Reported by Radiance Tan, Teo Yi Ting Joy
Key takeaways
- Increasing awareness about marine plastic pollution:
The pop-up booth at Haji Lane provided a platform to approach and engage tourists and youths, encouraging discussions about marine plastic pollution. By handing out leaflets with a bingo of actionable steps, we motivated others to contribute to combating this issue.
- Gaining deeper insights into public perceptions:
Through a feedback form, we encouraged people to reflect on marine plastic pollution and their contributions to the problem. Evaluating these responses gave us valuable insights into public habits and perceptions.
- Raising awareness about Project Visualised:
Our Instagram handle was prominently displayed on every flyer, allowing us to share our initiatives and encourage others to participate in our efforts against marine plastic pollution.
Main highlights
- Date: 21-23 December 2024
- Venue or location: Haji Lane
- Participants: Shoppers/ Tourists at Haji Lane
- Number of participants: 1000
1. Activities implemented
Video Summary https://youtu.be/3O3zzfSRIuY
Our efforts focused on raising awareness about the significant impact individual actions can have in the fight against marine plastic pollution. By sharing personal experiences and insights, we connected with people on a deeper level, demonstrating how small, everyday decisions can make a big difference. We engaged with a diverse range of individuals, exploring various perspectives and addressing unique challenges. This emphasized that the battle against marine plastic pollution is inclusive—everyone has a role to play.
In addition to direct conversations, we distributed flyers widely, spreading the message and encouraging practical, easy-to-follow actions. These included reducing single-use plastics and participating in local clean-up efforts. By reaching out to as many people as possible, we aimed to inspire others to join this critical battle. Collective action, fueled by shared awareness and responsibility, is essential to tackling the global issue of marine plastic pollution.
After the pop-up event, we found that we had some remaining items. Rather than letting them go to waste, we took proactive steps by carefully packing these goods. We then distributed them to our neighbors and community children, ensuring they received useful items to aid in their efforts to combat marine plastic pollution. This distribution not only helped reduce waste but also served as an opportunity to continue spreading awareness. By engaging directly with local families, we inspired and encouraged both the younger generation and adults to take action in their everyday lives. Our hope was that by involving the community, we could create a ripple effect, fostering a collective responsibility to reduce plastic waste and protect our oceans.
Evaluation
Many believe that everyone has a role to play in addressing marine plastic pollution. Compared to other pressing societal issues, a significant majority, particularly younger generations, recognize the urgency and importance of tackling this problem. Surveys and statistics indicate widespread concern about the state of our oceans and the harmful effects of plastic waste. Many individuals, especially youths, are not only aware of the problem but are also motivated to take action, reflecting a shift in attitudes toward environmental responsibility.
Today’s youth are increasingly aware of their role in protecting the planet, with many willing to stand firm in the fight against marine plastic pollution. This strong support for environmental causes among young people can be attributed to their exposure to global campaigns, education, and the increasing visibility of environmental degradation in the media. Social media serves as a powerful tool for spreading awareness and galvanizing collective action.
Most people are actively reducing plastic consumption, a critical first step in preventing marine plastic pollution. This proactive approach involves minimizing the use of single-use plastics and opting for more sustainable alternatives, directly addressing the root cause of plastic waste. By reducing the amount of plastic produced and used, we can significantly lower the volume of waste that ends up in our oceans, helping to preserve marine ecosystems.
Proper disposal of plastic items is another common and effective habit. Simple and easy-to-implement practices are often the most effective. Beyond reduction and disposal, beach clean-ups have become a highly visible and impactful way for communities to engage in the fight against marine plastic pollution. This is evident as 63 people chose to attend beach clean-ups.
We believe that understanding and adopting these practices among youths can pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. Thus, we consider this pop-up event extremely successful, as it has also enhanced our learning and understanding of the fight against marine plastic waste.
