Local youths propose Nyepi as World Silent Day

Luh De Suriyani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Fri, 03/05/2010 2:15 PM  |  Bali

Dozens of Balinese youths from the group Bali Collaboration for Climate Change are working to collect 10 million signatures to support their proposal of making Nyepi, the Hindu day of silence, world silence day.
The signatures would be submitted to the United Nations on March 21. Since 2007, the group has collected 5,849 signatures. Last weekend, they added another 300 signatures.
The collaboration brings together students from Muhammadiyah University in Malang (East Java), Udayana University in Bali, STIKOM Bali and members of Friends of the Earth (Walhi).
Yoga, one of the volunteers, said most people do not know about world silence day. "But, that does not deter us from continuing our efforts," Yoga said.
"This action can save energy and reduce pollution levels," he said.
Balinese Hindus will this year celebrate Nyepi on March 16. Bali will be closed to any visitors. The island will be dark and silent for 24 hours for people to observe the annual day of silence.
"On March 21, we only ask people to stop using energy for four hours," Yoga explained.
Siska Kusuma Dewi said that the world silence day campaign is global and not directly affiliated with the Hindu celebration.
On March 20, the group has planned a series of activities to raise people's awareness on the importance of reducing pollution levels.
The world silence day campaign has attracted attention from global youth organizations including the Asia Pacific Youth Network on Climate Change in Nepal, Pakistan and other countries.
"We want to show to the world that young people in Bali are active in preserving and protecting Earth. We care about the Earth's future. We can all do small things to save our planet," she said.