Run the #WaveOfChange is the latest local initiative that aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution and inspire people to tackle the problem.
The Run the #WaveOfChange initiative was launched today to help raise awareness locally about the current environmental issue of plastic pollution. The campaign seeks to encourage people to collect waste – which would eventually end up in the sea – and will culminate in three long-distance runs around the Maltese Islands between March and May 2019.
The initiative was launched by long-distance running partners Trudy Kerr and Deborah Gatt, branching off from the successful existing environmental awareness campaign #WaveOfChange. The campaign took social media by storm during July 2018, when founder Neil Agius swam 70 km around Malta in under 22 hours, garnering vast press coverage and raising awareness about the amount of plastic in the sea.
Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, has endorsed the initiative and commended Ms Kerr and Ms Gatt for their forthcoming efforts to tackle environmental issues. “The people of the Maltese Islands have always had a close relationship with the Mediterranean Sea. We are maritime nation, and this bond is an intrinsic part of our culture and historical heritage. Goal Number 14 of the United Nations Agenda 2030 commits each and every one of us to do our best to conserve our oceans and seas. It is our duty to ensure that the seas are protected and conserved, for the benefit of both present and future generations,” she says.
Running groups and individuals will be encouraged to join for parts of the run or the full distance. The organisers invite not only runners, but also members of the public and environmental groups to join the cause. The campaign will also welcome corporations, who will be able to sponsor clean-up destinations, where several long training runs – which will incorporate the Malta Marathon and other key races – will end.
There will be no participation fee, but interested people are required to collect three pieces of rubbish and use the hashtag #WaveOfChange on social media prior to submitting their application. Participants will also be asked to collect another three pieces of rubbish at the end of the run. There will be several clean-up locations along the full route, including Manoel Island, St Thomas Bay, Selmun, Mizieb, Kennedy Grove and Qalet Marhu – where ‘The Project’ unveiling clean-up will take place. There will also be a microplastic clean-up for children at Golden Bay, and an underwater clean-up at Paradise Bay/Cirkewwa which will be covered by international press.
According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, about 8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually. The majority of these have amalgamated into an estimated six or seven garbage patches, with the smallest one measuring at 8200 times the size of Malta. The most common pollutants include plastic bags, fishing gear, and food and beverage containers, which never fully degrade in the water.
The amount of rubbish in international waters has posed serious risks for the planet, with the probability of fish becoming extinct by the year 2050. The #WaveOfChange campaign has localised the issue to raise awareness and inspire locals to take action against the global issue that has a terrible impact on every country and individual, including in Malta.
