The Alliance Française Accra (AFA) is proud to announce its inaugural Environment Week, taking place from Monday, June 3rd to Saturday, June 8th, 2024. This week-long initiative is a powerful statement of AFA’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and aims to raise awareness about two critical environmental issues: Fast Fashion and Plastic Pollution.
The fashion industry casts a long shadow. According to a Business Insider analysis, it contributes a staggering 10% of global carbon emissions. This comes at a heavy cost to our water sources, rivers, and ecosystems, with 85% of all textiles ending up in landfills each year. Even the simple act of washing clothes releases a shocking 500,000 tons of microfibres into the ocean annually – the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles!
Plastic pollution is another major threat. Reports highlight the devastating impact of plastic on our environment, with millions of tons entering our oceans each year. This plastic harms marine life, pollutes our beaches, and disrupts entire ecosystems.
AFA Environment Week aims to tackle these challenges head-on. Throughout the week, a variety of engaging activities will be offered, including:
- Art Exhibitions: Powerful and evocative artwork by Bee Arthur and others will spark conversation about the environmental impact of fast fashion and plastic pollution.
- Panel Discussions: Renowned experts from Ghana’s Ministries of Environment, Sanitation, Tourism, Youth & Sports, and Fisheries will come together for a thought-provoking discussion on tackling these issues. The discussion will be moderated by Richmond Quarcoo of Plastic Punch, a leading Ghanaian environmental organization.
- Solution-Based Presentations: Hear from inspiring artists, environmental activists, and organizations like Bee Arthur, Plastic Punch, Tei Huagie, OR Foundation, Revival Earth, and Little Big Esi as they share innovative solutions for a greener future.
- Community Old Clothes Drive: Help declutter your closet and support a sustainable future! Donate your gently used clothes for a good cause. (Open to AFA staff and students)
- Environment Fair: Discover a marketplace of eco-conscious vendors offering sustainable and recycled products, alongside beautiful, environmentally-friendly art.
- Arts & Environment Edutainment Night: Immerse yourself in a unique evening featuring poetry, spoken word performances, an impactful immersive theatre experience by the Alikoto group, and captivating acoustic music by Nene Narh.
- Beach Clean-Up: Join AFA for a community beach clean-up at the Regional Maritime University in Nungua. Together, we can make a tangible difference in protecting our coastline!
Key Dates:
- World Environment Day: Wednesday, June 5th – Join a special conference featuring panel discussion and solution-based presentations.
- World Ocean Day: Saturday, June 8th – Conclude the week with a rewarding beach clean-up experience.
Event Partners:
AFA is proud to partner with Plastic Punch, a leading Ghanaian organization tackling plastic pollution, Bee Arthur, a renowned artist who uses her work to raise awareness about fast fashion, and Travelwings, an online travel agency with over 25 years of experience in the Travel Industry.
Join the Movement!
AFA Environment Week is a call to action for everyone in Accra. Whether you’re a passionate environmentalist or simply looking to learn more and make a positive impact, we invite you to join us for this exciting week. Let’s work together to safeguard our planet and build a more sustainable future!
For more information and the full program lineup, please visit the Alliance Française Accra website or social media pages.
Story by Obaapa Janee
