Why Jakarta is sinking
The 400-year curse dragging Indonesia's capital into the sea.
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Like many coastal cities around the world, Jakarta is dealing with sea level rise. But Indonesia's biggest city also has a unique problem: Because of restricted water access in the city, the majority of its residents have to extract groundwater to survive. And it's causing the city to sink. Today, Jakarta is the world’s fastest-sinking city.
The problem gets worse every year, but the root of it precedes modern Indonesia by centuries. In the 1600s, when the Dutch landed in Indonesia and built present-day Jakarta, they divided up the city to segregate the population. Eventually, that segregation led to an unequal water piping system that excluded most Indigenous Jakartans, forcing them to find other ways to get water.
To understand how it all ties together, and what’s in store for Jakarta’s future, watch the video above.
Sources and further reading:
If you want to learn more about the development of Jakarta’s urban water supply going all the way back to colonial times, check out Michelle Kooy’s detailed reports:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2008.00791.x
www.academia.edu/3682152/Splintered_networks_The_colonial_and_contemporary_waters_of_Jakarta
To understand Jakarta’s colonial history and the segregation that came of it, check out this article from the Journal of Historians of Netherlandish Art: jhna.org/articles/dutch-batavia-exposing-hierarchy-dutch-colonial-city/
To read about the evolution of the canals the Dutch built in present-day Jakarta and how their deterioration impacted water access and segregation, here’s a study from Dr. Euis Puspita Dewi, who we feature in the video:
scholar.ui.ac.id/en/publications/urban-canals-in-colonial-batavia-rethinking-clean-and-dirt-space
To get a broader look at the many other cities sinking in Indonesia, check out this article by Dr. Estelle Chaussard: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0034425712003975
Thanks for watching and let us know what you think in the comments!
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Published on 16 days ago
Hello! We have translated subtitles available in Bahasa Indonesia. You can access them through the settings icon > Subtitles/CC Thanks for watching, and let me know what other colonial histories you want to see explained next in the comments. Thanks, Christina, Video Producer
Thanks
I explain about Indonesia again plzz,,,
Wow, matur suwon
Vox... Vox... Thanks For YourAppreciation To thePeopleOf " INDONESIA " ... Oh, When you smile... It makes me smile... When you cry... I can’t help but cry.... __________________ INDONESIAN
Mobile legend is Weird games.
Thanks for the material.
Stop blaming the government, we also have a responsibility as citizen to protect our environment 🔥
Vox completely ignored the effect pf suharto era centralization that led to a boom in the population that hasnt stopped and the explosion of corruotuon since suharto that made it impossible for any of these measures to be taken. As they point out, all these other cities, and Jakarta didn't. Explain why
I am grateful the Dutch colonial left 🤣🤣🤣
Bangkok too.
Hello my country :v
As a jakartan im pretty siked about being a merman
I have no comment because it's true
So is it the dutch fault?
Blame colonisation
dont know either
after 600+ years of colonization is this what we must accept :(
When it actually sinks, I'm sad to think that maybe my future grandchildren will have more history to learn. Poor them.
Jakarta is too overpopulated. Money is not everything. Time to move back to own villages and peace of mind is more important.
Oh my gawd...
Who else live in jakarta? Me
Hey is indonesian near atlantis? If yes i can met aquaman i live in jakarta after all
Bruh your joking your joking right? pls say yes I LIVE IN JAKARTA WHAT MY PLACE IS SINKING BUT I DIDN.T SEE MY PLACE SINKING! REALLY GUYS I LIVE IN JAKARTA IS JAKARTA REALLY SINKING! IM GONNA DROWN IF I DIDN.T MOVE
Jakarta butuh kesungguhan, dalam mengatasi banjir dan sepertinya lebih baik pindah ibu kota sebelum terlambat
Tanah Air Yang Kucintaaaaa Engkau kubanggakan
The coming of Jesus Christ is close my brothers and sisters!! Please repent of your sins and ask God for salvation for the time is short 💕😞 we are not perfect which is why we need to seek the lord more than ever!❤️❤️🙏🏼.....
I came to know about this last year from an Indonesian friend I met online. I couldn't believe that at first. I mean,the cultural and economic hub of a country which also happens to be the capital,with thriving culture and population,this all won't exist few decades later because it's sinking, FAST!! It really sounded horrific and I did some findings on internet and found out that Indonesia is shifting their capital to Kalimantan from Jakarta, although Jakarta will continue to play an important role in country's economy. I was relieved,but then realised that as usual,the poor people will suffer the most. Will they be given proper homes in the new capital? What about their earnings? What will happen to fishermen? When Jakarta completely sinks,will The other capital really be the perfect alternative of Jakarta? And within how long? Since they don't have much time It was really something hard to think about,I discussed this fact with her,I mean that Indonesian friend. We both believe that yes, the new capital will be worthy to take the place of Jakarta and hope for the best. Lots of positivity and thoughts and concern from my side,India. I hope they figure this thing out and not even one person suffers in that capital shifting process.
Nice ☺️ ❤️&✌️
Hmm yes the start of 2020 it actually flooded my house
9:38 looks beautiful though, like a prog rock album cover
the capital will soon move to East Kalimantan, now the construction process is underway, hopefully it will run smoothly
Urban social management was never taken as a serious subject, only GDP focus and heeding no attention to biodiversity, neglecting climate change disaster signals, Human Beings are proving themselves as the biggest fools... atleast now it is time for ACTION..🙏
I'm genuinely terrified for the year 2050.
What is sinking ? i am indonesia. ora udud paru paru ora smile
bagus, serakah sih, yang dibangun cuma jakarta dan sekitarnya saja. Jawa Tengah saja yang masih satu pulau pembangunannya tertinggal.
I am proud to know it
I am proud with this chanel
For everypnes information vox is a racist supermacy for the left out a lot of what the very informative people were saying. Like you can obviously listen to them and they are saying more. The man saying that we had to build on top and top and on top but they just said we had to build taller. The lady said much more as well. I dont know the mans language but i do the womans . She said a whole lot more than what the captions stated. Although i will give you "vox" that you said something close at least to what they are saying and at least actually translated half of it! Lazy! Supressing the people to not state their full opinion. Disrespecting those and shutting them up.
For everypnes information vox is a racist supermacy for the left out a lot of what the very informative people were saying. Like you can obviously listen to them and they are saying more. The man saying that we had to build on top and top and on top but they just said we had to build taller. The lady said much more as well. I dont know the mans language but i do the womans . She said a whole lot more than what the captions stated. Although i will give you "vox" that you said something close at least to what they are saying and at least actually translated half of it! Lazy! Supressing the people to not state their full opinion. Disrespecting those and shutting them up.
Welp bye
But I think that enough decades have passed from Dutch rule without having to blame them. The Indonesian government must now act.
Im an indonesian the new capital will be tenggarong it will be in the "province" called east kalimantan thats all i know
tragedy comes from an architect problem or street design.
I told my friends that jakarta is sinking but they dont trust me :(
This is the first time a coverage about sinking jakarta mentioned the effects of colonization on the issue. Good research.
the other side of suffering is Greatness .....
Bc God dont like it.
Hope they will solve that problem. Love from Philippines
We are the dumbest species
My Indonesian brothers and sisters, those walls may protect you from rising water but until when? I think removing some concrete flooring and making eco parks and transferring or planting many big trees can be a big help to absorb water. In our capital city the mayor developed and re-open eco parks so that nature and city are combined, but there are still places which is too urbanized and need more nature in it. I hope that Indonesia will soon solve this problem.
People in Jakarta: No, you can't just invest Millions on some bird island that will take 30 years complete and will probably sink with rest of the city!! Venture: Haha big birdy go chirp chirp
TL;DR: Blame Europeans.
Keberatan dg bangunan pencakar langit, terutama di jakarta utara yang berbatasan dgn laut...
Jakarta is sinking. The local govt: And what about it? 💅🏼💅🏼💅🏼
Another city in India, Chennai is facing the same symptoms but is at an earlier stage, it is not sinking yet.
why is the us air force showing me a filmy ad to join it---while im an indian in india
And people still protesting about moving the capital into Borneo? Dude, just your city is literally sinking 😂
Jakarta: *Sinking 92,000 people: I like this!
boats: *I see this as an absolute win!*
European powers really messed up a lot!
im life in surabaya
no one asked
I don’t wanna hear this language again, sink faster.
Jakarta sinks Disney: Let's make. A sequel to atlantis the lost empire Jakarta: The lost Empire
If only trump was still the us president
Yup... But don't worry, because in Jakarta, most religious people believes that "What is coming is better than what is gone" .الجيات أحسن من الرايحات So when the city is fully underwater, let's just eat potato chips and see how their faces reaction from our phones.
Can't wait
Very informative ✨
bro just move
Other SEA countries: battling societal problems Indonesians: we have enough natural problems already. If we had to face societal problems too, might as well fly to the moon
Too much jamu, too many people digging well for dresh water, poor irrigation, too many prostitusi
The Government is still busy with their politcal problem and corruption issue and never solve their sinking city
Thank you Vox for this interesting news, and explaining the perspective of the outside media, and for comparing the explanations from our domestic media.
Not only Jakarta will sink, but several cities will also sink in the future (due to human factors and natural factors) I hope the local government can plan something better so that the cities don't sink and all will be okay (I'm using google translate, so If there's any sentence or word are wrong tell me... so I can learn more^^ Thank You)
So they're going to make a bird-shaped island that takes 30 years to complete (if ever undertaken), instead of giving them piped water?
So once again it's societys fault
Why are brown people around the world subjugated to lighter-skinned people?
*did you know indonesian engineer can make flying city ?* They are have the blueprint and please, keep its secret don't tell anyone 🙊
The vengeful connection coincidently bolt because swing proportionally correct beside a paltry defense. tired, vast fragrance
Here is one solution make dutch pay for it.
poor indonesia
Kenapa ga ada yg membahas tentang itu di Indonesia?
ada kayak dari CNN Indonesia pernah contohnya atau metro tv, namun pembahasan mendalam jarang sekali ada, sekalinya berita banjir yaa seputar banjir itu, jadi pengetahuan warga hanya berputar disitu saja tidak mendalam tidak meluas
Sebagian video ini ada di pelajaran sejarah waktu sekolah felipe sebenarnya tentang jakarta akan tengelam ataupun pulau yang hilang dan muncul kembali pernah viral beberapa tau yang lalu. Bukanya gak di bahasa tapi karna sudah pernah di bahas beberapa tahun yang lalu. Dan tidak di beritakan lagi jadi sebagian orang tidak tau.
Mungkin butanya media Indonesia yang hanya melihat berita terviral, bukan terpenting
Ada kok banyak, tapi Orang² lebih tertarik sama berita hiburan, hadeuh..
Krn ga ada yg mau nonton jg. Banyak kok di USfilm. Cari aja dan liat aja sendiri. Views nya cmn secuil dibanding acara gossip ato video viral.
They could also start tearing out concrete and create lots of parks that double as rainwater basins that will allow the aquifer to refill as they lay pipes. Instead of seawall why aren't they just building a water treatment and delivery system?
When Jakarta became independent from the Dutch and started their extreme growth, why wasn't the city planned or piped as it grew? That doesn't make sense to me.
Jakarta sinking bec lot of greedy ppl!
For someone who already lives in jakarta this bonechilling😨😨😨
Have to start seeking new sources of water first (like water treatment plants) and then de-commissioned the use of piped water afterward. Find meaning to channel rainwater back to underground. No use building walls if you didnt solve the root cause of the issue in the very first place in which that bird plan is seriously just draining money into the sea lol.
Indonesia need dutch
build the city underwater problem solved.
Saatnya siapin perahu . Pemerintah mencoba buta
Most population in Kota Bharu Kelantan in Malaysia also rely on ground water. ..... pls help from the federal govt....
These people are so so strong for dealing with this for decades.
Foreign media: inform youe country about it sinking and try to fix it Indonesian goverment: ayo this city is sinking let's just mobe to Kalimantan
It's also difficult if we become the government there, but not the ones who like corruption
Dutch government deleting comments again
Why does it feel like history repeating? When other countries were developing before, didn’t they also face this challenge?
Not a strong argument that the Dutch colonists (ignoble as they were) are to blame for the past 70 years of Indonesian mismanagement of the problem...
Yeah I don't understand that either. I understand they founded the city, but they haven't run it since the 40s and it wasn't until then that the massive growth started.
yang ngomong baru vox internasional nayangin materi ini, fix jarang baca berita/ nonton tv berita.
Guys I have a solution for this! If the problem is Jakarta sinking on its weight then when it's already under the water there will be no problem anymore cuz people would decentralize on its own, many people might died in the process.
It is just an old problem that keep happening. See?? We still can lived here.. While the politician still wasting time, we still see this problem as something on far horizon..
They tried to say it was sea rising .but sat data put payed to that ,sea levels our not rising ,there's been record ice gain this winter
Salute from indonesia neighbour , Malaysia
Netflix original: "Jakarta Sinks 2050"
The atlantic metro city
Free west papua! Give back the freedom
So Allah is becoming Islamophobic
If you have ever visited Jakarta, you would also notice that it's drainage has been pretty awful. So no clean freshwater coming in, and no way for the sewage to go out. And it's the fault of rapid population growth.