A small helping hand… if everyone does their part, we can go a long way.
Today, I felt like a hero—or at least a dedicated helper. Here's why.
I'm currently in Bali for three months, having flown in from the Netherlands a few days ago. I live freely here, like a cat: wandering, grabbing a bite or sip when I please, and resting on my terms. It's also given me time to write, which feels incredibly rewarding. This lifestyle reminds me how privileged I am.
Through social media, I discovered a local Facebook group called 'Trash Heroes'—passionate Balinese locals and volunteers committed to beautifying their surroundings. They focus on regular beach cleanups, picking up plastic waste week after week. Groups gather regularly, including core volunteers and one-time participants like me.
Equipped with bags, gloves, and innovative bamboo pickup tools sponsored by supportive companies, we tackled a stretch of beach littered with plastic. Items like lost flip-flops, toothbrushes, bottle caps, and disposable lighters—which truly deserve a rename. It might feel like a drop in the ocean, but it's raising awareness. The group is expanding rapidly, now active in multiple countries. Today, over a hundred uniformed schoolchildren joined, proving the next generation gets it—and they can shape a cleaner future.
The highlight? Releasing young sea turtles. Their eggs were protected and hatched under careful supervision until they were ready for the ocean. A Trash Hero shared a sobering fact: out of every 1,000 released, only one or two survive to adulthood, largely due to plastic pollution in the seas. Heartbreaking.
I had the honor of releasing one alongside a young boy. Holding the tiny turtle gently, we placed it on the sand. I gave its shell a kiss and wished it safe travels—what else do you say to such a fragile life facing uncertain odds?
We shielded it from predatory birds that snatch them like snacks. The turtles must crawl the final meters alone; only then will instinct lead survivors back to lay eggs years later. Watching one struggle forward, urging it on—"You've got this, just a bit more"—was moving. Waves knocked it back, but it persisted, drawn irresistibly to the sea. Life's challenges start early, even for turtles.
This experience changed me. No more straws in my drinks—they're useless and harmful. And next beach visit, I'll pick up at least six pieces of plastic. Small commitments add up.
