0 Companies join forces to preserve environment

Quiksilver Indonesia, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia and Garuda Indonesia joined hands and took a giant step to preserve Bali’s degrading environment by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at Kuta Beach on Tuesday. Bruce Waterfield, business service director of Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia said: “We are entering a new phase in our efforts to clean up Bali, as having Garuda involved in our program will enable a change not only in how these beaches are presented to domestic and international tourists and local residents by way of the Barber Surf Rake units, but also by becoming an example for other Indonesian corporations to follow.” 

He continued saying that with a growing population and poor waste management controls across the country, it was up to the industry to work with the government, local communities and industry groups to protect the very source of existence. “I hope our efforts inspire other organizations to give back, and with passion,” he said. Quiksilver’s Southeast Asia CEO Paul Hutson followed the speech saying that the company had been in Indonesia for over 20 years. “We are in this beach cleanup program for the long term, as our future is reliant on the sustainability of healthy tourism and a healthy environment.” 

Quiksilver Indonesia and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia first joined forces in 2008 to help clean up Bali’s beaches, and have now been joined by Indonesia’s flagship Garuda Airlines in a historic benchmark that signals the start of the next phase of Indonesia’s waste management future. The official introduction of the Barber Surf Rake beach-cleaning units that were donated by Garuda Indonesia and the signing of the MoU by the three corporations were the primary impetus for the Bali Beach Clean Up. The two revolutionary Barber Surf Rake units were imported from the US and cost approximately US$50,000 each. 

They will be used to groom the beaches of Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Jimbaran and Kedonganan. Heriyanto Putra, the executive vice president of human capital and corporate affairs at Garuda, was clearly gratified and optimistic. “We would like to express our appreciation to Coca-Cola Amatil and Quiksilver Indonesia for entering into this partnership with Garuda Indonesia, for it is a cooperation that I strongly believe will be of benefit to all participants and to the environment,” he said. “And I also want to extend our thanks to the local government for their support.” 

Also attending the event was Stephen Scott from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. “On behalf of the Australian government, thanks very much to Coca-Cola Amatil, Quiksilver Indonesia and Garuda Indonesia for the opportunity to attend this ceremony. This is a program that we are very proud to have associated with Australia, as Quiksilver and Coca-Cola Amatil are both Australian companies,” expressed Scott. He then emphasized the significance of Indonesia to Australia, saying, “Bali is a popular and important place for Australians, as we are fast approaching a million Australian visitors coming to Indonesia each year, and about 90 percent of them come to Bali.” 

However, lately Australians had seen Bali becoming a victim of its own success, with increasing pressures on waste management and other things. “So it is important for people to step up and do the right thing and preserve the environment for the future generations, so they can enjoy Bali like we do and our parents did in the past.”

source : bali daily