Last September 21, we celebrated World Coastal Cleanup Day.
Now we want to take this opportunity to talk about our oceans, especially their role in the global health crisis and how we can continue protecting them in the middle of a pandemic, and what we can do to protect them.
Many may not be aware of it, but the ocean is actually on our side in our fight against COVID-19. Apart from being the source of bacteria used in testing, it also helps prevent the virus itself. This just goes to show that the environment provides answers to some of our biggest questions, definitely giving us more reasons to take care of it.
Yet as we know, caring for and protecting the ocean has become more difficult these days. The pandemic has strongly impacted our lives, forcing us to pick up new habits in the hopes of protecting ourselves from infection.
Disposable masks, gloves, and other forms of personal protective equipment or PPEs have been on-demand. The use of single-use plastics and cutlery have been on the rise, too, since quarantine has been pushing more people to depend on online shopping and meal delivery services.
Plastic bans have also been lifted in some areas in connection to the COVID-19 crisis. This only means one thing: We’re generating more waste.
We need to do something about it now. Just because there is a pandemic to worry about does not mean we should completely forget about the environment. In fact, there are simple things we can do collectively and persistently to protect our oceans.
Making wiser choices at home
Besides opting for reusables whenever possible, we can also help by avoiding products that contain microplastics.
Personal care products with microbeads are among them. These beads eventually end up in the wastewater systems and can later on go to the ocean. It would also be great if we could avoid household cleaning materials that contain substances that can harm our oceans.
Staying informed and taking time to educate our loved ones
It’s easy to forget about long-term goals in a time like this. But still, we need to do our best to not forget—just like our commitment to protect the environment.
And so, we have to stay informed. It would also be great to also educate our loved ones about how they can also make wiser decisions that are good for the environment, particularly our oceans.
Remaining vigilant and demanding accountability from large corporations
Unfortunately, a lot of big corporations are taking advantage of the situation. Because of the pandemic, the demand for single-use plastic has surged, and they are making the most of it.
This should urge us to remain vigilant and continue to demand accountability from these big companies. They are the biggest contributors to the global plastic pollution problem, after all. We should let them know we’re aware of what they are doing and that we won’t easily forget.
Because of the pandemic, it has become harder for us to gather for activities meant to help our environment. Coastal cleanup drives and the likes remain impossible in many areas in the country.
But as mentioned earlier, this does not mean that we cannot do anything to protect our oceans. We hope that with these simple tips, you’ll be more inspired to continue what you have begun.
