Earth Day celebrations marred by cancelations<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A public dialog on environmental hazards and an
\nantinuclear art exhibition planned in conjunction with an event
\nto celebrate Earth Day were canceled by authorities at the last
\nminute yesterday.<\/p>\n
The activities were scheduled to be part of an event organized
\nby the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) at the Bulungan
\nYouth Center, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Walhi activist Muhammad Anung, who is also a member of the
\nIndonesian Antinuclear Society, said the authorities had said
\nWalhi did not have a permit to hold the two activities.<\/p>\n
\"We told them that it (permit) was on the way from National
\nPolice Headquarters. But they didn't listen. They know that Amien
\n(Rais) comes (to Walhi events) time and again and that a permit
\nis never needed,\" Anung said. Walhi applied for the permit three
\nweeks ago, he added.<\/p>\n
Other planned activities were, however, allowed to go forward.
\nThese included the cutting of a traditional rice cone and a
\ndemonstration on paper recycling.<\/p>\n
A speech by Amien Rais, chairman of the 28 million-strong
\nMoslem Muhammadiyah organization, also went undisrupted despite
\nhis usual vocal remarks.<\/p>\n
The event was held along with other various \"earth
\npurification\" (Ruwatan Bumi) activities in several cities
\nthroughout the country to raise public awareness of the
\nenvironment and encourage creativity in response to the economic
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
Amien focused on many disastrous political consequences facing
\nthe country's environment.<\/p>\n
\"The three concerns of every developing country, including
\nours, are increasing poverty, unemployment and the deteriorating
\nquality of the environment,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
He added that the relationship shared between modern people
\nand the environment \"is not of mutual respect and fondness ...
\nbut of an indifferent man dealing with a prostitute. There is no
\ndignity.\"<\/p>\n
Even today, he said, authorities were stopping them from
\nhaving an open talk on how to make people more aware of the
\nnation's hazards.<\/p>\n
\"One day, all of this will change,\" Amien told an audience of
\n200 people, including students of top high schools located near
\nthe youth center.<\/p>\n
Walhi executive director Emmy Hafild cited that the worst
\nhazards facing the country included air pollution.<\/p>\n
\"Studies released in 1994 reveal that the mortality rate of
\nchildren under five due to air pollution reached 14.4 percent in
\nJakarta, which is 6 percent of Indonesia. It is the nation's
\nsecond environmental hazard killer.\"<\/p>\n
The paper recycling demonstration drew much interest from the
\nstudents, as did a demonstration showing how earthworms were used
\nto make fertilizer from organic waste. Many visitors bought
\nrecycled paper and even the fertilizer for Rp 1,500 per kilogram.<\/p>\n
The Earth Day celebration also featured the cutting of
\ninverted rice cones.<\/p>\n
Wahyu, a Walhi helper, said the cutting of the triangular rice
\ncone carried significant meaning for Javanese people.<\/p>\n
\"The top signifies the peak... God. This time, however, the
\ntop signifies the executive level. One side of the bottom
\nsignifies the legislative, while the other signifies the people,\"
\nWahyu said.<\/p>\n
\"Rice cones are inverted to signify that the nation's people
\nshould be on top and not otherwise.\" (ylt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/earth-day-celebrations-marred-by-cancelations-1447893297",
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