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Hello,
I am Lila Nahyun Lim from Seoul Foreign School in 5th grade. At my school, we have been researching about the 16 global problems that we have caused and I am specifically studying about the over­use of plastic. During my research, I wanted to take action (had to also take action) because I realized how harmful this problem was to our ocean and Earth. 

Another reason why I wanted to change was that I didn’t want to pass down this problem to the next generation. So, I wanted and had to take help. I didn’t know that all of the disposable plastic that I was using every day was exercising a great bad effect on the world until I started researching about this problem. And what’s even more dangerous about the plastic in the ocean is that it can be broken down into smaller pieces and soon even go into our food. After hearing about all of these facts, you may know about all of the dangers. To fix wisely this problem, I have recently been thinking about some of the things that can help to change this situation at least a tiny bit.

First, I have been thinking about having a plastic­free day every month. Even though this action might not be as effective as it seems in the first place, once people start doing it, it might get spread to other parts of Korea.

Second, what about making an application that would have to check the amount of plastic collected and making the plastic into money? This can be applicable at a near convenience store such as seven­eleven, CU, and GS25. Once you get there, the store employees will count the amount of plastic you have brought and add the amount of mileage into your account. After collecting a certain amount of points, you can convert the points into money.

Third, we can make a festival every year at Gwanghwamun that let people know about the dangers of plastic. This event will have a short video about the adverse effects of plastic pollution. Also we can advertise about up-cycling companies and eco friendly product making companies to get them more well­known, which would get more people to buy things from there. With all of these events, we also can do a fundraiser for an ocean clean­up and we can also do a craft corner that uses recycled things to make crafts (for kids.) 

Fourth, we collect as many as plastic we can. Then at the end of the year, we can make a huge statue out of the plastic that we have collected. For the design, we can have a competition that explains the dangers of plastic. Then, it can get spread out to the world or the rest of Korea!

Fifth, we could do a beach clean­up every year. This sort of adds on to the statue idea, but instead of just collecting plastic, we can do a clean­up.

All of my proposals are still immature but I will keep trying to reduce plastic myself and let my knowledge share with my friends and family. Thank you for reading my suggestion and hope to this little action will come true. 

Sincerely, 

Lila Nahyun Lim