Melati and Isabel Wijsen's Presentation on Plastic Pollution in Bali

Introduction

• Melati Wijsen: Bali is known as the island of gods.
• Isabel Wijsen: It's considered a green paradise, yet it's becoming a paradise lost to garbage.
• Bali generates 680 cubic meters of plastic waste daily, equivalent to a 14-story building.
• Less than 5% of plastic bags are recycled in Bali.
• Most plastic bags end up in drains, rivers, and oceans, or are burned or littered.

The Call to Action

• Melati and Isabel decided to address the plastic bag issue.
• They have been campaigning for almost three years to eliminate plastic bags on Bali.

Education and Motivation

• Both sisters attend Green School in Bali, which emphasizes leadership and environmental awareness.
• Inspired by historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, they aspired to make a difference early on.

Identifying the Problem

• The sisters brainstormed and identified plastic garbage as a major issue, especially plastic bags.
• They began researching and found little positive about plastic bags.

Launching "Bye Bye Plastic Bags"

• Inspired by global efforts, they launched "Bye Bye Plastic Bags."
• Realized the importance of teamwork and formed a group called the Bye Bye Plastic Bags crew.
• Initiatives include petitions, educational presentations, awareness campaigns, and distribution of alternative bags.

Community and Government Engagement

• Initiated a pilot village program to make it plastic bag free.
• First efforts to engage the Bali government were unsuccessful.

Innovative Strategies and Challenges

• Attempted to gather one million petition signatures to gain government attention.
• Realized the need to think outside the box and targeted Bali airport passengers for signatures.

Lessons Learned

1. Teamwork: Essential for success, formed a team with local and international students.
2. Persistence: Necessary for overcoming challenges; persistence led to collaboration with Bali airport.
3. Champions: Support from leaders at all societal levels is crucial.
4. Networking: Leveraged connections with influential figures like Ban Ki Moon and Jane Goodall.

Hunger Strike Strategy

• Inspired by Gandhi, they used a modified hunger strike to meet the governor of Bali.
• Gained attention and met with the governor, who promised to support their cause.

Achievements and Future Goals

• The governor committed to making Bali plastic bag free by 2018.
• Bali International Airport planned plastic bag-free policy by 2016.
• New campaign "One Island / One Voice" to promote plastic bag-free zones.

Closing Message

• Melati and Isabel encourage kids worldwide to make a difference.
• Emphasize that kids represent 100% of the future.
• They won't stop until Bali asks visitors to declare plastic bags upon arrival.

Conclusion

• The Wijsen sisters’ initiative highlights the power of youth-led activism and the potential for significant environmental change.