Plogging–Run to Save the Earth
Plogging–Run to Save the Earth
  • Reporter Lee Seung-Joo
  • 승인 2020.01.05 18:09
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8 million metric tons of garbage enters the ocean each year. Such man-made waste causes trash pollution and endangers many aquatic species as they mistakenly ingest on trash as food or get entangled in relatively large trash. Such simple confusion can easily lead one animal to choking, blockage in the digestive system, or prevention in activities crucial for survival. Some wastes even release toxic elements within the ocean, causing marine animals to suffer with cancer and other diseases. Such damages are not limited to aquatic animals. Almost all Earth inhabitants suffer from trash each day. As human population grow, the waste and garbage continues to become a serious issue for all.
Recycling is not the ultimate solution to the global waste issue, but it can ease the situation. However, recycling is not well-facilitated around the world. By a research on 2018, only 18% of plastic are recycled. Following the recycle system can significantly benefit Earth and many individuals, groups, and countries have advocated recycling through various means. 
Plogging, the portmanteau of “jogging” and “plocka upp” (swedish for “to pick up”), is one creative approach to stimulate recycling in daily life. Plogging is a movement first initiated by Erik Ahlström from Stockholm. It describes the simple action of picking up garbage during daily exercise routines.  “One does not necessarily have to run or jog- plogging can be done walking down the street, on the golf course, biking, paddle boarding, swimming or whenever you are.”
Plogging is praised by many as an effective and fun way to both reduce litters on street and earn workout benefits by adding bending, squatting, stretching, lunging through picking up trash. It is also simple and easy to participate in as all you need is a bag to collect garbage in. Type of exercise, location, number of people are not limited in plogging. Everyone can freely participate and contribute in making the world a better place. 
Since 2016, when Ahlström first carried a bag and a pair of gloves to his daily exercising, currently plogging is a craze in more than 40 different countries. Many organizations including Keep America Beautiful promote plogging. Even in South Korea, many plogging events were held near the Han River in the name of “Joobging” a combination of the korean word “Joobda” (korean for “to pick up”) and “jogging”. Organizers comments that through such events, they hope to “change citizen’s attitude towards littering in Han River.
Experts say that if we do not change our littering behaviors, by 2025, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans and 99 percent seabirds will have experience consuming plastic. Ahlström  comments, “it takes 450 years befor a pet bottle disappears. If everyone knew that, they wouldn’t throw bottles away as litter. It’s about knowing what the problem is, so you can make changes.” 

▲Plogging as the trend for the sustainable environment
▲Plogging as the trend for the sustainable environment