By: Natalia Trita Agnika

"Palangkaraya Darkened by Smoke". That was the headline of one of the national print media when reporting on the impact of the haze in 2015. Land and forest fires in Central Kalimantan last year resulted in disrupted flight activities, limited visibility, and health problems.

Earth Hour Palangkaraya as a community that cares about the environment did not remain silent. They immediately took a series of actions related to the haze. The first thing they did was to campaign and disseminate information through social media about haze, including the causes of fires, the dangers of haze, countermeasure activities carried out by many parties (local government and volunteers), and preventive actions that can be taken by the community to deal with haze. Through Facebook, the information they conveyed received a response from the people of Palangkaraya and Central Kalimantan.

Not stopping at social media, EH Palangkaraya also took direct action by raising donations. The funds collected were used to provide free health services (examination and free medicine), milk and children's vitamin distribution to community members and volunteer firefighters who are vulnerable to the effects of haze. The #bantukorbanasap health care action was carried out after previously coordinating with the Palangkaraya City Health Office.

Utilizing the power of social media, broadcast messages, and proposals, EH Palangkaraya was able to conduct 30 actions in one city, Palangkaraya, and six districts (Kapuas Regency, West Kotawaringin Regency, East Kotawaringin Regency, Katingan Regency, and Pulang Pisau Regency). A total of 25 free health services have served 2,294 patients. EH Palangkaraya also distributed 5,934 N95 masks and surgical masks, 3,301 bottles of children's vitamins, 200 cans of pure oxygen, 1,240 food packages, and 6,074 glasses of milk.

The real action was successfully carried out because of collaboration with many parties, one of which was with WWF-Indonesia Central Kalimantan office which provided transportation support so that all funds could be maximized for the purchase of medicines, milk, and vitamins. Assistance came from various parties, both from Central Kalimantan and outside Central Kalimantan. In addition to funds and goods, assistance also came in the form of volunteer doctors and support from medical personnel and pharmacists. The execution in the field was assisted by the head of the neighborhood, community leaders, police, and village officials. EH Palangkaraya's action received the Bakti Kami Indonesia award in 2015 for the category of environmental care community given by BRI and Kopi Jos Palangkaraya.

Other EH communities in the Kalimantan region are also not idle. EH Balikpapan, for example, took part in distributing masks on the road for motorists, especially children and parents. In collaboration with Indonesia Bebas Asap (Smoke-Free Indonesia), they raised funds from the Balikpapan community for smoke victims in several places that were severely affected and the air quality was already very dangerous.

In addition to the haze issue, Earth Hour Balikpapan community also cares about the watershed in their area. The watershed in question is the Manggar watershed. In the past, many immigrants who lived there opened fish ponds by cutting down the mangrove trees there. Over time, the ponds were no longer productive and were abandoned. With a passion for the environment, EH Balikpapan took action to change for the better. Since the end of 2014, EH Balikpapan has been organizing Satria Mangrove Action by using an adoption system in mangrove planting known as #AdopsiMangroveBPN. Each person who wishes to participate in the planting, donates IDR 10,000 for each mangrove seedling that will be planted. Adopters will receive 1 mangrove seedling and a 3-month monitoring report in the form of photos of what has been planted. This program is in collaboration with POKMASWAS (Community Supervisory Group) of Manggar Watershed Mangrove Forest as a facilitator. Empty pond areas were reforested with mangrove adoption. Now, people around the Manggar watershed have begun to realize to protect the environment around the watershed by protecting the existing mangrove trees.

The Earth Hour movement has become public property. We too can take action like the Kalimantan Regional EH who have taken action to provide light for the environment. This is MY ACTION, where is YOUR ACTION?