Home | Vol 13 Table of Contents | Previous Issues | Contact Us: 07 55278753 / 0405463663 | Email: judybyronbay@yahoo.com

Messages of Peace from Bali

"To (create) a supportive environment where culture, religion, gender and ethnicity are sources of learning rather than sources of conflict; and where people from different backgrounds can explore, not only the diversity they represent, but also the similarities they share. To offer the opportunity to better understand, not only the values, beliefs and world views of others, but also their own. To affirm the need for balance on the planet earth and the fundamental unity and interconnectedness of all things. To encourage more empathy, compassion and respect for each other and the world we share." - Pondok Pekak Library & Learning. Center Vision.

"War is not an answer to our problems... There has been too much tragedy in this world. Make your voices heard and write a letter to our politicians." Ibu Laurie in Bali, has been volunteering at Sanglah hospital. Thursday, 17 October 2002. "Been a rough week though. Details on the Bali bombings are coming out like molasses. News is very inconsistent, often inaccurate and biased: ie a special on CNN International Monday night ("TERROR IN BALI"). Not a single mention was made of the Indonesians involved...the hundreds injured, dead or missing...nor their volunteer efforts. ALL interviews and data, and most visuals (which the exception of scary military shots and a few doctors) were focused on white foreigners as if they were the only ones there... either as victims or volunteers. The rest of the 'special' was actually a sales pitch to convince the viewing audience that this is clearly another Al Qaeda plot. I suggest seeking ANY other news source rather than CNN...such as Australian-based www.abc.net.au/news which is pretty up to date and less biased.

"…People from all over the world, representing many countries and all religions working side by side to do what needed to be done...restaurants, hotels, guides, translators, counselors, students, tourists, expats, visiting doctors...you name it, they were there. People jumping in and doing the job no matter what it entails... One American woman (who doesn't speak Indonesian) was holding the hand of a seriously burned and injured Indonesian woman in ICU. She did not know what else to do so spontaneously started singing, which she continued until the woman finally fell asleep. The patient was awakened when the nurse came in and changed her drip. Her first request was could that nice foreign woman please come sing to her again...which she, of course, did.

"It felt really good to do something (anything) but the emotional backlash is finally hitting me… I keep getting teary, then feeling guilty for being so self-indulgent… It's been horrific and depressing and sad. The whole experience has shaken my little universe, although I long ago gave up the illusion that Bali was particularly safer than anywhere else in the world these days. It has given me a vivid, and permanent picture of both the worst and the best sides of humanity, a picture I certainly did not ask for, I'm not sure I want...and will hopefully learn to embrace someday. It has also helped me to re-evaluate some priorities including the need to be more proactively working towards peace in the world. Not sure what that looks like yet.

"What I know to be true at this moment is that this kind of violence must stop. No one should ever die at the hands of other humans in this or any other way. We don't know who did this. Fingers are being pointed all over the place. The US government, of course, favors the Al Qaeda/radical muslim theory. The Indonesia government appears to be jumping on that one >as well...don't forget, there had been bombings all over Indonesia for years before 9/11 and the international 'war on terrorism'...in those days it was an internal political issue (NEVER a religious one) and the ousted 'New Order' regime and military were the favorite suspects. Other speculations include conspiracies (CIA and the like), while others are convinced 'elements' in Indonesia are using the "war on terrorism" as an excuse to destabilize the country and bring back an authoritarian government. These are just a few of the favorites and all have pretty interesting arguments (based on political, economic or moral motivation). I wonder if we'll ever know for sure.

"What I AM certain of and increasingly concerned about is that there are those who will exploit this to further their own agendas and justify other acts of aggression in the world. This is simply unacceptable. The answer is NOT further violence. This message needs to be spread far and wide.

"Although I already knew it, this has only affirmed my conviction that 1) fear is an illusion, but a very useful tool as it immobilizes intellect and obscures intuition, 2) that love and compassion are much stronger forces than fear (as witnessed at the hospital and streets of Kuta this week), 3) that violence only begets more violence, 4) the only possible solutions to the current world problems MUST be peaceful ones, based on diplomacy, dialog and mutual understanding and respect, and 5) that this can only start with me.

TO GET ON THE MAILING LIST FOR FAQS AND ON THE GROUND UPDATES:
idep@dps.centrin.net.id or casalunafund@yahoo.com

WEBSITES AND ADDRESSES FOR DONATIONS: www.casalunabali.com/relief www.balisos.com To give U.S. tax deductible donations to the relief effort in Bali, please send your checks to: Bali Hati Foundation c/o Mr. Max Lloyd 401 El Caminito Carmel Valley, CA 93924 Please make checks payable to Bali Hati Foundation and a receipt will be mailed to you. Bali Hati Foundation is legally registered in the US under the umbrella of The National Heritage Foundation. Thank you very much for your support. ********** In addition, my personal suggestion is to put this into a global context and do something to change the direction the world is heading. I believe we can change things. Transform the fear in the world into compassion, understanding and peaceful action. This can be done in so many ways, from full on political activism to something simple....like going to the nearest hospital, finding a stranger in pain and alone, taking their hand and singing them to sleep.."

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead.

HEAD OF TOURISM ACTION PLAN/ APPEAL TO THE PEOPLES

On 22/10/2002, Ms. Meity Robot, President of ASITA and Vice-Chairman of the ITC traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to address the annual meeting of the Universal Federation of Travel Agents' Associations (UFTAA).

"Could (the government) have prevented this tragedy? Probably not, time and time again, determined people usually succeed with their evil deeds, even with maximum security. The impact on the world is the greatest when it is the most innocent who are targeted. We pray it will not be repeated, but almost certainly the horror of the terrorism will continue not only in Indonesia, but around the world.

"But we must go on. Indonesia has at least 5 million people who are dependent on tourism directly and some 7 million more indirectly. Many of these are in Bali. Only a few days ago the Minister of Manpower announced that up to 130,000 hotel and tourism workers are likely to be laid off in Bali within a month. That will have a devastating effect on the island. This is the tragedy about which the bombers did not care and the world will not see.

"But what can we do? The Indonesian travel industry immediately united to do everything to help and were involved in the aid to the victims and their families. We will continue to do everything we can to ease the suffering of those affected but now we must think of the future ... Our future. The people of Bali have been struck a cruel blow. Their reputation for friendliness and welcome has been deliberately savaged. Their daily dedication to religion, so apparent everywhere on the island, obliterated. Their warmth and happiness have been torn from them by these vicious blasts. The world and Bali need time to recover. But I plead for the future. Please do not write us off, do not throw us away. We have been the victim and have been so cruelly hit by so many tragedies not of our making that this one leaves us breathless and shocked. But we must not give up. So many people's lives depend on it. So many innocent families will be deprived of their livelihoods.

"We are working with the government, urging action, urging speed, urging decisiveness, urging openness, urging justice, and we hope they will deliver. The eyes of the world are on them. We cannot say Bali will be 100% safe but this is also now true of all destinations in the world. Bali was the beginning but sadly may not be the end. So we as an industry must stand firm and not let these politically based doers of evil win. We must fight and we must pray. Please do not forget the people and the Isle of the Gods, for they are still there. Battered and bruised but preparing their blessed land again to welcome back everyone when they feel the time is right."

BALI UPDATE 10/24/02

Longer term implications of the crisis and lots of positive action is being taken to meet the challenges ahead. "... Bali is in need of skilled people, cash, medical aid and other donations to assist with the post-bombing relief efforts. Help will be needed to help the many people getting unemployed once the tourists are all gone and if they don't come back quickly. We need to find new solutions quickly, we must learn new roads to cross and all work harmoniously together in this crisis." -- Made Sambu (Harry Bleckert), Coordinator, Bali SOS Volunteers.

Approx 6,000 people have been directly affected, suffering the loss of their homes, shops, and livelihoods as a result of the bombing. A number of meetings have been held to identify short and long term needs, and look for ways to coordinate the many individual group efforts for greater effectiveness in the weeks to come. The key areas of need identified were counseling, employment, children's education and funeral expenses for families of the deceased; Counselling, rehabilitation & reschooling, post - surgery and repatriation for the injured; Transportation, food and lodging costs for families of injured victims; Counselling, debriefing and physical check-ups for volunteers; and the upgrading of crisis management, human resources, hygiene, housekeeping,treatment and morgue facilities at the hospital.

In Ubud have named our group: Bali Relief Ubud Volunteers (BARU). BARU in Indonesian translates to "new" and we feel this is an appropriate description of our hopes to renew the spirit of Bali.

Donations can still be given to all three funds. Donation information is available at: www.casalunabali.com/relief or www.balisos.com If you have any fund-related inquiries, contact us on:asalunafund@yahoo.com idep@dps.centrin.net,id.

Three main areas where funds have been or will be allocated in a systematic, accountable and efficient manner, and three long-term projects in need of extended funding:

  • 1) Direct Client Care - supports medical care and basic living needs of families directly affected by the bombing, including victims' families, the injured, and Kuta residents from areas surrounding the bombsite. A comprehensive database at Sanglah controls and accounts for all funds allocated to date.
  • 2) Kuta Crisis Center - this will be a central community center where victims can continue to receive follow-up medical care, emotional counseling, basic living needs such as food and clothing, and continued needs assessments.
  • 3) Burns and Trauma Unit - a new facility will be built.
  • 4) Food Assisted Care - supports the wider Balinese and Indonesian community of Bali who may be affected in the short to long term if Bali's tourism industry continues to decline.
  • 5) Restructuring Program in Kuta, a project to be managed by a group of advertising companies pooling their resources. 6)How to Take Care of Bali - retraining and rebuilding the Balinese economy on a more sustainable basis.

    • Funds from Bali Hati will concentrate on 1, 2 and 3 ONLY. Funds from Casa Luna will be for general use. Monies from IDEP are being deposited into the Bali Hati account as well as a portion of the Casa Luna fund (some of which will remain there to takecare of local expenses such as the Ubud Scooter Club's gas bills--these guys have been ferrying goods and people back and forth to Denpasar for days now). Bali Hati will also establish a separate fund for on-going need in Ubud. If that fund is not activated, it goes into the long term fund.

    Status of fund allocated to date: All three organizations have all used significant resources to direct and organize fundraising efforts in conjunction with a huge number of volunteers including Balinese, other Indonesians, Expats, tourists and personal international contacts. At Sanglah, Graeme Stevens, a dedicated Ubud volunteer, assisted in the creation and operational training of a comprehensive patients & victims database for official accounting and fund allocation purposes. To date, approximately Rp.100 million from various funds and private donors has already been spent on Direct Patient Care, including Rp. 27 million from Bali Hati, Rp. 14 million from Casa Luna and the remaining funds donated to the hospital through various other sources. In addition, a well organized, transparent and accountable organization run by Viebeke and working directly with the Kuta Banjar has distributed Rp. 1.5 million each to over 80 Kuta families of bomb victims / families directly affected near the bombsite. This is enough to tide them over for the next month, and they will be supported completely by both the private and the government sector for their medical and survival needs. Part of the Bali Hati fund was distributed to this cause.

    For more information on how you can support BARU, please check their website www.casalunabali.com/relief for updated information or telephone The BARU hotline at (0361) 976-589 S.O.S. BALI

    For more information on how you can support BaliSOS, please contact BaliRelief@BaliSOS.com , check their website http://Balisos.com for updated information or telephone BaliSOS at (0361) 731-130

    UBUD FESTIVAL OF PEACE AND UNITY -building a better Bali out of the ashes- November 9-10, 2002

    The horrible event of 12 October 2002 has left the people and residents of Bali with many mixed emotions. We feel violated and terribly hurt by this act of violence. We mourn for all who were directly affected by the bombing, and are deeply concerned about the future of Bali. The victims are not only those who were at the bombsite but all of us in Bali.

    The real aim of terrorism is to stop our way of life. We need to move forward, to show ourselves and the world that our lives will not be driven to a halt. We will not be influenced by the paranoia and fear, but we will rise up and join together as a community to keep on living our lives and restore the peace in Bali.

    Many countries have issued a travel ban to Indonesia since the bombings. We are being treated like we have a disease. We want to show the world that we are well and strong. In order to achieve this, we are going to hold a Festival of Peace and Unity in Ubud on 9-10 November 2002. November 9th happens to be Hari Pahlawan or Heroes' Day in Indonesia.

    Our objectives are to heal the emotional wounds and distress of the residents of Bali and the Balinese community by channelling that emotion in a positive way by creating a Festival; to show the world that we are a peace-loving community and we live peacefully even amongst our differences; to combat the "epidemic of fear", by getting out into the public arena, and celebrating the diversity of Ubud and Bali; to restore the confidence and livelihood in Bali.

    This Festival of Peace and Unity will consist of:

  • A procession of Art and Culture, 16.00 hours, 9 November 2002.Commencing from Pura Dalem Puri, walking down Main Street to the soccerfield on Monkey Forest Road.

  • Participants include the 8 kelurahan (subdistricts) who will make ogoh-ogoh (giant papier mache puppets), school children of the Ubud area and resident expats (who will also make an ogoh-ogoh), youth organizations, artists, community leaders, the list goes on and on. They will be accompanied by a marching angklung gamelan and gong suling.

  • At 18.30, a group prayer will be held. As the Festival will be held during the month of Ramadan (the fasting month for the Muslims), the timing of the prayer will be in accordance with the evening prayer time for Muslims. People will pray according to their religion. Speeches (short! really, only 3 minutes each) will be made by different sectors of the community and awards presented to all the tireless volunteers who have worked so hard these past weeks.

  • In the evening, An Evening of Art and Entertainment will be presented with poetry readings, music and dance performances. Prominent Indonesian artists(to be confirmed) will perform.

  • A Night Market will be held at the soccer field as well. All the major restaurants and hotels are being invited to donate food to the night market. Vouchers will be sold for a mere RP 5,000 (under a US dollar) so that everyone can taste and enjoy five-star food. One voucher is valid for one meal in one booth. For those of you who would like to purchase bulk vouchers which can be given away to children, that would be most appreciated (vouchers will be available in the participating shops, hotels and restaurants next week).

  • The Evening of Art and Entertainment and the Night Market will be repeated(different artists each night) the following day, 10 November 2002.

  • There will be special exhibitions as well:

  • A photo exhibition entitled "After the Blast" will be held at Komaneka Gallery on Monkey Forest Road.

  • A cartoon exhibition at Batan Waru and Terrazo restaurants

  • A book launching of Gunawan Mohammad's latest writings will be held at the new Ary's Warung Restaurant.

  • Participating hotels, restaurants and shops will offer BIG discounts every weekend during the month of November. Rooms will go at half price at some hotels; restaurants are offering up to 25% off and shops will give a 50% discount.

  • All journalists covering this event will be provided with free accommodation and meals in the Ubud area. Each journalist will be given a pass for this benefit.

  • Of course, a Festival of this nature costs money. The youth need money to build their ogoh-ogoh (we would like to be able to give them Rp 5,000,000 each), sound systems need to be rented, booths and a stage need to be built, security personnel and the staff need to be fed and promotional materials printed.

  • Anyone who would like to donate in-kind or money or for more information, please contact Odeck at odeck@dekco.com. We will post updates on http://www.casaluna.bali.com/relief.

    In addition to group efforts, new private efforts are emerging all the time. For example, we have received word of an Adopt A Victim; Bali Crisis program initiated by David & Moira of the Pacung Indah Hotel & Restaurant in Central Bali. For information on what they are doing and how you can help, send email to david@pacung.com.

    BALI LOVES PEACE T-SHIRTS announcement October 21, 2002.

    Approximately 20,000 t-shirts will be printed, sponsored by the Balinese garment industry. Proceeds of the sales will be directly channeled firstly, to local victims of the Bali Bombings, including their families, as well as foreign victims of the Bali Bombings. A fund has been set up through the Rotary Club of Bali, directed to Eric Kaler, Treasurer of the Rotary Club, and General Manager of Continental Airlines. This effort is also supported by PHRI - The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bali.

    The shirts would read "BALI CINTA DAMAI" on the front and "BALI LOVES PEACE" on the back, and will be worn by all supporters on November 15, 2002, during which a massive island-wide purification / cleansing, or "Acara Pembersihan" will take place. This event is to be attended by thousands, including a large representation of the international and national press corps, who are specifically returning to Bali at that time for this event.

    The main ceremony, hosted by Desa Adat / Banjar Kuta and Desa Adat / Banjar Legian, will take place in front of Sari Club on Jl. Legian, with numerous simultaneous events to take place around the island of Bali, mainly at Hindu Temples. A simultaneous memorial on November 15, 2002, is scheduled to take place at Ground Zero, site of the World Trade Center, New York City, USA. Inquiries can be directed to Bali Community members: Lusia Tjiptadi: l_salon@hotmail.com Or Tina Ardie: moovet@indosat.net.id

    JOIN AN ESTABLISHED VOLUNTEER TEAM
    Send them a list of specific skills, and/or resources that you are able / willing to put at the disposal of the efforts.

    IF YOU ARE IN THE UBUD AREA Please call The BARU hotline at (0361) 976-589

    SEND IN RELATED PHOTOGRAPHS
    that can be used to explain to the world the incredible human effort that is happening here in Bali. Please send them directly to the media team so we can get the message out. Contact the media team via : mediagroupubud@hotmail.com

    You can also help by sending this information ASAP to all other people you know who may be willing to contribute.

    Regularly updated information can also be found on the following websites: www.casalunabali.com/relief And www.balisos.com

    To give U.S. tax deductible donations to the relief effort in Bali, please send your checks to:
    Bali Hati Foundation
    c/o Mr. Max Lloyd
    401 El Caminito, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
    Please make checks payable to "Bali Hati Foundation".
    A receipt for your donation will be mailed to you. Bali Hati Foundation is legally registered in the US under the umbrella of The National Heritage Foundation.

    *NOTE: We would like to set up a similar account in the UK.
    If anyone has a suggestion of a charitable foundation that would provide this service for the Bali Relief Fund, please communicate directly with : Frank Olcvary at balihati@indo.net.id / CC to idep.centrin.net.id

    CREDIT CARD DONATIONS
    Credit card payments can also be made through PAYPAL. Go to
    http://www.paypal.com and open a free account if you don't already have one.
    Enter the address "balihati@gamelan.org" and select "services" under the payment category. (Selecting "quasi-cash" may result in charges for a cash advance.) The amount of the donation can be specified in US dollars, Euros, or Pounds Sterling.

    In Bali, donations can be sent from anywhere via bank transfer to:
    BANK BALI CAB. UBUD, GIANYAR, INDONESIA
    Account Name: Ketut Sua Ananda, Bali Ubud Disaster Relief (BUDR)
    Account Number: 5801257420
    Swift Code: BBBAIDJA

    In Bali, cash donations can also be given directly to volunteers at Casa Luna Restaurant on Jalan Raya in Ubud, or to Dewata Scooter Club volunteers. Receipts are provided, along with later acknowledgment in the Bali Post newspaper.

    SOLIDARITAS BALI CAMPAIGN Rudy Widagdo. Thu, 17 Oct 2002.


    This is a time of darkness in Bali. The paradise that has captured the World's imagination is shattered overnight. The international community's confidence in our country has been lost. We represent a group of concerned Indonesians who refuse to sit back and succumb to fear and helplessness. What we are trying to do is not to ask why, who, or how, but to try to contribute something tangible to the recovery of Bali.

    Objectives:

  • To form a united front in solidarity to Bali.
  • To restore confidence in Bali.
  • With reduced numbers of foreign tourists, to encourage domestic tourism to Bali.

    Action Plan:

  • As a symbol of solidarity, organize up to around 1,000 citizens who live outside Bali to go to Bali all at the same time. This will show the World that as fellow Indonesians, we care about Bali, and we are not going to abandon it in these difficult times. This will also restore the image of Bali as a safe destination.
  • In close coordination with elements of Balinese society, we will organize a procession from the site of the bombing to Kuta beach, culminating in a solemn gathering. It will feature prayers, poetry readings, and musical expressions by a cross-section of prominent Indonesians. To ensure that this is followed by a sustained media campaign to encourage Indonesians to visit Bali especially during the Idul Fitri, Christmas, and New Year holidays. This is to be carried out by appropriate institutions such as the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board, the Indonesian Tourism Council, other tourism associations, and the local government.

    What is Needed: Tourism industry support. To ensure wider participation, airlines and hotels will need to provide attractive packages (i.e. airfare and hotel discounts). Financial sponsorship. Approximately Rp. 250 million is needed to organize the procession/vigil and finance the campaign. 3. Support from local and international media (radio, print and television). In order to optimize publicity before, during, and after the event, we need the media to extend coverage and provide advertising space for the campaign.

    Timeline: So as not to lose momentum, the activities will need to commence before the start of the fasting month. We propose Saturday, November 2, 2002 to hold the vigil/procession, which will be three weeks after the tragedy took place. This is only a brief introduction to our campaign. A more elaborate action plan will be produced in due course.

    Contacts:
    Nanda Hasibuan: (021) 310 2656
    Rubiana Fajar: 08161907820
    Laksmi Pamuntjak/Winfred Hutabarat: (021) 719 9288

    "SOLIDARITY FOR HUMANITY"

    The bomb explosions have awakened us to the fact that acts of terrorism and violence are executed indiscriminately. This reality has made us even more aware of the importance of peace, tolerance, community and living without focusing on racial, ethnic, religious or cultural differences. Let's stop accusing each other, blaming each other and provoking feelings of animosity and hatred. In the spirit of solidarity, we invite you to pray together and help in the aftermath of this human tragedy through voluntary donations, poetry reading, music, dances, theatre, monologues and other art forms.

    An Event was held on Saturday, October 19pm at Pondok Pekak Library, Ubud : Untuk informasi lebih lanjut hubungi: Pondok Pekak: 0361 976194, Kelompok Senja Hari: 081 236 30893 (Gepeng) Pondok Pekak Library & Learning Center East Side of the Football Field Jl. Monkey Forest Ubud, Bali, Indonesia Phone: 62 (361) 976194 e-mail: pondok@indo.net.id

    • Home | Vol 13 Table of Contents | Previous Issues