Pollution, in general, is an introduction of contaminants by human activities which results in human-manufactured hazards to the environment. One of the most reoccurring pollution across the world is beach pollution as it directly affects more than 800 species of wildlife around the world and more than 100,000 seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals die each year after ingesting plastic or getting entangled in it. As a result, beach pollution then results in ocean pollution (which I’ve been interested in it for the past year due to my subject ESS and GloPo) is so much avoidable and steps to prevent it are simple as well as pollution caused by human activities is a global challenge which transcends countries, continents, etc.

Hence, due to CAS, I can do something for a global issue that I’ve been interested in can take necessary actions to combat that global issue and also achieve SDGs set by the UN. As a result, I decided to do beach cleaning with the members of the Cycling Club (founded by a group of G11 students) as we cycled to the Dumas beach for 1-2 months from 8 August 2021 to 22 September 2021. The SDGs we are catering to here is Good Health and Well-being (by preventing microplastics eventually into humans and into animals as well), Sustainable Cities and Communities (preventing degradation of natural resources due to pollution on the beach, and making communities near the clean-up feel more happy and sustainable), Responsible Consumption and Production (where consumption is the focus as after consuming we should put single-use plastics into dustbins and collect littered wastage on the beach), Climate Action (action to combat climate change), Life Below Water (preventing entanglement by pollution or consumption of pollution such as plastic-based death of aquatic animals ), and Life on Land (preventing consumption of pollution based death of land animals). We cycled to Dumas beach for beach cleaning on weekends and dedicated between 1-2 hours to picking up just waste such as plastic bottles, plastic straws, clothes, and other such wastes whilst taking all the required measures such as wearing gloves and masks. After picking up the waste we put our waste into garbage bags at locations on the Dumas beach where the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) can easily pick it up.

During the service, the learner profiles I exhibited are communicator and thinker as I communicated and thought with the members in order to decide the timings, the location, the plan, the safety measures, meeting point, dividing people for certain areas to clean the beach more efficiently, etc. Then I exhibited caring as I cared for the environment and the challenge that it is facing. Adding on, knowledgeable and reflective as I showcased my knowledge and reflected on my knowledge from ESS and GloPo such as understanding how major the issues are, the ways the issue can be prevented/solved, etc. Then I exhibited principled as anyone seeing me or not I chose the ethically right decision to help the environment, at least the local environment in Dumas beach and nearby it. Lastly, a bit courageous as when we went to the beach certain people over there were staring at us while we were cleaning but we ignored them and continued to do so. Also, we were probably the only ones at that time period to clean the beach so I exhibited courage.

Moreover, the learning outcomes which I demonstrated during the service are L4, L5, L6, L7 as I and other members of the cycling club were committed and showcased the perseverance for beach cleaning for 1-2 months and I felt that necessary to act as a responsible citizen and to also reflect my care and knowledge of the environment from ESS and GloPo. Then working as a team made the task a lot easier as we collected more garbage and waste in less time compared to if I collected that same amount of time it would’ve taken a lot more time and effort. Hence the group work was smart work and efficient work. Also, that showcased a sense of harmony, and unity for a global cause. Then I engaged with an issue of global significance which is pollution, more specifically beach pollution while cleaning the Dumas beach climate change, pollution, etc. is really a problem that transcends across continents and it is present on a large scale locally which I got to experience firsthand. Lastly, I made an ethical choice and action to prevent beach pollution as if not then that pollution would contribute to animals, especially aquatic animals’ death despite it is not their fault and due to bioaccumulation of plastic (or other waste), it would disrupt the environment’s ecosystem and food chain which would then affect us, humans, costing then human lives as well.

All in all, I really feel positive and enthusiastic about the service and the small steps that I took while pursuing my interest, reflecting and showcasing my knowledge from ESS and GloPo by trying to achieve SDGs and combatting a global issue. Below are all of the pieces of evidence ;