American Emerald Starr has been an active environmentalist
for over 25 years. He co-designed and created a permaculture
retreat center on Maui in Hawaii called Hale Akua Shangri-La
in the early 1980’s before moving to Bali in 1989. In
1995 he joined forces with Linda Garland, founder of the Environmental
Bamboo Foundation, to support the development of a treatment
system to make bamboo resistant to insect attack. Emerald
introduced Waste Water Gardens, designed by Dr. Mark Nelson,
to Bali in 1996. These are now certified by BAPEDAL (Indonesia’s
Health Dept.) and Bali’s IDEP Foundation is continuing
this work. In April of this year, Emerald’s passion
for the environment continued with his presentation of The
Climate Project slide show developed by Al Gore.
What was your childhood like?
I had a wonderful childhood growing up surrounded by nature
on a lake in Westchester Country, New York, about one hour
north of the New York City. I can remember wild deer in our
backyard.
What is your professional/educational background?
I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, eastern religion
and mythology, and I’m a self trained architect and
landscape designer.
What kinds of jobs have you held in your life?
I was a personal assistant to George Soros in 1979, I served
on the Board of directors of the Nikolais Louis Dance Theater
in New York City from 1976 - 89, and I was a partner in an
international import clothing company.
How did you first become interested in Bali?
I was invited to participate in a cultural exchange program
in 1987 with American Professor Pennell and Sutan Takdir Alisjabana,
founder of the National University in Jakarta and Father of
the Indonesian Language. The program was held at Takdir’s
Center for Arts in the Future in Toyabungkah, Kintamani.
When did you first become involved in environmental issues?
In 1984, I moved to Hawaii with my wife and we bought an agricultural
property on the east coast of Maui. I was passionate about
gardening, interspecies communication and swimming with dolphins
and whales. The oceans, lands and ground waters of Maui were
being polluted by industrial farming which alarmed me. I decided
to make a difference starting in my back yard and by supporting
environmental organizations in the islands.
How have you applied your beliefs here on Bali?
By practicing organic vegetable gardening, supporting the
development of the vertical soak bamboo treatment system,
designing and building the first bamboo retreat hotel, the
Sacred Mountain Sanctuary, in Bali. It was the largest bamboo
hotel at that time in Indonesia and perhaps Southeast Asia.
I also began WasteWater Gardens® in which we constructed
natural wetlands and used plant roots as a bio-filters to
treat and purify waste water.
Why did you decide to base yourself in Karangasem in East
Bali?
The beauty and peacefulness of the area. I was also drawn
to the area by my relationship with Dr. Djelantik, a world
acclaimed WHO physician who eradicated Malaria from many parts
of Southeast Asia, the Mideast and Africa. When I met him
he was the most respected elder of the former Royal Family
of Karangasem and the main protector/ caretaker of the Tirtagangga
Water Palace. Together we facilitated the restoration of Tirtagangga
with our mutual families.
What work are you engaged in at present?
I am assisting the Environmental Bamboo Foundation(EBF) and
the East Bali Poverty Project (EBPP) by connecting them with
funding opportunities to enable reforestation of 5,000 hectares
in East Bali with bamboo, teak, mahogany, neem and other hardwoods.
Also, at the Canggu Club at the end of April, I presented
a climate change slide show that Al Gore’s movie an
Inconvenient Truth was based on. Last December I was trained
by Al Gore and members of The Climate Project in Nashville,
TN, USA to present the slideshow. Since then I have presented
it 8 times and have many requests pending and more presentations
scheduled; May 17 at Ibah Hotel in Ubud and July 18th in Jakarta.
The audience response is enthusiastic and I have been receiving
very positive reviews in The Jakarta Post as well as other
newspapers.
What aspect of your work personally interests you the most?
Environmental design, sustainable building, gardening and
landscaping. I believe that design must inspire and open us
to our connection with Nature. In this way we feel part of
the Creation and therefore motivated to protect it.
What are the most critical environmental problems facing Bali
today?
One, diesel and gasoline fumes from old and new engines and
two, the island’s non-biodegradable waste. NGOs, environmental
and government leaders must find a way to convert to bio-diesel
and ethanol fuels to make more efficient, hybrid gas and electric
bio-diesel and ethanol fuel-driven cars available. We also
must recycle.
What specific practices can individuals adopt which can bring
about the greatest conservation benefit to the island?
Recycle as much waste as possible, compost, use bicycles,
motorcycles and public transportation. Change light bulbs
from incandescent to compact florescent. Plant trees and bamboo.
Use constructed wetlands natural wastewater purifications
systems that are chemical free for cleaner rivers and healthy
coral reefs. Ask local government officials to support sustainable
energy sources.
Where can we learn more about how to protect Bali’s
environment?
Go to www.theclimateproject.org, the Rocky
Mountain Institute www.rmi.org, The Union of Concerned Scientists
www.ucsusa.org/, and read “The Low Carbon Diet”
by David Gershon.
Where can my readers learn more about your work?
Go to www.bamboocentral.org
For anyone interested in being considered for Siapa, please
contact : <pakbill2003@yahoo.com>
Copyright@2007 Al Hickey
You can read all past articles of Siapa
at www.BaliAdvertiser.biz
