Bali bamboo conference draws world's interest

Bali bamboo conference draws world's interest

JAKARTA (JP): Bamboo enthusiasts and environmentalists from
all over the world are meeting in Bali for the fourth
International Bamboo Congress, Workshop, and Festival.

The four-day conference, which begins in Ubud on June 19, will
be marked by a gala benefit evening at the Four Seasons Resort on
June 17, which will celebrate Indonesian art, culture, and
fashion.

The conference, which will discuss the potential of bamboo as
a more efficient timber substitute, is attracting international
media attention. The international television broadcaster CNN
will provide coverage of both the gala event and the conference.
Elsa Klench of CNN Style will provide commentary on the fashion
show, which will feature the collections of Biyan, Prajudi, and
Ghea Sukarya.

"Bamboo, people and the environment" is the theme of the
conference, but that will not be the focus of the fashion show.

"All the clothes will use Indonesian textiles", said Ghea
Sukarya, "but they will not have a specifically bamboo-like
character".

The accompanying music festival, featuring 27 groups of bamboo
musicians and dancers from across the archipelago, will be more
bamboo-oriented. MTV Asia is also expected to cover the event.
Peter Gabriel is scheduled to make a CD recording of the event
for his Real World music label.

The Environmental Bamboo Foundation and The International
Bamboo Foundation of America are hosting the event, in co-
operation with the Center for Research and Development in
Biology, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, and various state
Ministries. Linda Garland, founder of the Environmental Bamboo
Foundation and a world-renowned interior designer, hopes the
event will promote the use of bamboo. At present, more than 5,000
uses have been identified for bamboo, ranging from industrial use
to medicinal and food purposes.

Bamboo is the world's fastest growing plant and also one of
its most durable products. Its elastic quality inspired the
organizers to promote the use of bamboo for architecture in
earthquake zones. Flores, the Eastern Indonesian island which
recently experienced major earthquakes, is the first target of
its bamboo farm development.

Toto Tasmara of the Humpuss Group, one of the conference's
sponsors, said: "Part of the benefit's proceeds will go into
funding bamboo farms in Flores and rebuilding the island with
quake-resistant bamboo architecture." (Dini S. Djalal)