Paper short abstract:

This paper will discuss the environmental activist scene of Bali, Indonesia, and the local struggle to contain the damage done by the tourism industry.

Paper long abstract:

Whose island is it, when most of those who dwell on it are there only temporarily? Bali has a population of 4.2 Million people. In 2017, the number of yearly tourists was 5.7 Million. Accordingly, tourism is an immense business sector to the Balinese. But it brings with it questions of inequality to the island: of water scarcity for some, and abundant pools for others. Of droughts, floods and pollution. Tourism thus emphasizes the issues which climate change is threatening Balinese island life with.

A number of environmental activists have started protesting against the tourism industry as well as the local government's blind eye to its faults and repercussions, especially since 2013. Interestingly, activist circles on Bali revolve around and are intermingled with the punk and art scene of the island. These "artivists" endorse environmental NGO work, and many transcend the different activist scenes.

This paper will thus explore how Balinese artivists seek both small and large stages to mobilize supporters and turn around local policies, to acknowledge the danger of climate change and tourism's contribution to its harsh effects.