Ocean Litter - Nikita Thampi GWA

Hi,

My name is Nikita and i study at GEMS WORLD ACADEMY. I am in 10th grade and we have something called 'the personal project'. Personal Project is where we as students can choose any topic of interest to us. We have to do a project based on this topic we have chosen and by the end of the time limit we are given, we have to present it. This project is due by March while the written report is due by the end of February.

My topic for this project is Ocean Litter and i am going to create something smiliar to a short documentary on the topic. My goal by the end of the topic is to create awareness on the issue and to somehow help create ideas of as to how we can actually make a change.

I got inspired in choosing this topic by the 'Week Without Walls' trip we had last year. I chose diving. I didnt think that the trip would leave such an impact in my life. I feel i specifically chose this topic after seeing the various kinds of litter present in the ocean. I saw objects from bottle caps to nets used for fishing. i saw plastic bags to actually unopened beer cans! I remember this one time when we went for a dive in Dubai, and while we were just exploring the life below we found a Hamour fish trapped in a net. Ernst, our instructer at that time, set the fish free and mentioned when we were back at the surface that fishing in that area was prohibited. These were just a couple of the many experiences i had encountered when it came to fishing and pollution. And i think what bothered me the most from seeing all of this is why the government hasnt actually taken action.

From this experience i feel that if the government cannot take a stand, then we as students, teachers, instructers,parents etc can. we have a large community in a school and if we all work together then we can actually bring about a change.

I was wondering if you guys could help me with information you find on ocean pollution or ocean litter, which you could add on to my page or here. Anything from pictures to videos to statistics etc. I will be creating a Forum where i will be adding a few questions every week, and if you guys could answers those questions whenever time allows you, then i would really appreciate it.

I thank tawasul and all the people that were on that trip with me for an amazing experience. It has really left a large impact on me.

Nikita GWA