The Origin of Wisnu
When invited by the Goethe Institute to participate in an artisstic event in 1993 dubbed Art and the Environment, Teguh Ostentrik, a Jakarta-based artist, had the idea to construct a monument out of plastic bricks, he wanted to motivate people not to throw away plastic bags but to take them home and treasure them. It was Ostentrik’s idea that catalysed the formation of the Wisnu Foundation. There were many doubts about the so called plastic pyramid. Certainly, plastic could be recycled into bricks. But was the recycling process safe? And wouldn’t the end product be highly flammable or leaky? The eight founders of Wisnu came together at a public meeting to discuss Ostentrik’s planned project. The meeting resulted in the formation of Wisnu. It was Wisnu’s first task to come up with an environmentally and financially viable method of turning plastic bags into bricks.

What is The Wisnu Foundation
The Wisnu Foundation is a Non-Government Environmental Organisation based in Bali. It was established in 1993 by eight Indonesians professional concerned about the environmental problems besetting the island. The environmental problems that required serious attention are the 1) A limited supply of natural resources (water, land etc) ; 2) A finite capacity to bear the burden of pressures such as: beach erosion, water pollution; 3) Socio-economic pressures created by the growing economic gap between the wealthy and the poor; 4) Cultural friction caused by modernisation and immigration; 5) The lack of rigorous enforcement of existing environmental laws.

Realizing the environmental problems are very complex, the Wisnu Foundation determined to concerned the following four main issues:

1. Land and water resource management and conservation
2. Coastal zone management
3. Pollution controll
4. Provide services for environmental information

Who is The Wisnu Foundation

Founding members
Rio Helmi, writer and photographer
Iskandar Waworuntu, organic farmer and restaurateur
A.A. Gde Ariawan (Odeck), businessman and restaurateur
Putu Suasta, writer and landscaper
Popo Danes, architect and hotelier
Agung Alit, director of Balinese handicraft co-operative
Made Suarnatha, environmental consultant

Board of Trustee (1998-2000)
Chairman : Rio Helmi
Vice Chairman : Made Suarnatha
Secretary : Popo Danes
Treasury : Odeck
Member : Iskandar Waworuntu, Putu Suasta

Wisnu Foundation Executive and Staff
Advisory Board : Made Suarnatha
Executive Director : Yuyun Ilham
Program Manager : I.B.K Yoga Atmaja
Awareness Program Coord : Ambarwati Kurnianingsih
Library and Documentation : Martina Bariak
Environmental Action Supervisors: Ketut Suratama, Nyoman Sugita, Wayan Suwitra, Kadek Ukir, Nyoman Yuliani, Wayan Darma Susila, Nyoman Okayana, Ketut Sukada, Suzanna Setiawaty, Cahya Imam Suteja.

volunteers

Yayasan Wisnu ( Wisnu Foundation )
Jln. Muding Indah I No. 1 Kerobokan, Denpasar 80117 Bali, Indonesia
Phone/ Fax : 62-361-424758 e-mail: greenbali@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

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