Introduction
A tourist and global neighbor named Elisha visited El Nido in October 2018. She picked up a sack and started picking up garbage in Nacpan Beach. That sack got filled quite quickly. No worries though, she always manages to find another bag during her daily cleans.
Elisha caught the attention of ESTEL during her visit when the post below was shared by El Nido Plastic Battle and we decided to reach out and thank her for helping us out in our advocacy. A few questions popped up and this post came about! Tons to learn as global citizens and global neighbors! Thanks for the love Elisha and helping our beaches in El Nido and neighboring beaches around the world cleaner.
What is Chasin Clean Coasts?
Is a ‘travel and ocean awareness’ project, whereby I travel around, clean beaches and try to start that conversation of conservation with whom ever I meet. I aim to start running tours in 2019 and I’d like Philippines to be the first country to get Chasin with. Think – 15 people, 14 days, 3 islands and a whole lot of beach cleaning and ocean chatting. Watch this space ;).
How did this start?
I’ve always loved the ocean, I grew up learning multiplication with coconuts in the sand and then as a teenager spent the summers camped on a beach where turtles would come to nest. I completed a degree in science and majored in marine biology and eco-tourism, with the belief that through tourism I could create awareness for the ocean.
After a lot of travelling over the past few years and seeing the world and what was going on, I had an ‘aah huh’ moment to start Chasin Clean Coasts. I was in Costa Rica, on a beach, where Olive Ridley’s and Leatherback turtles come to nest, doing a beach clean, when I was like, ‘what the hell? Why am I finding so much rubbish where we have these beautiful creatures. I need to do something!’.
And I guess the idea was born, haha.
What has been the biggest hurdle in your fight to keep beaches clean?
Realising that you can’t save the world, especially not over night!
How do you think culture plays a part in waste management? How do we effectively change this?
Hmm, I think waste management stems from culture, like back in the day, pre-plastic, people in Asian countries are from banana leaves and used their hands, then it was thrown on the ground to degrade… Now with plastic, it’s getting thrown on the ground, but lasting forever.
And it’s not just that, it’s the fact that there is ‘no away’ for plastics, convenience is life now and cheap buys are number 1 (think sachets of shampoo, oil, coffee etc for a pitence … This answer could turn into a essay because there is so many stems to the problem.
[Read more on Waste Management]
And to change it, I think education and awareness, having that conversation to make people second think when they reach for a plastic bag or straw, I believe is key to change.
What brought you to El Nido?
Oooh where do I start, it’s one of the ‘must see’ places for the Philippines and I loved it!
What was the response you got from El Nido’s community regarding your own clean-up?
I was stoked with the love from El Nido, I met quite a few people, locals and visitors, that got involved with me and also asked a lot of questions – like, why am I cleaning in a country that isn’t mine?!
What advice would you give to local government, business owners, citizens, and visitors?
Governments need to enforce more legislation. In Siargao there was decent fines if people had plastic bottles or bags on or near the beach.
Businesses should provide alternatives to plastic, eg bamboo straws and water bottle refill stations.
Visitors and citizens have the power with their money. Spend where a change is being made, support businesses that are trying to be apart of the solution.
Then for everyone to support each other, help out when there is community beach cleans or get involved with a plastic free movement and have that conversation. Small steps make big differences, so if we all get involved we can make a big difference!
How can we help you further your advocacy?
Additionally, send me pics of your beach cleans or your cocktail with a bamboo straw :). Furthermore, spread the word and do what you can to make a difference :).
