E

ka Dharmartha told a beautiful story about a seagull and its friend trying to hunt for food in every corner of the crowded city of Denpasar.

The two best friends tirelessly sought leftovers along the banks of the river, on the city's streets and even along the white, sandy beach. But, they found nothing but piles of smelly garbage scattered everywhere in the city.

The story was based on a book written by Maggie Dunkle and illustrated by Margiyono. The compelling story tells, in very simple and attractive ways, of the ecological damage that inconsiderate trash disposal can cause. The main aim of the book is to open readers' eyes to fact that the trash problem is a very serious issue.

Charlotte Fredouille, a French environmental activist from the Nature Awareness Foundation (Yayasan Peduli Alam) in Amlapura, Karangasem regency, agreed with the book's message.

"Denpasar and other cities in Bali are facing an acute garbage problem," she said.

The Alliance Francaise, the French Cultural Center, held a waste management workshop for both young people and adults recently. The workshop's objective was to teach participants how to deal with their household waste properly and how to identify different types of garbage.

The center worked together with a number of nonprofit organizations including the Gus Foundation, the Nature Awareness Foundation, the Bali branch of the Environmental Study Center and others.

Fredouille said her foundation had been working with local elementary schools in Karangasem regency, one of the island's poorest areas, to teach environmental education.

"Educating children and young people about the importance of preserving the environment and of leading an environmentally conscious life is much easier than educating adults on the same subject," she said.

Wulandari, a fifth grader at Dauh Puri 17 elementary school in Denpasar, looked very enthusiastic.

"My school has a green program. All teachers and students are supposed to sort their garbage and put it in different trash bins," she said.

I Made Mertayasa, a staff member from Batan Waru Cafe in Ubud, was happy to take part in the workshop.

"I keep arguing with my neighbors, who burn their trash," he said. However, he had no idea whether the garbage truck which collected his household waste dumped the waste or processed it properly.