Conservation part of the game in Bali
Conservation part of the game in Bali
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): In response to Bali's rapid environmental
degradation resulting from development projects, the Balinese are
learning ecological conservation through game-playing.
The approach, designed and introduced by environmental
activists, aims to improve people's awareness about ecology.
"Remember the cellular phone maker who promoted a game
feature? The TV ad says there is child in every one of us -- we
believe that's true," says Putu Liza Mustika, an activist with
WWF Wallacea Bioregion.
The Bali Enviro-Game is designed by the WWF Wallacea Bioregion
in cooperation with the Wisnu Foundation which runs the Center
for Environmental Education (PPLH) and Matamera, one of Bali's
largest graphic design firms.
The game is similar to Monopoly but without the concepts of
real estate, utilities or public works. There are no monopolistic
overtones in the enviro-game.
The Bali Enviro-Game board depicts a map of Bali, its
ecological wealth and various ecological threats. On the map,
there are six square boxes in which to deposit 90 "issue cards."
The cards are divided into six groups: agriculture, goods and
services, marine tourism, inland tourism, home and school, and
home industry. Each card tells a story about actions that either
threaten the environment or preserve nature.
The Enviro-Game also includes a six-sided dice and a heap of
colorful toy bank notes in denominations of Rp 10,000, Rp 50,000
and Rp 100,000.
"We make the appearances all beautiful so that people will be
interested in the Enviro-Game," says Yuyun Ilham, chief of the
Wisnu Foundation.
It is a simple game to play. Each player gets starting capital
of Rp 100,000 from a "game facilitator." After throwing the dice,
the player picks a card as indicated from a throw of the dice.
If the card is about actions harmful to the environment, the
player will have to pay a fine as prescribed in the card. But if
the card is about conservation, the player wins a cash prize. To
win, you must collect the most cash enviro-rewards by the end of
the game.
"The better the player's ability to explain environmental
issues to the facilitator, the more prizes he wins," Liza says.
The Bali Enviro-Game was created by NGO activists to introduce
environmental issues to senior high school students without
burdening the curriculum or the teachers' workload.
"The best choice is a game," Liza says.
The game was introduced to 15 senior high schools in Denpasar
and received an enthusiastic response, she says.
Some teachers criticized the technique, however, for using
terminology that is used in the gambling world, such as bandar
(bookmaker). (zen)