Maverick Musings #3
“No one will protect what they don't care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced” - David Attenborough
Welcome to the third edition of ?? Maverick Musings ??
We begin the third edition with heartfelt prayers for the people of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The severe cyclonic storm- Mocha will force almost 2.8 million people at risk of displacement.?
This edition focuses on the urgent concern of marine litter—an environmental challenge with profound implications for marine ecosystems, global economies, and our very own health.
?We apologize for the slight delay in bringing you this edition, but for a fantastic reason. We've had an exciting and action-packed week organizing a series of ????marine litter campaigns across the enchanting locales of Kochi, Trivandrum, and Alappuzha in Kerala, as part of a notable G20 event. Thank you for your patience, and now let's dive into the depths of this critical topic.
The cleanup was organized in association with Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India Directorate of Environment & Climate Change Green Worms CleanHub EichhoTech & GIZ India
More than 500+ volunteers joined hands on the 21st of May in the event to collect 1700kg of marine litter!
While hosting marine litter cleanups isn't the ultimate solution to this pervasive issue, such activities play a pivotal role in generating public awareness and fostering a more environmentally conscious citizenry.
Beyond just awareness, every bit of trash retrieved from our oceans serves a much larger purpose. It contributes to preserving marine ecosystems, which directly influences the food security of millions globally. Additionally, it aids in maintaining the health of our oceans—the planet's most significant carbon sink—bolstering our collective efforts against climate change.
??14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean
every year- IUCN
??Every week the average person consumes a credit card
size worth of plastic.
- Newcastle University & WWF
Mastering green skills
To organize marine litter cleanups, it's essential to equip ourselves with the right skills. These crucial professional abilities are required to successfully organize and execute such environmentally significant initiatives.
To host a successful cleanup, understanding waste segregation is crucial. This means categorizing collected litter appropriately—paper, glass, medical waste, footwear or leather, and especially plastics. The latter is further divided based on type and density, including low-density (e.g., grocery bags), high-density (e.g., detergent bottles), legacy waste (e.g., outdated plastic furniture), and single-use plastics (e.g., straws).
This segregation process enables tailored recycling approaches, ensuring that plastics are appropriately processed according to their composition. By subjecting plastics to specialized recycling methods, such as cleaning, melting, and reforming, their transformative potential is harnessed, granting them a second life as new products or materials. Even non-recyclable plastics find purpose through proper disposal methods, whether through energy generation or appropriate containment in controlled environments.
Effectively rallying volunteers is a vital skill for climate action. This involves a multi-step process, including establishing clear project goals, designing a robust recruitment strategy, raising awareness about the cause, and providing necessary training and resources.
Fostering a sense of community by creating meaningful and rewarding experiences is essential. Solid communication strategies to keep volunteers informed, engaged, and motivated play a crucial role, as does recognize their efforts and celebrating collective achievements.
Effective volunteer mobilization not only augments community involvement but also elevates awareness and leads to a substantial impact on marine litter issues.
Furthermore, collaboration with governmental organizations or other entities to provide non-monetary incentives, such as certificates, can be an attractive strategy, especially for engaging student volunteers.
Siezing opportunities?
Themes: Oceans | Loss and damage mechanism | Energy transition
This eLearning course has been specifically designed to bolster the capabilities of cities in managing plastic waste effectively. This course aims to help cities reach their local, national, and regional objectives tied to sustainable development by enhancing their understanding and approach to managing plastic waste.
Youth-led initiatives?
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Know more about the founders Mathew Tom , Malavika Liz George , Peter J Pulikkunnel , Anand Varghese Mathew , and Cyril Binoy .
Know more about the founders Sindhu Nepolean
Eco headlines
?? Federal Environment Minister rejects proposal to Mine near the Great Barrier Reef. WOAH! "I've decided that the adverse environmental impacts are simply too great" WOAH! WOAH! somebody is making sense.
The decision was made after realizing the irreversible potential damage to the already vulnerable reef. The undertaking would have encompassed two open-cut excavations, a type of open-pit coal mining that would have resulted in the extraction of 10 million tonnes of coal annually. But the warming of oceans has destroyed the World Heritage-listed reef so much that the added burden will never compensate for the "commercial sense of it". Well, either way, WOAH.
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in Delhi has pioneered a groundbreaking initiative—a Coalition of Coastal Cities—aimed at curbing marine litter pollution across India. Launched on April 19, 2023, this coalition serves as a united front in addressing the 80% of marine litter originating from poorly managed land waste. The creation of this coalition signals a significant step forward in pooling resources, knowledge, and efforts to tackle this pressing issue.
A few insights from our CEO
???? Hey there, Ocean Defenders!
In recent years, we've seen the rise of a formidable force—hundreds of youth leaders spearheading marine litter management efforts worldwide. ?? Their dedication has been crucial in spreading awareness about marine litter and pushing for policy reforms. Some of these cleanups have even sparked innovative solutions! ??
However, we're now facing a bigger challenge—the surge in plastic production. ?? As our dependency on plastic grows, it's crucial we take significant strides to curb this reliance, which is the only sustainable solution. At the same time, we're committed to recovering as much marine litter as we can because our oceans and marine life are vital for our survival. ????
Here are some unique tips from our cleanup crusaders, that could make a difference:
?? In hotter climates, volunteers can get exhausted pretty quickly. The sweet spot for cleanup? Less than 2 hours. So, gear up for speedy collection and make the most of our human resources.
?? When collecting waste, give it a quick rinse to wash off the mud, ensuring maximum recyclability. It might be resource-intensive, but it's worth it!
?? Find a reliable partner who specializes in waste management. Big shoutout to CleanHub and Green Worms for their incredible work in processing our collected waste!
?? Make sure nothing goes to waste! This time when volunteers forgot to bring their tea cups, we found a local tea shop to that took our surplus tea!
?? Segregating and weighing waste at the source is super important. Let's get it right!
A big shoutout to Deepa Ananthapadmanabhan Souparna V Sarath S Kurup Shilpa Sasidharan Avinash from SUSTERA team. And lastly, a HUGE thanks ?? to all the amazing volunteers who joined us. We couldn't have done it without you!
Let's continue this journey together, making our oceans cleaner and safer, one cleanup at a time. ??????
From our archives to yours?
This captivating video we crafted a few years ago, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of saying no to plastic straws. A must-watch for all environmental enthusiasts!
We also created a tool kit for youngsters to do "no straw" campaign. Check this out.
??And that's a wrap, Ocean Warriors! ??
We hope this edition of our SUSTERA newsletter not only informed you but also inspired you to take action. Remember, every bit counts when it comes to preserving our beloved oceans. ????
No matter how big or small your contribution is, it matters. Just like a tiny drop creates ripples in the ocean, your actions can ripple out and inspire change far beyond what you can see. ????
Please, don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends and family. We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a note if something in this edition inspired you, or if you took any action based on what you learned here. ??
Until next time, let's keep our spirits high and our oceans clean! Here's to creating a sustainable future together. ??????
Development Professional | Climate Action | Sustainable Development | Policy Research, M&E, and Strategy Expert | Sports for Development
1 年We Just.Play really appreciate your love and support, team Sustera Foundation ??