Qatar Museums (QM) has urged residents in the country to take part in a global initiative, ‘Plastic Free July’, by reducing plastic use and aimed at protecting the environment.
Launched in 2011 by Plastic Free Foundation founder Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, the movement has been attracting many people around the world every year to join the cause and “Say No To Plastic”.
While it is celebrated for a month, the campaign saw participants going beyond July and continue to lessen their use of plastic.
QM yesterday also shared a number of documentaries to its Culture Pass members on the negative environmental impact of plastic pollution.
Plastic Wars by PBS Frontline “examines the industry’s role in shaping a system that has never worked as advertised and the decades-long effort to keep a highly profitable secret alive: recycling hasn’t kept plastic out of the environment or the oceans. It has just sold more plastic.”
Premiered on March 31 this year, this documentary about the “battle over plastics and recycling” got 227,212 views and hundreds of comments on YouTube.
A Plastic Wave (November 18, 2018) by James Roberts, a surf photographer, provides a deeper understanding of the cause and extent of this crisis, which has become a huge threat to the planet.
Alon (meaning wave) by The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, which bagged the 2020 Best Film for Science and Education at the London International Film Festival, “explains the effects of marine plastic faced by different surfing communities in the Philippines and explores ways to reduce the consequences.”
QM also shared a number of articles on reducing plastic use such as ‘Tips To Use Less Plastic’, ‘The Lifehacker’s Guide to Living with Less Plastic’, and ‘10 Simple Ways to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Your Life.’
“Switching to a plastic-free lifestyle is accessible and achievable. You can take small steps, which will contribute in a big way to this global movement. We have different tips and product swaps that you can incorporate into your daily life right now,” QM said.
A number of companies such as EcoSoul, Root.qa, The Neat Store, The Flying Rooster Soap Company, Ecoloco offer various product (to eco-friendly) swap solutions. Their products such as stylish reusable coffee cups, water bottles, and tote bags can be used daily and help reduce plastic waste at home and in the community.
QM cited an article by Plastic Pollution Coalition highlighting 12 artworks that inspire others to act and stop plastic pollution. These include the “Vida Toxica” (Toxic Life) by Catalan artist Alvaro Soler Arpa, “Natural Plasticity” by Jana Cruder and Matthew LaPenta, and “Bristol Whales” by Sue Lipscombe, among others.
Stylish eco-friendly items on offer
