• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • UFIT TennisOutdoor activities – group fitness classes, tennis, cycling etc.
        • feng shui focus lucy richardsonExpat Journey: Lucy Richardson
        • Forbidden Hill fathers day gifts15 Fabulous Father’s Day Gifts and Things to Do
        • weddingTop 20 wedding venues in Singapore, for all sorts of couples
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Muswell Hill comedy Pangdemonium dinner partyPangdemonium brings Muswell Hill to Singapore
        • looking for clues treasure hunt time heistWin big in the Civic District treasure hunt
        • As You Were ArtworksWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • The National Stadium - Sports Hub Best venues for concertsTheatres in Singapore plus venues for events & concerts!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • pre & post baby items cleaning by pramwashWhen did you last clean the baby pram?
        • Nexus International School students reading in library learning experienceLearning for the Future at Nexus
        • Forbidden Hill fathers day gifts15 Fabulous Father’s Day Gifts and Things to Do
        • fishing 3aHoliday fun and outdoor activities at this Adventure Camp
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • feng shui focus lucy richardsonExpat Journey: Lucy Richardson
        • European bedding best mattressBest mattresses for the best sleep!
        • antique furniture singaporeAntique furniture shops – plus vintage and reproduction furniture!
        • Where to buy lamps in SingaporeWhere to buy lamps in Singapore – lights galore!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • ideas for a long weekend awayPlan ahead for that long weekend away!
        • international health insuranceProtecting your health overseas in 2022
        • Krabi Thailand beachfront villas for beach holiday in ThailandBeachfront villas in Krabi Thailand – perfect for your next beach holiday!
        • New ZealandYour mini guide to New Zealand
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Pizza12 great places to get the best pizza in Singapore
        • Farmers market - butcher - meat shopTop butchers for good-quality meat
        • Sugarhall DaquriLatest bars in Singapore: New drinking spots!
        • M&S Meat Free NuggetsPlant-based nuggets – here’s what we think!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • hydrating products skinTried and tested: Hydrating Products for Dry Skin
        • ARIANE ZAGURY 2A Curated Fashion House for All
        • Frizz TreatmentIn need of a quick fix for frizzy hair?
        • Spray tan singaporeGet a golden glow quickly with a spray tan!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • injuries to hip and hamstring injuriesInjuries to hip muscles & hamstring injuries – how to treat them!
        • UFIT TennisOutdoor activities – group fitness classes, tennis, cycling etc.
        • overweightWeight gain and your health – How a GP can help
        • PainWhat is pain and how do you treat it?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Getting a Green Education in Bali

8th December 2016 by Intern 1 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/green-education-bali/

In 2007, Canadian John Hardy sold his successful jewellery business and moved to Bali. There, driven by a passion for sustainability, green education and bamboo, he and his wife Cynthia co-founded the Green School and initiated other environmentally friendly enterprises. The sustainability advocate was in Singapore recently to share his vision of a greener world – which, he suggests, starts with you and me.

green school bali
Students with their teachers at The Green School Bali

You’ve achieved remarkable success in Bali, but tell us about your larger-scale vision of a greener world.

I see the lessons and deeds in Bali as a model for island achievement. And I see things that are happening in Bali – because it’s such an attractive, incredibly energised place – that can be scaled to other islands in the world. Education and design are so important. At Green School we’re creating a green leader “vortex”, because we really need green leaders. We have enough of the regular kind of leaders. Humans have designed a world that doesn’t work – and now we have to design a world that does work.

Is Bali your full-time home?

Yes. I love Bali and I wouldn’t live anywhere else. I travel a lot because there are many people who dream of having a Green School, or a greener island, so I spread the word.

What steps can we take to practise sustainable living every day?

Start with the basic questions. Think about your children asking you these questions: “Mum and Dad, is what you do every day making a better world for me?” Then do something very basic: figure out where your poop goes, and where your energy comes from. Ask the people you buy your clothing from, “Is this compostable or recyclable?” – and don’t take no for an answer. Some things are stupidly simple: carry a water bottle, and don’t ever accept another plastic cup. Go further and compost everything in your house, or take it to the local compost station. Become part of the future. As little difference as you make, it’s a signal and a sign for many others.

education school bali
John Hardy Co-Founder of the Green School

Change starts with children, so what would you like to see taught in schools around the world in regards to the environment and living sustainability?

We have seen over many years – and continue to see – the “talking head” system, where some smart guy with the facts is standing in front of the room, guarding those facts and dispensing them judiciously. The only thing that that produces is more smart guys. Education has to be dynamic; it’s about doing and learning, not about facts being dispensed by smart guys at the front of the room. Environment is everything. Kids who live in schoolrooms that are off the grid and practise sustainability will be different kids. That’s because it’s not about teaching and talking, it’s about doing and experiencing. Kids need to be encouraged to find causes; maybe recycling, or finding out where their poop goes and what happens to it.

On a personal note, one of your children, Elora, is living and working in Bali; are any of your other children doing so?

My son Orin was upset that I didn’t insist that he study in school so he could get a job in America. When Uncle Sam sent him packing because he’s a Canadian, I said to him, “Orin, it’s not about getting a job, it’s about making jobs and making the world a better world.” And that’s exactly what he and Maria Farrugia are doing at Kulkul Farm, a permaculture farm near Green School.

kulkulfarmbali.com | greenbyjohn.com | greenschool.org

This is an article that first appeared in the November 2016 edition of Expat Living. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue!

Like this? Read more on our Environment page.

Intern 1

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our weekly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

Categories: Environment Living in Singapore Tags: Bali environment Green School

You May Also Like

feng shui focus lucy richardson

Expat Journey: Lucy Richardson

finfluencer financial scammers

Scammers and finfluencers!

sports schools in singapore students jumping sack sports activities

Discover the sports programme at this international school

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2022 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.