Nestled among the multitude of islands that make up Indonesia lies the tiny paradise of Bali, one of the most sought-after getaways for ocean lovers, artists, culture vultures, yoga practioners and anyone in search of something exotic yet mild. Last year The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) acknowledged another reason to visit Bali by designating its ancient collection of water temples and cooperative irrigation systems as a new World Heritage site.The Royal Water Temple of Pura Taman Ayun, dating back to the 18th century, is said to be an impressive example of how Balinese architecture, spirituality and culture merge to serve the community. Here temples are the focal points for communal networks of rice fields that share the waterways. These communities, known as subaks, allow for the distribution of water in a way that ensures not only all farmers have sufficient share in the resources, but also the highest output of crops in the country. The temples serve as a focal point for these interdependent communities, and practice the philosophy of Tri Hita Karuna, which draws together the dimensions of spirit, the human world and nature. As the water flows down the mountains through the temples to nourish the land, rituals and celebrations are held not only to show reverence to nature but also to bind the people together in a common and uplifting purpose. This centuries old tradition of the egalitarian subaks has managed to do what Indonesia'a modern farming methods, no doubt informed by global practices and corporate products, has failed to do. Opting for a plan uninfluenced by government, It has shown how a decentralized system run by the farmers and communities can ensure enough resources for all. By rotating crop fields it has created very high yields, despite it's mountainous terrain and large population, because the soil is not over-farmed and depleted of minerals. And through coordinating these periods of high yield with stages where large ares of the landscape are left fallow they have been able to starve off and essentially eradicate pests without the use of toxic pesticides. When natural disasters strike and people are left without immediate aid there are often calls for a change to the models on which most urban and rural developments are based. Words like "decentralized", "self-sufficient", "grass-roots" and " local resource management" are bandied about, and then slowly forgotten as government agencies eventually trundle in and allocate aid. Bali's water temples and terraced rice fields, and other systems like it, may well hold the keys not only for greater cooperation within local communities - but also between nations. The Nile River runs through Kenya. Eritrea, Congo, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Some of these nations have promised a military response to any crisis in their water supply. China continues to build dams on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet despite concerns from India and Bangladesh. Tri Hita Karuna, merging the spirit, human world and nature: Managed correctly, water can unite and elevate us. Source: Cultural Landscape of Bali
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2015
Categories
All
|