BALIKPAPAN: THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Good morning / afternoon ladies and gentleman. First of all I would like to thank God for the

opportunity that given to me to deliver my speech “Balikpapan: The Development and The

Environment”.

Ladies and gentleman, I’ll divide my speech into two points:

The development of Balikpapan

The environment of Balikpapan

Ladies and gentleman, as we know Balikpapan is located in East Borneo and it is a gate to other

cities in East Borneo so this condition gives Balikpapan many advantages such as in economics

and commerce area.

Ladies and gentleman, last time, Balikpapan is not well known but now, Balikpapan is one of the

important city in East Borneo and I have a simple question for you, how is Balikpapan condition

right now? Now, the development in Balikpapan is writhing. Many developers don’t obey the

environment. They cut down the trees to establish building and reclaim the beach to build

coastal road. There are many hotels, department stores and other commercial places are being

built right now, but they are not counterbalanced by other supporting factors like electricity

and water. We felt the electricity went out already be more than 3 last years and do you know

The Flintstone? If I can illustrate our condition right now, we are at The Flintstone era. If night

comes and the electricity went out, Balikpapan will be a thousand candle city and how about

the water? Sometimes the water is not good enough for drinking and washing because the

color is not clear (yellow or brown).

Ladies and gentleman, good natural resources and an educated citizen will make a good

development in Balikpapan.

Ladies and Gentleman, now, what about if heavy rains happen? Sure, in several places happen

flood. It is a sign of global warming. So, how can it be happen ladies and gentleman? It’s all

coming back to ourselves. Don’t look for scapegoat of our condition right now but let’s ask to

ourselves “Have we aware to our environment?”

Ladies and gentleman, last year the government of Balikpapan launched Green, Clean, and

Healthy City program. Why the government of Balikpapan launch this program? Because, last

year Balikpapan lost Adipura Award. So why it happen? Because, our awareness to our

environment is getting down. By this program, the government hopes our awareness to our

environment is getting increased so that we will get Adipura Award again.

Ladies and gentleman, now, there are two things that we should do to keep our environment

green, clean, and healthy. First, don’t throw rubbish everywhere especially in the river or

something like that and the second, plant a tree to decrease the effect of global warming. So

have you done it?

Ladies and gentleman, we are as God creature that have mind should obey our environment

because the government of Balikpapan has made a regulation that forbid any one to throw

rubbish everywhere but the fact that people feel innocent if they do it. They don’t care about

the regulation so, why it happen ladies and gentleman? Because the government is infirm in

act? Or regulation stays regulation?

Ladies and gentleman, a healthy citizen and a healthy environment will make a healthy

generation.

Ladies and gentleman, in my last speech, I ask myself and you to be a greener and to obey the

regulation. Don’t let regulation stays regulation and we have to imagine Balikpapan as our

home! Sure you don’t want your home dark, dirty, barren, and unhealthy. So, what will you do?

Of course You will light your house, clean off your house, plant a tree in garden, and make your

house become a healthy house. So do Balikpapan. Treat Balikpapan as your home! Together we

can!

God Bless Balikpapan!