2,000 scout members join recycled costume carnival

 Some 2,000 scout members joined a carnival of recycled costumes in Jakarta's MH Thamrin street during car-free day on Sunday.

They are members of the Bakti Camp Unit for Scouting Works by Saka Kalpataru, Saka Wanabakti (Pertikawan) and the National Movement for Watershed Conservation (GNPDAS) Jakarta Pertikawan Festival.

"The cultural carnival with costumes made from waste, take on the theme of biodiversity (flora and fauna). This is the first time it was held. It is in line with President Joko Widodo's mandate," said Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Bambang Hendroyono, in a press statement received here, Sunday.

He said that the carnival is an innovative movement to motivate young scout members to care more about the environment and the sustainability of watersheds.

He hoped for the young members to become pioneers in activities for the environment in their quarters.

Deputy Chairperson of the National Quarter Scout Movement Kingkin Suroso said Saka Wanabakti and Saka Kalpataru are forums for fostering enforcement and Pandega scouts who had an interest in science and technology, as well as entrepreneurship in the utilization and preservation of natural resources in forestry and the environment.

"This Pertikawan activity is a vehicle for applying and providing skills for members of Saka Wanabakti and Saka Kalpataru," he said.

200 participants wore costumes from recycled materials that were artistically designed to represent Indonesia's cultural richness and biodiversity in the carnival.

A number of figures from the young generation also wore festival costumes made from recycled materials, including a diver who was also one of the 100 most influential women in the world, according to the BBC, Swietenia Puspa Lestari, Miss Cultural Indonesia 2019 Sonia Fergina Citra, and Binus Ambassador 2019 Reymond Leopard.

The participants started the carnival in front of the Election Supervisory Body building (Bawaslu) and ended at the National Monument (Monas) field.

The event was themed "Tailoring the Archipelago with Recycled Materials" and was held by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, in collaboration with the National Quarter of the Scout Movement.

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