Jamboree causes environmental damage<\/p>\n
PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Environmental activists,
\ngrouped in the Dynamic Forum for Nature Lovers (Fordik), blamed
\nthe National Scout Jamboree 2001 on Friday for causing major
\nenvironmental damages to the 14-hectare Baturraden tourist
\nresort.<\/p>\n
The group, in its statement, also urged the committee of the
\nNational Scout Jamboree 2001 to immediately restore the condition
\nof the resort, which was used as the camping ground during the
\nten-day gathering.<\/p>\n
\"We demand that the National Jamboree committee take
\nresponsibility for the environmental damage and demand that they
\nimmediately take action to rehabilitate the environment here,\"
\nthe group said in its statement made available to The Jakarta
\nPost.<\/p>\n
The group consisted of university nature groups in Purwokerto
\nand other environmental non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
In its statement, Fordik said that many trees had been felled
\nto clear the ground for the scouts to erect their tents.<\/p>\n
The group estimated that each jamboree participant created
\nthree liters of garbage daily, and with the total number of
\nparticipants being 10,700, at least 288,900 liters or 288.9 cubic
\nmeters of garbage had been generated during the nine-day
\njamboree.<\/p>\n
\"The amount of garbage created was not countered by an
\nequivalent number of garbage bins as the jamboree committee only
\nprovided 33 garbage containers, with each can being able to hold
\none cubic meter of garbage,\" Fordik said.<\/p>\n
The group also regretted the sanitation arrangements which
\nthey claimed were \"unable to hold the amount of human feces
\nproduced by the jamboree participants.\"<\/p>\n
The jamboree committee had excavated a total of 400 two-meter-
\ndeep septic tanks at the camping ground, with the interior of
\neach being plastered.<\/p>\n
It was estimated that around 47,376 kilograms of human feces
\nwere produced everyday, an amount that could not be easily
\nabsorbed by the soil due to the thick concrete used in the
\nconstruction of the septic tanks.<\/p>\n
\"We are afraid the septic tanks will overflow and the
\nunabsorbed feces will pollute watercourses,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The jamboree was officially closed on Wednesday by Vice
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri and two days after the closing
\nceremony, rubbish and the remains of tents are still to be seen
\nlittering the campsite.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment, the chairman of the committee's general
\naffairs section, Bambang Priyono, said the committee would take
\nfull responsibility for the negative environmental impacts of the
\nnational scout gathering.<\/p>\n
\"To restore the environment is our top priority. We have
\nscheduled cleaning and rehabilitation activities for the next
\nthree months,\" Bambang told the Post.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile after the jamboree was closed, dozens of prostitutes
\nwere seen resuming their activities in the tourist resort. During
\nthe 10-day national gathering, they were driven out of the resort
\nby security personnel.<\/p>\n
\"Not all of us have returned here. Maybe there's around 20 of
\nus,\" one of the prostitutes said.<\/p>\n
A broker said that,\"The pimps will hold a meeting on Saturday
\nat Pring Sewu restaurant to discuss the business prospects.\"
\n(45\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jamboree-causes-environmental-damage-1447893297",
"image": ""
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