'PLASTIC PLANET': an exhibit committed to deal with the problem of plastics

Plastic waste has become an emergency problem around the world, and specifically in Ghana.

It is harmful to our health, animal life in the ocean and on land, and it affects sanitation systems.

Time has come to move away from purchasing plastic products, as well as to develop sound treatment from waste collection to recycling into new products and create awareness.

An example is the Green Teams at Embassies in Accra working together with environmental NGOs to showcase the challenge as well as solutions.

Last Thursday night, the Green Teams together with the Asohoma Photo Club arranged “Plastic Planet”, a photo exhibit at the residence of the Norwegian Ambassador.

Asohom photo club

The Norwegian Ambassador, Mr. Gandres Gunner Holm, and his wife Audhild Roseberg, hosted the‘Plastic planet’ an exhibition of artworks made from plastic waste together with the ‘ Asohom’ photo club on Sunday at their residence in Cantonments, Accra.

‘Asohom’ is a photo club comprising mostly spouses of high commissioners and ambassadors in the country as well as a few other gentlemen.

The idea, which has been born from the ‘Asohoms’ photo clubs monthly photographic themes sought to exhibit the many good uses plastic waste can be put to use without leaving them harmfully in our environments.

The event attracted over a hundred participants from forty high Commissions and Embassies, Civil society, environmental agencies, artists and individuals from over twenty countries globally.

Over the years, plastic waste have become a major global challenge posing numerous threats to different ecosystems especially marine life.

Most marine organisms are unable to differentiate between food and plastics, and end up consuming plastics for food. Often than not, this has resulted in choking and death of these animals.

According to Mr. Holm, the crucial issue is that the plastic in itself is not much an issue, but rather how we manage it.

“It is about what we buy, and how we use and deal with plastics. There have to be alternatives for plastics and we need to strongly consider reducing, re-using, recycling our plastic wastes,” he said.

He further said that the Norwegian Embassy is committed to issues of the environment, and would continue to engage because it is both a personal concern as well as a concern of the Norwegian government.

According to Mrs. Audhild Roseberg, the problem is especially visible here in Ghana where the systems for waste management are quite poor.

She also mentioned that experts visiting the country are most concerned about this situation, just as they have concerns about their own countries.

The aim of the idea to hold ‘Plastic planet’, is therefore to create a platform to engage and share ideas, create awareness and best practices to help deal with the situation.

Mr. Bill Osborn, who is a major lead of the ‘Plastic Planet’ initiative, and a member of the photo club, added his voice to explaining that the name “plastic planet” had been chosen based on the fact that plastics impact everyone everywhere, and most people can see the negative effects it has on us all.

However, the challenge is that most people do not understand what happens to plastics after their use, and have no idea that the plastic waste we throw about moves and has impacts on other organisms.

According to Mr. Osborn, it is difficult to use refillable water bottles in Ghana as compared to other developed countries because there are no clear sources of water for refilling.

In view of that, there is the need to start with a portable water bottle.

There would be no need to keep buying many smaller ones as a way of curbing our dependence on plastics.

The Environmental NGOs, Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), Plastic Punch and Environment 360, were also present at ‘Plastic Planet’ last night, so were a number of creative artists as Sergey Clottey, Mcintouch and musician Emmanuel Akambo working on issues related to plastics.

YRE is the National Administrative Coordinator for young reporters for the environment Ghana, Ms. Ellen Lindsey Awuku, took the opportunity show pictures and videos of what the organisation has done on the issue of plastic waste situation in Accra, especially along beaches earlier this year.

In a bid to create more awareness and a sense of responsibility towards the environment, YRE wants to effect an attitudinal change among citizens which would go a long way to deal with the plastic waste situation in the country.

Other environmental organisations such as plastic Punch and Environment 360 were also present for exhibit artworks and products made from plastic waste.

By: citinewsroom.com|Ghana

Source: citifmonline.com