It was a grand day out on Lake Tisza in southern Hungary as the PET Cup returned with great success. Sponsored by local and large businesses alike, the event featured hearty ‘PET Pirates’ plundering the artificial lake in search of treasure: plastic waste. These enthusiastic participants turned environmental cleanup into a competitive and community-driven activity, setting sail on makeshift barges in a flotilla that conjured images of “Mad Max” on water. The competition not only showcased the community’s dedication to environmental conservation but also highlighted the collaborative effort between sponsors and volunteers in addressing plastic pollution.

The PET Cup, named after the commonly used plastic, polyethylene terephthalate, began in 2013 to inspire locals to maintain the cleanliness of their beloved lake. Since its inception, the competition has expanded to other waterways, growing in popularity and impact. This year’s edition was particularly fruitful, with over 20,000 pounds (approximately seven tons) of trash being removed from Lake Tisza. The victorious team, sponsored by MBH Bank, exemplified the spirit of the event, demonstrating that collective efforts can lead to significant environmental benefits. The PET Cup not only cleans up the waterways but also fosters a sense of community and environmental responsibility among participants and spectators alike.

Plastic pollution has so many negative impacts on the environment and living creatures, that plastic production should be stopped immediately.
Unfortunately, we are living in a fast-moving consumer world where most of the items we buy are highly reliable on plastic. The fact that the animal world is widely impacted by pollution is obvious, but this sad story will emphasize it even more.

A recently rescued sea turtle that was found near the coast of Argentine, the capital of Buenos Aires painted a very grim picture for the vets taking care of him. In the months spent at the vet and observed by the doctors, the poor thing pooped a total of 13 grams of plastic in the form of small pieces of nylon bags, nettings, and other ingested plastic trash.

The green turtle was caught by fishermen at the end of December 2019 and brought to at Mundo Marino Foundation. The experts from the Foundation, discovered a worrying amount of plastic in the turtle’s digestive tract.

The radiographic images showed particles of foreign bodies in his intestines, so the doctors put the turtle on medication to help him eliminate them faster.

This is just another sad example of how our choices and lifestyle impact the world among us and cause harm to other living beings.