Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign launched<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): A group of young people had a picnic at
\nthe Bogor Botanical Gardens. They ate, drank, chatted and
\nlittered. Boxes, plastics, cans and the leftover food were
\nscattered on the ground.<\/p>\n
Trash worms soon came and joined them. They sang, danced and
\nencouraged the youths to litter more. But this did not last long
\nbecause Mr. Clean and his friends came to drive the worms away
\nand tell the young people to put the waste into the trash bins.<\/p>\n
The Trash Worm, or Ulat Sampah and Mr. Clean, or Pak Bersih,
\nare two characters exclusively created for the Botanical Gardens
\nClean Campaign. They were first used to performed at the garden's
\n179th anniversary on May 18, which was also the launching of the
\ncampaign.<\/p>\n
The Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign is initiated by the Bogor
\nRotary Club and is supported by the Friends of the Botanical
\nGardens.<\/p>\n
A cassette containing the theme song Tong Sampah (Rubbish Bin)
\nin various arrangements, from rock 'n' roll to Sundanese, by
\nHenny Poerwonegoro and children of the Bina Vokalia choir was
\nreleased to mark the campaign.<\/p>\n
About 1.5 million people visit the 87-hectare Bogor Botanical
\nGardens every year. Sadly many of them are not aware of the
\nenvironment. They throw away plastics, boxes and cans anywhere,
\ncausing a headache for the gardens' management.<\/p>\n
The campaign aims at educating visitors through entertainment.<\/p>\n
"We want to educate the public through fun, not punishment,"
\nthe botanical gardens' director, Suhirman, said.<\/p>\n
He told The Jakarta Post that punishment will be the last
\nresort to improve people's concern about the environment.<\/p>\n
According to the regulation, litterers can be fined between Rp
\n5,000 (US$2.13) and Rp 50,000.<\/p>\n
Henny, an entertainer who also sings children's songs,
\nbelieves that people should learn about the environment at an
\nearly age. She strongly supports education about the environment
\nfor children through entertainment because she believes that
\nentertainment is an effective way to teach children.<\/p>\n
"But entertainment alone is not enough. There is no use
\nplaying the songs every day if parents do not give them a good
\nexample," she said.<\/p>\n
New waste bins are being installed in the garden as part of
\nthe campaign. A total of 140 bins will be installed within the
\ncampaign year. Special transient trash bags that resemble the
\nairsick bags on airplanes are also designed for distribution
\namong visitors. Approximately 100,000 bags per month will be
\ndistributed.<\/p>\n
The Trash Worms and Mr. Clean will be in the garden to mix
\nwith visitors on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.<\/p>\n
Anyone who wants to help the Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign
\ncan contact the Rotary Club secretariat, Jl. Raya Pajajaran No.
\n23, Bogor 16151, phone (0251) 340-889, or Friends of the
\nIndonesian Botanical Gardens, Jl. Juanda 13, Bogor 16003, phone
\n(0251) 333-462 or 342-749. (sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/botanical-gardens-clean-campaign-launched-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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