Say Bye Bye to Plastic Bags : A Bali-Born Initiative
It doesn’t take much to see that this island is drowning in plastic, and that there is no escaping from this reality. Who is going to do something about it? Sometimes we forget that it only takes one person to create change. Instead of pointing fingers, asking people to change the world, why not look
Education and the Efforts to Grow Bali’s Next Generation
Contrary to popular belief, Bali’s tourism industry which is growing at an unprecedented rate doesn’t always impact people living in rural areas. The myth of the ‘trickle down effect’ strikes again, it seems. Many families in rural areas are caught in the poverty trap with little or even no income to survive – this helps to explain the huge number
Protecting Paradise: Bali’s Environmental Heroes
This island we are living on is full of beautiful discoveries, yet it seems we don’t appreciate it. However, the natural beauty that we love so much is also vulnerable due the island’s poor waste management practices. It is easy to find water ducts clogged with plastic waste throughout the island. Because of poor waste management strategies,
Power to the People: Empowering Local Balinese Communities
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics of Bali, there is up to 5% of the population on this island classified as poor. It is such a sad fact that despite the tourism industry is growing, we can easily find children asking for money at stop lights or sleeping in the street. Many of these
Meet the Elephant Man, Nigel Mason , Founder of Mason Elephant Park
NOW! Bali’s Alistair Speirs sat down with Nigel Mason, founder of Mason Adventures, and discussed the role of Mason Elephant Park in education and conservation of the endangered Sumatran Elephants. One on One with Nigel Mason Hi Nigel, it’s been a while since I last spoke to you, can you tell me what’s new with
Puspadi Bali: Putting Ability into Disability
A rise in chronic illnesses and an ageing population affect an increasing number of people with disabilities. This triggered Nengah Latra, who founded PUSPADI Bali, to assist those unfortunate people with physical disabilities in Bali. The foundation runs Bali’s wheelchair programme and manufactures artificial legs in their workshop at the Annika Linden Centre. With a
Coastal Communities: Saving Bali’s Beaches One Piece of Plastic at a Time
Bali is facing a waste management crisis. With Indonesia being one of the world’s biggest contributors to ocean plastic, this is a problem. This island has declared a ‘garbage emergency’ after the beaches were inundated with a rising tide of plastic waste. Local communities are working hand-in-hand to keep Bali’s beaches clean. Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia
liina klauss’ 5000 Lost Soles: Turning Ocean Rubbish into Art
Artist liina klauss, together with Potato Head Beach Club Bali, created a visually stunning installation name ‘5000 soles’ from rubbish that washed up on Seminyak Beach. Their goal, raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution through art. One hot, global topic at the moment is ocean plastic pollution; from local organisations right up to the United
Solemen: Continuing To Improve People’s Lives
Bali based NGO Yayasan Solemen Indonesia gives hope, creates smiles and makes a difference in many people’s lives every day. Since its inception in 2010, Yayasan Solemen has morphed into a dynamic organisation with a serious mission that reaches far beyond the original goal. A great outreach programme was created to benefit the poor, the
A Little Help for the Children of Bali
The education system in Bali is not at the best place right now. Despite the fact that tourism is growing it doesn’t change the fact that there still are a huge number of school-age children not attending school. Mostly, it is because of their poor economic background. There is a huge gap between the children
Niskala Bali: Creating Environmentally-Friendly Ceremonies
Niskala Bali, an organisation on the island, is taking charge in the fight against post-ceremony waste in Bali. Offerings can be seen everywhere in Bali. Tiny coconut leaf baskets (canang sari) of rice, fruits and flowers are presented in front of every house, office, in the temples and shrines, and even on the dashboards of cars.
Eco Bali: The Solution to Bali’s Waste Crisis
Indonesia has now become the world’s second-biggest contributor to plastic waste in the oceans. This island is facing the alarming issue of waste disposal with shorelines laden with refuse, which is washed up every day when the tides come in. Communities are struggling to deal with the volume of waste, and even high-end hotels now
Bamboo Bikes: Helping to Reduce Poverty in East Bali
Ban Village in Karangasem, East Bali, has the distinction of being one of the largest villages in Indonesia. With 7,200 hectares, all 19 of Ban’s sub-villages lie within 12 kilometres of the Mount Agung crater. All together the area is home to more than 3,500 families all of whom were forced to flee their homes
