By 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean if we continue the improper use and disposal of plastic. This bothers me as I grew up in a country surrounded with beautiful beaches. At a very young age, I learned how to value nature. My father taught me the importance of recycling and waste segregation. I used to say that I got my hippie genes from him.
The impact of improper disposal of plastic affects all of us especially the marine life. Sea animals ingest plastic in the ocean by mistake. It also pollutes the water as it releases toxic substances. We have seen efforts such as beach clean up, one of Moon Water projects, to prevent plastic pollution in the ocean. More people are practicing zero-waste lifestyle to reduce their plastic wastes. But we can do more. We certainly can do more to protect our ocean.
So on July 29, I supported Reef Check Philippines’ “Voice for the Ocean, a Conversation on Conservation” where they invited speakers from different fields to talk about their medium in helping to conserve and protect the ocean.
At the event, they showed the documentary series entitled Expedition that tackles about the different Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Philippines. Francis Guerrero together with Carmen del Prado, both professional photographers and co-directed the mini documentary, talk about their experiences at the event. Francis shared that they created this documentary to show who are the people behind protecting our ocean. They interviewed scientists, marine biologists and other people who are experts in this field.
One of them is Tara Abrina, which was my favourite speaker at the event. She has worked in different MPAs and lived with different communities as a research officer focusing on the economic values of coral. As a freediver, she was inspired to start “Kapit Sisid” (to dive together) and train people from the community as reef rangers to help conserve coral reef.
A Buhay Zero-Waste (Zero-Waste Lifestyle) co-member Lenn Katindig was there and shared how she manages a zero-waste lifestyle for the past years. She warned that it feels hard and inconvenient at the beginning but the reward is fulfilling at the same time. Especially if you know you are protecting the environment for your children. If you are planning to go zero waste, she suggested to start slowly to avoid getting overwhelmed. In my own experience, I started with refusing plastic bags when shopping. This is a small but helpful way to lessen your waste. You can also ditch plastic straws and use reusable ones if you need to. Always carry reusable spoon and fork. You can purchase our very own palm tree woven case for your mess kit if you are interested. They are handwoven and made from sustainable materials. As consumers, we have the power to support brands who are environmental-conscious.
We can all be the voice for the ocean. Use your skills to help conserve our natural resources. Always remember the 5R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and then Recycle. Before you know it, you are gradually decreasing your plastic wastes.
WE ARE THE VOICE OF THE OCEAN