Saturday (4/11), CWTS UGM in collaboration with Suryakanta Institute and the Circular School Program Partnership (CSPP) held the Rantai Komang Trip (Beach Cleaning & Mangrove Conservation) activity together with a Yogyakarta environmental community, Garduaction (Garbage Care and Education). Held on the coast of Parangkusumo Beach, Yogyakarta, this activity was attended by more than 50 participants from various regions.
The Rantai Komang Trip commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Hindratna as the host of Garduaction. In his remarks, he expressed his gratitude and welcomed all Rantai Komang Trip participants. Mr. Hindratna then elaborated Garduaction's journey in managing waste on the Parangkusumo coast. Currently, Garduaction has produced several items from waste, ranging from lightweight bricks, paving blocks, children's toys, flower pots, to eco-enzymes. He also felt proud and honoured for the visit of the Rantai Komang Trip’s participants.
Afterwards, Mario Aden Bayu, the chief organizer of the 2023 Circular Economy Forum (CEF) explained briefly the technicalities of the Rantai Komang Trip event, including the output of this agenda which will be presented at the International Workshop, the next series of CEF 2023 activities.
Dr. Riza N. Arfani, Head of PSPD UGM, continued his remarks by appreciating Garduaction for warmly welcoming the Rantai Komang Trip participants. Dr. Riza explained that through this event, participants could learn first-hand about waste processing in the coastal area, as well as observe directly the processed waste products in Garduaction. He hopes that the enthusiasm of the participants in participating in this activity will continue in a series of other CEF activities until next December.
Eventually, the supervisor of the Suryakanta Institute and environmental activist, Major General TNI (Ret.) IGK Manila or well known as Opa Manila, stressed that the implementation of the circular economy and the blue economy are ways to protect the environment which is currently in a worrying condition. Humans are the main perpetrators of this condition by destroying the environment. Opa Manila hopes that this event will encourage more people to take part in raising awareness about the environment.
The agenda continued with the formation of several groups who worked collectively to collect rubbish around the coast of Parangkusumo Beach. Simultaneously, participants also had "nyangkruk" or casual dialogue with local residents to find out more about the lives of coastal residents. After completing these two activities, participants then sorted the collected waste based on several categories, which subsequently will be processed by the Garduaction team into valuable items. The agenda then continued with planting sea pandan mangroves in the area around Garduaction.
The activity is closed with a bonfire while enjoying the beach atmosphere at night. In the midst of the warm atmosphere, the participants discussed and reflected on the series of Rantai Komang Trip activities..
