By: Natalia Trita Agnika

Since 2015, the Earth Hour Aceh movement has invited the public, especially the people of Aceh, to care about the fate of the endangered Sumatran Elephant. Aceh is one of the provinces that has a population of Sumatran elephants. Through the #UseYourPower Help the Sumatran Elephants campaign, EH Aceh carries messages of rescue and concern for the fate of the Sumatran Elephant.

To attract public attention, EH Aceh held the Elephant Fate Parade in March 2015 by traveling around the capital of Aceh Province, Banda Aceh City. The parade was also enlivened by theatrical actions with artists from Art Studio 55. It is planned that a similar parade with greater mass participation will be held again this year. This is due to the increasing number of elephant deaths due to poisoning and ivory harvesting. With this activity, it is hoped that more people will realize and care about the fate of these wild animals. People are also expected to know more about how to deal with elephants that enter residential areas without causing negative impacts. The action to care about the fate of elephants involves collaboration with several parties, including the Banda Aceh City Government, the Aceh Environmental Agency, the Aceh Police, and other communities.

In addition to the parade, EH Aceh also campaigned for elephant conservation in every Earth Hour socialization activity. They also held an audience with the Aceh Police Chief and discussed law enforcement for protected animal killers. Based on information from EH Aceh City Coordinator, Dedy Saputra Jalil, the Aceh Police Chief has committed to punish the perpetrators with the severest punishment.

In every campaign, Earth Hour Aceh uses the power of social media to achieve maximum results. The use of social media to spread positive activities was transmitted to other young people in Aceh through a workshop on social media campaigns. The workshop in collaboration with Greneration Indonesia and the US Embassy was held on February 13-14, 2016 at the Aceh Polytechnic Hall and was attended by hundreds of students, college students, and communities in Banda Aceh.

EH Aceh has used the power of social media for the preservation of wildlife and their habitats. This Earth Hour, turn off the lights and use social media to take action for the good of the planet. INI AKSIKU! WHERE'S YOUR ACTION?