Rituals are not good enough

Rituals are not good enough

Recently the Wana Kretih ritual was held in Bali in an attempt
to return the island to its natural balance and protect Bali from
environmental disaster.

For 16 years I have been coming to the "Islands of the Gods".
But how it has changed over such a short period of time! Air,
water and soil pollution, caused by carelessness and greed for
profit, have brought floods, landslides, erosion and an
alarmingly decrease in the population of local marine fauna and
flora.

Where have Ubud`s lush paddy fields gone? Where has the
beautiful Candidasa beach disappeared to? What happened to the
Southwestern coast? Where are the traditional salt-makers of
Ahmed? Why can't you breathe in Denpasar without feeling sick?
Where are the charming school-kids, running behind your motor-
bike, asking for a pen instead of money?

It is not rituals, but action that is urgently needed to heal
the deep wounds that have afflicted Bali's nature and soul. Stop
taking precious land for new and bigger roads and golf courses!
Stop cyanide and dynamite fishing! Stop building hotels,
restaurants, shopping-malls -- there are already too many of
them! Stop wasting precious freshwater resources. Remember: You
cannot eat money.

They say that the gods of Bali reside in the dormant volcano
of Gunung Agung, which brought death and disaster to Bali in
March 1963. The Gods are angry. Do not awake them again.

MICHAEL BEER

Amlapura, Bali