As a form of environmental awareness and in commemoration of World Environment Day, Diponegoro University (UNDIP) was entrusted to host the Karlin g Campu event by Bakti Lingkungan Djarum Foundation (BLDF) in collaboration with Harian Kompas. The event conceptualized as a Public Lecture with the theme “Green Digital Literacy Towards a Sustainable Future,” was held in the Prof. Sudarto, S.H. Building, UNDIP Tembalang Campus in Semarang on Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
Bakti Lingkungan Djarum Foundation has initiated the Siap Darling (Sadar Lingkungan / Environmental Awareness) initiative through social media since November 2018. Targeting the younger generation, especially Gen Z, who predominantly dominate as internet users (digital natives) in Indonesia, the movement aims to leverage their digital literacy to drive change on fundamental issues, including climate change and environmental degradation, which require collaborative efforts between the government, private sector, and other societal elements.
Over the past three years (2020–2022), Indonesia’s digital literacy index has continued to rise, reaching 3.54, indicating a high level. It is hoped that Gen Z will disseminate credible, high-quality, and positive content about environmental and earth-loving activities on digital platforms. They should not only care about the environment but also take concrete actions. With the slogan “creating change can’t be done alone,” Siap Darling aims to involve more young people in preserving nature.
In his speech, UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., expressed gratitude to BLDF for greening the UNDIP campuses in Rembang Regency and Batang Regency and appreciated the support for the BLDF activities in collaboration with Kompas. UNDIP must speak up in the media every week and become a guide for the community. In the future, UNDIP should appear in the public domain and become a media darling among many journalists concerning scientific knowledge and other matters.
“The public sphere is underutilized academically, even though UNDIP is an oasis with many researchers and many things that need to be communicated to the public. If not, research is just for research’s sake when it should be for the people,” added the UNDIP Rector.
With the tagline “UNDIP Bermartabat, UNDIP Bermanfaat” (UNDIP with Dignity, UNDIP Beneficial), UNDIP aims to exist and be beneficial to the community. “It is hoped that UNDIP’s presence can help reduce extreme poverty in Central Java and make Central Java a national food provider. UNDIP must be present to help the community. Any international recognition and so on is expected to reflect UNDIP’s good internal business processes, but providing benefits to the community remains the primary goal through collaborative efforts,” emphasized Prof. Suharnomo at the end of his speech.
Meanwhile, Djarum Foundation Communications Director Mutiara Diah Asmara mentioned in her speech that the Djarum Foundation’s philosophy is born from within and grows with the environment. The mission is to help advance Indonesia’s becoming a fully sovereign nation through the five pillars of Bakti (Social Service, Sports Service, Environmental Service, Educational Service, and Cultural Service).
“Environmental Service was established in 1979, recognizing the importance of digital participation and collaboration with the younger generation. Five years ago, the Siap Darling movement was launched, a millennial-based digital movement with calls for positive content on saving the earth and various environmental issues through social media channels and planting activations,” explained Mutiara.
Mutiara revealed, “To date, 3000 students from 250 campuses in 170 cities have joined the Darling Squad. This is a volunteer-based initiative for those who want to participate offline in planting activities or actively through social media.”
“The Kampus Darling initiative itself has involved 9 universities, planting 6700 trees with 8400 students. With UNDIP, we will conduct a planting campaign in August, promoting the Siap Darling Environmental Awareness movement,” she elaborated.
The Kampus Darling event was attended by UNDIP officials and the academic community, as well as Haryo Damardono, Deputy Chief Editor of Harian Kompas (Kompas.id); Ayu Kartika Indarti, Senior Staff of the Vice Chief Editor of Harian Kompas; and C. Wahyu Haryo, Head of the Regional Desk of Harian Kompas.
The Public Lecture session also featured several speakers, including Satya Rakasiwi, who presented “Subscription and Platform Elaboration Guide”; Haryo Damardono, who gave a presentation titled “Digital Literacy Presentation with Kompas”; and Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation Wijayanto, S.IP., M.Si., Ph.D., who discussed “Gen Z, Digital Revolution, and the Challenge of Global Democracy Recession.” Dandy Mahendra also gave a BLDF presentation. The final presentation featured Jerhemy Owen & Ira Ratnati in a talk show with BLDF and environmental content creators. (DHW – Public Relations)
