Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign launched
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)