The untreated wastes have polluted land, rivers and air, and those have affected the people`s health.Padang, West Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Environmental Affairs Minister Balthasar Kambuaya launched a provincial-level Clean Up Indonesia Movement here on Sunday, coinciding with the Earth Day, which is observed on April 22.
The Clean Up Indonesia Movement is aimed at encouraging the people to help protect the environment through various concrete actions, the minister said.
Padang is the 15th city that has joined the movement since it was declared by Vice President Boediono in December 2012, he stated.
The Clean Up Indonesia Movement (GIB) is an implementation of the Law No. 18/2008 and the government regulation No. 81/2012 on waste treatment and sanitation, he added.
Most developing countries could only treat 40 to 50 percent of their total wastes, and the rest was not well managed, he said.
The untreated wastes have polluted land, rivers and air, and those have affected the people`s health, he said.
On the occasion, Minister Kambuaya welcomed the Bike To Work event, which was organized to commemorate the birthday of Indonesia`s heroine Kartini.
Among those present on the occasion were West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno and Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar.
Earlier in April, Minister Kambuaya launched Clean Up Indonesian Movement in Central Sulawesi.
The Clean Indonesian Movement was officially launched nation-wide in December 2012 and supported by 15 ministers.
The 15 ministers who had signed the MOU on the movement, were the coordinating minister for people`s welfare, the home affairs minister, the transportation minister, the public works minister, the education minister, the trade minister, the industry minister, the forestry minister, the environmental affairs minister, the religious affairs minister, the Indonesian Defense Forces` chief, and the National Police`s chief.
One of the movement`s focuses is waste treatment management. The ministry has targeted to develop at least 25 trash banks in each of 250 cities across Indonesia by 2014.
Clean Up Indonesia Movement is part of Clean Up the World, which is a community based environmental campaign that inspires and empowers communities from every corner of the globe to clean up, fix up and conserve their environment. ***4***
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(T.SYS/A/F001/F001) 21-04-2013 13:00:42
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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