Jakarta's face seems always to be part of its governor's dream. At the moment he was first inaugurated as governor on October 6, 1997, Sutiyoso inherited a city with difficulty in breathing. This city of 8 million residents does not have enough lungs to drive away foul air. City woods are shrinking, while slums are forever spreading.

Not surprisingly, Sutiyoso started his governorship by announcing his determination to create a green sphere, m