“Creating chirping Jogja, The elderly released thousands of birds”
The elderly are often considered as not productive people and family burden, so that their role sometimes are marginalized. Actually, elderly are people who are experienced so that they are wiser. They might be no longer working, but elderly can still be a guidance and model for the next generation. Those were things shown by the elderly from Gondokusuman, besides the routine activity, they also held annual event for people.
This time, in order to celebrate the 17th national elderly day, Paguyuban Lansia Gondokusuman (Gondokusuman elderly community) will hold Gelar Lansia: “Jogja Berkicau”. The elderly wants to teach the grandchild and the next generation to love Jogja by building environment that is healthy, comfortable, and beautiful to live in. The elderly in Gondokusuman will release birds to nature at once. “The amount of the bird will be more than 3000 birds from various types such as chirping birds and rare birds.” stated by Drs. Supantoro, MM., the chief of Paguyuban Lansia Gondokusuman. “We fully support this event because we also miss the morning in Jogja which is filled with chirping sounds from the bird. All the time, the birds can fly safely, perch on the branch and look for foods in the habitation of Jogjanese,” dr. Gideon Hartono, the chairman of Apotek K-24 and Hi-Lab also added.
This event, Gelar Lansia “Jogja Berkicau” will be held on Sunday, 9 June 2013, located at SDN Klitren Langensari, Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta, and will be participated by 1500 elderly from five districts in Gondokusuman. The birds would be released at 08.30 WIB. As the form of support to the elderly’s initiative to campaign the love of nature, there would be several figures in Yogyakarta to release the birds as well, such as; Drs. H. Haryadi Suyuti (the major of Yogyakarta), Imam Priyono Dwi Putranto, SE, M.Si (the vice major of Yogyakarta), Wirawan Hario Yudo, SH (the regent of Gondokusuman) and dr. Gideon Hartono (the director of Hi-Lab Diagnostic Center and Apotek K-24)
The regent of Gondokusuman also invites the citizen of Jogja to participate in the movement “Jogja Berkicau” by releasing a bird for each head of family from each house on Sunday 9 June 2013,”I am sure if we do it together, in the next 6 months we can start to enjoy bird chirping sound around the house,” Yudo explained, “also, I warn everyone to stop disturbing, trapping, or shooting birds in Gondokusuman. I hope the inspiration came from the elderly can be the culture of our people,” Yudo added.
The series of events Gelar Lansia will be started with mass gymnastics for elderly . Besides releasing birds, the event will be continued with spreading fish seed in the river and planting fruit trees. Hi-lab and Apotek K-24 as a company in healthcare are very enthusiast to support this event. “We work hard to achieve better health level for Indonesian people! I also hoped that life expectancy number in Yogyakarta is considered high, and even the highest in Indonesia, and it can still be higher,” dr. Gideon Hartono stated.
The elderly missed Yogyakarta which is filled with bird chirping sound, shady trees, and clean rivers filled with fishes which are useful for people living around. “We expect that what we have started can be maintained by the next generation, we are the elders have started it, the grandchild should preserve it,” said Pinta Sukarjo, the head committee of Gelar Lansia.
It is expected for the Yogyakarta people, especially the resident of Gondokusuman to stop catching and shooting birds. This will be continued with the regulation to prohibit catching and shooting birds from the regent of Gondokusuman. The habit to release bird is also expected for people to get used to it so that there will be more birds living in the nature of Yogyakarta.