The concept of this initiative originated from the intention to integrate actions against plastic pollution into everyday life. There are many potential players capable of making a difference, but they are currently not involved, or are not fully aware, of the issue of plastic pollution. Already NGOs and schools organize activities to engage the public but employing alternative channels to provide information and propose solutions may offer an avenue to make a bigger difference. Through the collaboration between a marine biologist and a blogger writing about family life we want to 1) raise awareness about the issue of plastic pollution, and 2) transform a day on the beach into an occasion to actively make a change.
Using these blog posts, scientific information can be relayed through a story-telling format. Along with each specific topic (e.g. mermaid tears; where does litter come from; etc.) a competition with awards will be proposed. Given the pilot nature of the initiative, actions will focus on a set of case-studies, which can be directly monitored by those involved in this proposal, making its implementation smoother. Additionally, coordination with standard protocols and main data repositories related to plastic pollution will be established from the very beginning, allowing the initiative to reach an international relevance.
