By Nina
My name is Nina, and I represent the youth organization, River Warrior Indonesia. I am the daughter of two Indonesian scientists, who have taught me to take care of my environment.
Our house is located along the Brantas River, a drinking water source for more than 5 million people. My family drinks and uses water from this river, as do my schoolmates.
But the Brantas River has become a dumping ground for wastewater from plastic recycling industries. These industries mainly recycle imported plastic scraps from developed countries. We found garbage with labels from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the USA.
Nina, 17, Indonesia
The human face behind the issue—children like me, whose future is being suffocated by increasing plastic waste and the petrochemicals driving its production, which destabilize our climate and ecosystems.
Nina, 17, Indonesia
We collected trash for over three years and discovered that sachets, styrofoam, plastic bottles, diapers, and plastic bags are the biggest polluters of Brantas River. My team at River Warrior found almost 4000 microplastic particles in 100 litres of river water.
I have tirelessly campaigned against the harmful practice of exporting plastic waste from developed countries to my home and other developing nations in the global south.
My advocacy includes writing letters to influential global leaders, urging them to take action to end the illegal and unjust shipment of plastic waste.
This year, I spoke at the Plastic Health Summit in the Netherlands and the INC-4 Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Canada, aiming to help country delegations see the human face behind the issue—children like me, whose future is being suffocated by increasing plastic waste and the petrochemicals driving its production, which destabilize our climate and ecosystems.
Through my activism, I aspire to create a world that is clean, safe, healthy and free from pollution. I hope to inspire others to join me in taking collective action for the future – especially if you are in high school like me. It is never too early to speak out about the future you want.
