Plastic is the new black - AIESEC in The Netherlands

Plastic is the new black

Order a drink on the streets in Solo (officially named Surakarta) and you will get a plastic cup with a plastic lid, a straw for easy drinking, a plastic bag to protect the cup and one small plastic bag for easy take away. Take a look around and check where you can throw away your trash. Nope, no trash bins to be found….

There is little time to wait for some miracle to change our behaviour, if we look at the impact of plastic on nature.

Maybe someone else knows where to put the trash? You see some people throwing their plastic rubbish in the river. As you look more closely at the river bank, you see all the piled up trash. No surprise why the Bengawan, the river that once was the most beautiful asset of Solo, looks like it does today.

The Bengawan

I chose to do the Green Revolution 5.0 volunteering project in Indonesia because I wanted to learn more about the Indonesian culture, gain more knowledge about waste management and volunteer abroad.

In 6 weeks me and fellow volunteers did many activities in Solo. Such as teaching at high schools, visiting local markets, interviewing people in public places and speaking with the government and NGO’s about problems in Surakarta.

Pollution’s hidden dangers

Being a volunteer in that project, I learned that the problem with waste management is mainly that people don’t seem to care about litter. Trash on the streets, has become part of their life, part of their surroundings. Most of them are not aware of its dangers, like the spread of diseases or the blocking of sewage systems.

It’s one of the reasons people tend to spend little money on or attention to proper waste management. But as the pressure on Solo’s landfill starts to increase (which already has been overloaded with trash for over 10 years), importance of the problem increases as well. Despite these aggravating issues, it seems people don’t want to take responsibility for the problems at hand. Or as someone in Solo put it: “it’s our culture, we cannot change it”.

Local sewage system

 What can we do?

But is it true that we cannot change the way we do things? Let’s see if something pops into your mind when considering your own life. Is there a habit you find hard to change? What about something simple as doing groceries, how much plastic do you buy and throw away each day? Is it really necessary, or could you also replace some plastic bags with a reusable bag.

Plastic is a big part of their daily lives, that it’s hard to think of a life without it. Then again, there is little time to wait for some miracle to change our behavior. If we look at the impact of plastic on nature, one thing is clear. Do it now!

It might as well be something as easy as holding the drink that you order on the streets in your hand instead of using plastic bags to carry it. You always have a choice!

This post was written by Chloë de Vries. Chloe went on a Global Volunteer project powered by AIESEC in the Netherlands. We offer international volunteering projects and professional internships with the aim of developing leadership in youth. Sign up and learn more about what we have to offer for you!

Read more
Press Release | A platform for YOUth

Press Release | A platform for YOUth

This year AIESEC in The Netherlands is organizing its second Youth Speak Forum on the 29th of April in the Lighthouse in The Hague. Want to find out more about the event? Keep reading about Benjamins experience of attending last year's Youth Speak Forum! What is Youth...

The essence of feminism

The essence of feminism

How can we transmit the essence of feminism? -by Iasmina Caramidariu A lot of people are reluctant when it comes to feminism and gender equality. It still seems like a TABOO for people to talk about. Why is it so? Why is feminism seen in a bad name even if it's just a...

Climate Action in Italy

Climate Action in Italy

I will take you on a journey of climate action, joy, tears, and development through Italy. It was the 1st of June 2021 when I decided that I will go on a volunteering project with AIESEC  in Torino. I decided that I want to be part of the change. Bringing my...

How to make your marketing internship a success?

How to make your marketing internship a success?

When you look through the AIESEC opportunity portal and search for Global Talent projects, you come across loads of business and marketing internship. Lucky for you if you are interested in doing one of those! But you might wonder why there are so many? Well, that is...

Your exchange packing list

Your exchange packing list

As the summer vacation is approaching, so are many volunteering projects and internships. But what to pack on such a new exciting experience? Even if you have been abroad many times and are an expert in packing, there are sure to be moments when you miss a thing or two. To help you have the best preparation for your project, or any other vacation, we made a special AIESEC exchange packing list!

Inspired, empowered and ready for change: The story of four young leaders in the contemporary world

Inspired, empowered and ready for change: The story of four young leaders in the contemporary world

When we talk about young leaders, people quickly think of Greta Thunberg or Mark Zuckerberg, due to their media attention or Greta’s well-known, activist speeches on climate change. But more quietly, the world is packed with young, inspirational leaders, trying to create a more stable, sustainable and inclusive world for future generations, minority groups or the society they are part of.

Discovering culture in Morocco: An exchange to Marrakech

Discovering culture in Morocco: An exchange to Marrakech

When I decided to participate in the Nour project of AIESEC, I felt like I did something impulsive yet brave. I never went abroad on my own before. I always had people I could depend on like friends and family. This time I wanted to challenge myself by doing this project on my own, and I wanted to discover and embrace another culture.

3 Inspiring TED talks on inequality

3 Inspiring TED talks on inequality

We’ve pulled together some inspiring TED talks for you to watch about inequality. The speakers in these videos describe their view on inequality and what the world needs in order to change this. Let these people inspire you, to create new ways of thinking about inequality and the road to changing this.

4 Tips to make your CV stand out

4 Tips to make your CV stand out

On average, recruiters spend 5 to 7 seconds screening a CV before deciding whether to continue with the applicant or not. It equals the average time that we spend looking at an Instagram post on our feed. So, here are some tips that can help your CV stand out in a large pool of applicants.

Interested?

Take the first step.

Book a free consultation call in one of our cities to explore your opportunities!