Melati and Isabel Wijsen were 12 and 10 years old when they launched the youth-led initiative Bye Bye Plastic Bags in Bali to address the island’s waste crisis. Following six years of advocacy, petitions, and direct action, their campaign contributed to the Bali government’s introduction of Regulation No. 97 of 2018, which mandated restrictions on disposable plastic products including bags, polystyrene, and straws starting in 2019.
From Classroom Lesson to Political Advocacy
The campaign began after the sisters studied the work of figures like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi at school. According to their TED talk, this curriculum prompted them to ask how they could personally enact change in their home of Bali. They built a team of children to collect signatures and conduct presentations, eventually staging a sunrise-to-sunset hunger strike under medical supervision to secure a meeting with the island’s governor.
While the hunger strike remains a prominent part of their public story, the sisters and the organization maintain it was not the sole driver of policy. Instead, it was one part of a multi-year effort involving educational initiatives and partnerships with local women to produce alternative bags. According to the organization’s media page, their advocacy “played a part” in the 2018 government regulation alongside the work of various communities and NGOs.
Did You Know?
In 2018, the year the Bali government introduced its plastic restrictions, the annual “Bali’s Biggest Clean Up” organized by the sisters drew 20,000 volunteers who collected 65 tons of waste across the island.
The Impact of Youth-Led Environmentalism
The scope of the campaign expanded significantly beyond its initial focus on beach clean-ups. By 2018, the sisters had helped persuade 350 local businesses to commit to eliminating everyday plastic items such as cups and straws. TIME recognized this influence that same year, naming the sisters among its 25 Most Influential Teens.
The initiative has since scaled into an international movement. UNESCO reports that the organization now reaches an increasing number of countries, while the group’s own social profile identifies it as a youth-driven NGO with 60 global teams. The model focuses on mobilizing young people to organize around plastic pollution in their own regions.
Expert Insight:
Future Trajectory and Global Reach
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the sisters single-handedly ban plastic bags in Bali?
No. The organization explicitly states that their advocacy and petitioning “played a part” in the government’s decision, alongside the work of many other communities and NGOs.
What specific products did the 2018 Bali regulation target?
According to the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, the regulation targeted disposable plastic products, specifically including plastic bags, polystyrene, and plastic straws.
How did the hunger strike influence the campaign?
The sisters used the hunger strike as a tactic to secure a meeting with the governor after repeated efforts to gain the attention of officials had been unsuccessful. By the day following the strike, they reported that they were taken to meet him.
How might the strategies used by these youth activists be adapted to address other emerging environmental challenges in your own community?