By: Harris Maulana

Jakarta - WWF Indonesia in collaboration with Blogdetik held a Blogger Talk Environment event at Demang Cafe Sarinah Jl MH Thamrin, Jakarta Sunday, March 16, 2014. The event, which was attended by around 100 bloggers, was interesting by raising environmental issues such as air and water pollution, forest destruction, waste, environmentally friendly lifestyles to the issue of legislative candidates who care about the environment ahead of the April 9, 2014 legislative elections.

Also present at the event were several public figures who are active in campaigning about the environment such as Melanie Subono, musician, women's issues observer and environmental activist; Nugie, musician and singer who applies an environmentally friendly lifestyle by cycling; Davina, a model who is also an animal observer; and Anda Wardhana, a musician who also often creates songs about the environment.

Melanie explained her opinion, she is quite concerned about the condition of the environment in Indonesia. This includes policies made by the government that end up damaging the environment. Melanie advised bloggers if they see these conditions, write in a blog the impact of the policy so that it is read and known by many people so that they can change the policy. Melanie added that to influence people, it must start with one's own behavior and become an example for others.

In line with Melanie, Davina believes that reducing environmental damage can start from oneself with discipline. According to Davina, Jakarta is like a giant garbage can where people can throw garbage as they please. But when people go abroad they can be very disciplined in throwing garbage in its place. So actually discipline can be done, but it must become a habit. An environmentally friendly lifestyle starts with oneself, and is transmitted to others. If done by many people the impact will be felt.

Nugie added, to mobilize people to protect the environment, not only using logic but also with heart and selflessness. According to Nugie, he always cycles everywhere not because he wants to be rewarded with a bicycle lane, but because he is concerned about environmental conditions. At least what he does by cycling reduces one person who uses a car.

Anda Wardhana said that Indonesia's environmental conditions have been damaged. Government policies in exploiting natural resources are expected not only to think about economic benefits. But it should also be able to measure the environmental impact it causes. It could be that the cost of environmental restoration is greater than the benefits of exploitation.

Some bloggers also revealed their activities or actions to reduce environmental impacts. Nuzul, for example, is a blogger who deliberately came from Surabaya. Nuzul and the community of community forest farmers in East Java pay attention to maintaining trees that are hundreds of years old. Another example, Dian Kelana conveyed her action with residents around her house to make waste management independently. Starting from sorting organic and inorganic waste. Processing organic waste into compost. Processing inorganic waste into recycled products. So that it is enough to reduce the production of waste from its neighborhood. Komar, a blogger from Bekasi, together with several friends in his community independently raised funds to help flood victims in Muara Gembong whose houses were flooded.

The Blogger Talk Environment activity lasted for more than three hours, filled with fun games and quizzes about the environment. In this event also launched a blog writing competition that is open to the public with the theme of environmental awareness. Hurry up and register, the competition closes on March 31, 2014. For more information, please read HERE