By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda
Jakarta (11/01)-Three WWF-Indonesia supporters, the winners of essay competition on “saving the forest,” Sunday (09/01), attended “Business for Environment (B4E) Forest Dialogue,” in Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta. At the gala dinner which was associated with the event, Former US Vice President (VP) and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Al Gore shared his vision for the role of forests in a sustainable future.
The essay competition was previously conducted in the late December 2010 by WWF-Indonesia Membership Division for all the WWF supporters across the region. Three supporters who were lucky to win the ticket for B4 Forest Dialogue and witness Al Gore deliver his exclusive keynote address were Julia Ahadiah, Suzan Oktaria, and Septi Suwandia.
“I heard about the danger of climate change years ago as well as read a lot about the reaction of skeptical people who doubt the threat of climate catastrophe. However, what Al Gore said in his speech was very interesting; what if they were right, and what if they were wrong, what will happen with our future generation, our children, our grand children?Despite of the tough debate, I believe that we have started to feel the global warming. Many of our neighbours on earth suffered due to the climate disaster,” Septi said.

Saving the mother earth needs an active participation from all earth citizens, he continued. Not only for the business actors, the government, or NGOs, but also all people, have to hold hands and strengthen commitment as well as employ the “go green” philosophy.
“We enherit this earth from our ancient and we will also bequeath it for our next generation. We actually were entrusted to pass on the relay race stick to the next generation. We don’t have rights to exploit the earth’s assets as well as destroy them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Susan expected that the dialogue which was also attended by business leaders, the governments, and conservationists will strengthen the joint commitment to carry real action in saving the forest.

“After hearing the Al Gore speech, I expect that we will be able to maximize the joint effort in saving the valuable heritage; our forest. One tree planted isn’t equally valued as one felled tree,” she emphasized.Other gala dinner winner, Yulia, mentioned the importance of the society element to do real actions in accordance to their roles and responsibilities in their social life.

“As a housewife, I try to build up environmental awareness in the family by implementing eco-friendly domestic regulation. For instance, reduce the paper use and other paper-based stuff, as well as encourage all family members to plant trees in our garden. Many simple things that we can do now. Sometimes we just don’t realize they give quite significant contribution for the environment,” she said.