On 30th April, the Mokpo branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group conducted its 'Green Mokpo' campaign, which is one of several initiatives of the 'Green Nature' environmental programme conducted by the Volunteer Group, at the coast along Mokpo, a beautiful port city known for its vast ocean view in South Jeolla Province, Republic of Korea. The campaign was designed to raise awareness of the importance of marine environment protection with the slogan 'Let's Be Green.'

According to the Mokpo Marine Police Station, the amount of marine waste collected in Mokpo Port after the summer rainy season in July last year amounted to 16 tonnes. That is equivalent to the weight of 320 people based on 50 kg adult weight.

Morever, according to the international marine organisation Ocean Conservancy, the most commonly found litter in the ocean is cigarette butts, accounting for about 21% of all marine litter. Cigarette butt filters are mainly made of plastic, so when they naturally decompose, they are converted into microplastics that cause serious damage to the marine ecosystem.

Accordingly, the Mokpo branch introduced an upcycling experience booth to promote the importance of the sea and the impact of marine waste such as microplastics under the 'Let's Be Green' campaign.

The experience booth attracted the attention of citizens as it was prepared in a variety of ways, including an ocean photo exhibition to raise awareness of the severity of marine debris, making eco-friendly bleach to prevent environmental pollution, upcycling an old glass bottle into an LED, making an eco-friendly bag, and more.

A housewife who went shopping with her daughter said, “I thought microplastics were only bad for the respiratory system, but when a volunteer explained that they can also cause digestive and cardiovascular diseases, I thought I should also reduce the use of wet wipes.”

An elderly man who was looking at a photo of a whale that died after eating a lot of plastic said bitterly, “Animals are harmed by the litter we throw away.”

An official from the Mokpo branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group said, “Let’s take action first to ensure a healthy planet for future generations to inherit.”

Meanwhile, the 'Green Nature' programme strives to pass on a beautiful environment as a legacy to posterity through wetland conservation activities, environmental clean-ups to protect major facilities and cultural assets, environmental recovery, environmental protection public interest campaigns, and the creation of flower paths in illegal waste dumping areas. This is a regular volunteer activity conducted by Shincheonji Volunteer Group throughout South Korea.