The Association of Postgraduate Students of the School of Environmental Studies (HIMPASILING UI) and the School of Environmental Studies (SIL) Alumni Association (ILUNI SIL UI) held a joint action which saw its participants collecting litter from the streets and exchanging plastic bags for handbags made of cloth. The joint action was held on 1 July 2022, a car free day, starting from Sarinah, Thamrin, and ending in the Phinisi Sudirman crossing bridge, both packed spots in the middle of Jakarta, on the occassion of the 6th Dies Natalis of the School of Environmental Studies and School of Strategic Global Studies (SKSG).
The Director of the School of Environmental Sciences, Dr. dr. Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo, M.Si., who were among the participants present during the action stated that commitment to put environmental sciences in practice must come from the heart. This joint action, he hopes, could rouse awareness in the fact that all of us only have one planet to live in.
In line with Dr. Soesilo’s statement, Head of HIMPASILING UI, Muhamad Jhanattan, said that this event proves SIL UI’s commitment towards social solidarity and its yearning of a better and a more sustainable environment.
The action, timed to almost coincide with the International Plastic Bag Free Day, held annually on 3 July, carries the theme “Together for One Earth”. The action saw members of HIMPASILING UI collecting litter from the streets and exchanging plastic bags brought by passersby with reusable, and therefore more environmentally-friendly bags made of cloth.
Muhamad Jhanattan provided us an account of the day’s proceedings. “Before we commenced with exchanging plastic bags into cloth handbags, we informed, concisely and in brief, people on the importance of avoiding excessive consumption of plastic bags and to minimalise plastic litter, whose volume keeps increasing each year, in turn leading to polution and degradation of both terrestrial and marine environment.”
Heavy rain, which fell during part of the day, did not deter Dr. Susilo, heads of programmes, and more than 30 volunteers from various backgrounds, ages, and locations from taking part in the tour de force.
The joint action reflected the theme of SIL and SKSG UI’s Dies Natalis: Together We are Strong. It is hoped that with the action, citizens of Jakarta will take joint effort to minimalise plastic waste and therefore minimalise the amount of waste in the city. The collective strength of the people of Jakarta will result in a more sustainable environment, which will in turn bear fruit for its social and economic development.
