02/08/2005 - It was probably
the most efficient event Indonesia’s capital
Jakarta has ever seen: for an entire day WWF
Indonesia gathered people in one of the city’s
biggest shopping malls to celebrate the efficient
use of energy.
Masses attended the public edutainment event
in Plaza Semanggi, and at the end of the day
1048 new activists had joined the PowerSwitch!
campaign.
All of them signed a WWF petition, urging
Indonesian politicians to take the country’s
energy crisis more serious and implement a
national energy efficiency programme.
People attending the event also got useful
tips and tricks for energy saving at home.
The biggest attractions were two mime artists,
who used the funniest ways to show visitors
how they could use electricity more efficiently.
More than that, shoppers were invited to
take part in little quizzes and to play games
on energy efficiency. PowerSwitch! volunteers
helped to distribute the petition cards and
various education materials.
Unplugged shows by Sanggar Anak Akar and
and Jamaica Café (a percussion band
formed by street kids and a popular Indonesian
acapella group) proved brilliant entertainment
to be independent from electricity supply.
A press conference was staged in the atrium
of the mall, with official government representatives,
Plaza Semanggi staff and PowerSwitch! campaign
speakers talking about the importance of energy
efficiency and sharing their experiences regarding
the implementation of efficiency measures.
Media interest in the event was huge, as
two Indonesian radio stations reported live
from the mall. The Jakarta Post, Indonesia’s
biggest English language newspaper, covered
the event with two articles.
The management of Plaza Semanggi was deeply
impressed and made a commitment to deepen
the cooperation with WWF. Ideas for the future
are training for the mall’s staff in efficient
energy use, an energy audit and a monitoring
programme to control the mall’s energy use.
