Medi Bastoni (L) on his walking journey (Photo: bta.bg)Hanoi (VNA) - An Indonesia man iswalking backwards from his home on Mount Wilis in East Java province to thecapital city of Jakarta, travelling some 700km to raise public awareness aboutdeforestation, which is a pressing issue in the country.
Medi Bastoni, 43, began on July 18 from hisvillage on Mount Wilis. He is expected to reach Jakarta later this month with thehope of meeting President Joko Widodo to ask him to re-plant trees on MountWilis and elsewhere.
Bastoni walks at least 20-30 km a day,carrying only snacks and water. A rear-view mirror attached to his backpackhelps him avoid obstacles. In many cities and villages, cheering supporters haveoffered him meals, drinks or a place to sleep.
This is not the father of four's firstbackward walk. He completed a 73km journey last year from East Java's town ofTulungagung to the peak of Mount Wilis in a similar effort to enhance publicawareness about deforestation.
Indonesia has one of the highest rates ofdeforestation in the world, according to Greenpeace. Rapid forest loss andgreenhouse gas emissions have made the country the fourth biggest contributorto global warming after China, the US and India.-VNA
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