What happens once one from a developed stable country such as the United States, visits a developing country such as Indonesia? This is a gift, to experience and see the effect of developed countries power on struggling countries already in poverty. There is complexity all around these issues but really, it is clear that something needs to be done. Something is not working, people are not helping other people enough. Nationalism, war, racism, and the fight over power and territory has taken over humanity.
International politics should be one of almost every countries major concerns, especially developed countries. International cooperation is the only way to expand one's countries abilities and opportunities. The future of progression lies outside borders, lies globally.
I visited one of the most beautiful places on earth this summer. Bali, Indonesia. I went into this program wanting to help people, unaware of the extent of my feelings that would be lead by the other enriched aspects of the communities there. Many may know or hear how breath taking Bali is, but not how influential is it as well. Developing countries may seem to the educated as lacking, in education, health, and hope. People who know a lot about these places know how sad it is there, know the anguish one will encounter, and the damage a Western presence is capable of. Well I did not know that much, but I learned all I needed through extreme change in feelings and issues during my stay.
The effects and stability of globalization, democracy, and capitalism have become very discouraging. Politics are so ying and yang, good and evil. There's such a lack of balance in the world of rights, fairness and peace when human beings are completely capable. With how advanced and superior human features are why can't we seem to achieve this natural beautiful instinct of fair and right animals (such as ourselves) can't lose. The us vs. them mentality is so destructive yet so inevitable. Territory, power, and money have lead people for years now and seem to still be a main priority over mankind. What is it in our genetic make up that imposed this, where did it come from and how could we possibly over come it? It's no one's fault, or responsibility for it's creation, other than the evolution of humanity. How can we tell what we were born with to create these sensations or if they're results of our cultural society. What manifests our limitations of defense or entitlement? Can we adapt to this correctly? Is there a correct way to adapt to something like this, that's beyond ideology? How does humanity exist, why isn't it pure as it should be. We've allowed ourselves as a race for our humanity to be altered by un-naturalistic concepts of money, combined with naturalistic concepts of power. Our alteration of evolution has become materialistic and greedy. We cannot let this define our sublime level of intellect. Our intelligence must not be challenged or forfeited by domestic and primitive motives. Evolution does not evolve backwards of course, especially from it's strongest point, but we must learn to adapt our abilities to a relatively new society. It's coming close to threatening our superior abilities over other species, while being fueled by same principles. We do not need to disregard our already achieved and given intelligence to reconnect with more naturalistic senses of life, but we do not need to ignore specifically or use it for greed either. They must work hand in hand, but we've been defying ourselves that right.
The small some what isolated island of Bali has fought this international trend from within. The people here understand what's happening, globalization, maybe they don't learn about it in textbooks but they live and cope with it everyday. They have fewer jobs, opportunities for big business and expansion. Many have kept to their ways, being creators of art, trying to make a living on something they love and know. This cannot thrive in the global market we've created. Now many people in developing countries, such as the Balinese have become victims of the tourists. Many poor people are at the mercy of the Western travelers there to reap the benefits of exchange and luxury. Native, poor people in these areas such as Bali, have adapted to selling their culture, tradition and products to make a living, further fueling globalization (on cultural exchange). Though the rich may visit or exploit these countries for their own benefit of cheap trade and enjoyment, the people here are still trying to hold on to their traditional ways of life. Their natural resources they knew so well how to live with have now been manipulated. This may all seem so terrible but we all participate in it everyday. It is too easy for a country to pass up, the exchange of cheap goods and exploitation of places with natural resources. We may not be able to avoid it but we sure as hell can put a stop to it.
Non-governmental organizations exist to give power back to the people. Many of these NGO's in Bali have been started by foreigners inspired by the prosperity and opportunity of the land in the same way as the Balinese. Places include, the Waste Facility Treatment Plant started by the Swiss engineer David Kuper. He now resides outside of Ubud, Bali in a house he built himself with his Indonesian wife and works with the Balinese at the plant to turn tons of waste, into fertilizers, and soils. The people work and live on this plant, it is unsightly in some areas with heaps of garbage and a stench not far from the shacks where the people live. Yet they still enjoy their lives, prefer this work, and eat lunch within the heaps of garbage. David Kuper was one visitor of Bali that would never look back. John Hardy is another "foreigner" to Bali (being Canadian born) who was inspired by their use of bamboo. He started The Green School, a complete eco-friendly school constructed of bamboo. John Hardy is far from a foreigner now in Bali being a long time resident and deeply rooted in environmental responsibility. He sold his fair trade jewelry company to start this international school on the island of Bali and has experienced nothing but success and international praise.
Hope is out there, people with still pure, perspectives are doing their best. Humans can join together to fight this overcoming urge for power driven by fear that so many masses have succumbed to. It may happen slowly but experiences in Bali have left be faithful. Faithful as well as doubtful, upset, and enraged, but that would hypocritical to give up to those feelings so quickly. Evolution takes so much time, progression may seem at it's finest but is diminishing within morals. But from within lies hope.
