(After) the plastic (bag) is used, (usually) it is thrown somewhere – (even sometimes) right into the river.Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa called on the public to protect the environment, starting with simple steps, such as reducing the use of plastic products, including Styrofoam as well as plastic bottles, bags, and straws.
"These simple actions have a very large impact for the environment and community," she noted at the Grahadi Building here on Thursday.
Parawansa remarked that the public had become more aware of reducing the use of plastic products, and to this end, some supermarkets were also no longer providing plastic bags for customers and replacing them with cloth bags.
"(After) the plastic (bag) is used, (usually) it is thrown somewhere – (even sometimes) right into the river. Hence, by using cloth bags or other recycled products, the community can help to preserve nature," she remarked.
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The attempt to conserve the environment can also be conducted by implementing a tree planting social movement to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that cause global warming.
"Do not litter. Moreover, (do not) throw it into the river," the governor stated.
Earlier, she received the 2021 Nirwasita Tantra Award from the Environment and Forestry Ministry as she bagged the third place for the best regional head in managing regional environment and forestry.
The Nirwasita Tantra Award is bestowed on regional leaders, who have succeeded in applying green and sustainable policies. The 2021 Nirwasita Tantra award ceremony took place in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 20, 2022).
The 2021 Nirwasita Tantra awardees were divided into three categories of the best regional head, best regional legislative body (DPRD), and best government. Each category was divided into province, large district, medium district, small district, big city, medium city, and small city levels.
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The East Java provincial government won the second place for the best provincial government in preserving nature.
"Hopefully, the award would motivate the community to continue to protect and nurture the environment by doing simple actions," Parawansa stated.
Furthermore, she emphasized that the government of the province would not stop innovating in managing nature and establishing environmental cooperation with various parties.
For over a decade, the regional government had continued to improve the carrying capacity of the environment in the province, she noted.
"The attempt in increasing the carrying capacity of the environment has been made through various collaborations with the central government, district/city governments, business players, universities, communities, non-governmental organizations, as well as other domestic and international stakeholders,” she added.
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Translator: Fiqih Arfani, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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