October 23rd 2024.
As King Charles III and other distinguished guests arrive at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa this week, they are met with powerful advertisements that call for immediate action on the pressing issue of plastic pollution. These ads, organized by Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation, feature a striking image of a child vomiting up plastic, serving as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of plastic on our planet.
The ads will be displayed prominently throughout Samoa's Faleolo International Airport, including at arrivals, baggage claim, and even at a VIP airport terminal, just in time for King Charles' arrival. The British monarch is expected to touch down in Apia this afternoon, after completing a busy tour of Australia. He joins a long list of delegates at the Heads of Government Meeting, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Minderoo Foundation's main goal with this advertising campaign is to bring the issue of plastic pollution to the forefront of the meeting's agenda. They are calling for a global plastics treaty to address not only the environmental impact of plastic, but also its detrimental effects on human health. Director and former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill emphasizes the urgency of this issue, stating that a global plastics treaty is not just a "nice to have," but a "need to have."
With 2.5 billion citizens living in Commonwealth countries, and a majority of them being under the age of 29, the foundation believes that our children deserve a future free from the harmful chemicals present in plastic. Weatherill notes that when faced with similar health crises caused by other chemicals, such as mercury, the world has come together and agreed upon a framework to protect human health. He urges countries to do the same with plastic pollution, by agreeing on a list of chemicals to be included in the global plastics treaty.
The Minderoo Foundation has been advocating for a plastics treaty for the past two years, but they are aware that there has been significant opposition from countries that produce plastic and the petrochemical industry. These groups argue that reducing consumer demand and increasing recycling efforts are enough to address the crisis, but Weatherill argues that this is not the case. He states that the vast majority of plastic ever produced still exists in our environment, which means we are still exposed to its harmful chemicals. A comprehensive treaty, with a focus on protecting human health, is the first step in tackling this crisis.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will continue until Saturday, giving delegates the opportunity to discuss and come to an agreement on this pressing issue. The Minderoo Foundation hopes that this advertising campaign will serve as a powerful reminder of the urgency and importance of taking action on plastic pollution. Let us all join hands and work towards a future where our environment and our bodies are free from the harmful effects of plastic.
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