As the world celebrates World Earth Day 2024, an ecology-focused Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called for a drastic reduction in the use of plastics as this will save planet Earth from suffocation.

This call was made on Monday, April 22, 2024 via a press release made exclusively available to Kristina Reports and signed by HOMEF’s Communications Lead and OilWatch Africa’s Communications Officer, Kome Odhomor.

The release stated that the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr Nnimmo Bassey noted that World Earth Day is an annual event designed to shed light on serious environmental problems caused by human negligence and various climate crises including air pollution, deforestation, flood.

“World Earth Day reminds us as humans that the Earth is ours to protect and preserve. The International Mother Earth Day’s theme this year ‘Planet Vs Plastic’ Urges us to build a liveable future for humans, other beings, and natural systems.”

He emphasized the organization’s stance against non-biodegradable waste pollution and noted that our seeming overdependence on single-use plastics is causing more harm than good to the environment.

He explained that because of how long it takes plastics to decompose, harm is done to our water bodies and our environment as a whole and nothing seems to be done about it.

“We stand united in our fight against non-biodegradable waste pollution. Our addiction to single-use plastics suffocates the planet. Plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose and so they clog our water bodies, and cause harmful impacts as a result of their chemical composition. Sadly, the world is literally a plastic civilisation due to a vested interest in hydrocarbons and ease of application.”

Dr Bassey passionately advocated for the immediate ban on the production and usage of single-use plastics. He further urged everyone to be involved in efforts to kick out plastics as we have the responsibility to put the wellbeing of the earth ahead of our need for profits.

“Now is a critical time to choose between planet and plastic. Good sense tells us to choose the planet, our Mother Earth that sustains all lives. Poor sense driven by profit urges humans to choose plastics because of the ease they bring, despite the harmful impacts on our health, climate, and overall health of the planet.”

“As we mark World Earth Day 2024, the alarm must be sounded that it is time to uproot plastics from their fossil base or be ready to be turned into plastic humans living plastic lives and heading to an infernal plastic future.”

According to Bassey, research done by the organization has shown that the margin between the percentage of plastics recycled and what is produced is extremely wide and needs to be closed immediately.

He stated that the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) believes in the intrinsic rights of the Earth, humans and other beings to be respected and to live in dignity.”

“It is time to build up courage and to preserve and protect our health, and our livelihoods by embracing alternatives that are sustainable, healthy, and safe for the planet. We must stop all forms of destructive extractive activities in Nigeria, Africa, and the World.

“The Planet vs Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being on our planet.”