PANDA MOBILE AND HSBC VOLUNTEERS LEARN WITH RPTRA ANGGREK BINTARO
Water has an important function for human health. Therefore, people need to drink about two liters of water per day to meet the body's hydration needs. However, the water consumed should not be arbitrary, and it must be ensured to be hygienic. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that water quality is as important as the quantity of drinking water. Thus, there is a need to educate the public about clean water.
The first thing that people need to understand is the current condition of clean water sources in the world. In 2014, WWF International released the Living Planet Report (LPR), which shows that the Living Planet Index (LPI) for freshwater is getting worse year by year. The LPI decreased significantly by 76% from 1970 to 2010. As a result, a record 5 million people die from waterborne diseases every year.
Still based on the report, water deficits also occur on a number of islands in Indonesia, ranging from Java, Sulawesi, Bali, to Nusa Tenggara. Meanwhile, Sumatra Island still has a surplus of fresh water. However, the existence of these water sources is threatened by pollution due to environmentally unfriendly activities such as mining, industrial waste disposal, and household waste.
In addition to reports open to the public, WWF also feels the need to go to the community to deliver an explanation of the importance of clean water. So, on Saturday (02/03), HSBC volunteers and WWF-Indonesia's Panda Mobile team visited Anggrek Integrated Child-Friendly Public Space (RPTRA) located in Bintaro. The activity began with an explanation from the Panda Mobile team about the importance of rivers for human, animal and plant life. "However, the development of development around the forest, as well as the utilization of forests into plantations has caused the ecosystem to be disrupted so that water quality decreases and pollution occurs," said Dwi, Engagement Activation Team WWF-Indonesia.
Then, participants were invited to the water laboratory post to have a real picture of the condition of river water around the RPTRA. "We see that this water is full of bacteria, therefore we should not consume it," said Gian, a Panda Mobile volunteer. However, even without water laboratory equipment, we can recognize water quality in an easier way. "There are three ways that we can know that the water around the environment is suitable for consumption, namely no smell, no taste, and no color," added Guruh, HSBC volunteer.
Messages about the importance of preserving water were also delivered through a movie-watching session. Adults and children listened to the movie shown by the Panda Mobile team. "Sis, why do we have to protect water?" asked Abdul, a 6th grade student. HSBC Volunteer Adit answered the question with a brief explanation that water on Earth does not increase or decrease, only its quality changes. If water quality deteriorates, humans will find it difficult to find a source of drinking water.
The RPTRA manager welcomed the educational activities about clean water from WWF-Indonesia. "Because it can spread very important information about the environment, especially clean water. I hope that parents and children who visit can take away the message conveyed, so that we can preserve the Earth," said Mrs. Sari, the manager of the RPTRA.