As nations negotiate a global accord to end plastic pollution, Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong created a striking visual display outside the United Nations office in Geneva. A nearly 18-foot sculpture called “Thinker’s Burden” is being buried under piles of plastic waste, highlighting the need for urgent action.
The sculpture, inspired by Auguste Rodin’s iconic work “The Thinker,” features a figure cradling a baby and clutching plastic bottles, symbolizing the devastating impact of plastic pollution on the environment. DNA strands intertwine with the plastic waste to emphasize the health consequences.
Over the course of the negotiations, Von Wong is adding more plastic waste to the installation, reflecting the growing cost of inaction. The Minderoo Foundation donated funds for the project, while local nonprofits and community groups collected the plastic trash.
Experts and delegates from 184 countries are using the sculpture as a reminder of their responsibility to address the plastic pollution crisis. Maria Ivanova, an expert in international environmental governance, says art is crucial in shifting public opinion and driving policy change.
The negotiations, attended by over 3,700 people, aim to craft the world’s first global treaty on plastics pollution. However, with hundreds of disagreements to be resolved, many are calling for a faster pace of progress. The United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen remains optimistic that an agreement can still be reached this week.
The display serves as a powerful call to action, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to address the plastic pollution crisis and create a more sustainable future.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/plastic-pollution-treaty-negotiations-united-nations-geneva-3ddd2e98fa2e5fec19ed817f8573af0d