CineONU Film screening of A Plastic Ocean on the occasion of World Environment Day

On 30 May 2017, UN Environment and the United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) in partnership with the US Mission to the European Union, screened the documentary 'A Plastic Ocean' to a full house in Brussels and Helsinki ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference and World Environment Day.

A Plastic Ocean is a feature-length documentary that brings to light the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle. Directed by Australian journalist Craig Leeson and produced by Jo Ruxton, who has previously worked on the Blue Planet  series, the film dives into and investigates the devastating impact plastic has on our environment, especially on our  marine life.

Before the start of the film, Ulf Björnholm (Head of UN Environment Brussels Office) introduced a short video in which several EU politicians and decision makers shared their favourite places to connect with nature (in honour of this year's World Environment Day theme - connecting people to nature).

Following the film, the much-anticipated panel discussion was both insightful and thought-provoking. The discussion was moderated by Deborah Seward (Director of UNRIC Brussels) and the panel was made up of four speakers: Jo Ruxton (Producer of ‘A Plastic Ocean and Co-Founder of Plastic Oceans Foundation); Maria Westerbos (Founder of Plastic Soup Foundation); Kristian G. Moore (Environment, Science & Technology Officer, U.S. Department of State), and Matjaž Malgaj (Head of Unit for the Marine Environment and Water Industries, European Commission).

 (Photo UNRIC)

All panellists agreed that drastic action is needed in order to save our seas and oceans from further damage, and to free our marine life of the suffering it currently endures. Jo Ruxton warned that if we don't stop using and throwing away plastics as recklessly as we do now, "it will only get worse". Maria Westerbos added that we throw away plastic bottles about 20 minutes after buying them, and urged everyone to change this: "Let's stop the use of single-use plastic - let's not use it anymore".

Matjaž Malgaj discussed how the economic system regarding plastic needs to be reconsidered: "Until plastic is so cheap that you can throw it away easily, there will always be people who will throw it away". Kristian G. Moore was optimistic: "Everybody is talking about [this issue] and that's a huge step forward, but now we need to find out how to address it". 

 (Photo UNRIC)

Audience members wanted to know what they could do to help. Whilst all panellists shared practical tips, such as drinking tap water and avoiding single-use plastics, Jo Ruxton encouraged the audience to spread the word about the dangers of plastics: "If everyone here tells just five people, that's how we'll get the word out". 

The event was followed by a reception, generously offered by the US Mission to the EU, where lively discussions continued amongst speakers and audience members.

 Want to know more about A Plastic Ocean? Click here. 

 Find out more about the Ocean Conference held in New York from 5-9 June here.

 Take a look at our handout from the Brussels event and see attached a handout from a non-profit Federation of 127 Mediterranean NGOs for Environment and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE Mediterranean) with whom UN Environment and the European Commission collaborate in tackling marine litter issues in the Mediterranean.

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The film screening was preceded by a Facebook Live session with the Film Producer of ‘A Plastic Ocean’, Jo Ruxton, and Head of Unit on Marine Environment and Water Industry at the European Commission, Matjaž Malgaj, at the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Brussels hosted on CineONU Facebook and promoted live via @CineONU and @UNEP_EU with over 1,2K viewers.

(Unless indicated otherwise Photos by UN Environment)

This article was produced with support from the United Nations Regional Information Centre.