The Story of Bali Karma

Bali Karma is based on the idea that a socially conscious business can grow into something that will not only sustain itself, but also have a positive impact on people and the environment on an ongoing basis. It provides income and jobs for Indonesian people in dire poverty, funding for people in Indonesia working for cultural preservation and environmental protection, and could be a bridge between the largely Christian United States and largely Muslim Indonesia. It is also a way of sharing the wealth between the richer United States and some of the Indonesian people who live on less than $2/day.

Bali Karma is an vehicle for moving towards a better world. Wealth and power are becoming more centralized and gaps between rich and poor widening In 1992 1% of the US population owned 42% of the wealth. Differences between rich and poor countries of the world are even more pronounced. Globalization increases threats to the environment and working people. Companies are emerging that are transnational and not accountable to any government. They are so large that many have economies larger than some entire countries. Bali-Karma is an alternative to this. It is a way for you to connect with artists and craftspeople in Bali who are small producers where the dollars you spend will have the most impact.

How it began

In 2002 I had the opportunity travel to Bali Indonesia as a delegate to the World Summit on Sustainable Development which was holding a preparation meeting there. Thousands of people from governments all over the planet were coming together to try and reach agreements and commitments that would slow and halt our plummet towards ecological catastrophe. While we made significant strides within the process of the meeting, the accomplishments there were slow to come and many fundamental agreements about climate change and biodiversity were undermined by the more wealthy nations, particularly the United States of America.

In my travels after the meeting I had the opportunity to get to know some of the amazing people of Bali. From grilling a freshly caught tuna on the beach and playing music until all hours, to meeting artists and craftspeople of the island I had a very connected time. In stark contrast to the rich social connections was the brutal poverty of many areas. I met with farmers who toiled at hard physical labor to earn $500/year. I also met villagers on the nearby island of Lombok who were struggling just to have access to their traditional land; I felt a yearning in my heart. The spiritual richness and abundant rituals of the island were profoundly moving. Bali, an overwhelmingly Hindu island, has spiritual and ethical traditions rooted in the concept of Karma.

At the same time, as I was starting to learn about the religion and culture of Bali, I was also meeting people who were throwing themselves into entrepreneurial activity. They were striving for ways to make a living beyond just the labor of the farm or fishing boat. These creative and enthusiastic people were more than willing to go the extra mile to find a living for themselves and economic opportunities for their families and villages. A woman travelling from Santa Cruz told me about her friend Jon who grew up near Ubud, the center of traditional Balinese culture and art. His father was an artist of great repute and many of his family created art from wood carving to silver work. I spent time with Jon, visited his family, and got to know him and a bit about how he saw the world. We talked about what we both wanted. He shared that his interest was in becoming friends and working into the future in ways that enriched both of us and our communities.

We hope in the coming years to grow Bali Karma into a larger concern that can provide livelihoods for dozens or hundreds of people in Bali and funds for projects that benefit indigenous people and local communities, and which lead to conservation of forests and biological diversity.