Sarawak Eco Warriors recently hosted a beach clean-up event in connection with this year’s Earth Day, inviting the public to join them in their efforts to save the environment from the accumulation of plastic waste.
Nature is of paramount importance
EARTH Day, observed annually on April 22, serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability. It is a day devoted to bringing environmental issues to light and encouraging action to safeguard the environment.
Earth Day is more than just a celebration; it’s a catalyst for a mental change that makes us realise that we are inextricably linked to nature rather than apart from it.
People engage in a variety of actions worldwide, including planting trees, cleaning up efforts, holding educational programmes, and pushing for legislative reforms that would address environmental issues like climate change.
By actively taking part in Earth Day, we foster a culture of responsible living and set the stage for a time when sustainability is accepted as the standard.
Themed “Planet vs. Plastics”, this year’s Earth Day brings attention to the serious issue of plastic pollution and how it harms nature.
Planet vs. Plastics
The call was acknowledged by people of the Land of the Hornbills.Last weekend at Pandan Beach in Lundu, Sarawak Eco Warriors, a non-profit organisation, organised a significant beach clean-up effort in collaboration with the United States (US) Embassy of Malaysia and the Lundu District Council.
According to Sarawak Eco Warriors president Mark Liao, the gathering of 89 volunteers was not just merely to clean up but also a powerful statement against the worldwide issue of plastic pollution, in line with their continuous cooperation with the US Embassy.
The event also provided a platform for participants to learn about the impact of plastic garbage on marine life and coastal ecosystems.
A brief educational presentation regarding the effects of plastic waste on people and the environment was held during the event, along with a discussion of the viability of clean-up initiatives.
“Just so you know, we were able to gather roughly 43 large bags, or 124 kilogrammes, of rubbish throughout the clean-up.
“Out of the total 2,923 pieces of trash collected, plastic bottles were the most common on Pandan Beach (772 pieces), followed by smaller pieces of foam and plastic bits (482 pieces),” he stated.
Elaborating, Liao said that since the beginning of their clean-up campaigns in 2017, the purpose of the clean-ups had shifted significantly from being a grassroots effort to gathering significant data that is being consulted throughout advocacy and decision-making processes.
He noted that the collaboration was currently in charge of a one-year initiative devoted to community empowerment and the management of plastic trash.
“The project takes a comprehensive approach by supporting programmes that provide real opportunities for plastic recycling and raising awareness about biodiversity and the risks of plastic pollution among schools and youth groups.
“It also makes me happy to see more organisations and people collaborating to protect Sarawak’s rich biodiversity.
“With our ongoing partnership with the US Embassy and Lundu District Council, we hope to develop more long-term programmes focused on transformative change for nature conservation,” he said.
Safeguarding the environment
In the meantime, the Sarawak Eco Warriors president responded that nature was of paramount importance because it gave us the means to maintain our way of life when asked why protecting the environment was crucial for humans.
“Nature provides us with different services that are fundamental building blocks for our survival.
“It will cost us a lot of money and resources to minimise environmental problems or restore nature’s capacity to supply the various services that it offers us.
“The best place for individuals to start protecting the environment is at home, at their offices, or in schools.
“As a result, we regularly collaborate with educational institutions and other groups to conduct volunteer and educational activities aimed at enhancing their sustainability initiatives.
“School-based workshops in nature, educational talks, cleanup events and habitat restoration programmes are all specially curated to help people have more hands-on opportunities and appreciate nature,” he explained.
“In spite of the fact that there are several awareness campaigns taking place, we are aware that many more people still irresponsibly disregard their responsibility to safeguard the environment, particularly when it comes to plastic waste.”
In order to make this group understand how important it was to work together to protect the environment, Liao said they should understand that plastics weren’t all that bad.
“Its strength, flexibility and affordability make it an ideal material for human use in a variety of applications, including lightening transportation, keeping medical equipment clean and storing goods.
“We need to understand that plastics are not bad, but we need to improve the way we manage plastics so it doesn’t negatively affect nature and people,” he pointed out.
He added that managing plastic trash and protecting the environment sho
uld involve all people, regardless of one’s identity, and that activists and scientists should not be left in charge of these tasks alone.
“We need people from different sectors and backgrounds to make meaningful decisions,” Liao said.
Sarawak Eco Warriors
Sarawak Eco Warriors was founded in 2017 with the goals of giving individuals the chance to volunteer for environmental protection, learn more about nature, and promote environmental conservation through their own initiatives and projects.
Since then, they have collaborated with various international organisations, such as the Global Environment Facility, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, the US Embassy of Malaysia, and many others.
Through grassroots and community-based initiatives, environment education workshops with educational institutions and youth organisations, and coordinating youth efforts around biodiversity advocacy and policy, they have so far interacted with over 3,000 people.
In terms of waste management, they have coordinated more than 40 clean-up campaigns and kept track of more than 112,000 items that were removed from the environment (not counting the most recent one).
Hence, Sarawak Eco Warriors is urging youth groups and secondary schools, particularly those serving students aged 12 to 17, to host educational workshops and events about the preservation of nature, biodiversity, and marine ecosystems as part of their campaign against plastics.
The association invites group leaders and educators to get in touch with them at sarawakecowarriors@gmail.com.
Earth Day is more than a single day of celebration or a single issue. It’s about realising the connections between all things in nature. It’s a call to action that extends throughout the year. We can all help create a more sustainable future by supporting environmental projects and implementing minor adjustments in our daily lives.
So, go outside and pay close attention this Earth Day. It’s possible that the planet itself is reaching out to be in conversation, and the rustling leaves are not just murmurs in the wind.
