PLANET OR PLASTIC?

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For 130 years, National Geographic has documented the stories of our planet, providing audiences around the world with a window into the earth’s breathtaking beauty as well as to the threats it faces.

More than five trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans. With nine million tons more thrown in every year. Which is why National Geographic launched Planet or Plastic? — a multiyear initiative aimed at raising awareness of this challenge and reducing the amount of single-use plastic that enters in the world's oceans.

For our 2019 calendar, we collaborated with 12 young artists from the 12 countries that suffer most from ocean plastic pollution to create 12 artworks for 12 months. Each one highlighting the environmental and health impact of plastic waste on their country’s marine ecosystems and all who rely upon them.

After all, every day matters, every single-use plastic counts and no one can save us from ourselves but ourselves.

#6 THAILAND

GENTLE GIANT OR PLASTIC?

The discovery of a pilot whale dying off southern Thailand after swallowing 80 plastic bags was another alarm for local consumers, government and tourists alike to reduce the mass consumption of single-use plastic. It also prompted the nationwide launch of 'Beat Plastic Pollution' campaign, in collaboration with the United Nation, to curb the use of plastic bags and foam packaging - and to ban plastic waste imports in the near future.