DO IT NOW Magazine article 19-06-12

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Compiled by Tracy Knox Photos by Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director: Plastics|SA

Honouring World Oceans Day On World Oceans Day (WOD), Friday 8 June, people around the world focussed their attention on the health of our oceans. And in South Africa it was no different, with companies and individuals doing their bit to raise awareness of the important role the sea has to play in our everyday lives, such as climate regulation, waste absorption, sustenance (sea food), economic development (tourism, seafood distribution), transportation (shipping), medicine (biomedical products from marine plants and animals) and recreation (swimming).

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This year, Plastics|SA used World Oceans Day to reach out and encourage South Africa’s youth to recognise their importance within the global 2012 theme, Youth: the Next Wave for Change, because the future of marine conservation is in their hands!

As part of the 2012 World Oceans Day celebrations, Plastics|SA embarked on two new initiatives during World Environment Week to raise public awareness of the health of our oceans. In conjunction with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Plastics|SA hosted a successful World Oceans Day (WOD) celebration at the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Beachwood Mangroves in Durban. The organisations that made presentations to the captivated audience were Plastics|SA on the global plastic industry’s commitment to address the problem of marine litter with its recent global declaration

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on marine litter; and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife presented on what the annual WOD is all about and why we should conserve our oceans. Duzi-uMngeni Conservation Trust shared its experiences and findings from the Mayday for Rivers Walk, after which an inspiring talk was delivered by 12-year-old Nikita van der Merwe, the Plastics|SA Youth Ambassador and Aqua Angel, who recently embarked on rowing on rivers and dams around KZN in her kayak to raise awareness of water pollution and encourage the youth and local schools to take action and make a difference where they can. “I want to show young people in South Africa that we need to take responsibility for our oceans. We generally have more free time and can encourage our school and neighbourhood friends to go out and make a difference, because every little bit counts,” Nikita told the audience members.

After the day’s speeches and presentations, staff from Plastics|SA and approximately 260 volunteers from local schools, the community, plastics companies such as PETCO and HOSAF, Working for Fire, WESSA and Seaworld gave up their time to remove litter from the beach and mangroves at Beachwood Mangroves, Durban. As the mangroves in this area are linked to the Umgeni River mouth and beach, this is regarded as an environmentally sensitive area.

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FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1 The volunteers who participated in the beach cleanup.

2 Nikita van der Merwe and her father (Sam).

3 Plastics|SA Youth Ambassador and Aqua Angel, Nikita van der Merwe, and friends.

On the Sunday following the international WOD, Plastics|SA also coordinated a cleanup of the popular Sunset Beach in Cape Town on behalf of the Ratepayers’ Association and National Port Authority. A total of 194kg (15 725 items) of marine litter (marine waste, garbage or debris)

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was collected by 155 volunteers in celebration of World Oceans Day. The litter was audited by Plastics|SA as part of an effort to assess the makeup of debris found on this beach and to highlight the source of this material over a two kilometre distance. •

More articles in DO IT NOW Magazine: ❱❱ Children in the Wilderness ❱❱ A Walk on the Wild Side ❱❱ Teachers and Children Fly High

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