On Bonaire, we take pride in our beautiful natural surroundings. With Earth Day on April 22nd approaching, we underscore our commitment to protecting this environment. This year’s theme, "Planet versus Plastics," reminds us of the need to intensify our fight against plastic pollution. The United Nations has called for a 60% reduction in plastic production to achieve the ultimate goal of a plastic-free future.
Currently, there is a global problem with plastics, especially microplastics. Plastics, breaking down under the influence of weather, wind, and sunlight, do not disappear. They leave behind microplastics everywhere—from the ocean floors (11 km deep) to the peaks of Mount Everest (8.8 km high). Since plastics do not biodegrade naturally, microplastics pose a growing environmental problem. Think of the vast oceanic garbage patches. These particles originate from car tires, litter, synthetic clothing, cosmetics, and paint. Microplastics also find their way into our food chain. Plants, animals, and humans ingest these particles, meaning they are also in our bodies. The risks of microplastics to the environment and human health are still unclear.
On our island, we find a lot of plastic litter on beaches and in neighborhoods. For instance, in 2020, over 70% of the litter at Te Amo Beach was plastic. Fortunately, we in Bonaire have already taken steps to eliminate plastics. For the past two years, it has been illegal to sell disposable plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and cutlery. The sale of disposable polystyrene meal packaging is also banned.
The Public Entity of Bonaire encourages everyone to use reusable items whenever possible. As residents and visitors of the island, we all have a personal responsibility to keep our living environment and nature clean and healthy. For example, bring your own utensils or a drinking cup or thermos. And use a sustainable shopping bag.
We all live off nature; "Nos ta biba di naturalesa." Litter, including a lot of plastic, is harmful to our nature and living environment. Participating in a beach clean-up is one of the ways to reduce litter and plastics. Various volunteer organizations organize these clean-ups weekly. We invite everyone to support this movement and participate in these activities. Together, we are making Bonaire cleaner and more beautiful!
