Beach Cleanup '22

 

REFLECTIVE EXERCISE

            On the 31st of December 2022, my friends and I went to Pantai Beserah in Kuantan for a Beach Cleanup field trip. This activity is jointly organized by Items Flagship 2.0, SCSH 1201 Section 813 Semester 1 2022/2023 and Institute of Planetary Survival for Sustainable Well-being IIUM. Students from IIUM Kuantan are participating in this plogging event in association with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Pahang and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp). Pantai Beserah is one of the five best beaches in Kuantan. It is located approximately 10 kilometres north from Kuantan. The sand on this beach is nice and soft, and the terrain is gently sloping. Allah SWT has mentioned in Qur’an, Surah Al-A'raf verse 56, “And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.” (7:56).

            I had never participated in a beach cleanup before, so this was a new experience for me. Since I enjoy trying new things and doing activities that are different from the ordinary, I was pleased to participate in this activity. While I was cleaning up the beach, I discovered a lot of items that should not have been there. My fellow friends and I picked up a lot of plastic beverage bottles, plastic and glass take away containers, bottle caps, straws, foam plates, cigarette box and cigarette butts. When I was through picking up all of this rubbish, I felt accomplished because I knew that I was making a difference and contributing to the beach being clean, which is how it should be. I had a lot of fun because while doing this I was also getting exercise which I like to do on my daily basis.

                                                                      

                                                             The image shown is picture of abundant trashes that we found.

At the same time, I feel very disappointed because of some of us have uncaring and self-centered disregard for nature. With our rational minds, we should be preserving the environment, not littering its delicate balance. Why do some of us disregard the environment and leave so much trash and debris on the beach? We, as khalifah, must do our part in protecting the environment by avoiding littering and properly disposing of waste products. The dumping of rubbish by human beings is the only sensible explanation for its occurrence, as this fact cannot be ignored. This justify evidence that the behaviour was not the result of an unintentional act and that it occurred while we were aware of it. The role of human beings in general, and Muslims by extension even more so, as caretakers of the environment, is stressed in seven Quranic verses that tie stewardship (khalifah) to the earth (fil ardh). There is a responsibility charged to human beings to carry out this trust (amanah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The world is beautiful and verdant, and verily God, the exalted, has made you His stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves” (Saheeh Muslim).

After we had finished collecting everything, I thought the cleanup would be over, but there was still more work to be done, and that was sorting the trash. The gathered items are sorted by type, then placed into appropriate containers. The debris will catch a ride to one of these categories. It could be a trip to the landfill, an upcycling factory, a donation box, or a recycling center. Waste sorting is crucial because it could increase the amount of waste recycled later, thus, reducing the number of waste ends up in the landfill and the environment. The disposal of mixed waste products into the environment may result in adverse effects on the natural world. For instance, hazardous substances that can seep into the ground, hazardous gases that are released into the atmosphere and could accelerate the depletion of the ozone layer and many other unfavourable effects. Thus, I acknowledged that sorting is an essential process to weed out the waste that cannot be recycled and assure that those who can be recycled or reused go to the right destination.

      

The images shown are picture of us during sorting the trashes according to their categories.

The amount of trash that is left behind on the beach requires us to take corrective actions. Controlling the accumulation of garbage can be accomplished through improved waste management, operations to clean up the area, or the imposition of penalties designed to prevent persons who might litter at such areas. However, in terms of rules about littering, these already exist. Hence, there may be a need for stricter enforcement of existing littering laws, with offenders being severely fined or compelled to clean up their waste or participate in community service programmes in order to clean up the affected region.

Over 80% of the plastic waste that ends up in the oceans comes from land-based sources. The majority of this is caused by uncollected rubbish, including illegal dumping and littering. A lot of plastic ends up in the oceans because it gets blown, washed, or discharged into the oceans, or because it gets dumped into rivers and other waterways. It is important to note that marine-based activities, such as boats and the expanding aquaculture industry, also contribute to ocean plastic pollution. There are two major sorts of remedies to the problem of marine plastic pollution. First and foremost, we must clean up what we can. Second, and perhaps most importantly, we must substantially limit the amount of plastic that enters the oceans. If we do not "switch off the tap," all our efforts to clean up the mess will be pointless.

Taking action to address the causes of ocean plastic pollution will improve the quality of life for millions of people all over the world. It will also facilitate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as to other sustainability and development goals established by countries and non-state actors all over the world. The Quran tells us, “Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of humans have wrought, that He may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may return [to guidance].” (30:41).

Overall, the beach clean-up activity was an extremely meaningful day for all of us, and we are eager and excited for our next beach clean-up. With everyone's support, we can preserve and restore our seas, which are among the world's most valuable natural resources. All of the species that depends on its cleanliness and safety on a daily basis. In addition, becoming conscious of how we use and dispose of items is one approach to improve this world and our oceans for future generations. However, this cannot be accomplished without educating the masses and raising awareness about environmental issues. Small adjustments to our daily routines can have a significant impact when added together. Our planet is worth protecting for the sake of future generations, and we can achieve it if we work together. Nature will return our affections if we treat it with respect. If we protect the natural world, then the natural world will likewise protect our existence. So, let's all work to increase environmental awareness. Derek Dodds, Wave Tribe Founder, once said that “Beach clean-ups are attractive opportunities to do large-scale rehabilitation work on our beaches. But we don’t have to wait for the next one to start cleaning up. Taking responsibility for our plastic trash is already a step in the right direction.”

The image shown is picture of me and my friend during collecting the trashes at the beach.