The Ramadan 1446 short course was held by a journalist community about Islamic studies on Saturday (March 15) to discuss environmental and food issues.

Bogor City, W Java (Indonesia Window) - The Greater Jakarta journalist community, Islamic boarding schools and other partners have collaborated to hold the Ramadan 1446 short course about Islamic studies on Saturday (March 15) to discuss environmental and food issues.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the course, Dr. Lalu Solihin, who was accompanied by Andi Jauhari as the initiator, explained that the annual event which this time took place at the building of PT Telkom (a state telecommunications company), Bogor City, West Java, carried the theme "Towards Social Piety: Action of Young People to Reduce the Impact of Climate Change and Support Sustainable Food Security Development".

Solihin said that the activity organized by the Jabodetabek Journalist Community, Ar-Ruhama Boarding School, At-Tawassuth Foundation, and the Indonesian ANTARA news agency’s Trade Union had taken place for 14 times, and was attended by some 100 students from a number of universities, Islamic boarding schools as well as junior and senior high schools from several regions in Indonesia.

Jabodetabek stands for Indonesia’s capital Jakarta and its surrounding cities of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

The 2025 Ramadan course has received supports from State owned companies (BUMN) such as MIND ID, PT Telkom Indonesia, National Food Agency (Bapanas), Taman Safari Indonesia (the Indonesia Safari Park) in Cisarua-Bogor, National Amil Zakat Institute (LAZ) Bakrie Amanah, Aviary Park Indonesia, Indofood, Tatajabar, Lezza (Unirama Group), Dr Chicken, Alfamart, Semen Tiga Roda , AQUA drinking water producer, Cibinong Center Industrial Estate (CCIE), Marine Stewardshift Council (MSC) Indonesia, and Kopi Tugoh.

According to Solihin, the course discussed environment and food issues which are very relevant to the current global problem.

"One of the impacts of extreme weather that we experience is crop failure that is damaged due to floods, landslides and high rainfall. So the environment and food intersect with each other," he said.

Furthermore, he said that if all parties still do not protect the environment, crop failure would create food scarcity in Indonesia.

"Food is very important and vital for daily lives of us as humans," he pointed out.

Food problem is a serious issue faced by Indonesia and the global community, even the World Bank in the Global Economic Prospect 2025 report stated that the big problem of world countries is extreme weather that has an impact on food availability.

Through this course, awareness efforts and movements starting from small ones are carried out by planting seedlings provided by the committee for participants.

Stop wasting food

Director of Food Vigilance and Nutrition of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Nita Yulianis stated in front of the participants, her party called for Stop Food Waste and emphasized the importance of reducing food waste starting from oneself.

"I am sure that students of universities, Islamic boarding schools as well as junior and senior high schools participating in this Ramadan short course would definitely be able to finish eating their food. Don't throw away leftovers, because it would become accumulated garbage," she said.

Nita also invited participants to show concern for food security, one of which is by spending food during suhoor (the meal eaten before dawn during Ramadan)

"Do you dare to show an empty plate after eating to the teachers of the Islamic boarding school? Show your empty plate as a form of appreciation to the farmers," Nita said.

She pointed out that the theme of the Ramadan 1446 Hijri course is very relevant to the discussion of environmental issues associated with food security.

"This is important for familiarization program, especially among the younger generation so that they care more about the environment and food sustainability," Nita explained.

As a speaker in the afternoon session, Aviary Park Indonesia Marketing Communications Manager Fajar Muharram invited participants to maintain environmental cleanliness by not littering. "This attitude has really helped preserve the environment," Fajar remarked.

He also invited participants to preserve the environment with a movement to repeat the use of plastic.

He said maintaining environmental cleanliness by not littering has greatly helped preserve the environment," he said.

"Let's start using less plastic because plastic takes a very long time to decompose. For drinking, you can use a tumbler or a drinking bottle that is not disposable," he added.

As a tangible manifestation of concern for the environment, Aviary Park Indonesia has transformed an unproductive area in the middle of the city in Indonesia’s South Tangerang area, Banten province, into a conservation forest by planting 10,000 trees and tens of thousands of shrubs.

Overfishing

The MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) Indonesia shows the fact of fishing that continues to decline as a result of overfishing.

"This is important to maintain the sustainability of natural resources, especially fish, which is a sustenance prepared by God for human use, but should not be taken excessively in nature," said the MSC Indonesia's Commercial and Communications Officer, Usmawati Anggia when delivering her presentation.

Anggi -- her nickname -- reminded the importance of maintaining the sustainability of natural resources, especially fish.

"In the past, fishermen did not have to go far to get fish. Now they have to sail far to catch fish," she noted.

She explained that in the last two decades, the number of fish caught has continued to decline. The fact that fishing continues to decline shows the impact of overfishing, which is now a global problem.

In addition, she also cited data from ‘Open Edu’ which projects that the number of human populations in 2050 will reach nine billion people, while in 2024 alone it will be recorded at eight billion people.

According to Anggi, the fact adds to concerns about food security, especially from marine resources.

MSC is an international non-profit organization that sets globally recognized science-based standards for sustainable fishing and seafood supply chains.

MSC's certification and ecolabel programs recognize and reward sustainable fishing practices and help build a more sustainable seafood market.

Before the time to break the fasting arrived, two senior journalists, H. Bambang Purwanto and H. Mohammad Anthoni, shared stories about their careers as journalists for almost 30 years at Indonesia’s National News Agency ANTARA.

After completing years of their services at the news agency, they managed the online media Indonesia Window which broadcasts news in two languages: Indonesian and English.

Reporting by Indonesia Window