The garbage problem in Bali is troubling, and it caught the attention of one foreigner, Gabriel DeSanti. In a video uploaded on TikTok, he showed how he helped one of Bali’s 67-year-old river cleaners.
Despite his age, Pak Man (the river cleaner’s nickname) is still actively cleaning Bali’s rivers. He says garbage dumping into the rivers is a problem in all corners of Bali.
@gabriel.desanti POV: Youre 67 years old and clean rivers in Bali, Indonesia @Sungai Watch #plastic #plasticpollution #ocean #garbage #trash #cleanup ♬ original sound – Gabriel DeSanti
Pak Man also said that he does this task every day. Each river cleaning takes about 10-15 minutes.
But not only cleaning one river; when another river is finished, the cleaning team will move to another river. Once collected, the trash will be taken to the station and sorted there.
When Gabriel asked why Pak Man was still cleaning rivers, he replied, “Because I like it. I’m very happy. I’m now a priest, and I will try to talk to people not to use plastic anymore. No more plastic pollution,” he said.
Many comments on the video also respected his decision.
“A priest, a dedicated man formal. What a great motivational video. A 67-year-old priest. I very much appreciate it, sir. Thank you for your service,” wrote a netizen.
The problem of garbage in Bali’s rivers and waters is indeed very worrying. However, it’s within our power to make a difference.
It’s crucial that we all become aware of the need to protect our rivers and refrain from littering. After all, the river is a vital part of the sustainability of a better life for our community in the future.
