Accountability and responsibility

THIS year’s Global Recycling Day theme, “Keeping promises, a commitment to sustainability”, is a timely reminder for many of us. It should remind us about our shared responsibility to protect our planet.

And a lot of Fijians certainly need this reminder, daily!

These are not just hollow words, but a call to action and must involve us all, as individuals, communities, and nations around the world.

Amitesh Deo, founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation, made a strong point the other day. Yes, we cannot afford to simply point fingers at governments or corporations for environmental failures. And yes, lasting change begins with a shift in our own attitudes and actions.

Let’s face it, our planet is drowning in waste. Plastic pollution, in particular, poisons our oceans, clogs our landfills, and threatens our ecosystems.

How many people know about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for instance? We could start there. Recycling alone is not enough.

We must rethink how we deal with single-use plastics, especially the end process, where we have no more use for them.

We have an obligation to future generations to leave them a world they can thrive in.

This is where the importance of effective partnerships and accountability should stand out and be advocated.

When we collaborate, sharing ideas, resources, and a common vision, we have the power to bring about real change.

The Pacific Recycling Foundation’s National Lapel Pin campaign is a fantastic example of this collaborative spirit.

We can make a visible statement of our commitment to recycling and sustainability. But this initiative must be backed by a shift in our daily habits.

So are we separating our recyclables? Are we choosing products with minimal packaging, or even better, bringing our own reusable containers? Are we refusing single-use plastics whenever possible? Are we appropriately disposing our rubbish?

Try visiting some of the parks in Suva for instance and you may notice rubbish dumped near provided rubbish bins.

Try kayaking out in the Suva harbour and you may come across plastic bottles and containers floating out past the man-made barrier, and right up to the reef.

Try crossing the entrance to the river that goes up to the Bailey Bridge in Suva and you may be surprised to see everything from old refrigerators to washing machines and other plastic stuff struck at the mouth of the waterway!

Global Recycling Day, and the celebration planned for March 18, provides opportunities for reflection and education.

This Global Recycling Day, let us recommit and hold ourselves accountable for our choices, knowing that even small actions can contribute to a more sustainable world. Let us work together, towards a better future for us all!