(Markus Spiske, Unsplash)
This article is brought to you thanks to the collaboration of The European Sting with the World Economic Forum.
Author: Johnny Wood, Writer, Formative Content
- Two young change-makers have taken decisive action against plastic waste on their home island of Bali.
- They founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags, a campaign to ban single-use plastics on the island.
- In 2019, a ban on single-use plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam items was introduced.
- Now they are advising other would-be campaigners around the world on how to become successful activists.
Around the world, youngsters like Melati Wijsen and her sister, Isabel, are taking a stand, campaigning for change to protect their future and that of the planet.
The girls grew up on the Indonesian island of Bali, where the sun-soaked golden beaches had become strewn with plastic waste washed up by the ocean. So, in 2013, the sisters – then 12 and 10, respectively – decided to do something about it.
Melati has laid out three steps she believes anyone can take to make a change for the better.
Step 1 – Know yourself
“Find that one thing that you’re incredibly passionate about, that you think about 24/7. This is important because focusing on one thing allows you to find that tangible way that you can make a difference.”
— Melati Wijsen, Founder, Bye Bye Plastic Bags
At the start of the campaign, Bali was generating enough plastic every day to fill a 14-storey building. And 95% of plastic bags were thrown away after being used just once.
The BBPB movement mobilized young people on the island to raise awareness of the issue and pressure authorities to take action.
Step 2 – Know how you’re going to reach your goal
“Come up with a timeline. What is step 1? What is step 2? It might not always be easy because it will be different for everybody,” Melati says.
“The goal with Bye Bye Plastic Bags was to ban plastic bags. But we got started by doing beach clean-ups, educational workshops, and talks with a lot of different people campaigning. Those are some of the different ways you can get to your goal.”
The sisters organized beach clean-ups and spoke at schools, festivals and markets. They even went on hunger strike to draw attention to their cause and ultimately convinced the governor of Bali to meet them.
After six years of tireless campaigning, Bali banned single-use plastics in 2019, including bags, straws and Styrofoam items like cups and food containers.
What is the World Economic Forum doing about plastic pollution?
More than 90% of plastic is never recycled, and a whopping 8 million metric tons of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans annually. At this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans by 2050.
The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) is a collaboration between businesses, international donors, national and local governments, community groups and world-class experts seeking meaningful actions to beat plastic pollution.
It aims to show how businesses, communities and governments can redesign the global “take-make-dispose” economy as a circular one in which products and materials are redesigned, recovered and reused to reduce environmental impacts.
Step 3 – Don’t try to do it alone
“You need to have a team and surround yourself with like-minded people to take your idea into reality. But where do you go to get a team? We started with our closest friends. Call them, look to your teachers, your parents and your local communities. And if you speak from the heart, people will follow that,” Melati says.
“Time is ticking. Everything is happening in our lifetime and we know it. The science, the facts, they’re all there…young people are realizing the potential they have to drive change forward.”
— Melati Wijsen, Founder, Bye Bye Plastic Bags
For young people to continue to realize their potential to enact change, Melati is launching a platform called YOUTHTOPIA to empower young people to take action.
Through workshops, gatherings and online classes the new initiative aims to teach would-be activists skills in areas like public speaking, how to organize campaigns, leadership and talking to governments.
“No matter how old you are or where you come from, you can always lead by example. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait until you’re older for someone else to make that path for you. Make your own path – and go for it.”
— Melati Wijsen, Founder, Bye Bye Plastic Bags
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