COMPLETION REPORT
Local Wisdom and Women’s Role in Preserving Natural Environment in Indonesia and Japan
Dr. Aquarini Priyatna (+1)
Head of Department
Department of Literary and cultural Studies
Faculty of Arts
Padjadjaran University
The research project examined different women’s environmental movement in Japan, focusing on the city of Kitakyushu, and inIndonesia, focusing on the city of Bandung and Cirebon. Using gender perspective and focusing on the values embedded in themovements under research, this research locates women and women’s movements as active agents of change.
The research finds that both in Kitakyushu as well in Bandung and Cirebon, women’s environmental movement isoften triggered by and carried out within the domestic/feminine domains such as childrearing and housework, affecting theenvironmental movement to have specific characteristics. Firstly, it can be argued that the impetus of environmental movement
often begins at the individual homes with mothers being the primary carer and educator. The pioneering women environmental
activists navigate not only the domestic space assigned to them in their everyday life, but also their ideological and politicalconcerns in environmental preservation using diverse information technology and advancement to disseminate the campaigns ofenvironmental awareness.
Secondly, the research argues that the movement which focuses on women, both in Japan and Indonesia, tends towork inclusively as it relies on various of forms “politics of everyday life”, including the politics of the authorities (local
neighbourhood, regency, even the city), particularly the support provided or not provided in their personal/familial relationship.
One that we found quite significant is the availability, in some cases the absence, of support from the husbands and the help withchildrearing. This is quite evident from the history of the Tobata Women in their struggle for clean environment, and the womenbeing active in women and children’s centre at the University of Kitakyushu, as well as in the various women’s environmental
movement in Bandung and Cirebon.
Thirdly, the research finds that women’s local environmental movements are potentially transformative not only in thecontext of the physicality of the environment, but more importantly in the transformation of the way of thinking. It alsotransforms the social cultural practice of everyday life of the community without losing the local values held in the communities
concerned. This is evident in the transformation of Kitakyushu and the various dense areas in Bandung where the women’smovements are quite active.
Finally, the research argues that the awareness and sensitivity for environmental issues are interrelated with theawareness for various issues faced by marginalized groups, for example the awareness for the issues of class, gender, and urbanareas. Local values, in addition to the varied habits and practices related to the preservation of the nature and environment, can beutilized for the delivery of meaningful environmental changes and transformation where women play their role as the key agents.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.

Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
1. Newspaper article: Perempuan Penyangga Bumi (Earth-Supporting Women)
PIKIRAN RAKYAT, 23 August 2016
2. Ecofeminism and Women’s Environmental Movement in Bandung
Journal: Patanjala, Juli 2017
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)
1. Kearifan Lokal dan Peran Perempuan dalam Memelihara Lingkungan Hidup diJepang dan Indonesia
Publisher: Obelia, February 2017
ISBN: 978-602-60302-2-1
Writers: Aquarini Priyatna & Mega Subekti
2. Women and Environmental Movement: Some Japanese and IndonesianExperience
Publisher: Obelia, March 2017
ISBN: 978-602-60302-3-8
Writers: Aquarini Priyatna & Mega Subekti