A Regenerative Future for Bali?
Tropical Islands Will Lead the Transformation. Dream? Or Opportunity?
Traveling opens my mind. And because I have the good excuse of a project bringing me here, I will stay long and dive deep into the culture. Repayment for the damage I do by flying here.
Usually, something emerges then. Something I can write about and maybe start new, regenerative projects with. And yes, that’s what is happening here in Indonesia, too. I’m here now for three weeks, staying for three months, traveling by train and boat.
Starting on Java, now on Bali. And here, surrounded by wild nature and deep spirituality, two pictures emerge. I see the Bali as it is now and the Bali as it can be.
Bali as it is now
Let me explain first how I see Bali now. I’m in Ubud. My first guesthouse is on Monkey Forest Road. Luckily a bit off the street so it’s relatively quiet. But as soon as I step out, the tourists shopping for cheap (but very good quality!) stuff are crowding me.
The locals are asking me if I want a taxi or food or buy something else. I understand. They need to earn a living. I smile friendly, but my stomach feels tight.
I try to feel what’s happening here. It’s hard with so much noise around. But a remark from my partner triggers the answer. He says: “They smile and want our money, but if you look into their hearts, they want to get rid of us and get on with real life.” It’s a dilemma situation for them. And then the picture emerges.
“They smile and want our money, but if you look into their hearts they want to get rid of us and get on with real life.” M.H.
The smothering pillow
I see lots of healthy rivers flowing through this beautiful land, fed by the monsoon. A healthy undergrowth of spirituality, nature, and powerfully proud people inhabits this land.
The coconut trees are holding large fruits in the tops of their palms. The dragon fruits and mangos grow abundantly. Vibrant colors sparkle. The smells of flowers and ripe fruits simmer in the hot, humid air.
And then I see a large pillow of loud tourists and consumerism smothering the island. The undergrowth tries to make the spiritual powers stronger so they can still be heard. But it’s no more than a whisper. The loud tourists are drowning out the sound of nature, culture, and spirituality.
Okay, so far my picture of the here and now. The good news is that there is such a strong sense of belonging in the local people. They are immensely proud of their island.
If Wikipedia is right, they fought hard to keep their spirituality. They created a cultural exchange with India to redefine their Hinduism and find the right words to be a monoculture. That’s perseverance. And they might need it badly if Bali wants the opportunity of transformation that I will be describing in the next few paragraphs.
Bali as it can be
What can Bali become? I see an island of healing. Of restoring ecosystems, producing lots of different kinds of fruits, creating businesses by adding value. The island can become self-sustaining in energy, freshwater, and food.
And I envision a limited amount of eco-tourists who want to be on the island because they want to be inspired. By the bamboo buildings, by excellent woodwork, by the Balinese massage and spa where they can relax and regenerate their bodies. They pay fair prices that will be reinvested in the island’s recovery.
Local beer breweries will provide an income for local people and replace Heineken and Bintang, the brands that now suck local money out of the economy.
I see dedicated people not competing with each other, but collaborating to create what is good for the island. And I see a local movement of respect for nature, cleaning up the plastic waste, caring for their rivers, their soil, their sea.
I hear you, I hear you, stop the romantic picture, Desiree. Get real!
Well, there’s good news for you. This CAN become a reality. It has been done on other islands, such as El Hierro in Spain, and is gaining momentum all around the world.
El Hierro island, Spain
I wrote about El Hierro in two articles.
And if you want to know HOW, please read them carefully and ask questions if you don’t understand. I’m always available for people who seriously want to make the difference. And we have to reinvent the future together, all from our own strength and local situation…
My visit to El Hierro inspired me and activated me to do what I’m currently asked to do in Indonesia: explain the mechanisms to other tropical islands. Empowering them to take the future into their own hands and make it happen.
It needs a mind-shift, but it can be done. It’s called Blue Economy, a regenerative economy, a regenerative culture and I think Bali has all the signs of potential to become one.
Tourism might still be part of it. It won’t go away. But it can be made to contribute. Daniel Christian Wahl wrote about it in “Tourism as a catalyst for regional regeneration & climate resilience”.
Empowering tropical islands
The islands of the world are the victims at the moment. Climate change will affect them most badly. Where the rich countries are the cause of climate change, the tropical islands have to find solutions.
What if the islands of the world would step out of their victim role and gain their power? What if every island could build a healthy economy on their own unique strength?
What if every island would ask itself:
- “What do I want to be as an island?”
- “What are my strengths, my unique qualities?”
- “How can I become self-sustaining in order to survive?”
- “How can I keep the money on my own island and re-invest it in climate adaptation measures?”
Tropical islands can lead the way. And that is my next picture. I envision how tropical islands will gain the knowledge and courage to do it. They can definitely inspire each other to make it happen!
We just need an ISLAND (R)EVOLUTION…
And maybe the first step will be that I am invited to give a talk at Green School Bali about the regenerative island economy. Let the island (r)evolution begin!
And if you want to connect, you can find me on LinkedIn or currently traveling within Indonesia…
