Gen Z : Reporting Pollution Feels Like Shouting into a Bottle

Young environmental activist from Indonesia, Aeshnina Azzahra Aqilani, called on the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) to strengthen protections for children from the impacts of climate change and environmental pollution.

Speaking at the AICHR Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective in Business and Human Rights in Kuala Lumpur, Nina stated that the voices of young people are still often ignored by governments, even though they are among the most vulnerable groups in the climate and pollution crisis. “As a young person, I feel invisible. My voice feels meaningless and ignored by the government,” said Nina, Coordinator of the River Warrior Indonesia Community, quoted on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

Jangan Biarkan Hilirisasi Membunuh Sungai-Sungai Indonesia!

Yayasan Ecoton (Ecological Observation and Wetlands Conservation)  berinisiatif untuk penetapan tgl 2 Juli sebagai hari peringatan Tragedi Pencemaran Sungai akibat Polusi Industri, Pada 2 Juli 50 tahun lalu terjadi peristiwa Ikan Mati Massal di Kali Surabaya Akibat buangan PT Miwon. Untuk mengenang tragedi ini sudah pantas jika diperingati agar tidak terulang lagi kelalaian industri yang menyebabkan kerusakan ekosistem Sungai. "kami berharap dukungan masyarakat Indonesia untuk ikut menanda tangani petisi https://www.change.org/p/peringati-hari-ikan-mati-massal-waktunya-bertindak-untuk-menjaga-sungai-kita, sebagai upaya kita untuk menjaga agar tidak terjadi lagi peristiwa ikan mati massal di Sungai-sungai Indonesia" Ungkap Alaika rahmatullah, lebih lanjut ketua Panitia Peringatan 50 Tahun ikan Mati Massal Kali Surabaya ini mengingatkan bahwa saat ini industrialisasi dan hilirisasi di Indonesia ugal-ugalan dalam pengelolaan limbah sehingga menabrak prinsip-prinsip keadilan antar generasi dan etika lingkungan sehingga dipastikan akan merusak kelestarian ekosistem sungai di Indonesia. "mendukung petisi ini adalah bagian dari ikhtiar kita untuk tidak membiarkan industri merusak sungai-sungai Indonesia" Ungkap Alaika.

Nina: “States Must Provide Complaint Mechanisms for Child Victims of Pollution and Climate Change”

Kuala Lumpur (monday, 30/6/2025) in Courtyard by Marriot
Nina Reveal Facts about Pollution and Climate Change Impacts on Children
in  Indonesia 

(Kuala Lumpur, 30/6/2025)* – “As a young person, I feel ‘invisible’—my voice doesn’t matter and is ignored by the government,” said Aeshnina Azzahra Aqilani at the AICHR Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in ASEAN, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 30 to July 1, 2025.

The Coordinator of Indonesia’s River Warrior Community further explained that, as a young victim of environmental pollution caused by the global plastic waste trade, Nina—Aeshnina’s nickname—has actively campaigned to stop the international plastic waste trade by writing letters to leaders of developed nations, urging them to halt waste exports to Indonesia. “The European Union even responded to my letter, pledging to stop plastic waste exports to Indonesia by November 2026. Yet, despite sending multiple letters, the Indonesian government has never replied,” Nina revealed.