While we concern about the future of this earth, we should be grateful to all environmental activists out there. With their contribution as well as their strong determination in preserving nature, our earth can be healed little by little. As did these 6 environmental activists from Indonesia who are not only making a concrete contribution but also inspired many people to participate in maintaining the balance of our ecosystem.
1. Nadine Chandrawinata
Known by the Indonesian public as Putri Indonesia in 2005, Nadine Chandrawinata and her love for the environment are inseparable to this day. Born on May 8, 1984, she also admitted that his interest in environmental issues had emerged since he was young. Then, after entering the entertainment world, his desire to contribute directly to environmental preservation grew even greater.
Until finally in 2015, she who prefers to be called an environmentalist founded Sea Soldier together with her colleagues. The non-governmental organization focuses on environmental and marine issues that have spread across 15 regions of Indonesia. Some of Sea Soldier’s programs include cleaning the beach, reducing the use of plastic straws, and stopping the traveling dolphin circus. Currently, Sea Soldier already has more than 3,000 members who come from various professions in Indonesia.
2. Nicholas Saputra
The actor who was born on February 24, 1984, is increasingly active in various environmental conservation activities. In contact with his love for natural adventure, Nicholas Saputra often voices what contributions we can make to overcome environmental problems in this country. One of them is through a documentary movie Semesta (2019) which he produced. A film that records the ways in which seven environmental figures from seven different regions in Indonesia always maintain the balance of nature with the local people.
This home gardening enthusiast also participated in the “Langkah Hijau” campaign that invites people to plant trees to improve the sustainability of Indonesia’s forests. Nicho also had time to show his concern for plastic waste in the Indonesian seas through his photography works. Together with the slow fashion brand, Sejauh Mata Memandang, he exhibited those works and at the same time invited the public to stop throwing garbage in the sea.
3. Nadya Hutagalung
This Indonesian-Australian public figure is active as an environmentalist in the UN Environment Program (UNEP). Nadya acts as one of the Goodwill Ambassadors who together with UNEP undergo various environmental conservation programs. Starting from efforts to reduce air pollution, overcome the problem of plastic in the sea, to education about agricultural biodiversity.
Through her Instagram account nadyahutagalung, the mother of three also often voices the importance of ecosystem balance. Also, she invites the community to start doing a sustainable lifestyle through several seminars and events about the environment.
4. Hamish Daud
Concerned about the condition of plastic waste, Hamish Daud decided to make a concrete contribution in handling it. The 41-year-old actor founded the Indonesia Ocean Pride Foundation which focuses on handling plastic waste in the ocean. Various programs have been carried out by Hamish and the foundation, including the plastic waste recycling program, education about microplastics, education about sustainable lifestyles, to collaborating with the United Nations through various campaigns on waste and marine conservation.
In addition to focusing on plastic waste in the sea, the Indonesia Ocean Pride Foundation also pays great attention to the ecosystem in the sea. Undergo various efforts to protect marine life from damage or even destruction. This father of one also wants to restore the Indonesian people’s love for the sea, considering that this country is a maritime country.
5. Swietenia Puspa Lestari
Even though she is not a celebrity, Swietenia Puspa Lestari is an inspiring environmentalist and has many positive impacts on environmental sustainability. This Bogor Institute of Technology graduate focuses on tackling plastic waste in the ocean through an organization he founded with his partner, Divers Clean Action (DCA). The organization, which was founded in 2015, initially consisted of only three volunteers whose main activity was picking up trash in the sea. Currently, DCA has grown bigger with more than 1,500 volunteers spread throughout Indonesia.
Not only at DCA, but Swietenia is also active in various environmental conservation activities. Starting from establishing the Indonesian Youth Marine Debris (2017), becoming a representative of Indonesia at the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, to helping the anti-plastic straw movement and successfully convincing 700 restaurants to reduce the use of single-use straws. She even had time to become one of the 100 most influential and inspiring women in the world according to the BBC.
6. Jasmine and Isabel Wijsen
This pair of sisters from Bali is known as climate activists in Indonesia. Since 2013, Melati and Isabel have carried out many campaigns to reduce plastic waste on the island. One of them is the Bye Bye Plastic Bag campaign which is the key to getting rid of plastic bags in Bali. In practice, they had to go on a hunger strike for 1 day in order to meet the governor of Bali at the time, I Made Mangku Pastika. Thanks to this action, Pastika signed a warrant prohibiting the use of styrofoam, plastic bags, and straws in Bali effective 2018.
In 2018, these Indonesian-Dutch blooded sisters were included in the list of the 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018 according to Time magazine. They also briefly spoke at the United Nations World Ocean Day event in New York City, United States in 2017. Melati Wijsen’s contribution to environmental preservation was even shown in the documentary film Bigger than Us (2019), directed by Flore Vasseur and produced by Marion Cotillard.