Global Warming, Air Pollution & Reducing Carbon Footprint

Situbondo- This day began with our formal introduction in the main school’s hall, where all teachers from local institutions were present. It does not really occur often that there are overseas students presenting environmental issues at a local school, therefore all attention paid to us was enormous. My feelings were a little bit anxious, thrilling but concurrently vastly pleasing making me very responsible to devote all my efforts to deliver the best result possible. After this introductory phase, our all team moved to an administration room to get last preparations for today’s presentation done.

Today’s topics were a little bit more focused on environmental issues. I presented “Aspects and Causes of Global Warming, Air Pollution and How to Reduce Carbon Footprints”, whereas Wenjun presented “How to Save Energy Effectively”. These topics obtain a great deal of attention worldwide and cause hot discussion on a public as well as corporate level.

My presentation was going well and according to my schedule with effective involvement of students and their curious questions. However, there are certain differences one has to be aware of when explaining some basic differences how to save energy. For instance, talking about microwave is pointless, as the use of microwaves is not wide and hence comparison of an energy consumption between an oven and microwave does not have to meet success.

Another relevant example is the use of bicycles as opposed to other vehicles. When I suggested bicycles to be used for short distances, as it is usual across entire Europe or Australia, these Indonesian students started laughing as they find it embarrassing and hence not feasible to occur.

My presentation was concluded with a discussion session where I asked about the majority of points mentioned throughout my presentation; to my pleasure students were able to remember all what has been said and showed their eager to answer and judge what is good or bad regarding our environment from different perspectives.

When both presentations were over, we moved onto another significant assignment to accomplish. Local media came over to observe how me and Wenjun dug up a one meter deep hole in the schools canalization drains on behalf of Tunas Hijau. When this hole had been dug up by me and Wenjun, students actively put leaves into this hole, these leaves will be gradually transformed into compost. This hole full of pressed leaves also lets rainwater to be sunk in faster. This deed represents an important move towards the future use of compost, rainwater, but more importantly will increase students’ awareness of these environmental matters.

A compulsory lunch break followed this remarkable deed and afterwards our all team moved again to an administration room to get final preparations for the following day done.