Kwale: 7,000 plastic Sculpture to help Conserve the Environment!
Jean Shin artist/Photo Caroline Kahonzi
By Caroline Kahonzi
Health environment and research institute Kenya ,HERI -Kenya in partnership with Technical University of Mombasa,Stanford University and Diani Municipality have unveiled Jean shin’s artwork project that aims to highlight the global problem of plastic waste ,challenging human beings relationship with plastics .
The sea change project “ plastic planet sculpture “ is made up of plastic bottles aimed at informing the public on how plastic pollution can be reduced .
Speaking during the unveiling exercise of the plastic planet sculpture at Kona Ya Beach junction in Diani ,the artist of the project Jean Shin affirmed plastic waste to be harmful to human beings and sea creatures especially the fish .
“We tried to think how health and environment is so important to people and community ,and here in Kenya the plastic waste that goes to the ocean is harming the environment , the marine habitat and the community as well ,so we are connected by water ,and I wanted to make this big wave like a Tsunami wave ready to crash on us , if we do not solve the plastic pollution crisis ,that wave of plastic will be crashing on us ,”Said Ms Shin .
Ms Shin called upon communities to change their behaviors towards the environment for safety .
“ No need to use plastic water bottles because they do not decompose ,we can have better sources of carrying water which we can recycle ,we can have reusable containers ,people should think about water as a precious resource and plastic is not necessary ,Added Ms Shin .
It is feared that if countries will not be in the position of coming up with an amicable solution to plastic waste , there will be less fish in the ocean by the year 2050 .
Health Environment and Research Institute Kenya HERI-Kenya CEO Dr . Desiree Labeaud called upon key stakeholders to come together to tackle the plastic crisis so as to protect the environment .
“we know the plastic waste is the number one area of mosquito breeding , we are bringing awareness here but we are actually doing it by convening key stakeholders the government ,schools ,the local businesses people ,non governmental organizations and the communities to start the Diani environment initiative that will tackle environmental challenges ,”Emphasized Dr.Labeaud .
HERI-Kenya chairman Francis Mutuku noted plastic waste pollution was affecting the tourism industry .
“Plastic waste damages the biodiversity ,so tourist may shun away from our beaches hence causing economic crisis especially in the coast region where tourism is the major source of income ,”Said Mr.Mutuku
The chairman who is also a lecturer in Technical university of Mombasa said the plastic planet sculpture wave, which is made up of over seven thousands plastic bottles will be used to create awareness to the community on the importance of conserving the environment .
Diani municipal manager Hamisi Mwandaro opined that Diani is the tourism destination hence the need to keep its environment safe for locals and tourists .
“Diani beach has been voted as the best beach in Africa so we are creating awareness in the community to stop polluting our beach with plastic waste ,” added Mr.Mwandaro .
National Environment Management Authority NEMA director Kwale county Godfrey Wafula confirmed The Kenya government in partnership with NEMA has banned the use of plastic bags which has resulted in a healthy environment .
“We have the National sustainable solid waste Act which sees waste managers to be responsible in managing waste for recycling ,we want zero waste ,”Urged Mr.Wafula .
Mr.Wafula affirmed the use of plastic bottles to be a global challenge
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