Yoseph Dwi from Jakarta and Patricia from Sydney, Australia have shown the world that individual leadership is important in keeping the earth healthy. They believed in the World Silent Day campaign and had gone out of their way to contribute. The WSD team awards them for their leadership and this is their story.

WE shall Do it
Yoseph Dwi and his family wanted to try to live without electricity for four hours. And they did it!! He is therefore symbolically awarded by the World Silent Day (WSD) team. Yoseph was born and grew up in Bali. He now lives in Jakarta and often missed the Silent nuance of the Balinese Nyepi Day (the basis for WSD Campaign). In his comments at mysilent, he said he loves Bali and wants to do what is good for Bali.

He participated in the WSD for two reasons. First is the love for Bali. Secondly 21 March 2008 was Good Friday and Catholics are asked to refrain from eating meat and advised to fast. He thought this was a perfect way to combine the food fasting and the “electricity fasting”.

Yoseph made an extraordinary effort to participate in WSD 2008. Supported by his wife, he tried to convince his 9 year old son Bramm to reduce the use of electricity. The entire family switched off lights, electronic and electric appliances except the refrigerator to prevent food being spoiled. At the last minutes towards 10.00 a.m on 21 March 2008, Bramm sort of protested for not being able to watch his favorite TV programmed. But his mother managed to pacify him and the family then read and played together. They even switched off the hand phone, a vital tool for the family, Yoseph said.

The greatest challenge was taking the first step. But once that first step was taken, the commitment made, it was a question of how to keep the commitment. The temptation to switch on the TV and radio, particularly to get information, was difficult to overcome. The family also switched off lamps, the AC and the fan which normally were often switched on. They lighted a candle when going to the toilet.

In the end, Yoseph said the family wanted to do this again on their own, outside of March 21. And they hope it can be done regularly and often. They hoped this positive attitude and efficiency in using electricity can make a difference. A small step might be able to help make things better in Bali and the world, Yospeh hoped.

“Never give up! Beef up your confidence and keep advocating people that this campaign can help the environment and the earth” are his encouraging words for the WSD team, through email interview. He suggested that the 2009 WSD campaign be started early perhaps 2-3 months before the D day.

Enjoying the Silence
From her home in Sydney Patricia Parkinson opted to be silent on 7 March, the actual Nyepi day of Bali. As she wrote to the WSD team, ” After hearing for the first time about Nyepi when I was in Bali last December, and reading about World Silent Day on this website, I have for the first time in my life experienced the bliss of a whole day on 7 March purposely doing nothing, switching off lights, radio, tv, hi fi, mobile phone and computer. The only activity I had was to walk with my dog along my local river, and to lay down on the grass, listening to the sounds of nature”.

Patricia said this was amazing, a little scary at first not to have the distractions of all modern communication and having to face her own thoughts, but once she relaxed into it was really worth it. And the fact that it also had a meaning made it all the more enjoyable. “I would recommend it to anyone who is too busy doing things everyday to remember that it is just good to be alive on this planet, before the chaos of climate change hits (and if you read the latest thoughts of James Lovelock, it won’t be so long before Gaia takes its revenge on the abuse of humankind). Lets all try and awake the world to climate change, in silence, on March 21!”

And others too…
There are many WSD leaders and they all deserve awards. Patricia and Yoseph are symbolic representations of those who joined the silence during March 21. Some have told us their stories in mysilentday; others have helped to campaign the cause through their blog, yet others have observed the silent day but perhaps have not informed us. The following is a list some of those who joined the Silent Day and told us about it.
Companies also contributed to the cause. The Malaysian Qualifications Agency switched off many appliances for two hours. The Aston Bali Resort & Spa in Nusa Dua, Bali contributed by distributing the WSD fliers to their guests. Aston knew about the program from the Bali Hotels Association network and its management was very supportive of the program.
Ayu Pradnyawita, the Executive Secretary in an interview said the management wanted to share the WSD with guests to give them an understanding about climate change issues and how to do their own campaign to support the program. They hope this can reduce the consumption of unnecessary energy that will affect the climate change. She suggested the WSD team should keep campaigning in a continuous manner, especially for hotels and tourism facilitations. The WSD team also thanks everyone who made the campaign possible, the bloggers, the media, the volunteers, the various people who care.

With your support, We SHALL DO IT!! Welcome to the 2009 World Silent Day!! (K Ayu Sarasvati)

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