World Earth Day: Group to save Africa $70b on pollution 

• HOMEF seeks reduction in use of plastics

As the world marks International Mother Earth, instituted by United Nations, ECO2RUPPERS Africa has unfolded measures aimed at saving Nigeria and other African countries the sum of $70 billion from the impact of plastic pollution.

According to the Lead Sustainable Development Partner for Africa, Mr Victor Wilkinson, in a statement, the outfit will engage 250 million volunteers across 54 African countries to ensure plastic pollution-free future. 
 
The initiative is billed to train, empower and deploy eco-conscious youths in the largest green citizen action campaign in Africa. The Eco-Marshalls Project is structured to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) decade of action with women and youths at the frontline of climate-smart and resilient economies.

In alignment with the global call to action, ECO2RUPPERS Africa calls on individuals, businesses, and governments to “Act Your Part Against Plastic Pollution in Africa” and build a healthier, plastic pollution-free future for generations to come.

ALSO in commemoration of the day, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has called for a drastic reduction in the use of plastics to save planet earth from suffocation.

HOMEF made the call yesterday to commemorate the the yearly event designed to shed light on serious environmental problems. The organisation noted that research had shown that 380 million tonnes of plastic were produced every year, while only nine per cent of plastic ever produced had been recycled. It commended campaigns around the world calling for a 60 per cent reduction in plastic by 2040, saying it was worthy of support.

Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr Nnimmo Bassey, while advocating urgent action to ban the production and usage of single-use plastics, said: “Now is a critical time to choose between planet and plastic. Good sense tells us to choose the planet, our Mother Earth that sustains all lives.

“Poor sense driven by profit urges humans to choose plastics because of the ease they bring, despite the harmful impacts on our health, climate, and overall health of the planet.

“As we mark World Earth Day 2024, the alarm must be sounded that it is time to uproot plastics from their fossil base or be ready to be turned into plastic humans living plastic lives and heading to an infernal plastic future.  At HOMEF, we are all for the planet, people, and all life forms.”