Connect with us
background

News

Garbage “engulfing” Manila after severe storm highlights plastic and climate crises

Published

on

Waves of plastic pollution has engulfed parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, after a combination of heavy storm and monsoon rains, with garbage clogging drainage and causing floods.

In various videos and images taken by locals and shared online of the recent tropical storm Yagi (local name: Karding), garbage can be seen washing and crashing over the shoreline, plastic floating on flooded roads, and people trying to clean up the mess after the storm.

No amount of recycling can get us out of this global mess. Corporations may have conned us by providing so-called convenience but it’s not convenient when your city, oceans, roads, and rivers are clogged by plastic garbage,” says Abigail Aguilar, Campaigner at Greenpeace Philippines.

This is a problem they started, and this is a crisis they have to tackle and be made accountable for.”

In a beach clean-up and brand audit conducted by Greenpeace Philippines and the Break Free from Plastic movement on 2017 on Freedom Island, a critical wetland habitat in Manila Bay, it was found that Nestlé, Unilever, and Indonesian company PT Torabika Mayora were the top three contributors of plastic waste discovered in the area.

Our insatiable appetite for single-use plastics has left us with more waste than we can ever manage in our lifetime and yet producers are set to increase production by an additional 40% over the next decade. We are scrambling to find solutions to this crisis and clean up their mess, but corporations like Nestle, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and others will continue producing more plastics, which inevitably pour into our waterways and oceans,” says Aguilar.

Although individuals and governments have taken on some efforts to minimise waste, corporations, especially the producers of fast-moving consumer goods, continue to avoid taking on responsibility of the long-term impacts of their products. Items like single-use plastic are problematic because as long as these are widely sold, they will be bought. Big corporations, which have the resources to look into innovation, should also introduce innovative delivery systems other than polluting plastics.”

With climate change making weather disturbances more intense and frequent, and the Philippines experiencing up to 20 typhoons a year, the impact of climate change extends further than trying to curb carbon emissions.

Just like climate change, plastic threatens our rights to a clean, healthy environment and our very lives and livelihoods. More people are realising that we cannot go on with “business as usual” and are trying to cut down their own carbon footprint or consumption. Corporations and governments must do the same.”

For more information about the work of Greenpeace visit their website by clicking here.

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

Blogs

Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

Published

on

idc

Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
  • 5 July,
  • 20 September
  • 29 November

Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

Continue Reading

Blogs

SOMABAY: Scubaverse Trip Review (Watch Video)

Published

on

somabay

In a video created exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman visits SOMABAY in the Egyptian Red Sea to experience the diving on offer there.

Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.

Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit  www.thebreakers-somabay.com.

Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.

Continue Reading

E-Newsletter Sign up!

Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

Instagram Feed

Popular