Let the River Flow
Indonesia is home to hundreds of rivers running through the country’s over 16,000 islands. But most of these rivers, especially those in the vicinity of residential or industrial areas, are suffering from pollution from trash and factories. Misman, an environmental activist in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, started the River School (Sekolah Sungai) with his colleagues with the aim of informing locals and changing the old practice of disposing trash in the river. Meanwhile, a community focused on keeping the Jeneberang River and Pampang Canal clean in the Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, started a similar initiative and has trained facilitators from local villages. The community holds monthly clean-ups and has successfully raised awareness about the Jeneberang throughout the regency. In commemoration of World River Day on September 30, Tempo English reports.
September 19, 2017
Learning from a Giant Trash Bin
The Sungai Karang Mumus School is encouraging the community to preserve their river. The local habit of disposing trash in the river is the school's biggest challenge.
Misman is often saddened when he observes the Karang Mumus, a tributary of the Mahakam River that runs 34.7 kilometers in East Kalimantan. The 58-year-old man who lives in Muang village, Tanah Datar Regency, has a profound love for the river, where
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