FIGHTING PLASTIC POLLUTION: Women environmental defenders launch grassroots campaign

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Women Environmental Defenders in western Uganda have launched a grassroots campaign to fight the escalating plastic pollution ahead of world environment day on 5th June 2023.




BY Aaron Ainomugisha, RISE NEWS UGANDA NETWORK, western Uganda. Women Environmental Defenders in western Uganda have launched a grassroots campaign to fight the escalating plastic pollution ahead of world environment day on 5th June 2023.
The one-year campaign aimed at promoting awareness and joint actions for the protection of the environment involves over 15 women environmental organizations coordinated by Voice of Mitooma, a women’s Non-Governmental Organization empowering Women in western Uganda, in line with sustainable development goals.









According to Agnes Asiimwe who is the Executive Director of Voice of Mitooma, the campaign launched yesterday June 1, 2023 is in line with the World Environment Day 2023 theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”. She says the campaign will aim at mobilizing Ugandans to find solutions to plastic pollution.







Brendah Arinda from Women of Action on Environment stressed that as Women Environmental Defenders, they will mobilize other women organizations, groups, associations, donors and other entities to support the campaign.
Judith Agasha, the Programmes Manager at Save the Environment Forum also says the campaign is a reminder that human actions on plastic pollution matter, urging the governments and other stakeholders to take timely actions that tackle plastic pollution and mitigate the consequences.

Plastic bottles in River Rwizi at Buremba, Mbarara city in western Uganda.

In western Uganda, River Rwizi which is the major water source for estimated 300,000 people in Mbarara city, and other activities across the Victoria Water Management Zone is the most endangered, currently choking on plastic pollution.
Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes. Plastic pollution is a global problem. Every year 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers and seas.




ALSO READ: HOW CORRUPTION & POLICY GAPS ARE HINDERING THE RESTORATION OF RIVER RWIZI 









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