Massive Global Cleanup Initiative Targets Plastic Pollution

Removing from the environment in just one weekend more than 250,000 kilograms of plastic and waste and raising awareness among all people through social media. This is the goal of Plastic Free, which on the occasion of Earth Day has organized cleanup events not only in Italy but on three different continents. Fara Sabina, the very young Flavio: 'At 14 years old, ready to commit myself to the protection of the environment.' 328 appointments throughout Italy, plus 6 abroad. For Earth Day, the volunteer association Plastic Free has thought big, reaching as many territories and people as possible, from Trentino to Sicily, from Piedmont to Puglia, passing through Spain and the Canary Islands, Mumbai in India, and Africa with Tanzania, Senegal, and Malawi. The events were presented yesterday at Palazzo Madama with the participation of the Vice President of the Senate, Licia Ronzulli. 'To win the battle against the environmental damage caused by plastic, it is essential to act and to do so together, even with awareness campaigns that keep the focus on a problem that concerns all of us. The role of NGOs like "Plastic Free" is strategic, because it involves civil society, businesses, citizens - Senator Licia Ronzulli declared. - It is the government and Parliament's task not only to constantly dialogue with those who are on the front line in protecting the environment but also to ensure with legislative interventions a realistic and concrete ecological transition, which is not driven by ideological extremism, but that takes into account the importance of not harming the interested parties, including citizens and businesses. On the contrary - the Vice President of the Senate concluded in her speech - it is crucial to involve everyone in this fight, which can only be won if we all join forces together.' The initiative of Plastic Free Onlus, which will take place simultaneously throughout the national territory, has the support of the media partner Treedom, an innovative reality that plants trees in projects of environmental and social improvement. For the occasion, Treedom has imagined a special tree: the Turtle Tree, a White Mangrove, a species considered an explosion of biodiversity for its welcoming nature towards numerous animal species to which it provides shelter and nourishment, and which, like an enveloping embrace, protects all the richness of the natural world. Until April 22, through the platform treedom.net, it will be possible to plant this special tree and part of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to Plastic Free Onlus, with the goal of protecting and saving the many sea turtles that die every year because of the plastic waste that has invaded our seas. Plastic Free Odv Onlus is a volunteer association founded in 2019 with the aim of informing and raising awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution. Born as a digital reality, today it is the point of reference in Italy for this issue. Together with hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and thanks to the support of over 1,000 contacts, the association has organized about 6,000 environmental cleanup appointments, giving new life and dignity to territories submerged by plastic and waste. In addition to cleanups, Plastic Free dedicates its commitment to the environment also in other projects, such as awareness in schools, the transformation of Municipalities into Plastic Free, and the rescue of sea turtles. Moreover, it is at the forefront in combating the release of balloons into the sky and the abandonment of cigarette butts in the environment. Among the regions involved in the Plastic Free project will also be Lazio, with 19 events throughout the territory. So, the appointment is tomorrow - Saturday, April 20 - in Arnara, Artena, Bolsena, Fara in Sabina, Fiumicino, Fondi, Monterotondo, Pontinia, Sermoneta, Terracina, and Viterbo, and Sunday 21 in Frosinone, Latina, Lenola, Pofi, Prossedi, Rome, Sabaudia, and San Felice Circeo.