OGCEYOD Cameroon; Green City Theatre Road-Show Project; Workshop on Plastic Waste Management in Buea

Your Project in the Context of Climate Change*
Habitat destruction, fossil fuel emissions, and plastic pollution are some of the ways that plastic bags and climate change cannot be separated. The buildup of plastic in our streams, rivers and oceans is a greater cause of eco-system disruption. An estimated 100,000 marine animals die each year in the ocean from suffocating on or ingesting bags. The above number seems small when you consider the impact of littered bags that break up into small pieces and wash into our waterways. These small pieces of plastic are accumulating at an alarming rate in our oceans. All this plastic is toxic and may be affecting our food supply. One of the main toxins is dioxin, an endocrine disruptor, or so-called gender-bender pollutant. Increased levels of man-made pollutants are showing up in remote areas and are adding to the stress of adapting to new climate realities and habitat changes.

Many people irresponsibly dispose of their bags and it poses a threat since the Dioxin and other toxins leach out of landfills, further contaminating waterways and oceans. Every plastic bag even when properly disposed ends up in a landfill so the advice for mitigation is not to throw away bags. The best thing to do would be to use reusable grocery bags and help stop the destruction of our Eco-systems.

Brief Project Description*

This project is aimed at using theatre arts display to sensitize 20 communities in Buea on the impact of poor plastic waste disposal and others to marine/terrestrial life and empowering these communities on sustainable waste management techniques to ensure clean and healthy environment as well as promoting local waste recycling techniques for economic empowerment.

Project Objectives*
The Specific objectives are as follows;

1. Mobilize and audition youths in 20 communities or villages with basic skills in acting.
2. Organize a one-day training with 30 youths on the impact of plastic waste on terrestrial beings.
3. Organize 5-days Practice sessions for 30 shortlisted candidates for the theatre road show display in 20 communities around Buea.
4. Organize a 2 hours Green City Theatre-Road Show event in 20 communities in Buea Sub-division on the impact and solutions to plastic waste use and disposal.
5. Showcasing products from recycling during the theatre-road show and handing out brochures of the different cycled products with the contacts of their producers.
6. Launch the “Buea Clean City Inter-Quarter Competition”.

Critical Issues and Threats*
The main issue that will be address is the issue of proper waste management and disposal. This will be address through sensitizations, street campaigns, training with quarter heads and youths. Human activities generate waste which can be harmful to the environment, animals, plants and the ecosystem. However, only a careful management can limit the damage done to the environment and conserve scarce resources Powell, (2001). Also, due to the rapid urbanization and how waste is viewed differently by the sexes, the available waste collection and disposal equipment do not suffice to meet the needs of the city, there is need to have an inclusive approach to plastic waste management and waste in general in order to foster sustainable development. Having the Mayor to be part of the campaign and launch the Inter-city clean city competition will enable the inhabitance to engage in proper waste management thus keeping their environment and city clean.

Communities Involved*
This project will be implemented in the following communities in Buea (including the villages of Bokwaongo, Muea; Bomaka; Tole; Mile 16 (Bolifamba); Mile 17; Mile 15; Mile 14 (Dibanda); Bova; Bonjongo; Likombe; Buasa; Great Soppo; Molyko; Small Soppo; Bwitingi; Mile 18 (Wonyamavio); Lower farms; Bokwai; Bonduma; Sandpit, Wonyamongo, Bulu; Bokova and surrounding villages).

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