ETH 215: How A 12-Year-Old Banned Plastic in Bali
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‘’We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.’’- J K Rowling.
This holds true for the 19 year old changemaker-Melati Wijsen.
I’m Aishwarya Sridhar, a wildlife filmmaker and presenter from India. I first read about her through an Instagram takeover she had done for National Geographic Asia. It left me super inspired.
As a population, parents usually tell their children that when they grow up they can make a difference. But why should we wait till we become an adult? The youth only form about 20% of the total population but they are 100% the future of our planet. Melati and her sister Isabel are an excellent example of what young changemakers can achieve if they decide to do something.
She founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags when she was 12 years old with her younger sister and has been leading the movement driven by youth since 2013. In 2019, Bali government banned single use plastic completely. She also started the people movement One Island One Voice and the social enterprise, Mountain Mamas. Melati has spoken on world stages such as TED and the UN and has also been selected as FORBES top ten most inspiring women in the country. She graduated from high school one year early at the Green School and has since been honored by TIME as part of the most influential teens in the world along with CNN Heroes Young Wonders and FORBES 30 under 30. Today, Melati is excited about her new youth empowerment project; YOUTHTOPIA, empowering youth through meaningful and short peer to peer programs and providing them the tools they need to be young changemakers.
In this episode of Earth to Humans, I speak to Melati Wijsen. She talks about her journey, starting Bye Bye Plastic Bags, the impact of single-use plastic on our planet, and much more.
Listen and be inspired!!
Website- http://www.byebyeplasticbags.org
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/byebyeplasticbags
Instagram- @byebyeplasticbags | @melatiwijsen | @youthtopia.world
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