- Flipflopi, as the dhow has been christened is almost complete and is expected to go on water by end of July.
- The project does not come cheap however, and the team is appealing to corporations and organizations
Plastic litter remains one of the biggest problems facing the world today, along with rising sea levels, climate change, and human-made chemical pollution.
The World’s first recycled plastic dhow is quickly taking shape and is expected to take into the Ocean in few weeks’ time.
Flipflopi, as the dhow has been christened is almost complete and the builders aim to have it on the water by end of July.
Flipflopi project joint leader Dipesh Pabari, told Business Insider SSA that the project is on its final stages.
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“We are nearing completion of the seven meter prototype which is the boat we have been building to test the engineering and the technicalities of our main project which is 60ft 20m we are hoping to put the seven meters prototype on the water by end of July” he said.
For the past 12 months, the Kenyan team made entirely of local and international conservationist volunteers has researched and developed the technology and the knowhow to successfully turn over 45 tonnes of trash into a high version of a traditional 60ft sailing dhow.
So impressive and inspiring have their effort to clean up and get rid of plastics from our oceans been that the team has been endorsed by the UN Environment's #CleanSeas programme.
UN Environment launched #CleanSeas in February 2017, with the aim of engaging governments, the general public, civil society and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic litter.
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Plastic litter remains one of the biggest problems facing the world's seas, along with rising sea levels, climate change, and human-made chemical pollution.
Each year, at least 8 million tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean and the UN estimates that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish unless drastic action is urgently taken.
The team made up entirely of volunteers are however undaunted and are determined to fight back and reclaim our oceans, hoping it would inspire people from all corners of the world to begin taking care of our environment, more specifically blue economy.
Plastic pollution is a global problem and eradicating plastics from our Oceans won’t be done in a day, governments, private corporations, Non- Governmental organisations and Citizens alike all need to join hands and follow Flip-flop lead.
Flipflopi Project does not come cheap however, and the team is appealing to corporations and organizations to come on board and support the first of a kind project.
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“We have launched our global crowd-funding campaign whereby we hope to raise a substantial chunk of funds that we will need to build the dhow and drive forward the #plasticrevolution.
Once complete, Flipflopy will set off on a 5000km expedition from Lamu to Cape Town, effectively becoming the first dhow to do so.
Let’s all lend a hand and support Flipflopi in making this world a cleaner place.
