UNGS 1201 REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (GOTONG-ROYONG)
REFLECTIVE JOURNAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (GOTONG-ROYONG)
NAME: AFIFAH NAJIHAH BINTI ZAMRI
MATRIC NO: 2019824
Environmental concerns are one of the sustainable issues in
Malaysia. The current global environmental issue is largely due to because of
non-standardized environmental regulatory criteria. Due to bad human attitude that
likes to pollute the environment by throwing rubbish everywhere, lack of
interference in environmental policy, and deterioration in the quality of the
ecosystem, these problems will lead to the highest priority issues of
environmental problems such as the degradation of air, water, and soil quality
and loss the biodiversity.
Thus, sustainable development ensures human's responsibility to
band together with other people to protect the environment for minimizing
natural resource deterioration and maintaining long-term environmental quality
for environmental efficiency enhancement. One of the efforts is by having
“gotong-royong”. The concept of "gotong-royong" itself is an activity
that helps each other. It means people working shoulder to shoulder to create
an extensive benefit, especially for the spirit of cooperation and neighborliness.
Here, I would like to share my experience on having “gotong-royong”
at Merdeka Beach, Kota Kuala Muda, Kedah. When I was in high school at Maktab
Mahmud Alor Setar in 2018, a total of 35 volunteer students participated in a
program called, ‘Stay Clean and Safe’ which involved cleaning up the famous
beach. This program was organized by the Tourism and Environmental Club and was
assisted by the teachers and the members of the club. The key goal of this
program is to emphasize the significance of environmental protection as the
environment is the most important aspect of our lives. As a result of our
cooperation, the world will be safe and we will live in harmony with nature. Also,
the primary emphasis was on beach cleaning and transforming it into a
sustainable area so that the beach will be safer, sunnier, and cleaner.
By 9.00 a.m., we were split into several groups and given black
plastic bags and a rake to clear the leaves and trash. We spent two hours scouring the beach,
gathering more than five big garbage bags, and mostly made up of plastic
wrapping pieces, plastic bottles, and Styrofoam, all of which pose a direct
danger to marine life and shorebirds once it hits the water's edge.
Next, we participated in the sorting of waste into recyclable and
non-recyclable items and were trained in the correct way to dispose of
recyclables at home. It is a very interesting activity for me because it was
the first time I got the chance to sort the rubbish according to its kind. Besides,
we also had the opportunity to plant 25 trees to help beautify the beach scene.
After the closing ceremony ended, we returned to our school. Despite my
exhaustion, it was a super fascinating experience for me that I would never
forget.
In conclusion, as I am taking this course, I am becoming more
conscious of this sustainable issue. I have recognized that this is a very
serious issue if no one understands and realized the value of having a
healthier and better environment and it will get worst if no one taking steps
or initiative to fix it. I believe we can do a lot of "gotong royong"
activity to purify the area but it will not bring any improvement if human
behaviors stay unchanged. Thus, to avoid the occurrence of a lot of pollution,
people should instill a sense of duty and concern for the environment. "Gotong-royong"
also should not be a one-off activity. We all should take our part every day to
properly dispose of waste and recycle to keep our world safe. Last but not
least, note that it is our duty as caliphs to take better care of this world
that that has been created by Allah SWT.
“And do good as Allah has been good to you. And do not seek to
cause corruption in the earth. Allah does not love the corrupters”, (AL QASAS
28:77)
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