Consequences of the Cement Factory (Short Story)

Jhony has been in Jakarta for 10 years, today he gets a week's leave from where he works. Jhony feels homesick for his hometown. He missed the peaceful and beautiful state of his village. Since the death of his parents, Jhony has no family, he lives alone and moves to Jakarta to work.

On Friday night, Jhony prepared clothes to be brought to Rembang Village, Central Java. Because Saturday Jhony will take a vacation to his birthplace. Jhony also missed his friends there. He couldn't wait to meet the village people who were friendly and kind to him.

Saturday arrived, the weather was very sunny. Jhony went to the train station and left for Rembang Village. To get to Jhony's hometown, a fast-paced train took him to the village within 10 hours.

When he arrived at the train station, Jhony ordered a motorcycle taxi to take him to Rembang Village. But while on the way, Jhony saw the farmers protesting at the village hall. Then Jhony asked the motorcycle taxi driver.

"What do they demand, sir?" said Johnny.

"In Rembang Village there is a cement factory construction, and they refuse it," said the motorcycle taxi driver.

Johnny was silent. He asked in his mind, "wouldn't there be job vacancies for the villagers if there was a factory there?". After 10 minutes, Jhony arrived at his village. He saw Eka who was carrying grass.

"Hey Eka, how are you," said Jhony.

"Wow, Jhony, you haven't been here in a long time, I'm good news here," said Eka.

"What about the rest of our friends? Are they still in this village?" asked Johnny.

"Abdi and Fikri have been shot dead by the police because they are accused of being the provocateurs of the protest against the cement factory," replied Eka.

"Where was the cement factory built? Why did they reject it? Wouldn't there be a lot of work for the villagers if the factory was established?" ask Jhony

"Listen to me Jhony, this is not about work. Come with me, you will be surprised to see it," replied Eka.

then Eka took Jhony to the cement factory. Instantly, Jhony fell silent and shed tears. As it turned out, a cement factory was being built, sacrificing the forest. Many trees have to be cut down and animals have lost their homes. The factory waste also pollutes the waters of the rice fields, so many farmers fail to harvest.

Jhony cried seeing the current state of his village. It used to be very cool in the village because there were still forests and tall trees. Now the village has become arid due to the existence of a factory that stands in the village. Humans are greedy, to get money, they have to sacrifice nature and the environment.

Finally, Jhony stopped working in Jakarta and became an environmental activist to save nature and animals in the forest.

The end.

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