A cross-faith moral movement united under Siaga Bumi (Indonesia\nMovement to Save the Earth) met with Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat\nat the Ministry of Environment building in Kuningan, Jakarta, on Friday\n(12\/6). The meeting resulted in a shared understanding regarding the\nimportance of cultural approaches and religious persuasion in facing the\nincreasingly alarming threat of ecological collapse.<\/p>\n
During the audience, the Environment Minister was accompanied by the\nMinistry Secretary, several special staff members, and deputies.\nMeanwhile, the Siaga Bumi delegation was led by its Initiator and\nChairman of the Steering Board, Din Syamsuddin.<\/p>\n
On the occasion, Din Syamsuddin explained that Siaga Bumi was\nestablished in 2015 as a moral movement of religious communities to\nrespond to various environmental problems. According to him, the\nmovement serves as an inclusive collaborative platform bringing together\neight elements of the Indonesian Inter-Religious Council (IRC), from the\nIndonesian Ulema Council and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia to\nthe Bishops\u2019 Conference of Indonesia, other religious organisations, and\nacademics.<\/p>\n
\u2018Siaga Bumi has been active through various concrete programmes, one\nof which is the Eco Worship House movement. This programme focuses on\ngreening the physical environment around places of worship, sustainable\nwater management, and waste management,\u2019 said Din Syamsuddin.<\/p>\n
The presentation received a positive response from Environment\nMinister Jumhur Hidayat. He appreciated Siaga Bumi\u2019s consistency in\nmobilising ecological awareness based on religious values and revealed\nthat the Ministry of Environment is preparing a major agenda titled\n\u2018National Ecological Repentance\u2019.<\/p>\n
This strategic programme encompasses various large-scale concrete\nactions, from reforestation through the planting of two billion trees to\nthe data collection and strict monitoring of industries deemed harmful\nto the environment. The measure is expected to be part of a national\neffort to restore environmental quality while transforming public\nbehaviour towards nature.<\/p>\n
Jumhur assessed that environmental issues have the power to unite\nvarious groups that have previously come from different backgrounds.\nAccording to him, the moral responsibility towards the earth has become\ncommon ground capable of bringing together diverse elements of\nsociety.<\/p>\n
\u2018All diverse parties\u2014across religions, nations, professions, and\nexpertise\u2014can now unite because they share a sense of moral\nresponsibility for environmental issues. We at the Ministry of\nEnvironment feel a strong need for social engineering and religious\npersuasion to influence and simultaneously change public behaviour\ntowards the environment,\u2019 Jumhur Hidayat stated.<\/p>\n
Both the Ministry of Environment and Siaga Bumi agreed that the root\nof the ecological crisis problem lies not solely in technical aspects,\nbut also in public culture and lifestyle. Therefore, behavioural change\nis considered necessary through a continuous cultivation process, both\nthrough responsive short-term actions and in-depth long-term\neducation.<\/p>\n
As a follow-up to the meeting, both parties committed to\nstrengthening cooperation and building tangible synergy in efforts to\nsave and honour the environment in Indonesia. The collaboration between\nthe government and interfaith leaders is expected to broaden the\necological awareness movement while encouraging the birth of a more\nenvironmentally friendly living culture.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/interfaith-alliance-and-environment-ministry-launch-national-ecological-repentance-movement-1781340707", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }