Crystal Land: Cleaning Indonesia

In November 2015, The NbC a grunge roots duo composed of Jason “Neptune” Strugarek and Rob Meier along with Photographer Rhys Devenyns, toured Indonesia collecting plastic and marine debris from natural ecosystems such as beaches, rivers, forests and wilderness areas.

While there we co-ordinated over 15 of these beach clean up projects and collected over an estimated 25 cubic meters of debris from the areas where we worked.

One of our clean ups is available to view at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5njVKtiA1I

5 education seminars were provided to local muslim school groups outlining the impacts that marine and coastal debris is having on global marine and coastal systems and the species which live within those environments. This form of education is otherwise not available within the Indonesian curriculum so it is vital that we supply this sort of education if there is going to be a culture shift in the way Indonesia treats its plastic and rubbish problem.

3 large fundraisers were organised to raise funds for local community groups who work with the re-introduction of endangered wildlife back into the environment. These projects include a turtle sanctuary, mangrove restoration, wild deer and native bird breeding.

16 gigs were performed with local Indonesian bands uniting Australian music with rural Indonesian communities the outcomes were spectacular and we cannot wait to continue spreading the message of conservation throughout Indonesia in 2016!
Australian Background of our work so far

We have done a series of beach clean events over our tours to various places so far in 2016 including 4 in Victoria on the Mornington Peninsula, 13 in Western Australia from Esperance in the south west to Exmouth in the North West. 

So far we have collected 10.28 kg of Rubbish, 723 Cigarette Butts, 25 metres of Rope, and a total of 2,000 individual items 

The 2016 Mission:

Collect as much plastic and rubbish debris from the environment as possible and relocate the rubbish collected to recycling plants which are based around the Indonesian continent and present on each Island. Donating the funds raised through recycling back into the community groups and conservation projects involved in the collections.

A total of 40 beach cleans will occur throughout Indonesia:

10 Beach Clean ups in Bali:

1 @ Uluwatu
1 @ Greenballs
1 @ Balangan
1 @ Dreamlands
1 @ Padang- Padang
1 @ Bingin-Impossibles 1 @ Echo Beach
1 @ Changuu
1 @ Kuta
1 @ Legian

5 Beach Clean ups in Sumbawa , All around major tourist locations in Lakey Peak

2 Beach Clean ups in Gilli Islands

3 in Nusa Lombongan, All around major tourist locations

20 Beach Clean ups in Java

1 on Bawaiian Island, North of Java
2 in Gresik Region, North East Java
2 in Malang Region, Java
3 in Prigi Region, South Java
5 in Central Java
7 in West Java

Each with an expected collection of between 3-15 Cubic meters of Plastic/Marine debris. There fore having a total expected collection of between 120-600 Cubic Meters of Plastic and Marine debris from natural environments.

Co-ordinate 15 Education seminars with local schools and community groups on the impact of plastic within the environment and what they can do to reduce the impacts in there local regions

5 in Bali
10 in Java
2 in Sumbawa
1 in Gilli Islands
1 in Nusa Lombongan

Play a series of gig’s and festival event's with local bands to share the love of music and enable greater exposure for Indonesian music to our fans back home in Australia.

While also educating bands on the use of sustainable merchandise products rather then using plastic and other less environmentally friendly options, therefore reducing the use of plastics within the Indonesian Music Industry.

Give exposure to Indonesian Bands into the Australian Music Industry and provide advice on how they can eventually tour Australia themselves!

Create the second instalment of The Crystal Land Tour in Indonesia Documentary... to view the first instalments of our documentary’s please check out www.youtube.com/thenbcz  

HOW WILL THESE FUNDS BE USED TO ASSIST IN THIS JOURNEY? 

–  PROMOTIONAL ASSITANCE

–  FUNDS TO ASSIST WITH ACCOMODATION, FUEL, GARBAGE TRUCK HIRE, TOUR BUS,
FUNDRAISING EVENTS, SCHOOL WORKSHOPS, FLIGHTS, CAMERA GEAR, RUBBISH REMOVAL COSTS and REHABILITATION OF ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS AND WILDLIFE

–  SOUND EQUIPMENT

–  MERCHANDISE PRODUCTION

–  ADVERTISING

–  CONNECTIONS AND NETWORKS

–  VOLUNTEER SOURCING IN INDONESIA

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU
Last years tour got us on the front page of 6 Indonesian national newspapers as well as national radio and television across Indonesia. Word travelled fast and I have even had Indonesian people now living in Australia approach me asking me if I was the guy who did the rubbish collections in Indonesia. This word of mouth and network advertisement could have your company also being spoken about for the positive things you are doing to assist in this years project.

We would include these advertising features for your company:
–  Radio Interviews throughout Indonesia
–  Mention your support of the project at all school programs and community group workshops
–  Television Interviews and news broadcasts throughout Indonesia
–  Your logo on all of our tour posters and tour banners present at every show/workshop/beach

Clean up
–  We can wear selected items of your merchandise while filming our documentary
–  Active promotion of your companies involvement with the project on all of our websites and

Social media pages prior to us departing for Indonesia
–  If you supply us with stickers we are happy to hand them out to kids during our education

Seminars around Indonesia to promote your brand
–  your company’s logo will feature in the opening credits of the documentary with a statement of

Thanks for your support
–  we will add links to our websites to your selected sites/advertisements online


Yours sincerely,
Jason Strugarek (Executive Director for The NbC and Environment Director for The Axiom)

Rob Mier (Coordinator at The NbC)

Josh Garner (Owner and Director of The Axiom)

Aaron Hughes (Assistant Director and Photographer at The Axiom)

Rhys Devenyns (Photographer/Videographer at Slippery Productions)