailability of trash facilities. In a sense, if people cant find a trash bin nearby where to throw water bottles,  they would just let them in the beach. So it is important to put more trash bins and start to install collection bins as well.

But it would be more effective and efficient to invest in trash bins and collection facilities if the Dolok Oan beach has a clear definition of land use plan and initial concept. At least about the basic layout of the area. What kind of tourism activity this area should be for? do you have a sketched layout plan already? For examples, layout of the road, parking area, sidewalks, etc. You can imagine exactly like what we see on the Cristo Rei side. So by knowing the plan, putting the facilities can be more directed and not random, and I think donors or other profit organizations who usually donate trash bins might be interested to provide more.  

I also think that the current condition of Dolok Oan makes the visitors might think that there is no value to be disciplined because the area is still isolated from Dili downtown, no certain future development plan yet, no residents, and animals entering the area freely, and at last no trash and collection bins yet. The visitors might still consider Dolok Oan as a periphery which their littering behavior does not have immediate effect, not to mention to the ocean. In addition, the current condition makes it pointless to put the trash facilities randomly into this wide area without any clear space arrangement, at least from the conceptual stage.  

So, in order to make the effort of cleaningup the beach at Dolok Oan to have sustainable effect, all stakeholders should start thinking broader and bigger while keep walking the walk. MTM and other groups should start advocating about this to the government. The intention of doing it this way is the incremental effort will be directed to a clear goal in an efficient way. Otherwise, you clean today, it gets littered tomorrow, because, one reason is, you don't provide enough facility to encourage people to be disciplined, but where to put all the facilities? you need a more directed and clear goal in the context of Dolok Oan. You make mistake if you think cleaning up Dolok Oan beach will safe the the whole ocean and tackle global climate change. Don't do something like blind goats walking in the dark. First, please be local, and from local. It is very important!

**Hope this gives you an inspiration. 

Policy of Second-Hand Cars Import

It is kinda ridiculous when I hear the government will stop importing second-hand cars in the name of climate change with no clear details. I went to my home town, Lospalos two weeks ago. Even the national road has improved, I barely encountered vehicle enroute in every 20 minutes. Another reality is, in remote villages, you cant even find any public transport. So the communities have to use their eleven transport (walking) to anywhere they need to. I cannot imagine, if only brand new cars allowed in this country, what it would be like.   

I watched the statement of Secretary State of Environment saying that by working with the Ministry of Transport, they will make a policy to stop second-hand cars import. The objective of this policy is to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from motorized transport sector. It is, indeed, a fact that global motorized transport GHG emission is quite contributing to the global warming, but not our per capita emissions. I don't search numbers, but I am confident on my feeling that our transport GHG emission is negligible compared to other emission sources. For example, I heard that deforestation is the leading source of emissions in Timor-Leste. 

I mean, doing something to tackle climate change does not have to be like what big countries are doing. The big countries whose roads are now crazily packed with cars stop importing certain ages of cars. And even some roads only allow certain types of transport such as electrical cars that have no emissions at all. We can work towards the same cause, but the efforts have to be adjusted into the local context.  

Instead, there are some local issues that the government must work and focus on to reduce air pollutions in Dili city that in parallel will reduce transport GHG emissions. For example, what the government has done to sort out very old yellow taxies, mikrolet, dump trucks that are now sill in operation? what the government has done to develop public transport? infrastructure for people to walk? and good drainage system that reduce dust? 

I think those are the classic and complex issues that are priority. We need to adjust our climate change mitigation or adaptation efforts into these contextual issues. I personally agree on the policy of reducing second-hand cars import, but the policy has to consider many aspects, realistic, and rational.    

**hope this gives you an inspiration.  

New More Improved Walking Space

Lately we have seen frequent asphalt laying activity in Dili. I am totally in favor for this kind of policy because paving urban roads can improve accessibility, safety, aesthetic, and health as well. Maybe other than water and electricity, road improvement should come more often as well. The direct benefit for me is I can walk safely and comfortably in many more neighborhoods. I feel like changing my path in every walking would boost the mood, and it would also add new urban experience at once.

My existing preferred walkable routes are Timor Plaza - Ponte Habibi road, seaside road, grid roads of Colmera, Lecidere, and Farol. But now the list adds up to Kampung Alor  - Ministry of Finance building, and I would love to try deeper neighborhoods. But let me dream first for this because it is not safe to walk there, for example, into part of Comoro neighborhoods.

    

We understand that the road improvement does not include the complete components. But at least one by one should start, other components can follow later. For example, improving incomplete sidewalks, restoring sidewalks taken over by on-street parking, installing street lights, etc. 

** Hope this gives you an inspiration 

Notion of New RDTL National Parliament Building

A national parliament building represents people's identity, and that the people feel proud of their existence being unique. Functionally, the building provides space for the people, represented by a bunch of talkers, to critic or support ideas on how to make public lives better. So, I think it is normal to dream of having a new national parliament building like what the President of Parliament alluded two weeks ago.

 

The building currently used by the National Parliament is a meeting hall located at the backside of the Government Palace. I heard that, prior independence, it was used for provincial government meetings, and etc. It is located in the backdoor, the space-use is so squished. Parliament office rooms are made of prefabricated materials, and parking space is packed during busy times. It also sits in city center that , in many ways, affect so much to the public interest. For example, traffic chaos occur due to frequent road closures for demonstrations, official events such as foreign dignitary state visits, and annual state budget debates.  

 

There are many people opposing this so-called ambitious plan due to many reasons but financial. Yes, we do still have many priority areas that we must spend money on. For example, on health, and  education sectors, and basic infrastructure services. However, it does not mean that the government can not start to think about it. The government can start a serious planning, strong political decision power, and do it in phases. One reason why the government needs to plan it seriously is that because there have been different plans showing up which come from different leaders in different times. For example, few years back, the planned location was in Tasi-Tolu. There has been design of a super building taking up Tasi-Tolu lakes (picture above). The location now has moved to Hera. This shows that the notion deserve total opposition from the public. 

 

Constructing a national parliament building and complex does cost hundreds of millions of this $. RDTL does not have money to make the project a one go like most major infrastructure projects in the past which took up so much to other priority areas. So, the government has to be wise enough. At least from the beginning to make the public believe by providing a definitive location (acquire the land) based on studies, not based on personal preference. Next will be bringing basic infrastructure, and then will be the building?. Considering the opposing argument, I think the government can still do it, but in a realistic way. 

 

The challenging thing is that decisions are made not rationally, but emotionally most of the times. Things tend to be done quick and fast in order to satisfy short terms goals. This kind of attitude should be changed by our society sooner or later, or we go bankrupt.  

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.  

Housing for FALINTIL Veterans

Source

 

I am one of you who respects very much of the sacrifice of our best independence fighters or FALINTIL Veterans. I mean, Veterans, the ones who hid in deep mountains for 24 years fighting. They sacrificed their own wellbeing, life convenience, family members, almost everything, I would say. With that being said, we are now independent.

Today is FALINTIL's 45th anniversary. In the last 20 years of our independence, it is not fair to keep seeing that some of the Veterans even live in a worse condition than the time living in the mountains. They are getting sick but no adequate health services, they don't even own or entitle to a house. I saw Facebook posting today showing a veteran lives in an old Indonesian-built house given by neighbor. You can imagine, how ironic it is to see an independence veteran lives in such situation while opportunists live luxurious?

Getting adequate housing is a basic right for every citizen, but housing for FALINTIL Veterans is a right and obligation as well that this country has to provide. The state has to initiate a proper housing program that covers improvement of living conditions.  We must recognize that the pension fund that being paid to the Veterans is far from enough to improve their living conditions.   

It is impossible to build a house with $200 (maybe a little more) bucks monthly pension money; thus providing housing separately will be a miracle. They State has to come asking them where to build the house, to what extent their housing need is, and thus suitable, and adequate housing can be provided. 

The kind of mainstream public housing is not going to work for the Veterans. For example, relocating them all together to one place, same size of building, the worse is without sustainable basic infrastructure such as water, and electricity is only to make their living condition worse than improving.

When we call housing is not simply about a bunch of buildings constructed and lived in by human beings, but a home for the Veterans. The housing has to match with their needs, their capacity to maintain, their home to feel happy living inside. Providing housing to the FALINTIL Veterans is a proportional appreciation to their sacrifice. 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

  

Hera ETO Mangrove Forest Tourism

 

I asked a guy who was sitting under a small house inside the mangrove forest if there is any native and unique name for this place distinguishable to other mangroves in Hera. He said you can just call this place "Hera ETO mangrove forest." I asked about naming or branding of this site because there are several patches of mangrove forest in the area of Hera which people could not quickly distinguish from one another.  

 

Situated near ETO fuel depot, a community organization called Asosiasaun Konservasaun Flora i Fauna has just started to develop the mangrove recreation site. One and crucial facility is wooden walkway bridge. Approximately a hundred meters long walkway has been built to make access possible into the forest. Management of this new recreation site charges entry fee, $1 per person.

 

A person who often times passes by this area and could only see outer, I was amazed by the internal look after entering the forest. The place is so fresh, and cool for one to have a good time in. According to the guy, number of visitors is quite high on weekends. The site has just opened some weeks ago, and people are quite curious and attracted to come.

 

When I asked the guy what activities are planned for this mangrove recreation site, he said people can come here to relax, also school and university students to do mangrove conservation research activities. But nearly all the visitors come to take photos. The management plans to construct another access facility to the top of a big beachside rock. There will be a nice photo spot. However, this plan needs some time to implement because they need to raise fund, make design and build. Constructing access to the top of the rock will be another unique experience.

 

There are around tens of monkeys living inside the forest. These monkeys are native, and have multiplied since the forest was taken cared by the association. I was talking to the guy what if you do monkey feeding business alongside the entry fee, those monkeys could be fed by the visitors with banana bought from your association. You would make another money to keep and develop this site. 

 

Another important aspect is parking for visitors. The parking is not healthy because dusty. Furthermore, visitors on-street parking is not safe since the road, National Road Number 1 has improved significantly, and traffic is quite busy. The guy said they would like to improve the parking area in the near future.    

 

**Hope this gives you an inspiration.

Governadores fo KO Ita Dala ida Tan ne Afeta Saida Deit?

Depois de debate OSANmentu la pasa, em' bot projetu nain sira ida-idak komesa deklara ona ba publiku katak, projetu k aktividade sei la bele lao tanba osan laiha. Ita hatene tanba projetu so hetan finansiamentu husi OSANmentu ne deit, laiha tan husik fonte seluk. Tanba ne kandu OSANmentu la pasa, ita konta para hotu.


Komu iha FB mosu notisia barak kona ba projetu no aktividade nebe mak atu para, hau alista halimar hela iha blog. Klaru katak kuaze projetu k aktividade lahan basah sira para hotu. Maibe hau tau deit ida be ema brani halerik ona iha media deit.


Karik kolega balun mak hetan tan notisia foun karik fo hatene hela mai par hau aumenta. 

1. Primeiru dan pertama mak ekspozisaun ba Dubai nian (go international). Maibe DG koalia diak fali tanba buka dalan husi ema riku sira par fo ajuda osan. Ne diak maibe kuidadu mak dehan ema riku ajuda mas depois OSANmentu aban bain rua iha fali sira ba sisi guvernu atu selu. Entaun ne atu aumenta deit tusan ou divida. (http://www.tatoli.tl/2020/01/21/opsaun-barak-atu-solusiona-orsamentu-ba-expo-dubai/)
2. Maun Komandante Polisia dehan sira nia projetu edifisiu labele halo ona. (http://www.tatoli.tl/2020/01/21/oje-2020-sumba-iha-pn-sei-afeita-ba-konstrusaun-edifisiu-pntl/)
3. Em' bot husi Minisipiu Dili nian dehan osan laiha nebe atu hapara kontratu ema sira hamos valeta no foer. Nebe ita hein atu halimar ho lixu iha Dili. (http://www.tatoli.tl/2020/01/21/munisipiu-dili-sei-hapara-pesoal-servisu-hamoos-valeta-ho-ezgotu/)
4. Em' bot husi SEJD mos dehan aktividade desportivo sira mos para ba rai liur.  
5. Maun Alin sira husi komunidade defisiente mos para hodi realiza sira nia projetu (http://www.tatoli.tl/2020/01/21/iha-posibilidade-mssi-la-realiza-planu-harii-kn-ba-defisiensia/)
6. ...