More than 3,200 substances associated with plastics have hazardous elements. These toxic chemicals can have serious impacts on our health & environment.

Check out this new UNEP & The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions report to find out more about harmful impact of chemicals in plastics & calls for urgent action.

Flyer and infographics on the anatomy of plastics attached below!

World Environment Day Weekly Trivia!

In the lead up to World Environment Day (5 June), test your knowledge on how to beat plastic pollution!

This week we look at plastics and the textile industry.

#BeatPlasticPollution

P.s. I was very surprised by many of the answers, definitely need to improve my knowledge on textile & plastics!

We know that the plastic pollution issue is HUGE, especially in SIDS, with a volume of plastic equivalent to a lorry load dumped into our oceans every minute.

BUT we cal all be part of the solution!

Check out this Do-It-Yourself guide developed by Serious Business and IUCN to reduce plastic waste on any island anywhere in the world – a blueprint to zero plastic waste.

Organisations, citizens, or politicians can use this free resource to find upstream and downstream solutions to the plastic issue.

An interesting initiative of local cafe in South Korea to eliminate use of plastic straws. The posters on the wall say that coffee without the straw tastes better. It motivated me as a customer!

Could be a nice idea for small businesses in SIDS.

As we approach Earth Day, the excitement is definitely rising!

In conjunction with BREEF (Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation) it is my pleasure to share with you our beach clean up for Earth Day! I look forward to connecting with so many young people to make a difference in the world around us, to educate and inspire them and to pour into young people the way this organization poured I to me.

I look forward to sharing the outcomes of this event with you as we engage in a morning full of fun, friendly competition and most of all, environmental stewardship on all levels!

#earthday2023
#youthempowerment
#environmentalawareness

Reducing plastic consumption is becoming increasingly important, and as an example three plastic-free islands in Vietnam are promoting eco-tourism and sustainable practices. These islands include Cù Lao Chàm, An Bình, and Cô Tô. To reduce plastic waste, they have implemented measures such as banning single-use plastics, promoting reusable alternatives like bamboo straws and cloth bags, and organizing beach cleanups.

By choosing to visit these plastic-free islands, travelers can make a positive impact and help promote sustainable tourism practices. Isn`t it an inspiration for other destinations to follow and reduce their plastic footprint?

Life on the Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is twice the size of Texas, is the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world. There are about 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic in the patch that weigh an estimated 80,000 tonnes.

The Patch has become so big and permanent that a coastal ecosystem is thriving on it. It shows how nature can adapt to human activities, which have become so vast that we have literally created a "country of waste" in the middle of the ocean.

Click on the link below to read the article and watch the video!

Dear all Tide Turners Pacific allies, supporters, and partners,

We are excited to invite you all to our Global Tide Turners Plastic Challenge 2023 Launch!

This launch was created to bring youth, partners, stakeholders, and allies from all around the world to celebrate the fifth phase of the Global Tide Turners journey, celebrate what the Tide Turners has done thus far, give a platform for youth champions to share their experience, and also look ahead and acknowledge the exciting journey of Tide Turners in the coming years - including some of the work we will be doing in the Pacific!

Samoa's very own Joyce Te'o, current President of the 350 University of South Pacific (a student-led eco-club) and member of Brown Girl Woke (Samoa's delivering party for Tide Turners) will be joined by a number of other youth ambassadors from around the globe to be a part of a panel discussion led by Mr. Sam Barrat, Chief of the UNEP Ecosystem Division's Youth, Education, and Advocacy Unit.

Since this is a Global Launch, we are hoping to have as many attendees from around the world as possible and I apologize in advance for our Pacific colleagues from whom this launch will be in the evening, but we would love and greatly appreciate if you could join and be a part of this incredible milestone for the Global Tide Turners Program!

Come learn more about Tide Turners, support the movement and help this generation of youth turn the tide on plastics!

Please see the full invitation below from Tide Turner's very own Gayatri Raghwa, UNEP Environmental Education Consultant & Project Lead for Tide Turners India

Please feel free to share this invite to your networks as well!

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Global Launch: Tide Turners Plastic Challenge 2023

Witness as nations unite to flag a new chapter of the world's largest youth-led movement on Plastic Pollution.

Catch the global launch of the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge 2023, to get inspired and join forces with youth across nations as they begin their fight as next-gen planet warriors.

The Tide Turner Plastic Challenge, an initiative by the UN Environmental Programme with educational partners is marking its footprint across 40 countries by committing young people to take action against the global menace of plastics.

The campaign has grown to include more young people than ever, engaging 588,740+ individuals since its inception in 2019.

Today Tide Turners is extending its resources to youth and citizens from the most diverse backgrounds and geographies, transitioning the challenge from a campaign to a global movement of youth.

Register Now as we kick-start a brand-new phase of the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge, where the world will unite to witness change like never before.

LAUNCH EVENT

Date: 20th April 2023

Time: 2:30 PM -4:00 PM IST | 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM GMT

BUTTON: Register to join free! (Attach registration link) Share within your networks

Link: https://wwf.zoom.us/j/95409742481?pwd=ckx2MDQwajBIRFpTeXZBRERRRW0yUT09

Meeting ID: 954 0974 2481 | Password: 309082

After the launch you can also join

A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION

Join a special Earth Week Virtual Roundtable and learn how you can engage youth for better environmental advocacy.

Date: 20th April 2023

Time: 7.30pm to 8.30pm IST | 10:00AM-11:00AM EDT

Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-f5fhFoVTB-1PFrhJI4iSw

Save the date, as this is your chance to join forces for a better planet!