Bali's beautiful beaches can go from breathtakingly gorgeous to grossly polluted...from one ceremony performed on our local Echo Beach in Canguu. And this will have occurred on every beach in Bali since it was a part of one of their biggest holidays; Nyepi or Balinese New Year.
Check out the revealing photos on our blog; www.mytb.org/BCtoBali
Most of what you see in these photos is plastic bags used to carry their bamboo, flower and rice offerings, called “canang sari”. The plant based offerings will break down in the waves but the plastic bags will not.
The “canang sari” are ubiquitous here in Bali, placed as offerings to the Gods 2-3 times a day, on every door step, sidewalk, rice paddy and temple. Making up these bamboo dishes is part of the daily work for every Balinese wife. She deftly creates them with a knife and stapler as part of her many domestic ceremonial duties. I've never seen a more hard working woman than the Balinese wife. She spends about 30% of her day preparing, performing or cleaning up after ceremony.
This sadly polluted beach is the impact of her hard work, orchestrated by the all powerful Balinese Priest. The Priest has immense power in Bali. No ceremony is conducted without his guidance. He's well educated and trained in the many Balinese religious rituals performed here.
I suggest that this sad ritual impact could easily be reversed and ended with a simple command from the Priest to take your plastic garbage home with you. Simply plant the seed to raise the awareness of this environmental disaster with every Balinese citizen. “Love Bali by caring for her, take your garbage home.”
Any suggestion from other travelers on how Bali can clean up it's beaches?
Bagus in Bali,
Stephanie
http://www.nutritionarticlesonline.com
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