Resorts Dumping Raw Sewage into the Ocean on Bali ?
 

In the Sept. 97 issue of Paraplegia News, Glenn G. Reynolds, MD, of Tonimbuk, Victoria, Australia, wrote the following in a letter to the editors:
" Many Australians here vacationed there [Bali], but my country has been upset with the Indonesian government and the Suharto regime for its poor record on human rights. Recently, the Australian press reported about real life on Bali. The island is over-built and over-touristed and the locals over-exploited. Furthermore, most of the large hotels pump sewage directly into the sea, and the beaches are severly polluted."

Comments, anyone ?

My trip to Bali now dates back from 1992. At this time, we did not notice any severe pollution (sea or land). However, I saw a recent TV report on the subject saying that the garbage problem was increasing on the island due to tourist's crowds. Hotels were creating wild garbage areas, as the infrastructure and garbage collection is not adapted. I have not heard about sea pollution.

Don't know about the resorts dumping raw sewage, but can tell you that at the north side of Bali when scuba diving near Deer Island (Amer.transl), there was a ton of trash in the sea. Of course our genial dive master insisted that the trash comes to Bali from Java. We suspect the Balinese prefer to think they do not have a trash or dumping problem - it all comes from those dirty folks up in Java, you know :)

I have been to Bali 5 times now. The first time in 1988. I met my wife (British) there on my third trip and we then honeymooned there and then went back for a follow-up last year (1996).
Being the lone Hindu Dharma island in a 13,000 ish archipelago of Muslims makes it a very enchanting place to visit. I am amazed at how little the true "Balinese" have been affected by the extremely rapid change. Most of them continue to lead humble faithful lives. HOWEVER, Bali has turned in 10 years that I have known it from a travellers paradise with inexpensive accommodation and quality food to a bees nest of tour buses. Our last trip, the cost of living had gone up so much we came back a month early. Garbage in the oceans, yes. Raw sewage in the ocean: No doubt. I have seen several occasions where the clean beaches at Candidasa have been covered in oil balls because the "powers that be" thought nothing of putting a refinery right next to a 5 star hotel. The ships would pump their bilge right into the bay. It is unfortunate to see a lovely little religious enclave like Bali become so over run. I guess we are all to blame.