Unspun

The Jakarta Post today carried an Oped article I wrote about Eric Ness, who blogs about his father. They wanted an opinion piece so it was not possible to quote Eric’s answers to a list of questions I sent him.

For those who are interested in knowing more, I’m posting all his answers below. Some of you might also be interested in the fact that Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, under whose watch the Newmont case was brought to court, is having a luncheon discussion with the Jakarta Foreign Correspondent’s Club this Thursday at the Mandarin Oriental. It would be a good time to ask the Minister about the notorious technical Team’s result, which reversed the earlier results of the government team led by the former Environment Minister. Grill him, I say.

Questions to Eric and his answers below:

1.    When and why did you start the blog?

I started working on the blog in November 2005. Initially I only had two goals: to keep friends and family up to date on the trial, and to document the case as it proceeded.

One thing that motivated me to move out beyond what I had intended the site to be was when the New York Time’s Jane Perlez wrote some outrageous articles and I wanted to expose her bias reporting.

2.    Where did the idea come from?

As a programmer for a web development firm in Washington DC, and a computer junkie I was inclined to use the web as a medium for communication. I have also used websites before to keep Dad and family updated on information. As an example see http://www.nessfamily.org and http://www.isabellaness.com which was used when my little 20 month old niece died and dad could not be at the funeral. The web is a very useful tool for a family such as ours with family members and friends dispersed all over the world.

3.    Do you do it alone or have friends helping you?

At the moment it is just me, but my girlfriend helps me proof read some the entries.

4.    What sort of responses have you got so far (no of visitors, most popular postings, analysis of readers if possible, average weekly hits)

Since the beginning of the year we’ve had about 8,000 visitors and roughly 25,000 page views. However, I’ve taken a pretty direct approach in whom I target to visit the site. Essentially, I have a newsletter I send after each blog I post that is comprised of about 350 individuals that both my Dad and I thought might be interested in the site namely – family, friends, reporters and government officials. Of that list I have a conversion rate of anywhere from 30~50 percent every time I post a blog. Another interesting observation in all is to see residual 2nd and 3rd generation traffic interested by this site as well.

My most popular posting are “Educating Bergman” and “The Human Side of the Buyat Bay Case”.

5.    Why no personal information

I had never really considered putting any information about me on the site as it is about my father and the Buyat case. But, as I have been asked a number of times as of late to include some personal biographical information I will be posting it here shortly.

6.    Why no comments allowed?

I haven’t added comments option for two reasons. First, the purpose of my blog is to distribute information. As this is an ongoing legal case I have no intention to try and conduct a parallel trial by blog. Second, as a full time student who works part time I simply don’t have the time manage and respond the many comments I would receive. When I do receive e-mails though, I normally try to take the time to respond fully and carefully.

7.    Any response from Indonesians/Indonesian authorities?

Yes, several Indonesians have responded to this site but to the best of my knowledge not any authorities. I have also received some responses from the Indonesians in mining industry. Some have made comments to the ridiculousness of the case often citing that Minamata disease can not occur from cinnabar.

8.    Any response from environmentalists/conservationists?

Yes, I have received a few comments from environmentalists like Jennifer Marohasy from Australia and I’ve also correspondence with a few academics but nothing to speak of from the activist side.

9.    What learnings have you gleaned from blogging about your father and his case?

Developing this site has really driven home the importance of creating good content. There is an old adage in the web development business: Content is king. That is really why I thought it was important to put up a number of the studies, my Dad’s notes from the trial log, interesting articles I’ve come across and my blog. I’ve also learned that a sending out a newsletter is a good way to periodically drive traffic to the site.

10.    Do you think that your blog just helps you to get rid of frustration or that it really helps influence the outcome of the case?

I wouldn’t call it frustration, although there are times when the case has trying. The website allows me, in my own small way, to feel like I am contributing to the defense of my Dad. I’ve always thought the most important thing to do is just not be idle.

My blog is based on the best factual information I have at my disposal. But, facts have not had much impact on the case thus far so it would be presumptuous to think my blog will affect the outcome of this case one way or the other.

11.    Anything else you’d like to add?

I am actually surprised at the amount of national and international interest the blog has generated.

12. when is decision due for your father/

There have been several delays. But the last time I spoke with Dad he thought  a decision would come by late February or early March.

13 Also, some journalists have e-mailed me asking how is it you know of their e-mail addresses when they have nad no contact with you. They suspect that newmont or its people might have furnished you with these e-mail addresses since they have covered Newmont before.

Essentially the e-mail list I use for the newsletter are a combination of my contacts and contacts from my Dad’s outlook address book, which include members of AMCHAM, the mining association, business associates, press contacts, family members and friends.
So it is completely possible that I’ve had no contact with some of the members of my list but, all the on this distribution list have the opportunity to unsubscribe from the mailing list if they do not wish future contact but so far few have.