Awareness on Managing Our Garbage

There was an article that I read from a local newspaper, written by the Governor of DKI Jakarta – Fauzi Bowo. It was about ‘Managing Our Garbage’. The Governor urges us to manage our garbage, and stop polluting our environment – the Jakarta gulf, in this case. He pointed out that the Jakarta gulf area has been polluted by garbage, both coming from the thirteen river that ran to the gulf itself or from the ships, cruises or boats that travels around the gulf and dump their garbage there.

Earlier before, one of news television channel in Indonesia – Metro TV, as part of its birthday celebration, held an event to save the environment especially the Jakarta gulf area, an event that the governor had deeply appreciated to build the awareness of the public.

The Jakarta gulf indeed needs the attention. Once the area was lush with mangrove grove, but the pollution presumably took place since 1974, had left the mangrove withered to die causing an abrasion on the beach area which then becomes one of the causes of continual floods in Jakarta to date.

The problem is one thing – our awareness that what we do, indeed affect the environment. Garbage has become a menace, not only in Jakarta, but in almost every part of Indonesia. Many have postulated that the situation is due because the lack of education or economic problems. But I have seen many people, in all level of education and economy, even from the one who are working for the Department of Sanitation itself; they litter and they’re ok with it.

The paradigm should change; the country needs example, and more important than that, a discipline. We, as an individual, are not aware of the consequences of littering because as a community we failed to set an example and be discipline with it. Start from ourselves and let others see so they can follow. NGO (Non-Government Organization) had played their part in spreading the word to the masses. On economical value, not all garbage is useless. Many have tasted the fruit of waste management. Recycling factory is slowly growing and expanding in numbers. In Taiwan, a shoes and clothing line – All Black – had gone international by using waste newspaper as a fabric. Present these examples for all eyes to see, so we may share and build our awareness for a better and cleaner future.