Our world is slipping down the drain (Canada)

YRE Competition 2021
Photo Campaign
11-25 years old

The life of our planet is slowly draining away. Light needs to be shed on this dark hole that is gradually devouring our world. The apathy and neglect towards our planet is speeding up the process of degradation in our environment. Reduced biodiversity presents a direct threat towards millions of people and the health of our ecosystems. Alarmingly, pollution has also become a contributing factor towards ecosystem endangerment and global warming. With the world crippling beneath our feet, action needs to be taken in order to achieve a beautiful and healthy planet.

@YRECompetition2021

Single Photo Campaign, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: Our World is Slipping Down the Drain
Country: Canada

2nd Place
Title: Disposable Masks’ Double flight
Country: Portugal

Honourable Mention
Title: Sweet destruction
Country: Iceland

The waste collecting woman who is no waste (Ghana)

YRE Competition 2021
Photo reportage of 3-5 photos
11-25 years

Photographer: David Kojo Dagadu (age 19), Apeguso Senior High school, Akosombo, Ghana.

About the woman who collects the plastic waste from his teacher Margaret Ayerno´s house. 

“A woman living in a suburb of Akosombo, was collecting the used water sachets bags at my house but she wanted to stop, because according to her, people were making fun of her because she was collecting the waste. So I encouraged her, and she continued. I packed mine neatly for her when she came to my house. (Photo number 1.)

Just before the covid she bought a piece of traditional cloth from the proceeds she realized from the sales of the used water sachets. The meaning of the pattern of the traditional cloth she bought is "You think I will be a waste". Because she had no job, people think she is useless and that is why when she got the money she decided to buy that particular cloth which has such a name. (Photo number 2).

I donated an Eco-Schools T-shirt to her because of the hard work she is doing to protect the environment. (Photo number 3).

I educated the fishmonger that the plastic would kill the fish if it was not prevented from ending up in the water. The fishmonger women, who had started buying the plastics from them, now take the collected plastic waste to the recycling factories for the women that collect it. (Photo number 4).

Now she has created a good market for the used sachets so more women are collecting. (Photo number 5).

I tried organizing the students at Akosombo International School to cover their story with an article, but because of the COVID-19 situation at the school they were not allowed to leave the school's premises. Luckily David came along from Apeguso High School to take the photos. I am now planning to organize the waste pickers and form a Women Eco-Club in their locality where our Eco-Schools students can come and share their knowledge on the importance of good waste management with them when COVID-19 is over. The story reflects many of the SDG´s such as 1, 4.7, 12,14 and 15.”

Margaret Ayernor

Eco-Schools coordinator; Akosombo

DESCRIPTION

The photos above are taken by David on the topic of plastic pollution and how if we do not stop, reduce, reuse or recycle our plastic waste , they can end up polluting our environments (SDG 15) oceans (SDG 14) . Tackling the idea of responsible consumption (SDG 12) , income generation through using waste as resource to reduce poverty (SDG 1) while contributing to lifelong learning through non-formal education (SDG 4)

@YRECompetition2021

Photo Reportage of 3-5 Photos, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: The waste collecting woman who is no waste.
Country: Ghana

2nd Place
Title: The Scythe for Life
Country: Slovakia

The end of the world (Montenegro)

YRE Competition 2021
Single photo reportage
11-25 years

Djordje Pejović, Secondary vocational school "Spasoje Raspopović", Podgorica (MONTENEGRO)

The disappearance of Biogradsko Lake

Biogradsko Lake, which is the heart of the Biogradska gora National Park (on the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves), is one step closer to drying up. Like most glacial lakes, it is doomed to disappear slowly.

The upper part of the lake often dries up completely, and the water level is very low. The reasons for the disappearance are various - glaciation, the appearance of abysses... In the place of perfect beauty, not so beautiful images of the "end of the world" appear. With the disappearance of the lake, its living world and the heart of one of the last three large virgin rain forests in Europe will disappear.

@YRECompetition2021

Single Photo Reportage, 11-25 years

1st Place
Title: The end of the world
Country: Montenegro

Honourable Mentions
Title: Hope
Country: Malta