12 Léman Plogging

Number of votes

1,407 (1,189 paper / 218 online)

1. The Project in a Nutshell

The project aims to address a topic within the theme “healthy environment, healthy body” by bringing together sports and nature.

2. The Project’s Objective

The goal of this initiative is to provide an opportunity to reflect on our behaviors and the impact of our waste on nature, to take concrete action to protect the environment, a combination of running and picking up litter, and to understand the importance of the well-being this activity provides—during a community event that is now established and recognized as a tool in the fight to protect the planet. This Léman Plogging initiative encourages the practice of a solitary outdoor activity. It promotes sustainability by encouraging people to dispose of waste properly and avoid littering in nature. It addresses the fate of waste, the very concept of waste, and how humans view it, as well as the importance of individual behavior—particularly proper sorting. It offers citizens an opportunity to witness firsthand the irresponsibility of certain human behaviors and to assess their short- and long-term impacts. The Léman Plogging event is a project that combines strength and cardio training with saving the planet, raising awareness among citizens. Not only will it give the local wildlife a helping hand, but it will also help participants stay in shape while helping nature look healthier!

3. The Project in Detail

In this project, we will focus on the need to raise awareness among people to change their values and attitudes in their daily lives, to balance sports activities with nature conservation, the importance of assessing the environmental impact of waste from an ethical perspective, and exercising citizenship with responsibility, integrity, and respect. This project will take place on Lake Geneva, both on land and in the lake itself. We will rely on the participation of volunteers of all ages to carry out concrete actions in support of the environment and public health, cleaning up urban and natural sites contaminated by waste resulting from irresponsible human activities and behavior. We will also rely on the help of divers who will collect waste from the bottom of Lake Geneva; the waste will be brought to the lakeshore to raise awareness about the dangers of environmental pollution and to educate the public on the importance of thinking about the collective good by avoiding this type of behavior. The waste collected during the cleanup will then be stored in a container. The material could be displayed at the photography exhibition we plan to organize. Through this awareness-raising effort, we propose reflecting on crucial issues related to improving living conditions for everyone, as the Lake Geneva plogging event would offer several benefits. For those staying on land: it would provide an opportunity for interval training, since it requires alternating between running and walking to allow time to pick up trash, while also offering muscle-strengthening benefits through the squats performed when bending down to pick up trash. This sport is therefore more demanding and physically strenuous than traditional jogging. But beyond the athletic aspect, ploggers (those who practice plogging) aim to draw attention to the problem of pollution and raise awareness of ecological issues; we must therefore recognize the benefits of plogging—a trendy and responsible way to exercise. For those who will be in the lake (the divers): they will help highlight the importance of the socio-environmental problem we face today—a problem created by humans and one that must be solved by humans. Removing trash is the first step, but the most important thing is to be aware and understand that future generations’ ability to dive depends on the care we take today. A small gesture for us, but a great investment for the planet.

4. The amount requested to carry out the project

8,565 CHF

• Lausanne signage, website: 1,960 CHF

• Occupancy tax, fees, and venue rental for the exhibition: 1,730 CHF

• Travel and meals for volunteers: 1,200 CHF

• 4 musicians for exhibition entertainment: 1,000 CHF

• Miscellaneous: snacks, gloves, trash bags, vests, canoe, tent: 2,675 CHF

5. Neighborhood(s)

Vidy

6. The Association

Made in Brasil CH Association