Plastic Waste - A Real Threat to the Ocean
Essay by Muhammad Auliaurrohman

Essay Writing Competition 2025
Category: 12-15 years
- Commendation -

Senior category: Commendation

Plastic Waste: A Real Threat To The Ocean - Essay by Muhammad Auliaurrohman

Plastic Waste: A Real Threat To The Ocean

The problem of plastic waste in the ocean is really serious and damaging to our marine ecosystem! I live on the outskirts of Surabaya, close to the ocean and the beach. The name of the beach is Kenjeran Beach, which is 18 minutes away from my house by motorcycle. I really like it there because I can play in the water and sand, ride a rented boat, and look for shells and yuyu (mini crabs) to release back onto the beach. But I rarely go to that beach anymore because it is full of trash.

There is a lot of plastic waste, bottles, clothes, and mud on the beach. Everything is mixed together, and it smells really bad. The sea water is no longer as clear as it used to be, and the beach sand is no longer as smooth as it used to be. The sand is very rough on the skin, and I don't want to touch it anymore. Because of this, I really want to clean up my beach, which used to be very comfortable.

I want my sea and the seas around the world to be free from plastic pollution so that the sea can be clean and healthy again. I believe that people are already aware that protecting the environment is part of maintaining peace, because damage to nature is often the beginning of social and economic conflict.

A better world is a world where humans live in harmony with nature and have a sustainable lifestyle. I was inspired by the actions of the Pandawara group on TikTok. The older siblings from the Pandawara group cleaned up the trash in the river. They also invited local residents to clean up the river and beach together, instead of blaming others. The Pandawara group's actions motivated me to clean up trash on the beach as well. I invited one of my friends, Naufal, to pick up trash from the sea every Sunday morning with our parents. It was really tiring, but I was very happy to imagine being able to play happily on the beach again like I used to.

I remember there is a tradition in the coastal area of Surabaya, namely on Kenjeran Beach. My father said that the tradition is like offering sacrifices or giving alms to the sea. I sometimes see fishermen who catch fish on this beach making offerings. The offerings consist of fruits placed on a flat container called tempeh. This tradition teaches us to respect the sea as a source of life. Although it is deeply rooted in culture and spiritual values, this tradition can inspire us all to care more about the marine ecosystem. Its peaceful values are evident in gratitude, living in harmony with nature, and solidarity among citizens to protect the environment together.

In my opinion, education also plays a very important role in reducing plastic waste. Through lessons at school, children can be taught the importance of reducing single-use plastics, how to sort waste, and recycling. Parents can also teach me that waste must be disposed of properly, not carelessly thrown into rivers or the sea, like my parents did. My mother calls this environmental education to shape the younger generation into agents of change. Without education, it is very difficult for the community to become aware, and the problem of plastic waste will continue to recur.

What excites me the most are cool innovations such as bioplastics made from cassava or seaweed. My teacher in the Young Researchers extracurricular activity showed us this innovation last Saturday. These bioplastics are more easily biodegradable and can reduce marine pollution. So, even though there are still people who don't want to dispose of their waste properly and instead throw it into the sea, this waste will dissolve in the water and not pollute the sea. This innovation refutes the old assumption that marine debris is impossible to clean up, and makes us more optimistic about having peaceful and healthy oceans.

If I could create a community, I would want to build a "Happy Blue" community. The principle is simple: maintain a balance between humans and the ocean. In this community, we would not be allowed to use single-use plastics, recycling would be mandatory, and we would be taught an environmentally friendly lifestyle from an early age.

Let's make this dream a reality, where the ocean is not only a source of food, but also a symbol of peace, life, and our shared future.

In the Age category 12 - 15 years, Muhammad's essay is truly inspiring and insightful. Thank you for sharing your reflections on cultural traditions, environmental education and innovative solutions. We commend your inspiring vision for clean beaches and peaceful oceans.

Muhammad is 12 years old and attends SD Alkhairiyah 1 in Surabaya/ Indonesia. English as additional language. Indonesian as home language.