In the plastic-polluted Philippines, a children’s book seeks to make a difference

Students attend a storytelling session in Pasig City. Image: Greenpeace Philippines Mad and sad. This is how nine-year-old Maria felt after listening to a reading of a new picture book on plastic pollution in the Philippines in February. At the event, hosted by San Lorenzo Ruiz Senior Highschool in Pasig City and attended by about three dozen school children, the Philippine student said she did not like seeing wildlife affected by dumped plastics. She pledged to tell her friends not to use single-use materials anymore, and from then on bring reusable water bottles and food containers to school to help combat the country’s waste problem. Produced by environmental group Greenpeace, the new book — titled Bayan ng Basura , or Basuratown, which refers to the fictional town where the story takes place — was designed to help children understand and act on the devastating impacts of throwaway items on marine life and local communities, and is part of the green group’s efforts to bring the story of plastics into Philippine classrooms. Written by Philippine writer Augie Rivera and illustrated by artist Jill Arteche, the book depicts the story of a sea turtle that meets sea creatures tormented by plastic […]

Click here to view original web page at In the plastic-polluted Philippines, a children’s book seeks to make a difference