www.womanthismonth.com October 2020 7 LIFESTYLE | opinion WHY IS IT A PROBLEM? Bahrain is a beautiful country and I am sure that everyone intends to keep it that way. And for that reason, I felt compelled to act. I have taken part in beach clean initiatives, such as Cleanup Bahrain and other beach cleans through the 1% App. I went even further and started cleaning the beach in Hidd, my local area of residence. The trash is never-ending. I decided to create a garment from some of the litter I had collected to make a bold statement – this is an issue we cannot ignore. The garment is made from many plastic bags, bottles and crisp wrappers, as well facemasks, nylon rope and other random bits of trash. Unfortunately, I could not salvage everything because some of the litter had already deteriorated into microplastics. The garment is made for the sole purpose of showing how plastic pollution is consuming humanity at an alarming rate. Wearing the garment alone was so stifling; I felt trapped and engulfed in the mess humanity had left behind. It made me realise just how badly our oceans and wildlife are suffering with this problem day in, day out. Despite the grave facts and figures, there is a glimmer hope. It all starts with us. We are all responsible for our actions. It is as simple as disposing of your litter correctly and making a conscious effort to protect and preserve the environment we all share. There are many things you can do to turn this situation around. Join your local beach clean events, promote clean beaches and educate one another on the importance of keeping our environment clean and safe for future generations to come. One action may seem insignificant, yet when done collectively by the nation, we can make a big difference. For any avid beach cleaners, feel free to contact me on Instagram: @victoria.teo_ The garment created and worn by Victoria Teo is a literal and figurative indicator of how plastic pollution is well out of hand.
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