Durban North resident set to make history in Easter Island swim
The Swim Against Plastic: Easter Island is a campaign to raise awareness about plastic pollution with a world-record swim, education and beach cleanups scheduled on Easter Island in March.
DURBAN North resident, Sarah Ferguson will attempt to set a world record to become the first person ever to swim the entire perimeter of Easter Island.
Her journey will cover more than 40 miles (65 kilometers) through cold water and dangerous currents, and the swim is estimated to take up to 24 hours to complete.
Ferguson, founder of Breathe Conservation, will join Plastic Oceans International, two global nonprofit organizations dedicated to solving the plastic pollution problem.
The Swim Against Plastic: Easter Island is a campaign to raise awareness about plastic pollution with a world-record swim, education and beach cleanups scheduled on Easter Island in March.
“This is a huge challenge, but my passion for ocean protection and rehabilitation is a strong driving force that fuels this dream. It is our responsibility to protect the ocean, and I’m proud to partner with Plastic Oceans International on this campaign to fight the problem of plastic pollution,” said Ferguson.
Located in the South Pacific Ocean between Chile and New Zealand, Easter Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Chilean territory that is considered the most remote inhabited island on the planet. The waters surrounding the island contain one of the highest concentrations of microplastics in the world, most of which originates from sources thousands of miles away.
In addition, 20 tons of trash is produced daily on the island, so waste management issues, especially related to the growing tourism industry, are prevalent.
Follow Ferguson’s progress using the hashtag #SwimAgainstPlastic or visit www.SwimAgainstPlastic.com.
For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram
