The Clean Up East Asia Campaign 2008

Have you ever wondered where our everyday waste goes? The correct answer should be to wherever this waste will be recycled or further processed so that it will not harm the environment. Regrettably, that is not always the case. Our marine ecosystem is littered by various non-biodegradable wastes that will poison oceanic creatures, from household trashes to oil spills. UNEP reported that you can find four items of debris floating in every m2 of Indonesian waters and 690.000 items per km2 on the seafloor. Worldwide, our waste in the ocean has strangled or poisoned around 267 species. It is clear that this issue is a very pressing matter.

Sahabat Alam believes that everyone, especially young generation, can and should do something to solve this problem. That is why, Sahabat Alam has gathered children of all ages to participate in "The Clean Up East Asia Campaign 2008" conducted by COBSEA and administered by UNEP Thailand to clean up marine debris at Pelabuhan Ratu Beach, Jawa Barat, Indonesia.

This activity is hoped to bring a sense of belonging and responsibility towards our environment, specifically the sea, in young children. With that, it is hoped that they will refrain from further harming the environment or even initiate more efforts to preserve and rejuvenate the state of our oceans.