Last Updated on June 1, 2023 by Kapuluan
At Kapuluan Coconut, we care about the planet we live on. We believe planting new coconut palm trees is an important and effective way to reduce carbon and global warming, so with each purchase, we plant a plant tree in the Philippines. Because of the people that support us and their interest in saving the planet, we constantly are educated about our world and inspired.
Jammy lives in Bohol, Philippines, and recently started a Bohol Beach Clean Up at her local beach, which happens to be a trendy tourist area. She started an Instagram account called @plasticfree_bohol, and this caught our attention.
After seeing what she had started and learning more about the growing plastic pollution problems, we thought we could make a difference. So we decided to help Jammy spread the word. We aim to help anyone who wants to run a local beach clean-up by promoting their event and contacting partners. Jammy will host our first event on November 19, 2016.
We took the time to learn more about Jammy and why the Bohol beach clean-up is so essential. Here is our short interview with her.
Tell us about the area in the Philippines you live in and what you like most.
I live in a small town rich in nature. My “front yard” is the sea, and my “backyard” is a jungle. We also have a mountain to hike, and you can see the nearby island and other towns from above. It’s nice up there because you can see how green our town is. The primary source of livelihood here is fishing and farming. And some people make clay pots and sea salts.
We have nice spots for watching the sunrise & sunset and for swimming. And my favorite area is the mangrove forest. Mangrove trees are significant since they act as protectors of the shoreline. It is one of my favorite trees. ????
Why do you think it’s essential to do beach clean-ups?
Plastic kills. Wildlife will be in danger if we don’t clean our beaches and oceans. Over 100,000 marine animals die yearly after ingesting or being entangled by plastic debris. So it is essential to keep our environment clean and healthy to avoid killing both land and marine animals and harming ourselves (we don’t want to eat fish with plastic in the future).
We are the guardians of this planet. Our job is to protect our home and all other beings living here with us.
Do you see the plastic problem escalated in your area?
I’d say yes after doing regular Bohol beach clean-ups and keen observation. I pick up trash at our local beach at least three times a week. And every time I return, I see more trash than on my previous visit. It’s never-ending. It’s getting worse.
What is the most common type of trash you see on the beaches?
The five most common trash I pick is food wrappers, cigarette butts, plastic bags, plastic straws, and plastic bottles.
Tell us about Plastic Free Bohol. How many beach clean-ups have you done?
I started the campaign as Ban Plastic Bags in Bohol but later changed it because I didn’t want to focus on banning single-use plastic bags on our island. Instead, I started the movement to create and raise awareness of the plastic problem in Bohol and expose some of the trash I’ve encountered. I am also hoping that through my page, I will be able to inspire others to live a minimal-waste lifestyle and start caring for our environment.
I started picking up trash way before I created Plastic Free Bohol. It all started when I saw how dirty Alona Beach was and how horrible it looked. I was frustrated seeing all the trash people left on the beach, knowing that Alona Beach is considered world-class. So out of frustration, I started ranting on Facebook every time I saw piles of trash on beaches and vacant lots. I think it is very disrespectful to treat nature like a dumpster. But my profile is not public, so I created a public page.
I lost count of how many times I’ve picked up trash, but whenever I’m on the beach, I always take time to pick up and throw them properly before I go for a swim and sunbathe. This November 19 is the second Bohol beach clean-up I’m doing with the community. The first one was held at the same beach last September for the International Coastal Clean Up Day. And we could pull 66 sacks of trash out of the beach.
Hopefully, volunteers will show up on the 19th, and we can pull out more than the last time.
Bohol Beach Clean Up
Thank you, Jammy, for being our first beach clean-up host!
Plastic doesn’t go away. Yet, 33% of plastic is used only once and thrown away. It also does not biodegrade and ends up in spaces where animals live, becoming dangerous to their habitat. We’re partnering with others for each clean-up to help spread the word. Thank you to #breakfreefromplastic, Love Your Coast, Sustainable Coastlines, and No Beach Plastic for supporting this movement!
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
If you’d like to start a beach clean-up in your local area and need help to promote, let us know. Our goal is to have beach clean-ups hosted every month around the world. Email info@kapuluancoconut.com to get involved!
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