The AEON 1% Club, which is comprised of AEON?s major group companies, held the AEON Asia Eco-Leaders Program for the university students from Indonesia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam to discuss about the environmental issues. It is aiming to promote firsthand observation of social conditions in the hosting country and create awareness and appreciation of nature among the students. This year?s topic is focused on waste management in Asia. I am honored to be selected to join this program which is conducted in Indonesia during November 24 ? December 1, 2013.

At the beginning of this program, we attended seminar and lectures on ?Indonesian Waste management? at the University of Indonesia. We also had the opportunities to see the ?Tangible Earth?, the world?s first interactive digital globe. Tangible Earth is invented by Prof. Shinichi Takemura from Kyoto University of Art and Design as a media to visualize many aspects of the Earth, such as real-time weather and cloud, migratory birds? traces, and global warming simulation.

Apart from seminars in the university, we went to inspect the waste compost site in Jakarta where we learned about Jakarta?s waste management system and the problems that occur at the landfill. Moreover, we had visited Surabaya, one of the cleanest cities in Indonesia. It has a very successful waste management system and eco-communities. We also learned the methods which Surabaya City Government use to deal with waste disposals during our trip to Surabaya City Hall.

After series of lectures on waste management and excursion to the waste treatment facilities, participants were separated into teams to discuss and propose the solutions on waste management in Jakarta to the government. The winning team had received the award and signed the campaign to Jakarta government. We finished the program in Bali where we went sightseeing, experienced Bali culture, and visited Tanah Lot Temple.

Overall, this is an eye-opening experience for me to learn about environmental issues in Indonesia as well as working and sharing new ideas with students from all over Asia. This program has successfully raised the environmental awareness of the future generations.

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to AEON 1% Club for this great opportunity as I have enjoyed the time in Indonesia, and to Thammasat BBA Program for the wonderful guidance and support along my academic journey.

Posted date: December 12, 2013