Conservation fails without civic role<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists warned on Saturday that the
\nhigh-profile state-sponsored conservation drive will fail unless
\nit involves the public.<\/p>\n
Emil Salim and Andi Hakim Nasution said in a seminar that the
\npublic should take the initiative in promoting conservation and
\nnot depend on the government.<\/p>\n
Both were featured speakers at a seminar on natural and
\nenvironmental conservation activities held by the local branch of
\nthe World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in commemoration of the
\nworld's 25th Earth Day.<\/p>\n
Emil Salim, a former state minister of environment and well-
\nknown for his close relations with local non-governmental
\norganizations, called for greater public support in conservation
\nefforts.<\/p>\n
Environmentalists should link up with organizations,
\nconsumers, religious leaders, planners and local governments, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The major threat of environmental conservation is the high
\npopulation growth rate, he said, adding that if Indonesia's
\npopulation growth continues at the current rate, the population
\nwill reach 300 million by the year 2050.<\/p>\n
\"Higher population means more consumption, which adds to the
\npressure on natural resources,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Environmental conservation, he said, is becoming a major issue
\nin the building of civil societies everywhere in the world.<\/p>\n
\"Environmental efforts will succeed only if planning and
\nimplementation involve the people,\" Emil insisted.<\/p>\n
Andi Hakim Nasution, former rector of Bogor Institute of
\nAgriculture, said Indonesian parents should instill in their
\nchildren habits that promote cleanliness and ones that lead to a
\nbetter awareness of conservation.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that few Indonesian parents instill the habits
\nof \"living clean and healthy\".<\/p>\n
The drive for cleanliness and health will remain empty slogans
\nunless people practice it in daily life, he added. \"Posters hung
\non the streets encouraging people to promote sanitary behavior
\nwill only obstruct traffic signs and become a nuisance if people
\njust ignore it.\"<\/p>\n
He urges educational institutions from the elementary to
\nuniversity levels to actively participate in the cleanliness
\ndrive. Rich people should also promote environmental
\nconservation, he said.<\/p>\n
A representative from WWF Indonesia, Russell H. Betts, said
\nthe purpose of the meeting was to look for alternatives and to
\ncombine forces to create a future where humans can live
\nharmoniously with nature.<\/p>\n
Earth Day is a massive global movement focusing on global
\nsolidarity with the earth. \"Earth Day is the people's voice in
\nthe name of the motherland to whom we and the next generation
\ndepend on, either for the wealth or continuity of our life,\"
\nBetts said. \"There is only one earth -- our home, our
\nresponsibility.\" (29)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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