As we mark World Oceans Day 🌊, we take a moment to reflect on the urgent need to protect and preserve our oceans, our beaches, and our planet as a whole.
We celebrate the individuals who have stepped forward to tackle this challenge head-on, those who have dared to dip their toes in the sand and fight against the tide of plastic waste pollution.
At the heart of this battle are our young stewards - a beacon of hope for our planet's future. They are the champions of the Clean Planet Foundation's QSI Phuket Beach Clean 2023 project, a beacon of hope for our future.
A Story of Resilience and Dedication
In May 2023, the Clean Planet Foundation partnered with the QSI International School of Phuket, Thailand, to organize an ambitious beach clean project. Against the backdrop of stunning beaches marred by high levels of tourism-generated waste and poor trash management systems, 90 students and adults rolled up their sleeves to make a difference. Their collective efforts culminated in the removal of a staggering 800 kilograms of plastic waste from the local environment.
The determination and resilience of these young individuals were awe-inspiring. They carried the weight of a problem they didn't create, yet they confronted it with unyielding resolve. Each piece of waste collected echoed a message loud and clear: we have the power to change the narrative, one piece of plastic at a time.
Our Role in Their Journey
The Clean Planet Foundation's mission is to educate and take action for the sustainable use of plastics and the reduction of carbon emissions. In alignment with this mission, we were privileged to be part of this beach clean project. We contributed not just by supporting the resources to undertake physical cleanup but also by providing a platform for education and awareness.
Our role extended to delivering a lecture highlighting the implications of plastic waste, its benefits and drawbacks, and the importance of managing plastic waste responsibly. Additionally, we ensured the participants were educated on the correct use of personal protective equipment, waste collection methods, and waste transportation.
In a testament to their commitment and curiosity, some of the collected waste was transported back to the QSI Phuket International school for further analysis, aiding the students in their scientific inquiries and reinforcing their learnings.
A Sombre Reality Amidst Celebrations
While we rejoice in the success of the QSI Phuket Beach Clean project, we must also confront a sobering reality. The final titles of the video above reveal a staggering statistic: while our young stewards collected nearly 1 tonne of plastic in May, worldwide, an estimated 14 million tonnes of plastic waste is expected to enter our oceans this year alone.
This is not a crisis we can observe from the comfort of our homes. The sight of these young individuals on the frontlines should unsettle us, stirring us into action. It prompts a question we all must face: Why are they shouldering a responsibility that rests on all of our shoulders?
A Call to Action: The Future is in Our Hands
This World Oceans Day, we urge each one of us to reflect on the role we play in preserving our planet for the generations to come. Each piece of plastic discarded, each piece of plastic repurposed, shapes the world we share. And every moment we delay, we leave these young guardians to face an escalating challenge.
Yet, within this sobering truth lies a compelling call to action. A call that urges us to reassess our habits, choices, and legacies. A call that asks us not to leave it to them, but to stand with them, to fight with them. To act, not just for the sake of today, but for the countless tomorrows that follow.")
A big congratulations and THANK YOU to the QSI International School of Phuket for their incredible results at the beach clean up, and another big call out to you to help them not shoulder our entire burden.
You can read and see more about this project on Clean Planet Foundation's site - here