Let’s hear it for a silent majority

Friday, 29 Nov, 2007 0

DENPASAR: Heads of government gathering in Bali next week for the U.N. Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) may have to worry about matters other than global warming – and which smart Seminyak restaurant to choose for dinner.

According to Bali Update (www.balidiscovery.com) included among those wishing their voice to be heard will be a “people’s power” group of local residents planning a cultural parade to coincide with the conference.

Dubbing themselves the “Bali Civil Society Coalition,” a spokesman told Tempo Interaktif that numerous environment and community-action non-governmental organisations have joined forces to ensure the voice of the Balinese people is not lost amidst the din of the important international conference.

A day-long demonstration at Denpasar’s Lapangan Field is scheduled for the group including the reading of a “Declaration from the People of Bali” calling for the Balinese day of absolute silence, Nyepi, to be declared an “international moment” to provide the earth a day of much-needed rest from the relentless assault of mankind.

Nyepi – a Balinese word for silence – is the name given to the first day of Balinese lunar calendar when it is the religious obligation of every Balinese Hindu to dedicate an entire day to quiet introspection and spiritual cleansing.

During this day, the entire island of Bali comes to a standstill; the airport closes, streets resemble ghost towns and visitors are confined to their hotels for a 24-hour period.

Nyepi will take place on March 7, 2008.

TravelMole would vote for a global Nyepi Day – especially if it applied to Indian-based telemarketers trying to give away supposedly “free” holidays, politicians everywhere, and the barking dog next door.

Ian Jarrett

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