Environmental Award to a Capuchin

JAKARTA, Indonesia  Br Samuel Onton Sidin, a Capuchin friar, won the Kalpataru Award, a top environmental prize. Through the 'Sunshine House' (Rumah Pelangi in Indonesian), he promoted high-profile reforestation and conservation programmes, especially in Kabu Raya District, West Kalimantan Regency (province), where he planted tall trees and rejuvenated the area with go-green activities. Br Sidin received the award on June 4 from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential palace in Jakarta after years of work behind the scenes. June 5 was World Environment Day and was marked by various initiatives. In Indonesia, a developing nation focused on economic development, awareness of green issues and the ecology is growing. Among other initiatives, there is the Kalpataru Award, which is the most prestigious award because it is “sponsored” by the government and by other institutions. It is awarded to real heroes in the fight to protect nature. Inside Sunshine Home, in Kubu Raya, Br Sidin set up a prayer centre for local Catholics on their day off. Its name is inspired by the Prophet Noah. It promotes various initiatives to protect the environment whilst encouraging Christian worship and Franciscan spirituality. One of these involved the reforestation in the year 2000 of a 90-hectare area on the Benuah Mountains, locally known as Mount Tunggal. The area was devastated by a large-scale malicious bush fire, explains Br Sidin, until the “go green project” established new plantations. Br Sidin also planted rare indigenous trees that were on the verge of extinction, at the same time setting up an area to feed birds.