BALI: Millions of tourists are drawn to Bali’s palm-fringed scenery and rich marine life, but a British diver has released stark footage highlighting a growing problem in its famously crystal-clear waters: plastic rubbish. An underwater video shot by Rich Horner this week showing a sea overflowing with plastic and other garbage at Manta Point, a well-known diving site near Bali’s main island, has already been viewed about a million times. “Plastic bags, more plastic bags, plastic, plastic, so much plastic!”Often dubbed a paradise on earth, the Indonesian holiday island has become an embarrassing poster child for the country’s trash crisis. As part of its commitment under the UN Environment’s Clean Seas campaign, Jakarta has pledged to reduce marine plastic waste by 70 per cent by 2025, through recycling, curbing the use of plastic bags, clean-up campaigns and raising public awareness. Millions of tourists are drawn to Bali’s palm-fringed scenery and rich marine life, but a British diver has released stark footage highlighting a growing problem in its famously crystal-clear waters: plastic rubbish.

Source: New Strait Times March 08, 2018 09:00 UTC