Art for Ocean Conservation: Leeanne Splatt's Mission to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution

At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year. Plastic debris is currently the most abundant type of litter in the ocean, making up 80% of all marine debris.

It threatens ocean health, the health of marine species, food safety and quality, human health, and coastal tourism.

Art can be used as a tool to question the existing power structures to bring social changes.

Leeanne Splatt from a quaint coastal town in Japan has been raising awareness about plastic pollution through her artistry.

 Much of Leeanne’s activism is geared toward helping children understand the consequence of discarding plastic waste.

She initiated the “Marine Friends Project” which educates school children.

Her Instagram account shows vibrant and colorful figurines- crabs, robots, and Japanese dolls wearing traditional kimono attire created with plastic waste materials.

She displays a shattered heart made up of bits and pieces of red-colored plastic collected from around the beach, and the piece is called a “broken heart

Spartt published a children’s booklet titled “Robot & Boo the Beach Cleaning Crew” conveying the importance of cleaning the beaches.

I created this book to raise awareness and help show the potential to reuse plastic waste. It’s all about working together, and each character is created from beach-found plastics”- Leeanne.

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