Since 2008, I have volunteered the SOS Mata Atlantica Foundation, which I already have mentioned in my previous article briefly. In reminding readers of it, this non-profit organization work for protection Atlantic forest with sustainable development. It provides education and knowledge and in particular exercises environmental citizenship. Furthermore, this entity develops the project related to environmental conservation, mapping and monitoring of forest, campaign, public policy in that area, forest restoration and volunteering. Before, I used to join environment education for public school children. Honorably, this foundation was nominated as one of the Titanium and Integrated Winner in Cannes Lions 2010.

 

Before introducing my participation in one of the programs here, let me show you their FUN campaign that they suggested before. The purpose of this is to reduce the use of water by "peeing in the shower", which is expected to change the public's attitude by suggesting them fun and positive way. It is fact that if you avoid on flush per day, you can save up to 12 liters! , which presents 4,380 liters water per day.

 

You can check the relevant video below,

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/Na939Bd6/videoplayback1_std.mp4

 

As an eco ambassador, I decided to spend my holiday to commit environment work with my fiancé last week. For sure, I expect that joining Brazil's popular organization and participating meaningful project with people will be a precious experience for her. We applied for the volunteer to clean the track along with beach named Prainha Branca in Sao Paulo.  

 

In this beach, there is Prainha Branca Trail, which takes 30minutes toward beach on an easy path. Stone paving and beautiful landscape provide visitors with spectacular interaction with the Atlantic Forest. On the way to go to beach, people can enjoy various species of plants and animals. However, some traveler did not care much about environment so that the place where people visit become contaminated with a lot of garbage. Therefore, the SOS Mata Atlantica Foundation opened the volunteer program for this beach two times a year on July.

 

On 2th Aug 2015, we went to the place where participants were supposed to meet. It has been a long time to see workers. I'm so happy to see new members as well as old ones who keep working this project for long time. People were very excited to share their previous environmental experiences and had communication about our journey today. Some recognized my "Tunza Eco Generation" work and asked me many questions about it. I gave them my Tunza ambassador named cards, which give me the pride what I like and what I have done.

 

It took 2hours to arrive there and prepared to hike the trail. There were black plastic bags, rubber gloves and sun cream. After made appointment for lunch, we started to go up in rows. Trashes were spread not only road but also sidewalk leading to the forest. It took more time to collect them due to inclined hills on which accidents might happen. People helped each other and pointed at which piled up dirty papers and plastic or glass bottles.

 

I think people are not really aware of how theses trashes could be bad for environment, animals and even humans on our planet. The plastic bottles the chemical called BPA, which threaten human health. It causes the certain kinds of cancel and reduces fertility in women. Animals also cannot be exception. Animals including marine life misunderstand them as food so that they are found dead with full of plastic materials in their stomach.

 

The impact of the garbage on environment is fatal as well. The mass number of plastic bottles under the landfills is stagnant, which will leach dangerous chemicals into the ground and take a much longer time to decompose than human life.

 

While picking up the trash, some people who were heading to beach cheered up for our works. Whenever I heard their praise and felt their eyes, I was being encouraged to proceed my work with proud. In the future, when they are about to throw away the trashes, they will remind us, our job. Our efforts today will enable the public to rethink environment. We have achieved to raise the awareness of protection our property and cleaned the road for everyone animals, forest and us.

 

After we finished our work, we grabbed all plastic bags and took a photo on the beach. My fiancé was sure so happy to being part of environmental life.