NATURE WEEK – UnPanel Discussion – Don’t Be Trashy

Let’s break up the monotony of panels where we tend to talk a lot with no outcome. So we are bringing you the UnPanel where we are going to leave with community actions items. 

Special Guests:

Rima Agustina from Trash Hero Indonesia, a community of environmentally conscious people, here to answer the call to action against waste. Their efforts are fuelled by hope, not anger, for a smarter and cleaner future. Started with weekly cleanup in some public areas 5 years ago, they caught local’s attention to join the act. The number of local Trash Hero Indonesia chapters, including fledgling groups, now stands at more than 40 active chapters.

Trash Hero focuses themselves in education through action. By actively engaging communities through these hands-on activities, Trash Hero continues to teach both adults and children the importance of having environmental values. The group believes motivating people to become Trash Heroes in their everyday lives removes the barrier for change and inspires them to understand that small steps can lead to big changes.

Deeply troubled at what he saw, Project Sepit Founder Ketut Arimbawa gathered the leaders of his community to discuss what could be done in the to tackle the problem. Ketut was given the green light by the community leaders to start a movement aimed at reducing the plastic (and trash) on the streets of Tampaksiring. The start of the organisation has seen it taking to the streets, jungles and other parts of Indonesia to clean up the plastic and other trash with our partner schools and volunteers. At present we do this every Saturday morning with our sepits. Once we have bags of trash we separate it and place it into the correct bins that we have created and distributed.

We also support, educate, and assist in the growth of, local communities. For example, as set out below under “Our Fundraising Goals and Expenditure” we aim to raise money through fundraisers, campaigns and donations to purchase a new water pump for the Tampaksiring community, providing of fresh water there. We also created our own permaculture farm next to the Project Sepit office in Tampaksiring where we provide workshops and other activities as we look to show people how sustainable farming and gardening works. We hope to be able to support more communities in the future.

Blue Bear Bali, a multi-faced space where people from all ages and color come together to skate, enjoy music, learn, eat and drink, in short just to have a great time. Daniela Budi developed Blue Bear Bali from the beginning together with Wayan Budiana from banjar Kutuh in Sayan. From the building process of the stunning Bamboo Hut to the set-up of the WASTE for SKATE program, every single actions or happening has been shared with the community that surrounds Blue Bear. To be able to blend innovation and tradition is our strength: everyone is contributing to growing the sense of belonging that makes Blue Bear so unique and this is why it is open to everyone that care about sustainability, education, sport, culture and wants to turn an “idea” into positive solutions and action  projects.

Sophie Woo, arrived in Bali, after selling her IT company in the Philippines. Her intention was to have a short break from normal life, but after 3 years she is still here. Being in Bali changed her lifestyle and way of thinking. Volunteering at the Greenschool’s recycling centre Kembali, helped her to realize that the waste problem can only be solved by tackling it from all different angles and levels. When she met Silvija Rumiha, the founder of Zero Waste Bali with stores in Kerobokan and Berawa, about a year ago, she decided to collaborate and open her own bulk food store in Ubud, just across the street from where she lives.  Zero Waste Bali aims to assist others in reducing the amount of waste and plastic they consume. Both Silvija and Sophie are trying to be part of the solution, not only through the stores but also educating students in schools, speaking at conferences and events on how to make small differences in your lifestyle. Every small act will have an impact. more info: https://zerowastebali.com/

Steven Matthew is a marine engineer, lawyer and commercial executive experienced in the shipping and marine environmental fields. Most recently Steven has led the development of companies in Asia which have commercially developed technologies to combat the spread of marine invasive aquatic species in ships ballast water.

Steven is currently a Board Director of  A Plastic Ocean Foundation, a charitable organization registered in Hong Kong, dedicated to creating a wave of change to stop plastic pollution and to be part of the solution through science, education and policy advocacy.  The Foundation is behind the award winning feature-length documentary A Plastic Ocean, which has reached millions of viewers around the world and continues to astonish and move people to action each day.