Activists sent bold message to governments to end plastic use

According to current data, the world produces approximately 350 million metric tons of plastic waste annually. 

Plastics continue to be among the main pollutants globally despite the convenience and cheap production costs it brings to the world, said Sahabat Alam Malaysia honorary secretary Mageswari Sangaralingam.

According to current data, the world produces approximately 350 million metric tons of plastic waste annually.

In Malaysia, according to another report, the country generates over one million tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste annually, with estimates placing the figure at 1,070,064 tonnes.

This makes Malaysia a significant contributor to global plastic waste, ranking among the top importers of plastic waste and one of the highest per capita consumers in the region.

in Busan, South Korea now, Mageswari shared that over 500 Friends of the Earth International and Friends of the Earth South Korea (KFEM) activists sent a bold message to governments with their bodies, making a human sign spelling out the words “End Plastic”.

The action took place yesterday on a beach where over 175 government representatives are meeting this week to finalise a new treaty to end plastic pollution.

Despite the claims to be part of the recyclables, the fact remains that some of the plastic items cannot be recycled and would remain a pollutant, ending up eventually within the world’s oceans, drifting among the globe’s debris.

And now, some of the microplastics make their way into the food chain and there is evidence to indicate that humans end up consuming it.

“We are united in our call for a strong treaty that tackles the plastic pollution crisis head-on, demanding action that cuts plastic production at its very source.

“The urgency of the plastic issue can no longer be understated. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes, choking ecosystems and communities.”

Hemantha Withanage, the Chair of Friends of the Earth International said, “As the host of the negotiations, South Korea must send a clear message to the international community: a legally binding plastics treaty is no longer optional, but necessary,”.

“The Korean government has to exercise responsible leadership to ensure the successful conclusion of a strong treaty that covers the full life cycle of plastic and reduces plastic production,” said his South Korean counterpart Hyein Yu.

Ana Maria Vasquez of the Friends of the Earth El Salvador said that for the Global Plastics Treaty to be effective in reversing the tide of plastic pollution, mechanisms and solutions to address it need to exist within climate and planetary boundaries.

Mageswari said that affected communities and social and environmental movements around the world are geared up for the negotiations starting today, determined to counter the influence of fossil fuel and corporate interests that could dilute the Treaty’s effectiveness, highlighting the need for a treaty that also holds corporations accountable.

Among those fighting the pollution is the global movement called Break Free from Plastic and within the Asean region, there is the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) based out of the Philippines, fighting the same cause. – The Vibes, November 25, 2024.