Environmentalists receive prestigious Kalpataru awards<\/p>\n
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri presented on Wednesday
\nprestigious Kalpataru environmental awards to distinguished
\npersons and organizations for their immense contributions to the
\npreservation of the environment.<\/p>\n
In a modest ceremony at the Wiswa Sabha building at the Bali
\ngubernatorial offices in Denpasar on Wednesday, the President
\nthanked the Kalpataru winners for their services.<\/p>\n
\"I sincerely congratulate you on your great achievements.
\nHopefully, the awards will motivate you to work harder and to
\nencourage other people and institutions to follow in your steps,\"
\nMegawati said.<\/p>\n
The annual Kalpataru award presentation coincided with the
\nWorld Environment Day, which falls on June 5.<\/p>\n
Kalpataru awards were presented to Kuat Sudarta (North
\nSumatera), H. Arfan (West Nusa Tenggara), and Herry Rompas (North
\nSulawesi), in recognition of their work as the pioneers in saving
\nthe environment.<\/p>\n
Endang Maryatun (Yogyakarta), Mada Hendrikus (East Nusa
\nTenggara), and Agung Sugiarta (North Sumatera), received
\nKalpataru awards for their work as environmental proponents.<\/p>\n
In the \"savior of the environment\" category, the Kalpatarus
\nwent to the Kali Jambe Natural Resources Conservation Group (East
\nJava), and the indigenous people of Kutasari hamlet,
\nKarangpaningal (West Java). The Kalpatarus in the \"promoters of
\nthe environment\" went to Ngangkat Tarigan (North Sumatera), and
\nto Central Java's Charles Saerang, the CEO of the country's
\nleading producer of traditional herbal drinks, PT Jamu Nyonya
\nMeneer.<\/p>\n
State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim said in his
\nspeech that environmental protection needed political power and
\nsupport.<\/p>\n
\"Environmental conditions in this country keep deteriorating
\nbecause people or organizations who are committed to saving the
\nenvironment do not have such power and support,\" Nabiel said.<\/p>\n
He outlined four important points that must be implemented in
\norder to protect the environment.<\/p>\n
\"First, we must win the support of those with real political
\npower. Second, we must be able to increase people's awareness and
\nsecure their involvement and participation in environmental
\nconservation programs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nabiel also stressed the need to establish a governance system
\nand to arouse environmental awareness at the local government
\nlevel. The system would empower the local authorities to enforce
\nclean governance and to implement more environmentally friendly
\npolicies.<\/p>\n
To date, around 59 cities and regencies have joined the
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Every year, the central government also presents the Adipraja
\nawards to local administrations that successfully implement the
\nBangun Praja program, which is aimed at increasing capacity-
\nbuilding.<\/p>",
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