Plastic Tsunami: Voices of the Pacific

Plastic pollution is a global crisis, but the impacts are unevenly distributed. Pacific Island communities and Australian First Nations custodians are dealing with waste washing onto their shores in ever increasing amounts. The scale is hard to fathom. Half of all the plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years. Over 460 billion kilograms
of materials are produced in a single year that’s equivalent to the weight of around 3 million blue whales.

The UNEP estimates that around 11 million metric tonnes of plastic waste ends up in the oceans every year. Plastic reaches the sea through poorly managed waste, litter, rivers, runoff (around 80%) and then the remaining
20% from discarded fishing gear and marine activities. Key countries where plastics originate from include Philippines, India, Malaysia, China and Indonesia are the largest contributors to plastics that run into the oceans from rivers.

While communities around the world try and address this through clean-ups, and incredible groups and solutions come up with ocean recovery solutions and recycling innovations, these struggle in the face of all the plastic being produced every year and just the scale of the pollution.

Our connection through the world’s oceans, make this a global issue. Lasting solutions must prevent pollution at the source: addressing unsustainable production, reducing particularly problematic or unnecessary use of plastic and driving improved product design or making producers responsible for the waste they create. This can only be delivered through a global plastics treaty as it offers a mechanism for coordinating action across borders and alongside national laws.

Pacific nations and Australia support an ambitious global treaty, but progress faces deep opposition from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and the United States. The opportunity for Plastic Tsunami: Voices of the Pacific is to raise awareness of the negotiations that are happening right now. To activate people to engage and push for an
ambitious treaty to guide how the world responds. Through our unique partnerships and opportunities, the film can also carry community and Pacific leaders’ voices into the diplomatic conversations and mobilise visible support for Pacific priorities.

Voices of the Pacific is positioned as a vital, emotional, and educational narrative that not only informs but inspires action. By spotlighting the firsthand experiences of the Pacific Island communities and their leaders in their fight against plastic pollution, the film will bind a global audience into recognising the critical state of the Pacific Ocean and the urgent need for a unified response. This social impact documentary is a testament to the resilience of the people of the Pacific and a call to action for all who care about their future and the future of our planet.

The intention of the film is to turn the tide of plastic flowing into the Pacific Ocean. The film will drive awareness and educate. It will connect with the hearts and minds of decision makers in roles who can act: Governments and NGO’s that are in a position to make a difference through policy. Outside of a theatric and broadcast release, our intention is to ensure every attendee of the United Nations Plastic Treaty Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meetings receives a copy to give voice to the impact of plastic in the Pacific and the Pacific Island nations. Those people have the power to influence policy, government and an outcome that is time critical as the final meetings INC-5 is in November. The inside knowledge about the politics going on within the INC meetings has been the catalyst for developing this film and pitching for funding to SPREP.

We have a long standing working relationship with the Pacific through the PacWastePlus (PWP) program (funded by the EU) over the past 8 years and our initial contact, Bradley Nolan, Programme Manager, PacWaste Plus over the past 18. We’ve worked in Country with representatives from the Island Nations a number of times and have witnessed their struggle with plastic as a substance but also a topic due to the fact the local languages don’t have words for toxic. We have strong personal ties to Fiji and PWP gives us diplomatic and culturally appropriate access to all Island nations, leaders, scientists and advocates, however PWP has signed an agreement to allow the film to be independent. Being an Australian with First Nation background this issue is particularly close to my heart and I have received warm inclusion from any Pacific Island community I have interacted with. They call me Sister and I am able to work alongside the communities.

Direct call for help to decision makers in boardrooms, Governments and policies which can enact change for plastic production and collection
The individual decision to minimise plastic use adds up – small acts big change
Boycott products produced by the big polluters
Email or direct message to decision makers