There's a change in the Weather

Kadek Krishna Adidharma, The Jakarta Post

"Do you think climate change will affect Bali?" one of Bali's nine Vice-Regents was asked recently, as part of a study.

"Of course not!" he retorted, face deadpan and serious. "We have Tri Hita Karana!"

Shock. Horror. Does Bali have a magical bubble to protect it from the ravages of global climate change? Indeed, many people think the tiny island of Bali lies in its own sphere independent of the Indonesian archipelago, but since when did this sphere separate from earth's globe?

Belief in the power of devotion and ceremony to create a psychic bubble protecting Bali had been shattered by the rude awakening of terrorist attacks. Is this a sign of a resurgence of faith in the island's inviolability?

Not so fast. A twinkle in the eye and a mischievous grin are detected.

"We have nothing to fear if we apply this philosophy thoroughly," he adds.

Touch‚. The world better prepare for the local wisdom Bali is going to offer in the next two weeks. Local delegates will certainly attempt to usher the beauties of Balinese life philosophy to center stage.

Tri Hita Karana is most often translated as three reasons for harmony. It refers to the three causes of welfare and security, consisting of Parahyangan, harmony between man and the Divine; Pawongan, harmony between humans and their fellow man; and Palemahan, harmony between human beings and the environment.

It implies that no man is the master of the universe. Nor should man lord over lesser men or creatures. We are all a small part of the whole unity. Each and every one of us has to be conscious of our role.

The Sanskrit word tri means three and karana can be translated as means or cause, but the translation of hita is still a bone of contention as far as I'm concerned.

Besides harmony, hita can also mean lovable being, astral heart path, joy, benefit, welfare, sustainability, or my favorite: beauty.

If we're going to market this concept abroad, I would argue that three reasons for beauty would be a lot sexier three reasons for harmony.

But wait, have we patented this concept yet? It's a matter of time before it gets ripped off as a Hollywood movie. After all, a prominent Balinese artist has recently been talking of patenting his brush-strokes, and Malaysia accused of stealing Indonesian song and dance! Am I barking mad or just running a fever?

Feverish is an apt description of Bali's preparations for the United Nations extravaganza unleashing tens of thousands of the world's top environmental minds upon the tropical paradise tomorrow.

All the world's major environmental NGOs have been gathering, preparing assessments and action plans. With experts jetting in early, resident activists have been going into overdrive with stakeholder meetings, brainstorming workshops, revising reports with latest data. Some are actually working up a high fever, literally, due to lack of sleep and too much time in air-conditioned meeting rooms.

This correspondent bravely accepted a minor role in a team commissioned by WWF-Indonesia to conduct a study called Rapid Assessment on Climate Change Potential Threats: Its Impact on Bali's Economy and the Role of the Tourism Industry.

If there is one thing I learned from this study, it's that environmental issues such as pollution and changing land use, while they contribute to climate change, are not new.

With or without climate change, these issues need to be addressed.However, climate change can be a trigger to unite environmental adaptation, planning and action. Having audited, measurable improvements, when put in terms of carbon emissions, could allow Indonesia to earn revenue through carbon trade.

But really, we shouldn't be doing it just for the money. On the Thursday November 22 edition, The Jakarta Post reported youth protesting for the right of poor people to exploit natural resources to make a living.

There seems to be this bizarre notion of the right to be rich becoming a precondition for even caring about the environment. Effects of global warming are already evident in Java and Bali. Extreme high tide phenomena causing inundation is not only isolated when high tide and rain synergize with the full moon. Just ask the people of Semarang, Demak, Surabaya, Tegal, and Brebes. There, inundation and 15-20cm of flooding can last up to a month, and is becoming more frequent.

Besides sea levels rising, warmer sea temperatures and extreme weather conditions, global warming also risks making communicable diseases and lifestyle-related diseases more widespread.

Our three beauties are important moral guidelines, but rhetoric and prayer is not enough. These concepts need to be brought beyond philosophy and politics into the realm of action. Besides offering local wisdom, Bali would benefit from listening to the global warnings. We have a lot of adjusting to do now that global warming has become a reality.

As one respondent to our questionnaire put it, "The calendar that has been giving Balinese a lot of guidance about when is the best time to do things, especially traditional rice farming and ceremonies, is no longer accurate."

Has the time come to re-calibrate our traditional calendar to reflect the changes that have already happened to our weather?

The author of this new weekly column can be reached at kadek@adidharma.net