At a young age, Aeshnina Azzahra actively criticized plastic waste. She even sent letters of protest to political officials, from the President of the Republic of Indonesia to the President of the United States.Raised by a coupleenvironmental activistand founders of Ecoton—an environmental non-governmental organization (NGO)—Prigi Arisandi and Daru Setyorini, exposed Aeshnina Azzahra, 17, to environmental issues since childhood. Nina's parents often took their three children to the beach, mangrove forests, rivers, and mountains, while introducing them to the benefits of nature.
For Nina, the river was a favorite place to play and swim. Unfortunately, as she grew, the river pollution from industrial and household waste became more massive. This concern moved Nina—who was still in the fourth grade of elementary school at the time—to write a letter to the Regent of Gresik. She hoped that her playground would be clean again.
That moment marked Nina's first time getting involved in environmental activism. She has recently created collaborative content with Ecoton on social media. Among them are research on rivers and microplastics, as well as promoting a low-waste lifestyle.
Since childhood, Nina's activities have been different from those of children her age. While her friends were at school and playing, Nina attended climate conferences and campaigned for the importance of protecting the environment. When asked if she wanted flexibility like her friends, Nina replied: “Thank God no . I am grateful to have many opportunities at a young age, even though it is tiring because I started since I was little.”
Focus on Imported Plastic Waste
Of the various environmental issues, Nina focuses her attention on imported plastic waste. It started when she was in junior high school. At that time, Nina's father invited her to go on a motorbike to Bangun Village, Mojokerto, East Java. Nina was surprised to see a mountain ofplastic wastein every yard of every resident's house—even in the village field.
"The first time I saw the trash, I felt unfamiliar . It turned out to be plastic waste from rich countries," said Nina.
Bangun Village residents are known as plastic waste sorters exported by Europe and the United States (US). This activity has been carried out since the Indonesian Paper Factory (Pakerin) began operating in 1977. Reporting from DW, plastic waste from several paper factories in East Java is only given to residents who want to process it. Seeing the economic potential, residents who buy and sort plastic waste have increased to form a home industry recycling factory.
When visiting Bangun Village, Nina saw the residentscarry out the recycling process: cutting plastic into small particles without professional tools, and throwing the remaining waste into the river. The microplastics are sold to tofu or cracker factories to be used as fuel, replacing increasingly expensive wood.
What worries Nina is that residents are doing these activities without wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—even the men are not wearing shirts, so they are directly exposed to microplastics. In fact, exposure to microplastics can have an impact on health.
For example, it affects the immune system, as well as damaging cell and lung tissue.due to inhaling microplastics.Then skin irritation, due to direct exposure to the hands due to not wearing gloves. And the potential risk of digestive health, if you continue to consume food exposed to microplastics. Therefore, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa in 2019 appealed to tofu producers to switch to fuel other than plastic waste.
Seeing this condition, Nina felt the need to act. In July 2019, she sent a letter to US President Donald Trump via the US Consulate General in Surabaya, East Java. In her letter, Nina asked the US to stop exporting plastic waste to Indonesia. Two months later, the letter was responded to by the US Consulate General.
“They appreciated me as a young person and apologized (for exporting plastic waste to Indonesia),” Nina said. “But they didn’t say they would follow up. They even tended to blame the Indonesian government for accepting their waste.”
Indonesia is one of the main countries in Southeast Asia that receives imported plastic waste. This started from China, which has been reluctant to export the waste since 2017. As of 2023, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that the amount of imported plastic waste received by Indonesia was around 252 thousand tons.
In fact, if referring to Article 29 Paragraph 1 of the Waste Management Law, Indonesia does not allow the import of plastic waste. Regulation of the Minister of Trade Number 84 of 2019 concerning Provisions on the Import of Non-Hazardous and Toxic Waste as Industrial Raw Materials has also been revoked.
However, non-B3 waste—which includes industrial raw materials—can be imported in a non-new condition. This means that paper, plastic, rubber, metal, glass, and textile and textile product waste can still be imported. This explains why Indonesia still accepts imported plastic waste.
This situation moved Nina to delve deeper into the issue of imported plastic waste. She no longer views Global North countries as countries to be admired. This is because they carry out waste colonialism — or export plastic waste to Global South countries — to solve their waste problems.
"I used to imitate American dances and clothes. But after I found out they dumped trash here (in Indonesia), my admiration diminished," said Nina.
From there, she asked her mother for help in finding research and data on plastic waste sent by the US. Then, Nina learned that microplastics are also found in the human body. Through consumption of food, drinks, and the air we breathe.
Later, Nina was actively involved in various national and international forums, on plastic waste and microplastics. Recently, she made an illustration of a baby exposed to microplastics since in the womb, while attending INC-5—an international negotiation forum to stop plastic pollution—in Busan, South Korea.
The Importance of Parental Support
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| Nina Bersama Bapaknya mengikuti aksi disela-sela gelaran INC4 di Kanada, April 2024 |
Although she comes from a family of environmental activists, Nina admitted that her parents never asked or directed her three children to pursue the same field. According to Nina, Prigi and Daru gave their children more advice to become useful people. However, she chose to do the same thing because she had been familiar with environmental issues since she was little. Likewise with Nina's eldest sister who studied environmental toxicology, and the second in the field of fisheries and marine affairs. "Even at the dinner table, our family talks about environmental issues. Maybe because (the issue) is connected to anything," said Nina.
Aware of her privilege, Nina uses her luxury to raise awareness about the climate crisis. For example, asking for access to information in the form of research journals on the environment, supplying logistical needs for actions and river tracing activities, and creating training to educate elementary and middle school children.
Then, Nina was taught to map the problems and groups that were the targets of her socialization—and was challenged to raise environmental issues through any medium. Among children, Nina usually invites them to create poems, drawings, dramas, and practice using microscopes in public places to see microplastics.
Meanwhile, emotionally, Nina's parents often motivate her to be stronger and not feel alone. "I often feel alone (as a young activist), because I rarely meet children who think the same way or have the same knowledge," said Nina.
Nina's Concerns for the Government and Hopes for Young People
During her time as a young environmental activist, Nina saw developments in discussions about climate issues in society and at the government level. In the past, this issue was rarely discussed. In fact, her friends tended to ignore it when Nina educated them about the importance of a low-waste lifestyle—until she set an example by bringing her own drinking bottle and food container.
Once social media emerged, people were more exposed to climate issues. Especially if it went viral and got the government's attention. Although it is not certain that the government will immediately address the issue.
Nina also stated that she was not so sure that the government would listen to the people's complaints and act to address the climate crisis. Especially with President Prabowo Subianto's statement at the end of last December.
“The president is like that, a palm oil lover,” said Nina. “I am also afraid and worried about the new government. If in the past there were little demonstrations, now it is more about campaigning through social media and seminars .”
However, he emphasized that the public—especially Gen Z—should remain optimistic. Especially since many young people can have an impact on the environment and their country.
In the future, Nina herself wants to consistently develop River Warrior, an organization founded with her brother to save rivers from plastic pollution. However, it is now on hold because Nina is focusing on preparing for the Computer-Based Written Exam (UTBK) and preparing to enter campus.
"I need kids my age who are optimistic, brave, have strong intentions, can think critically, and have opinions. Maybe later when I go to college, I can consistently run River Warrior," he concluded.
Translated from : https://magdalene.co/story/profil-aeshnina-azzahra/
About Author : Aurelia Gracia is a reporter who easily gets involved in parasocial relationships and likes to spend time walking around various spots in the capital.
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