One can form an understanding of where Bali is socially and economically headed by
looking to the global picture and observing to the effects of super and hypermarkets in
certain economies, and by observing the products and services that are being locally
sold here in Bali. On Jalan Ubud, one sees a traditional hand-made batik and silk shop
squeezed between stores selling sweatshop clothes from Java; southward in Denpasar,
across the highway from the Bintang supermarket is a village store where the owner sells
his papayas and porridge. Considering sustainability as a whole: traditional goods
contain classic tourist appeal and local papayas are more vitally substantive than corn
flakes and salad spinners.
The products available to us at the traditional markets and supermarkets are based on
mother nature, convenient acquisition, consumer demand, and, last but not least, profit
margin. Yet, while supermarket wholesalers stock imported goods like cheap fruit from
Australia and China raised on massive factory farms, many local sellers at traditional
markets, like the ones at Badung, Sanglah, and Telaga, directly buy their fruit from
regional farmers at village auctions. They buy local because it expressly supports the
community and imported fruit is substandard for religious offerings, besides. But
because of season downpours, both domestic and imported goods have been
affected. Torrential rains and high waves this season have caused distribution channels
to slow while fishing boats
rest and crops rot. And
food
prices
have
thus
soared. For example, the
prices of red pepper, garlic,
onion, and chicken rose
about
25-30%,
and
the
price of tomatoes doubled.
Questions arise regarding
the
desirability
of
Bali’s
economic, social, and sustainable affairs. It is important to note that the GDP of Bali
does not represent the overall health of her economy, nor does it accurately
comprehensively reveal tourist appeal. For example, while large hotels grab overseas
bookings and expand their enterprises in particular areas or complexes, other small