COVID-19 has inspired the ridding of PLASTIC in Bali!
Most of the workers in Bali are, or were, employed in the tourism sector, now most of them are unemployed with no income to support their families.
Along comes Janur Yasa – the Balinese owner of a highly successful vegetarian restaurant in Bali called Moksa, he has established in a few months an amazing initiative to help the many desperate and often starving Balinese. This initiative not only gives them food on their table, but also their dignity back and an opportunity for the future.
In under 4 months this program has recovered and re-cycled over 60 Tons of plastic from several local villages close to Ubud. So successful has this program become, word of mouth has many Banjar’s (village leaders) from other regions now eager to introduce it into their own villages and beaches.
WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
Applying the KISS principle (Keep It Sweet and Simple) for every Kilogram of plastic collected a proportionate quantity of rice (or perhaps food) is offered.
The villagers and especially the children (not in school until end of 2020) actively collect plastic from the area, bag it and once a week present it for weighing and exchanging for a point system with the local Banjar. If they have cleaned the plastic, they get more points, if they have also separated the plastic into the 3 main types - again more points. By collecting the waste plastics from their own households, subacs, rivers, beaches or rice fields and exchanging for points, they can now feed themselves from this effort.
The benchmark for uncleaned rice, is 5kg of Plastic gets them 1 kg of rice – enough to feed a family of four for a day.
The plastic is redeemed with the recyclers for a small sum, but the main purchase of the rice comes from donation. In time the value of the plastic and perhaps products produced from it could go a long way towards making the village self-sufficient.
- $40 USD or $60 AUD will buy 60-days’ supply of rice for one family!
- $0.75 USD or $1 AUD will buy one Kilogram of rice, a small price for feeding a family for one day!
There are no admin fees or costs, every dollar raised goes towards the purchase of food. Visit the Go Fund Me page by clicking the button below. Every donation is appreciated no matter how small!
NEXT STEP
Where does the Pyramids of Chi stand in all this?
We are initially proposing support to Janur with organizational assistance, seeking donations and encouraging other Banjar’s to participate in this worthwhile program.
After a proving time (by the end of 2020 we hope), Bali will be on the way towards being the most waste plastic free island in Asia. With this fact established - using such a simple method, we are discussing with Jamur and his team the opportunity of introducing the program to all other Indonesian Regencies. Then out into the global arena and especially Asia and India where the food crises are so evident and plastic pollution such a major environmental concern.
We have the international expertise to help with that expansion and are very excited at this opportunity for a 3 way win win situation – environment protection, dignity for the poorer people and overcoming hunger – the number 1 killer in the world.
Please watch the video below to see the proposal in more detail, and if you are also a lover of Bali and its wonderful people, then please consider a donation via the Go Fund Me page, every bit helps and remember - it is not just to feed a family - but to clean up the planet!
Thank you for taking the time to consider this incredible initiative and would encourage everyone to help us spread this very important message. With everything happening around world and usually in an extremely negative way it is wonderful to be able to share good news, be a part of the movement.
Peter & Lynn McIntosh
Founders & Directors
