Issues concerning the mismanagement of our environment need our collective attention & priority – Deo
Make issues concerning the environment a priority and deal with them with the same urgency and passion that you are giving to issues such as water and food, unemployment, poverty, and other social issues, as most of these national issues are directly linked to the mismanagement of our environment.
This is the message from the Founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation and CEO of Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited, Mr. Amitesh Deo for World Environment Day, which will be celebrated on Monday (5th June 2023).
Mr. Deo is an environmental activist who has been in the recycling and waste management space for over 18 years.
“Let’s not operate with a mindset that issues relating to the environment can be shelved as an afterthought or a side-issue that you don’t need to be a part of and that is someone else’s problem to deal with,” stressed Mr. Deo.
He said everyone in the country generates waste on a daily basis, however many do not seem to take any responsibility for it, while others see it fit to only be part of clean-up campaigns and fail to address the issue by giving a holistic approach.
According to Mr. Deo, every Fijian has the right to a clean and healthy environment as enshrined in the Fijian constitution, however, this right is being breached on a daily basis as we continue to see large amounts of waste dumped in our environment – on roadsides, drains, picnic spots, and stadiums where we are hosting teams from overseas. He said most recently, their staff found urine-filled bottles on the roadside.
“We have been told by some well-known and internationally acclaimed resorts in Fiji that their staff collect plastic and other recyclables, as well as general waste that gets washed up on the shores of these resorts on a daily basis and that they need solutions for the sustainability of their resorts and tourism industry,” said Mr. Deo.
To mark World Environment Day and World Oceans Day, the PRF and WRFL have organised a roadside campaign #StandUpinSolidaritytoProtecttheEnvironment to inform the public of the impact of human actions on our environment and oceans.
The campaign will take place this Saturday (10th June) from 7.30am to 9.30am from the Koronivia Road Junction on the Kings Highway and is anticipated to end at the Rewa Bridge.
Mr. Deo said they are inviting Government leaders, the private sector, schools, groups, and families to join them with individual placards with special messages “about what YOU will do and are requesting others to do, to protect our environment.