The world’s ocean plastic problem is more critical than ever since microplastics are contaminating the food chain and more marine creatures are becoming endangered. Greenpeace Philippines pushed the topic by using art to make a strong statement about the pollution problems that local people are suffering. Just south of Manila, a roughly 50-foot-long blue whale washed up on the shore in an effort to get attention from the general people. But it wasn’t just any whale; it was actually a large sculpture made out of trash from the sea.
Although the Philippines has taken attempts to fight plastic pollution through law, Greenpeace adds that despite this, the nation has long been classified as the third largest supplier of plastic garbage to the ocean. The sculpture’s stomach is packed with a variety of plastic bags, plastic containers, bottles, and other rubbish gathered from the water, simulating the findings of real beached whales.
In actuality, ocean plastic was used to make the complete facsimile. In order to avert environmental deterioration, the provocative work of activist art urged ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) to take action and put plastic pollution controls in place.
“The ASEAN region cannot be neglected since the amount of plastic in the oceans is already extremely concerning. According to Vince Cinches, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Philippines, “We are requesting the ASEAN membership to take this issue seriously and demand that our leaders initiate bold steps to address plastics pollution through regional cooperation, strict corporate responsibility, and widespread public education.
Greenpeace’s concept was widely adopted outside of Southeast Asia as the pictures of the plastic whale that had washed up on the beach went viral. The images serve as yet another warning that we cannot afford to ignore the need for action to halt plastic pollution.
As a remark on the effects of pollution, Greenpeace Philippines erected a 50-foot-long beached whale made entirely of ocean plastic.
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All images via Greenpeace.
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