President calls on religious communities to improve environment

Magelang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on religious communities in the country to improve the environment as it would have a valuable investment for the future life of the nation.

There is a demand in every religion to preserve the environment, the head of state said during a commemoration of the Waisak Day or Buddha`s Day of Enlightenment at the Borobudur Temple here on Friday night.

According to the president, religions deal not only with relations among human beings, between human beings and God, but also between human beings and the environment.

He pointed out that environmental conservation became an important agenda because the earth might be angry due to a damaged environment.

The damaged environment which caused natural disasters was among others due to global warming caused by the green house effect

in the world, especially in the big industrialized countries, the president said.

However, he said, the current climate change had caused droughts in several areas while heavy rains also fell in other areas.

"The problem needs a concrete solution and the peoples` actions worldwide to save our children and grandchildren," he said.

On the occasion, the president handed over books entitled "Trial Civilization" to the Borobudur Declarers from six countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.