By Mohammad Amar Ma’ruf, Charge d’affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Tripoli - Libya

No word can be said except Thank to God Almighty, Allah Subhanahu wata’ala, and to all parties concerned that we can sit and work together for giving a contribution in the term of idea and practices for our better environment and empowering peoples.

What are they and Who are they, they are Simple Activities that relate to the contribution of our citizen for social and environmental protection and empowerment with the full participation of agent of development. In this regards, permit me to thank to the Kuliatul Dakwah Islamiyah/Islamic Call College Committee and Students in Tripoli under the Rector of Dr. Mukhar, to the Libyan Social Group such as the Better Group for Tripoli and Africa under the Chairman of Young Generation, Brother Mostapha and Sister Cher Omar Saadi, and to the Association of Libyan Civil Society Organizations, under the Presidency of Dr. Entisar Elgleip, and also to others personalities from Tripoli University, Ar Refak University Dahmani-Tripoli  and other Citizens who have joined and given full cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in doing Virtual Seminar on Empowering Peoples in Producing Economy Products from Plastic and Paper Waste held in Tripoli on 28 October 2019,  23 November 2019 and 25 November 2019.

In this regards, let me also thank the Indonesian Institution such as the Office of Environment Agency of Jakarta Province, the Indonesian Institute of Science, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the University of Indonesia, and the Indonesian Creative Society in Recycling Products from Plastic and Paper Waste.

During the meeting, we shared our best practices, experiences and knowledge regarding how we can Reduce, Reuse Recycling the Plastic and Paper waste to be an economic product. The result of the activities is aiming at giving our social awareness to protect our surrounding from plastic and paper waste and empowering our selves and also families or even societies to explore their inner ability in creating or even inventing new idea and products that useful not only for ourselves but also for our society.

Libya and Indonesia are brotherly countries that its relations exist since the effort of our founding fathers struggle to get independence in the era of colonialism. The history recorded the Asia Africa Conference held in Bandung-Indonesia in 1955 when Libya and Indonesia are one of the declarators. These historical relations will not disappear since our peoples and leaders have a common goal and perspective to make our two peoples and nations implementing their obligation to give a better future for their peoples and nations. At the same time, both leaders and peoples have common characters, namely, they are open and low profile but high respect to local wisdom where ever they are.

As Indonesian diplomat who is just being posted in Libya for 3.5 months, I have been recalled to be always part of positive development in my receiving states. For that reason, I am trying to explore things that may be a problem for my receiving states in term of social and economic affairs. One thing that I had known before I post in Tripoli today is the Tripoli is a land of modesty and a diverse in nature. Frankly speaking, my presence in Tripoli is a second presence when in 1997-2000 I had been posted in Tunisia and covered also for Libya. And, Alhamdulillah during this decade, my government has opened directly our Embassy in Tripoli for one reason, namely to strengthen brotherhood and cooperation. For me, this second presence in Tripoli is my direct chance to get along and share my best experiences and knowledge that my country has, with my Libyan Brothers at all levels. Meanwhile, I also learn from Libya that Indonesia doesn't have to be taken and considered for solving the problem that we have in the country.

In this context, one thing that has attracted my attention is the Tripoli City condition that according to me has the same challenges. The problem of how we keep the City cleaned. If I may compare with my City of Jakarta, both cities have a big issue on Plastic and Paper Waste beside their domestic waste. Jakarta with the population around 11 million peoples and Tripoli with around 1 or 2 miliion peoples.  Jakarta City produces around 8 million tonnage per day and for Tripoli City produces around 1,5 million ton per day. This is a huge waste that should be managed well. It means the management not only the responsibility of the municipality but also the citizen itself.

Seeing these challenges, I am trying to look to my Indonesian brother and sister experiences that I consider having something valuable to be known by other countries communities such as the citizen City of Tripoli. In Indonesia, we have a movement that we call “Bank Sampah” or “Garbage Bank”. As the concept of a conventional bank, this bank also gives some practical solution to the related stakeholders to participate in solving social problems such plastic or paper waste through economic circulation process. In this process, every family who is considerably aware to keep their domestic environment clean, are primarily player and doing significant role by separating the waste material that classified as organic and unorganic to be collected and be given to Bank Sampah. From this Bank, the social mobilisation is managed with empowering program that makes selected waste become value-added products.

 

This awareness is not an easy job since the habit may not yet familiarize with the self-awareness and initiatives plus business and social incentives. That is why is called Waste Bank that peoples to be invited to think that nothing actually formed in vain. Everything in the world has a positive meaning, at least for generating social friendliness and incomes.

This effort has become the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry program and other Regional Municipalities program that are related to other technical activities. That is why this program includes all related stakeholders ranging from the Government, Non-Government, Educational and Research Institution and also Industries and families/personals.

In this context, as the Indonesian Mission in Tripoli, I have updated and shared these activities with the dignitaries in the National Oil Company of Libya, Eng. Mostapha Sanalla, Ministry of Economy and Industry of Libya, HE Dr. Ali Alisawi, in the Ministry of Plan of Libya, HE. Taher El Jehaimi and in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Libya. With those dignitaries, I invite all Government stakeholders hand in hand with the social organizations to protect the environment and empowering peoples.

During the above meetings, I also share and admire attention and movement that being done by local social organizations and volunteer citizen in Tripoli city in keeping their environment clean while they also empower peoples; old and young generation, men and women including children to keep their daily life discipline and awareness about how danger the waste without any attention to manage it well. This gives Embassy injection and support in organizing Indonesian Virtual Seminar on Empowering Peoples by Producing Economic Products from Plastic and Paper Waste in collaboration with the above stakeholders.

The activities seem gives an ample chance for related stakeholders in both countries to deepen their contact and communication, especially for the social organization to build dialogue and communication that very useful as a lesson learned to all countries social element in giving their best attention in order to reduce the problem that now faced not only our by two countries but also by the world. In this regards, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia is happy to participate in the local event in collaboration with Local partners in the related program.   

The Embassy also opens to bridge all related institutions in Libya who are interested in establishing dialogue and communication or even enhance it on the issue of Reuse and Recycling plastic and Paper waste. It is hoped that this activity will contribute to protecting the Libyan main resources and national income that one of them coming from Oil products. As we all are aware that plastic is one of the derivative products from Oil. It means if we ignore to manage well this issue, it will degrade the value-added of the main resources of our beloved countries.  

May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala give us the strength to protect our two countries and peoples and also peoples of the world. Aaameen Ya Robbal Alamin.

 

Disclaimer:  The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Libya Observer