ASEZ WAO Carries Out “No More GPGP” Campaign in Malaysia
Emphasizing every person’s role in solving plastic problems
ASEZ WAO members from Korea and Malaysia hosted an educational seminar promoting “No More GPGP [Great Pacific Garbage Patch]” campaign on the overuse of plastics. On January 16, approximately seventy people, including ASEZ WAO members, SK Bukit Kemandol School students, teachers, and parents, and city councilors attended the event that was held at the Tadom Hill Resorts in Slangor, Kuala Lumpur.
During the first half of this seminar, ASEZ WAO members informed the public about the seriousness of the plastic issue, citing about the GPGP and the “Plastic Pollution Facts” report published by the United Nations. They emphasized that everyone—from home and school to society and the country—should make effort to solve the problem.
In the last half of the seminar, ASEZ WAO members provided environmental education as part of the Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] signed by ASEZ WAO and SK Bukit Kemandol School in early 2019. This MOU stated that ASEZ WAO would visit the school twice a year and carry out various activities such as dental hygiene education, Korean cultural experience, and Korean language education. As part of the “No More GPGP” campaign, members taught students how to convert a plastic bottle into a piggy bank. Students focused on the explanation and learned how to recycle plastic.
The activities that took place throughout the day were reported nationwide through the daily newspaper, Shinchew, and the Malaysian national television channel, TV3. The broadcast publicized the activities of ASEZ WAO and encouraged many people to participate.
On the 19th, members were able to introduce the “No More GPGP” campaign to citizens near Kota Kinabalu City Hall. To promote the “No More GPGP” campaign, the members hosted a street cleanup in the area, during which 500 kg [1,100 lbs] of garbage was collected. City officials supported ASEZ WAO activities and encouraged the members.
The “No More GPGP” campaign is part of the ASEZ WAO “TAP [Take Action Project]” movement. During this campaign, various people, including students, citizens, and government officials, participated in protecting the global environment. The goal of the “TAP” movement is to achieve change through the synergy of every person’s effort.