MORE than 500 learners and educators in Nelson Mandela Bay recently marched from Kings Beach to Happy Valley to create awareness towards achieving zero plastics in the seas off the coast of Africa.
The march was organised in collaboration with the Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) and collected 66kg of waste along the route.
Sharné Woods, communications manager of the Sustainable Seas Trust, said that the youth march was all about getting the youth to take charge of the future and lead the way to a cleaner and plastic-pollution-free sea.
“We have less than 30 years left to make positive changes if we are to reverse the life-threatening trend of Africa becoming the most polluted continent in the world by 2050,” Woods said.
Leading the march with Sustainable Seas Trust were Pearson High School (Summerstrand), Kabega Park Primary (Kabega), Fumisukoma Primary (Motherwell), WB Tshume Primary (KwaZakhele), Empumalanga Primary (Motherwell), Elukolweni Farm School (Lovemore Park), Masazi Project Eco Club from Zwartkops Conservancy (Motherwell), GJ Louw Primary (Korsten), Charles Duna Primary (New Brighton), Elufefeni Primary (Motherwell), Ndyebo High (Motherwell), Dumani Primary (Motherwell), Motherwell High, and Seyisi Primary (KwaZakhele).
The march included an interactive youth-led educational session filled with detailed how-to tips. This followed the launch of an innovative pet project called Munch, including a beach clean-up to reinforce the message of taking a stand and taking action to be part of the solution.
Wood added, “We need everyone to understand how dependant we are on a healthy ocean and that we are all part of the solution to stopping plastic waste from entering the seas.
“We need to stop plastic waste and other waste from entering our environment – we will work towards achieving zero plastics in our seas,” Wood said.
