The world-wide plastic problem got real for 12-year-old Zai Brown on a recent trip to Bali where he saw beaches littered with plastic refuse.
Surfing at Cronulla everyday, the year 6 Lilli Pilli Public School student would often pick up a piece of rubbish or two.
But on the sands of the Indonesian holiday island it was 20 or 30 pieces every day – a first world problem in a second world country.
Zai said his determination to do something about the plastic problem started when he saw the movie Blue which was hosted by marine conservationist Sarah-Jo Lobwein at Miranda last year and chronicled how our oceans are suffering.
With the help of his mother Sam, he organised for the film to be shown at his school.
“I thought this shouldn't be happening to the ocean,” Zai said
“I haven't seen all the different types of sharks and turtles yet and thought I should try to do something before they are gone.”
An approach to Woolooware Public School set up some momentum and the whole senior school (years 3 to 6) sat down in the school hall to watch the confronting documentary presented by Sarah-Jo.
“This is a coastal school, these are the next generation and they are affected,” Sarah-Jo said.
“If we can make them aware that plastic overuse affects the places they live and love and alters the food they eat-they can pass it on to their friends and family.”
Woolooware Public assistant principal, Kate Cleary, said Blue informed the students of the dangers, humans make to our oceans and marine life both above and below.
“After viewing the film, many of the students were concerned about the negative impact rubbish is having on our environment and many made a personal pledge to help protect our sea environment,” Kate said.
“Many of the pledges had a similar theme. Let’s be more kind to our seas and oceans by picking up our rubbish and making a conscious effort to use less plastic.”
Save the Sea and Be Plastic Free is a growing movement world wide and Zai’s mother Sam said the local exercise was another step in the right direction to clean up the panet.
“This is a pilot program and a small part of our children's education,” Sam said.
“It's time for our kids to have their own slogans, like we had in the 80’s with ‘Do the right thing’.”
Awareness of the environment was first raised in the Brown household by the book The Lorax.
The Lorax written by Dr. Seuss in 1971 chronicles the plight of the environment and the Lorax who is a creature who who speaks up for the trees.
The famous children’s book shows the danger corporate greed poses to nature, and has the quote: “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues”.
Zai Brown is speaking up for the seas.
