Sea shell sales should be stopped<\/p>\n
I was shocked and saddened to see a photograph published on
\nAug. 22, 1999 in your Spotlight section. This picture showed I.
\nGede Ardika, the Director General of Tourism, admiring a display
\nof souvenirs at the Kemilau Bali (Sparkle of Bali) exhibition in
\nJakarta. The souvenirs which Mr. Ardika apparently found very
\npleasing, consisted of sea shells and dried reef fish used as
\ndecorations.<\/p>\n
The collection and sale of these objects is one of the factors
\ncontributing to the destruction of Indonesia's coral reefs, which
\nare disappearing at an alarming rate. Not only are these reefs
\nand essential part of the ecosystem which sustain human and
\nanimal life in Indonesia, they are also one of the reasons
\ntourists come to Bali and other parts of this country. Without
\nhealthy reefs, tourism based on diving, snorkeling and surfing
\nwill vanish over night. Seaside resorts will also go bankrupt as
\ntheir beaches erode away, a tragedy already affecting most of
\nSouth Bali. And the people throughout Indonesia who rely on
\ncoastal fishing for food and income, may face starvation, when
\nthe fish vanish for lack of their natural habitat.<\/p>\n
It is ironic that the photo caption bore the heading Tourism
\npromo. If the Director General of Tourism takes such obvious
\npleasure in this appalling exploitation of his country's
\nendangered environment, what hope can we hold for Indonesia's
\nfuture? And if a prominent newspaper \"spotlights\" and celebrates
\nsuch environmental irresponsibility, what conclusions can we draw
\nabout the levels of environmental awareness among the country's
\nmedia, as leading opinion formers?<\/p>\n
I would like to encourage government officials and journalists
\nto increase their awareness and understanding of the
\nenvironmental issues that threaten the viability of Indonesia as
\na tourism destination and a place of human habitation. I would
\nalso urge them to consider legislation banning the sale of sea
\nshells and coral.<\/p>\n
SUSI E. JOHNSTON<\/p>\n
Ubud, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sea-shell-sales-should-be-stopped-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }