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ksba

A MAJOR month long carnival event has been proposed for Kuta to help the area on the road to recorvery.
Organised by the Kuta Small Business Association with the support of the Kuta, Legian and Seminyak villages (Perum Samigita), the Bali government and the Bali people the event has been designed to show the world that Bali is doing something itself to recover from the drastic effects of the October 12 bombing last year and to revive the true spint of gotong royong (people joining together to help others).
The organisers have provided an umbrella structure for dozens of other groups to stage events as a part of the carnival program.
Scores of events have already registered including an International Surf Competition, WBA Boxing, World Woman’s Tennis, an International Food Festival, a rock concert, hash runs, various exhibitions, a skateboard competition, beach volleyball, beach soccer, a surf lifesaving competition and many more.
Event organisers are very conscious of the timing of the event and the overall theme will be humane and spiritual.
The culmination of the carnival event is proposed for October 12 which will be a highly spiritual day of remembrance.
On the evening of October 12 it is proposed to hold a non religious (secular) but spiritual event on Kuta beach which will involve more than 1000 Balinese dancers in a quiet, but moving visual event.
Also proposed is a one or two minute period of silence when all lights will dim, vehicles will halt, music will stop at 11.14 pm.
A minute before the period of silence only Kul Kuls (Balinese gongs) will sound throughout the island.
Other aspects of the evening are still to be planned.
At this stage the entire program remains flexible and the organising group expects many other events and programs to be added to the current diary.
One of the aims of the carnival program is to secure the involvement of the entire island in one way or another.
The organising committee is totally non-profit and while funds are necessary to stage such an event the committee hope that individual organisations will fund their own events with the committee securing manpower from volunteers to help manage and co-ordinate the highly ambitious program.
One of the highlights of the month long program will be a Madi Gras style party and parade on the Kuta beach and the closed off road section of Jl. Pantai, Kuta on the night of October 11.
It is proposed that scores of different entertainers be positioned along the entire beach front of Kuta to provide entertainment for locals and tourists alike to jointly propose the start of a new era for Kuta and Bali.
Now, more than ten months after the tragic terrorist attacks most staff along Jl Legian are still on half wages while hundreds of former staff are still looking for jobs after being layed-off from work.
Many businesses in that area and throughout Bali are on the verge of bankruptcy, but keeping the doors open because there are no alternative options available.
The wait and see option for business is no longer viable and small business must use what ever resources it has to By-pass travel warnings and overseas travel companies wariness to once again promote Bali to customers.
During the period of the lead-up to the anniversary of the bombing it is anticipated that Bali will be under the watchful eye of the world media and it is the time to show a bold and brave face.
Committee members, many of whom are expatriates are keen to act as a groupwhich welcomes more and more people to volunteer assistance rather than an individual taking the forefront.
Many of those assisting are Bali’s top business people and companies standing behind the proposal are Bali’s to companies.
The organising group is seeking all kinds of support, beginning with volunteer management manpower along with loan desks, loan computers, loan staff, loan photocopiers and other office equipment necessary for the vital communications task in a number of languages.
Any offers of assistance, ideas for the event or proposals from associations and organisations can be directed to the Kuta Small Business Association office on telephone 758 995 or to Jl Raya Legian 138, Kuta, Bali.
www.gokuta.com

by Bali Sun