By: Sani Firmansyah and Natalia Trita Agnika

Some time ago, Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedan issued a circular to prevent hazing, harassment, and violence during the New Learner Orientation Period (MOPDB). In line with the circular, SMK Negeri 4 Padalarang, Bandung filled the MOPDB by holding a discussion involving several institutions. Bumi Panda WWF-Indonesia was one of the institutions invited to fill the discussion.

The discussion activity with the theme "Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle" was attended by 405 students. They followed the discussion with enthusiasm, especially when WWF-Indonesia's representatives explained easy ways to help protect the environment, ranging from saving water, using public transportation, using tissue and paper wisely, saving electricity, and disposing of garbage in its place. "Loving the environment is a reflection of ourselves. If we already love ourselves, we will feel the need to love the environment," explained Kak Dwi. "If we are wasteful in using tissue and paper, more trees will be cut down so that animals in the forest will lose their habitat," added Kak Sani.

In addition to explaining about environmentally friendly lifestyles, WWF-Indonesia's Bumi Panda team also explained about the Sumatran Tiger, one of the animals that is the object of WWF-Indonesia's conservation work. Currently, the Sumatran Tiger population is less than 400 individuals. One of the causes is the reduction of Sumatran Tiger habitat due to forest conversion into oil palm plantations. Another cause is the rampant poaching and demand for tigers to be used as medicines.

A question arose from one of the students named Hilman, "Sis, how do we want to protect the Sumatran Tiger population?" Bumi Panda explained that with an environmentally friendly lifestyle we can protect the Sumatran Tiger population. One of them is by thinking about various aspects before buying a product. This is in line with the #BeliYangBaik campaign that is being promoted by WWF-Indonesia. As consumers, we are asked to be more critical about the products we buy, whether they come from activities that damage the environment or not.

The discussion with Bumi Panda was positively welcomed by the school. "Of course, the discussion from WWF-Indonesia can open and increase the awareness of new students about the importance of environmental education," said Mr. Erik, Vice Principal of Student Affairs of SMK Negeri 4 Padalarang, Bandung.