DILI, 05 june 2023 ( TATOLI)- European Union (UE) together with Mercy Corps and Korea International Cooperation Agency ( KOICA) open the World Environment Day Festival in Timor – Leste.
Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Timor-Leste, Marc Fiedrich said the World Environment Day Festival, organized by Mercy Corps, KOICA, and EU, celebrated all the change makers who are paving the way for responsible plastic use and inclusive recycling in Timor-Leste.
He explained on June 5, the opening day of the festival was dedicated to cross-sector dialogue between government, businesses, and civil society. Through a series of forum discussions and networking activities, participants got the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and experiences, and explore reduce, reuse, and recycle approaches that can help address the growing challenge of plastic waste.
“Plastic is a worldwide plague affecting the environment and ourselves. It can affect human health, destroy ecosystems, and harm wildlife – especially marine species. Its production, use, and disposal is an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Its polluting effects can be noted everywhere: at the top of mountains, on the fields where our food grows, and even in a clean house. But the place where there is an alarming quantity is in the sea. What you can observe on the beaches in Timor-Leste is, in fact, the top of the iceberg, as most of the plastic waste is in the form of invisible microelements”, said the Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Timor-Leste, Marc Fiedrich in Timor – Plaza on monday.
The festival continued for two days long at the Timor-Plaza parking area, where visitors discovered a recycling and upcycling market gathering local talents, artists, and entrepreneurs.
“There are Sixteen businesses and social enterprises that took advantage of these two days to hold product demonstrations, showcase their creations, and interact directly with new clients,” he said
The space was also full of live music, theater, poetry, visual art, and many more creative surprises to raise awareness of plastic pollution. The festival, designed in collaboration with the Government of Timor-Leste, highlighted the importance of empowering citizens and motivating the emergence of environmental advocates who can become agents of change within their households and communities.
It formed part of a broader series of collective initiatives supporting local upcycling and recycling groups – who often lack exposure, access to partners, technology, and spaces to sell their products – in order to make it more economically feasible to collect, sort and reprocess materials in Timor-Leste.
Ambassador Marc Fiedrich, highlighted the Circular Economy program as an innovative partnership between KOICA, European Union, a local construction company Caltech, global brewer Heineken, and Mercy Corps, to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy.
“In a Circular Economy, unnecessary plastic use is curtailed and replaced, plastic waste is disposed of responsibly and turned into sought-after products, and resource recovery systems. This supports Timor-Leste’s vision to become a recognized tourism destination, respectful of its natural beauty and cultural heritage,”
At the same place, the National Director of Biodiversity of the Secretary of State for Environment, Rui Pires on behalf of the Government of Timor – Leste appreciated the initiative of this festival which was organized by EU- Mercy Corp and KOICA saying with the World Environment Day Festival in Timor – Leste will open the awareness of people to throw the rubbish on its place to ensure the public health in Timor – Leste.
“Let’s come together to combat the plastic rubbish in Timor – Leste,” he concluded
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
