As a social work student , I am going to be doing a placement in Bali specifically in mental health and well being. This placement offers me an opportunity to engage in a way that is respectful to balinese culture whilst staying environmentally conscious.
I recognise the carbon cost from flying as a return flight from Newcastle to Bali can produce around 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person. To reduce this I aim to have a low waste travel such as by bringing a reusable water bottle.
One thing I am very much an advocate for is using local businesses for example using family home restaurants and cafés for food as well as local businesses for clothing and souvenirs and specifically using local services to do my clothes washing etc . Also whilst travelling I plan to do mainly walking as I’m staying in a village where most things are walking distance this will help to offset my carbon emissions.
Additionally as part of my experience I will be immersed into the Balinese culture where I will learn about mental health and how communities support each other. I am passionate about learning different cultural values . I will approach this with respect ensuring I listen keeping an open minded approach towards the community. This reflects core social work values and aligns with the Un Sustainable Development goals particular good health and well being and reduced inequalities.
After my placement ends, I will stay in Bali for a short period to travel and explore further. I will continue to prioritise more sustainable and eco-friendly ways of travelling. This includes walking where possible, rather than relying high-emission travel. I will also continue to support local, independently run businesses. Alongside this, I will maintain low-waste habits by using reusable items, and disposing of waste responsibly to reduce my environmental impact.
These actions link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals- (Responsible Consumption and Production) through reducing waste and encouraging more mindful consumption, (Climate Action) by trying to limit my carbon footprint beyond the initial flight.
I will aim to travel in a way that avoids contributing to over-tourism or unnecessary environmental harm. For example ethical considerations surrounding wildlife tourism in Bali, particularly in places such as monkey forests. I recognise that some tourist attractions involving monkeys can be more exploitative. In some cases, monkeys are encouraged to interact with tourists in ways that prioritise entertainment over welfare, such as being fed inappropriately or used for photo opportunities. This can lead to unhealthy dependency on humans, stress for the animals, and disruption of their natural behaviours.
From a social work perspective, this raises important ethical issues around harm and exploitation with animals within wider environmental systems. Therefore, I intend to critically assess any wildlife-related attractions before visiting, choosing only those that are ethical.This links to the UN Sustainable Development Goals- (Life on Land) which focuses on protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
