Bye-Bye plastic Bags is a well known social initiative driven by a team of 25 volunteers children attending local and schools international. These progressive and relevant environmentalists are trying to ban the use, sale and manufacture of plastic bags in Bali, in January 2015, with their campaign.
Inspired by a study of important people and imitating their heroes such as Nelson Mandela, Lady Diana and Martin Luther King, young Wilsen sisters decided they wanted to become as significant. Melati, age13, and Isabel, age11, are both students at the Green School, where they became aware that the mass of plastic consumer products has created a plastic wasteland on Bali.
"In fact, we have always seen more waste than in other Western countries, but in recent years it has become worse. Or maybe we're in a time when we believe that we must take care of our island. We must take responsibility and can not keep standing by the sidelines if the government will not commit seriously. "
Recognizing the complex garbage problem that currently exists on the island, they decided to focus on a manageable and achievable problem, reduce and, if possible, ban single-use plastic bags in Bali. Bye-Bye Plastic Bags was founded in October 2013, when the girls made a presentation to the Conference of GIN.
"We would really like, really to meet the Governor Pastika, but we had no luck so far. We want to do our hero. We do not need or want something of Bapak he has not already said or promised a law to ban plastic bags is already in many other countries is easy;.. just say nO to plastic bags! "
BBPB are basically" warming "who can implement a final solution to the problem of the largest and significant waste of Bali. Melati and Isabel consider "Say NO to plastic" as the first step towards consciousness, one that will encourage a positive attitude and the desire for change in the community.
"Our pilot village called Pererenan. We chose this village in January and had three months worth of meetings. There is an organization called PGL (Pererenan Gumi Lestari) who were already active maintenance and improvement of shrimp in the rivers, trees and birds. Say NO to plastic fitted very well with their program. in addition, the village chief, Bapak Ketut has supported from the great start. "
It took three months of the introduction "Say NO to plastic" in local schools and through all the village organizations or banjar . BBPB organized sports days, cleanings, and created a presentation team, media team, the fundraising team and a team bag. The group submitted a set of three bags every Indonesian family (KK) and distributed alternative bags to all stores and warungs . It was estimated that the surveillance and monitoring was the key issue to see if the pilot village really become a "zone free of plastic bags" after nine months of work.
"We distributed 800 bags for each family of Desa, a set of three washable bags, small, medium and large. Another 1000 paper bags were distributed to warungs and stores and 21 June 600 other reusable bags to stores. "
BBPB soon learned that without the help and support of the local population, the changes would not occur. They made contact with the village chief, the head of the banjar and the PKK (the collective of women). At the government level, the supports Camat Bye-Bye Plastic Bag. They are also supported by similar organizations such as the Green School, Jari Menari, Canggu Rotary pile Pasar and Eco Bali.
"We had Paula and Eco Service Bali long time so we contacted for professional advice. Then one thing led to another and we made the bags together. They even joined with meetings of Banjar and hope Eco Bali will be a part of our team in the next village. "
Bye-Bye plastic bags have a multi-layer consisting of presentations approach in local and international schools online petition, general awareness of plastic NO with walks, talks, and cleanings. They are sure to inspire other schools and youth around the world to launch their own campaigns. BBPB have been on TV several times and appeared in publications, magazines and newspapers.
"We all love Bali as the island of temples, smiles and rice fields. But now it is more famous than the island of rubbish! We are planning our next programs for a nearby village Ubud and probably our own village Pantai Seseh. We want the government to support our campaign, we can cover the whole of Bali. "
Recognizing the importance of awareness, BBPB organized fun events such as Flash Mobs and the recent Plastik Fantastik Tidak festival, which took place in June in the Green School and collected nearly 45 million Rupiah. The day included competitions to create visual art, a display fashion show of clothes made from plastic, workshops, poetry, songs and environmental films. The Green School has since integrated BBPB as part of their curriculum.
What a wonderful initiative! We must all support the BBPB team, with their inexhaustible positive energy, to preserve beautiful Bali for future generations.
Sign the petition to www.avaaz.org and search for 'Bye-Bye Plastic Bags in Bali. "
www.bye-byeplasticbags.com