Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign launched

BOGOR, West Java (JP): A group of young people had a picnic at the Bogor Botanical Gardens. They ate, drank, chatted and littered. Boxes, plastics, cans and the leftover food were scattered on the ground.

Trash worms soon came and joined them. They sang, danced and encouraged the youths to litter more. But this did not last long because Mr. Clean and his friends came to drive the worms away and tell the young people to put the waste into the trash bins.

The Trash Worm, or Ulat Sampah and Mr. Clean, or Pak Bersih, are two characters exclusively created for the Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign. They were first used to performed at the garden's 179th anniversary on May 18, which was also the launching of the campaign.

The Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign is initiated by the Bogor Rotary Club and is supported by the Friends of the Botanical Gardens.

A cassette containing the theme song Tong Sampah (Rubbish Bin) in various arrangements, from rock 'n' roll to Sundanese, by Henny Poerwonegoro and children of the Bina Vokalia choir was released to mark the campaign.

About 1.5 million people visit the 87-hectare Bogor Botanical Gardens every year. Sadly many of them are not aware of the environment. They throw away plastics, boxes and cans anywhere, causing a headache for the gardens' management.

The campaign aims at educating visitors through entertainment.

"We want to educate the public through fun, not punishment," the botanical gardens' director, Suhirman, said.

He told The Jakarta Post that punishment will be the last resort to improve people's concern about the environment.

According to the regulation, litterers can be fined between Rp 5,000 (US$2.13) and Rp 50,000.

Henny, an entertainer who also sings children's songs, believes that people should learn about the environment at an early age. She strongly supports education about the environment for children through entertainment because she believes that entertainment is an effective way to teach children.

"But entertainment alone is not enough. There is no use playing the songs every day if parents do not give them a good example," she said.

New waste bins are being installed in the garden as part of the campaign. A total of 140 bins will be installed within the campaign year. Special transient trash bags that resemble the airsick bags on airplanes are also designed for distribution among visitors. Approximately 100,000 bags per month will be distributed.

The Trash Worms and Mr. Clean will be in the garden to mix with visitors on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Anyone who wants to help the Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign can contact the Rotary Club secretariat, Jl. Raya Pajajaran No. 23, Bogor 16151, phone (0251) 340-889, or Friends of the Indonesian Botanical Gardens, Jl. Juanda 13, Bogor 16003, phone (0251) 333-462 or 342-749. (sim)