Along the central coast of Vietnam, a peaceful environmental movement is underway, led by local Catholics with dedication and passion. Source: UCA News.
Parishioners in Hue Archdiocese, armed with brooms and garbage bags, are confronting one of the country’s most pressing challenges: plastic pollution.
Tons of plastic waste from human activities and industrial processes end up in the ocean through various sources, including rivers, and are subsequently washed ashore.
The parishioners are reclaiming their land and seas by clearing one piece of rubbish at a time.
Every weekend, 52-year-old fisherman Anton Le Van Phuoc joins volunteers on a three-kilometre stretch of beach near Sao Cat Parish.
With nothing more than unwavering determination, the group collects hundreds of kilograms of waste: plastic bottles, seafood shells, discarded nets, and even the remains of marine life that are adversely impacting their ecosystem and health.
“The environment is our duty to protect,” Mr Phuoc says, wiping sweat from his brow. “If we don’t take action, the next generation will suffer.”
Mr Phuoc is one of more than 50 regular volunteers, including people from other faiths, who are committed not just to cleaning, but to educating the broader community about the importance of reducing plastic waste.
Vietnam is among the world’s top plastic polluters. The country generates approximately 1.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Of that, between 500,000 and 1.3 million tons end up in the ocean. Only about 486,000 tons are recycled or reused; the rest is buried or incinerated.
The cleanup effort began in 2019 under the leadership of the late Fr Paul Tran Khoi, former pastor of Sao Cat Parish.
Founded in 1954, Sao Cat Parish has 1329 members. About 400 are involved in marine fishing, while others work in fish farming, fish sauce production, and seafood processing.
“Khoi inspired us all,” says parishioner James Phan Tho. “He believed that cleaning the beach wasn’t just about picking up trash, but about respecting God’s creation.”
Though Fr Khoi passed away in 2022, his legacy lives on with his small effort blossoming into a community-wide movement.
FULL STORY
Vietnam’s Catholics lead grassroots battle against plastic pollution (UCA News)
