What will it take?

The Red Sea Research Center hosted the first Symposium on Marine Plastic Pollution on May 20. It was an opportunity to take a closer look at the problems facing the world’s oceans related to plastic pollution and how we, at KAUST, can be part of the solution.

As we live by the Red Sea, we, as a community, are very much concerned. As the flora and fauna of the sea are at stake, it is important to understand, and change, our consumption habits and ways of disposing of plastics and trash in general. It’s not that difficult, but changing habits can be some times challenging.

As we know, the children of today are the best actors of change. At TKS, a group of four grade 5 young girls, in Mr. Tim Scarrott class, tackled the issue of plastic marine pollution as part of their PYP Exhibition. The outcome of their reflection, research and field trips turned into a moving singing performance, which closed the symposium.

On stage the four girls, Nora, Ruby accompanied by Jenna and Lucy on the ukulele sang an original composition that will hopefully make us realize that the environment is not something we should take for granted. Each person can make a difference and teach others to act responsibly by doing small things like bringing a reusable bag to Tamimi, say no to straws or buy less plastic bottles. If we all put in the effort, the oceans will become a better home for the fish.

Watch their performance and sing along!

TKS students singing about plastic pollution from KAUST Video on Vimeo.

​Plastic in the ocean
By Nora, Ruby, Jenna and Lucy

Making sea life sick
So much coral bleaching
Coral’s going white

Reefs are all endangered
Species go extinct
Plastic’s gets ingested
By creatures of the sea

What will it take
What will it take
To ban plastic forever
What will it take
What will it take
To change the way we live

I takes 1,000 years
For a straw to decompose
Have you ever seen a turtle
With a straw stuck up his nose

Jellyfish are floppy
Like the plastic bags you buy
That bag looks like a food source
Through a fish’s eye

What will it take
What will it take
To ban plastic forever
What will it take
What will it take
To change the way we live

The fish eat the plastic
Then we eat those fish
Now we have plastic
In our flesh

So stop using plastic
There is to much in the sea
Why did This occurred
How did this happen me

What will it take
What will it take
To ban plastic forever
What will it take
What will it take
To change the way we live