Guyana Sandwatch Pilot Schools team up to celebrate Earth Day 2018 linking Plastic Pollution and Climate Change
Did you know that 300 million tons of plastic are sold each year and that 90% of that is thrown away? Did you know that a huge percentage of those plastics end up in our landfills, our oceans, our wildlife and our bodies? That is why the theme to mark today’s celebration of Earth Day is “End Plastic Pollution”. Plastic is a petroleum based product which utilizes approximately 8% of global oil production.
Were you aware that the EPA (USA) estimated that five ounces of carbon dioxide are emitted for every ounce of Polyethylene Terephthalate produced (also known as PET is the plastic most commonly used to make water bottles). An increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has resulted in the enhanced greenhouse effect leading to global warming. To raise awareness on the harmful effects of plastic pollution and its link to climate change some of the Sandwatch pilot schools teamed up to celebrate Earth Day 2018 through a beach cleanup exercise on Friday April 20, 2018.
Sandwatch Teams in nine (9) primary and secondary schools took part in the beach cleaning Earth Day exercises...
1. Marian Academy
2. Stella Marris Primary
3. Tutorial High
4. St. Stanislaus College
5. Smith's Memorial Primary
6. Vreen - en - Hoop Secondary
7. Vreen - en - Hoop Primary
8. LBI Secondary
9. LBI Primary
Were you aware that the EPA (USA) estimated that five ounces of carbon dioxide are emitted for every ounce of Polyethylene Terephthalate produced (also known as PET is the plastic most commonly used to make water bottles). An increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has resulted in the enhanced greenhouse effect leading to global warming. To raise awareness on the harmful effects of plastic pollution and its link to climate change some of the Sandwatch pilot schools teamed up to celebrate Earth Day 2018 through a beach cleanup exercise on Friday April 20, 2018.
- Sandwatch is a UNESCO programme that provides a framework for children, youth and adults, with the help of teachers and local communities, to work together to critically evaluate the problems and conflicts facing their beach environments, and to develop sustainable approaches to address these issues. It also helps beaches become more resilient to climate change. Sandwatch utilizes the MAST methodology – Monitoring, Analysing, Sharing and Taking action as a problem solving approach. Seventeen schools are presently piloting the UNESCO Sandwatch programme. A total of 75 students from some of the pilot schools teamed up to conduct a sandwatch activity which involved the cleanup of a part of the Kingston beach on Friday April 20, 2018. The teams counted the number of pieces of plastics that were collected within approximately 30 minutes. Students engaged in discussions on the dangers plastics pose to marine life and how they can be the change in reducing their ‘plastic footprint’. In following the UNESCO’s Sandwatch MAST methodology the students committed to take action through participating in a poster competition to raise awareness on plastic pollution and reducing plastic pollution in their schools through embacing the 5Rs – Reduce, Refuse Reuse Recycle Remove
Sandwatch Teams in nine (9) primary and secondary schools took part in the beach cleaning Earth Day exercises...
1. Marian Academy
2. Stella Marris Primary
3. Tutorial High
4. St. Stanislaus College
5. Smith's Memorial Primary
6. Vreen - en - Hoop Secondary
7. Vreen - en - Hoop Primary
8. LBI Secondary
9. LBI Primary
Additional information
ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE BY THE BBC:
• 8.3 billion metric tons (9.1 billion US tons) of virgin (non-recycled) plastic has been produced to date.
• Generating 6.3 billion metric tons (6.9 billion US tons) of plastic waste.
• 9% of that waste has been recycled.
• 12% has been incinerated.
• The remaining 79% (5.5 billion US tons) of plastic waste has accumulated in landfills and the natural environment.
• 12 billion metric tons (13.2 billion US tons) will enter landfills or the environment by 2050 if current production and waste management trends continue.
ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE BY THE BBC:
• 8.3 billion metric tons (9.1 billion US tons) of virgin (non-recycled) plastic has been produced to date.
• Generating 6.3 billion metric tons (6.9 billion US tons) of plastic waste.
• 9% of that waste has been recycled.
• 12% has been incinerated.
• The remaining 79% (5.5 billion US tons) of plastic waste has accumulated in landfills and the natural environment.
• 12 billion metric tons (13.2 billion US tons) will enter landfills or the environment by 2050 if current production and waste management trends continue.