By: Laura Bennett
With the UN Glasgow Climate Change Conference, and sustainability and environmental stewardship continuing to be a hot topic, it’s important these issues are accessible – and not scary – to the kids that are becoming increasingly aware of them.
Lauren Briggs is a mum-of-four, who has used her profession as an author and illustrator to bring to life the story of Little Pago, an ocean turtle in search of a good meal.
“Little Pago is a very energetic, yet vulnerable, baby sea turtle who lives on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef,” Lauren said.
“His favourite activity is to eat, and he goes on this adventurous journey in search of food with his friends, but unfortunately not everything floating in the ocean is safe for a baby turtle to eat.”
Pago’s dilemma is a valid one, with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature reporting that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year – equating to a staggering 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris.
Eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year – equating to a staggering 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris.
Lauren hopes Pago’s story will change the way future generations think about plastic waste.
“The book highlights one of the critical threats that our marine life face, which is plastic pollution in the ocean,” Lauren said.
“Little Pago is here to empower and inspire kids to begin their environmental journey, and start eliminating plastics from their life.”
When talking to her own kids about reducing plastic waste and looking after the environment, Lauren said, “it’s a slow journey, and I’ve realised you’re not going to get change overnight”.
“But really I think education is the precursor to change.”
“Once you start to teach kids about what happens to the plastic once they put it in the rubbish bin – and the fact that they know once they’re adults the plastics that they’re using as kids is still going to be around – they’re very empowered to start to make a change.”
Little Pago is available now.
Article supplied with thanks to Hope Media.
About the Author: Laura is a media professional, broadcaster and writer from Sydney, Australia.
Feature image: Photo by Giorgia Doglioni