The Environment society is currently focusing on the theme Ocean. On the 7th of February 2023, the Environment Society was extremely fortunate to host members of The Pearl Protectors. The Pearl Protectors is a youth-led marine conservation volunteer organisation that aims to reduce plastic pollution and conserve the marine environment. Starting their volunteer work after the disastrous sinking of the X-Press Pearl Ship in 2020 off the coast of Sri Lanka, The Pearl Protectors have played a vital part in saving Lankan beaches from plastic nurdles.
The Pearl Protectors Coordinator, Muditha Katuwawala and his team presented their many adventures including diving expeditions dedicated to removing discarded fishing nets from coral, to raising awareness on the imminent threat posed by plastic to marine life. It was interesting to see the students name the number of types of turtles that are found in Sri Lanka.
The students engaged in a discussion after the presentation and then went on to create an eco-brick. An ‘Eco-Brick’ is a plastic bottle packed with used plastic to a set density. The volunteers demonstrated how to construct an eco-brick, which is an innovative way of reusing and containing plastic, that can be used to make a variety of structures. These can later serve as reusable building blocks use to construct chairs, tables and even walls! The creation of the eco-brick was a timed activity making its creation a rather fun and competitive activity.
- Satya Burgess
- Hanna Jafferjee
- Binuli Perera
- Gulalay Arif
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