HERE ARE THE TOP 3 and 10 CONSOLATION PRIZES

To decide who wins, apart from the skills which the artist has on creating their piece, we are looking for something that expresses the message quickly. There should be impact and relevance toward the theme: Plastic pollution crisis

The third prize goes to: @itachi24j

Congratulations @itachi24j
I immediately understood from the first glance what you wanted to express here. Many are attracted to beautiful beaches and people immediately choose it as their first option in vacations, going out and in traveling. But do we pay close attention to our surroundings? Do we take care where we throw our garbage? statistics, sadly say NO.

In recent surveys, they collect tons of plastic wastes in beaches, most of which are small sachets and straws from drinks.

Read/ Image source: PARADISE LOST: Hotels bury waste plastics in the sand to keep "tourists" happy

“Waste management is pretty much non-existent. The storm drains and roadsides are covered in litter all of which head towards the sea at the first sign of a storm. I have a video of people raking up plastic and then just burying it on the beach.

“The way that they are polluting the sea and coastlines in that place it will be remarkable if those micro ecosystems survive for the next 20 years to be honest.”

Read/ Image source: PARADISE LOST: Hotels bury waste plastics in the sand to keep "tourists" happy

Last year the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup records of litter picks around the world estimated that 18 million pounds (8 million kilograms) of litter had been removed from the world’s shores and waterways by volunteers.

Items discovered included 97 television sets, 28 refrigerators, 39 toilets, and 54 bicycles.
But the top five most commonly collected items are all forms of plastic debris: cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, food wrappers, plastic bottle caps and plastic straws.

Last week at the summit the Indonesian Deputy Minister for Maritime affairs introduced a national strategic plan to reduce plastic waste in coastal areas including charging for plastic bags and ‘knocking on doors’ to attempt to ‘touch the hearts’ of locals and bring about behavioural change. -Kepton

Thank you very much for participating!

**The 2nd PRIZE goes to: @karenthfer (*protests under the sea)

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Congratulations @karenthfer:
With your drawing, we can see how colorful it is which reflects the natural beauty of our underwater ecosystem,
much like this:

Photo credit:

however in your depiction the plastics and garbage are dumped down below.

No its not a fashion statement:

_{Photo credit}

Our garbage is killing them:

Dr. Gwenith Penry, a marine biologist with the Plett Stranding Network, posted photos of the orca’s stomach contents on Facebook. The orca, she wrote, had been slowly starving with a stomach full of discarded food wrappers, yogurt cups, and even part of a shoe. At the moment, it isn’t clear whether consuming the garbage is what killed the orca, or if the orca had moved closer to shore due to an illness and simply eaten whatever was nearby. Either way, the photos are shocking.

Read more here: THIS BEACHED ORCA DIED WITH A STOMACH FULL OF PLASTIC

If only they could leave, yes! but where would they go? Thank you for this entry!

OUR GRAND WINNER IS @mfestra

Congratulations @mfestra!
Your art is simple yet speaks out. We see a turtle in a tire on the shore, we see an ocean that looks clean yes? but we know how the turtle got stuck in that, the trash is underwater. Animals can't complain when they have been stuck or injured and the #1 victims usually are turtles, dolphins and seals have higher chances in avoiding these, but not these poor turtles.

Photo Credit

Photo Credit
Look at the plastic micro beads, as small as the sand, next time you go into the beach look at how the sand is mostly plastic!

I hope that awareness is extended and I hope more people stop throwing plastics :(
I hope this care for the environment won't be short lived.

CONSOLATION PRIZES

PRIZES ARE SENT

CONGRATULATIONS!

Thank you all for joining my contest! hopefully this is a way, we can raise awareness and make a difference, also never forget that we should reduce, reuse and recycle!