Over the last decades, we -as all the human beings on this planet- have been going through turbulent times globally and collectively and exposed to critical ecological issues like global climate change, environmental degradation, pollution of soil, water and air because of overconsumption and lack of waste management, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and etc.
We may undergo some of these global issues where we live and we mostly learn about them through media. On the other hand, traveling paves the way for coming into contact with these new unfoldings more widely that threaten the wellbeing of our planet and all the living beings including us. My journey in Bali enabled me to take a close look at the actual condition of our dear planet that is evolving through the harmful impacts of our civilization. Our new world culture is inevitably affected by our consumption habits and the lack of our connection with nature. Living in the same boat, it is saddening to notice what is happening to our planet we call home.
In this sense, my observations and experiences in Bali were merely a slap in the face. (I must make myself clear that what I write here is not just about Bali but also refers to so many other places on our planet.) Bali was way more different from what I expected. As it was invaded by over tourism, the quality of life has deteriorated dramatically. Inevitably being exposed to the exhaustive traffic on the bustling streets and intersections filled with extreme number of motorbikes was very disappointing. Of course, you always have the option of exploring the towns on foot, but for this you need to take the risk to walk on the narrow roads with no pavements, therefore no safety and no comfort. This chaotic scene can be very overwhelming, not to mention the threatening air pollution.
Because of overtourism and the lack of ecological awareness and sensitivity of visitors, Bali is seriously suffering from pollution. Due to my understanding, it is apparent that the local government is not qualified or equipped enough to handle the challenges of this pollution. Because of the lack of waste management, some parts of the roads, water canals, riverbeds, rice fields, and the coastline are filled with plastics. Below you see the layer upon layer of ocean plastic (mostly single used plastics) coming to the shores with every wave break. If we continue on consuming like this, this issue can be at every beach on this planet.
Below we see a turtle trapped in the plastics. She was luckily seen and sent to the ocean.
Water consumption is extreme therefore 200 out of 400 rivers on the island already dried up. Water pollution, in other words contaminated food and water cause diseases such as typhoid and salmonella. Most of the people suffer from ‘Bali Belly’, a phrase used to describe the diarrhea and the stomachache caused by bacterias. I recommend you to be vaccinated for typhoid before coming to Bali.
The island is becoming more and more crowded as foreigners started to make investments, the sales of properties are increasing. So there are so many constructions going on, turning the agricultural fields into new settlements for newcomers. For a better future of the island, there is no doubt that a clear administrative vision is needed.
Above is a view of an untouched nature of tropical rainforests at the heart of the islands.
Unconscious actions of human inevitably threaten the biodiversity, critically affecting the flora and the fauna of the environment. (Not to mention, the cruelty over domestic animals and livestock is obvious and widespread around the world.) For example; pollution, overfishing, collecting live corals and climate change are some of the many ways that people damage coral reefs. I’d like to give one other striking example on this matter. Lovina, a small town in north Bali is well known for dolphin watching tours. Thousands of tourists visit the place every year.
Every day in the early morning, around 50-70 expedition boats sail to the crossing route of the dolphins and chase them in full speed. Dolphins are exposed to this stress every day! In order to keep them in the area, tour guides feed them, preventing them to go to the open sea. By this way dolphins can’t get into contact with other families and pushed to inbreed. As a result, the newborns are becoming smaller in size each year, joining the list of endangered species. However, Lovina is a marine protected area, there is no inspection going on. One other example that has to be paid attention to regarding these wild life expedition tours is the whale shark tours in Flores, another island of Indonesia.
Emerging conditions of today’s world also give rise to socio-cultural corruption on the society. Heavily occupied by tourism and fascinated by its economic return, locals are moving away from their traditions and cultural values. Therefore, conservation of the cultural heritage is gaining importance. They are also losing their vital connection with nature, overlooking the environmental degradation and the pollution of the oceans, rivers or forests.
However, not so long ago (maybe around 50 years ago) most of the settlements we see today were just jungles, there were no roads, no electricity in most of the places. Seeing the old photos of the locals (above) in their indigenous way of living is depicting the extreme speed of the evolution. For sure there is nothing wrong with the inescapable flow of the evolution. What I try to point to here is that; the evolution seems like to move through to an unconscious direction that is harmful for our planet and all the beings living on it.
One other thing to mention.. It was interesting to see that the profile of travelers are also changing over the years. Frankly speaking, before the travelers were more sensitive ecologically, more aware in terms of consumption habits, more open to communicate and more friendly to help and share. I witnessed so many ignorance. I saw people leaving the tap open during the whole time of brushing the teeth. I slept in the same rooms with people that were covering themselves with blankets while leaving the AC open all night long. Plastic water bottles and plastic bags were used extensively and unconsciously.
While witnessing all of these in my journeys in Bali, I wasn’t knowing that I was going to be caught in a typhoon in Thailand only one month later. The impacts of this typhoon was so destructive, lots of people and animals (including elephants) died, huge agricultural areas and forests tore down by the flood. These destructions were also because of human-driven reasons like ocean warming, climate change, deforestation and urbanization. It is the time to acknowledge our footprint on this planet. It is time to realize that we are sharing our home with so many other species that are inseparable from our life.
Humankind! Are you aware of your actions? Is it worth to be blind to life? What do we gain by overlooking the lives of the innocent living beings? Please recognize that we are misusing our power. Rather than being in service for Mother Nature, we are disregarding our vital connection with life itself. We are failing to recognize our unity therefore we are betraying ourselves!
Please in your travels and in your life, be open and be aware of the consequences of your actions. Let’s realize our oneness NOW and let our entire being become an expression of love and compassion.
