Melati and Isabel Wijsen
Melati Riyanto Wijsen (born 2000) and Isabel Wijsen (born 6 November 2002)[1] are Indonesian climate activists. The two sisters are known for their efforts to reduce plastic consumption in Bali.[2][3]
The sisters were born in Bali to Dutch and Indonesian parents.[2][4] In 2013, when Melati was 12 and Isabel was 10 years old,[5] they began a campaign to rid Bali of single-use plastic bags titled Bye Bye Plastic Bags.[2][6][7] In order to gain public attention they staged a dawn to dusk hunger strike in 2016, successfully demanding a meeting with the Bali's then-governor, I Made Mangku Pastika.[2][6][7] Bye Bye Plastic Bags is a social initiative and NGO driven by youth to say no to plastic bags. Quickly, the message of youth reached stages around the world like TED, CNN, United Nations and the sisters helped build momentum towards the ban on single use plastic bags which finally came into effect in 2018 thanks to the efforts of many likeminded organisations and individuals. Today Bye Bye Plastic Bags can be found in 60 locations around the world with teams led by young people who want to bring the message of saying no to plastic bags globally. The focus and strength of Bye Bye Plastic Bags has always been in education through the form of workshops, presentations and booklets In 2017 the pair spoke at the United Nations World Ocean Day in New York City.[8][9] In 2018 the pair were named two of the 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018 by Time magazine.[10] In 2020 Melati was an invited speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos.[11][12] In 2019 a documentary film on Melati Wijsen titled Bigger than Us was released.[13][14] The film was directed by French director Flore Vasseur and produced by Marion Cotillard.[13][14]
Melati is the founder Youthtopia, a youth empowerment platform.[15]
References
- ^ @byebyeplasticbags (November 6, 2018). "Happy sweet 16th birthday to our smiley co-founder !! @isabel.wijsen we are so happy to have you back on Bali❤️🙏" – via Instagram.
- ^ a b c d Paddock, Richard C.; Laula, Nyimas (July 3, 2020). "After Fighting Plastic in 'Paradise Lost,' Sisters Take On Climate Change" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Svitak, Adora (February 25, 2020). Speak Up!: Speeches by young people to empower and inspire. White Lion Publishing. ISBN 9781781319512 – via Google Books.
- ^ "These sisters dream of a plastic-free world". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Bali fights for its beautiful beaches by rethinking waste, plastic trash". Science. October 14, 2019.
- ^ a b "How Teenage Sisters Pushed Bali To Say 'Bye-Bye' To Plastic Bags". NPR.org.
- ^ a b "'Wonder Girls': How girl-led activists are changing the world". ABC News.
- ^ "Melati and Isabel Wijsen - World Oceans Day 2017".
- ^ Prisco, Jacopo. "The teenagers getting plastic bags banned in Bali". CNN.
- ^ "TIME's 25 Most Influential Teens of 2018". Time.
- ^ Thomas, Daniel (January 21, 2020). "Being a teen activist 'is a lot of responsibility'" – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ "Aktivis Remaja Indonesia, Melati Wijsen, Masuk Daftar Davos 2020".
- ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (May 9, 2019). "Marion Cotillard Steps Behind Camera for 'Bigger Than Us' (EXCLUSIVE)".
- ^ a b Argemi, Anna (April 5, 2019). "'Bigger Than Us': retrato de jóvenes 'rebeldes con causa'" – via elpais.com.
- ^ "Meet 23 Young People Leading Resilient Recovery in the Decade of Action — Melati Wijsen & Isabel Wijsen".