The serious threat of global warming has prompted the Indonesian Institute for Forest and Environment (RMI), in cooperation with Bogor municipal administration and the Korea International Cooperation Agency, to work with students in organizing a Climate Change awareness program in Bogor.
"Through the program, we hope to raise the younger generation's awareness on environmental destruction, which is causing climate change in the long run," RMI director for environmental education and gender equality Ratnasari told, The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Many students from elementary and high schools as well as NGOs attended the program, which was held to mark International Environment Day.
Ratnasari said the program was also aimed at reminding the government on the continuous impacts of global warming.
"Environmental education should start at an early age to help raise the awareness of the next generation on the importance of environmental conservation," she added.
During the program, students showed their skills in drama, music and painting, while visitors were given free seeds of Bintaro (Indian suicide), Merbau, Chinaberry and Acacia trees.
A student from SMPN 1 Cigombong junior high school, Ria Pebrianti, told the visitors a story entitled Talaga Warna (The Lake of Color), in the Sundanese language. The story details the curse put upon an arrogant princess of the Kutatanggeuhan Kingdom in Puncak, West Java. The lake still exists today at Puncak, which has become a holiday getaway for Jakartans.
Ria said that she chose the story to remind the people of the need for clean water, especially with the declining quality and quantity of ground water.
Joshua Alfred of BPK Penabur Bogor elementary school expressed his concerns about global warming through his painting, which won the competition.
"I read books about global warming," he said explaining his inspiration.
RMI environmental education and gender equality staff member Anggia Ananda Miranti said by distributing the seeds the organization hoped the public could participate in helping replanting trees in their backyards in a bid to minimize the decline in the availability of ground water in Bogor.
The event will be followed with the cleaning of the Ciliwung river - flowing from Bogor to Jakarta Bay - on Sunday. The clean-up activity will take place in Bogor, Tanjung Barat, South jakarta, Condet, Kalibata and Bukit Duri.
The event is organized jointly by non-governmental organizations including Ciliwung Merdeka, Ciliwung Condet, Jakarta Green Monster and Terangi. (nia)
