Seahorse walks for ocean health, trading work for wishes on a tour of 139 primary schools
Hailong, a former volunteer with the Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation, is often seen dragging a light-blue suitcase through elementary schools. In 2013 he launched the "Healthy Ocean, Walk for the Sea" campaign, with the goal of sharing "stories of the ocean" at all 2659 elementary schools across Taiwan, so that children would understand that the health of the ocean, the land and people are closely linked. So far his footsteps have reached 139 elementary schools, covering more than 400 km, and in summer he also takes children to clean up beaches on the East Coast.
Hailong usually likes nothing better than taking a boat out to sea, but after every typhoon he always sees all kinds of trash floating on the water and along the shore. "I think plastic waste is an unsolvable problem for the ocean. For example, the landfill at Qilai Bi in Hualien is close to the sea, and a lot of trash floats in the water there."
Hailong also believes that although Taiwan is surrounded by sea, Taiwanese people fear mountains and are afraid of the sea, feeling that the seaside is dangerous. To help most people understand and get closer to the ocean, Hailong resolutely set aside his job starting November 3, 2013, and went on a lecture tour of elementary schools.
But Hailong did not come from an ocean-related academic background, and he did not want to talk only about difficult, abstract ideas. "Only after you first recognize the importance of the ocean can you begin to take protective action. After thinking it over, I felt I could start with elementary schools."
So Hailong planned routes around six themes, including mountainside, plains, deep mountains, rivers, coast and city center, and traveled counterclockwise around Taiwan through Nantou, Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, Hualien and Yilan. In the first stage he visited 139 elementary schools in the "mountainside" category, "because children in the mountains have less contact with the ocean, and some have never even been to the seaside."
"Work in exchange for wishes": those who agree with the idea can sponsor travel expenses
Although at every talk Hailong reminds children to reduce single-use plastic waste as much as possible, such as using fewer straws, PET bottles, disposable tableware and lighters in daily life, he cannot know exactly how effective the outreach is.
In fact, the ideas Hailong conveys are quietly taking effect. For example, after hearing Hailong speak, Yunlin Huanan Elementary School last summer held a seven-day, six-night Healthy Ocean action trip to Hualien, including beach cleanups and going out to sea to clear trash, and sold the local specialty "wish-exchange coffee" to raise 180,000 in travel expenses.
Hailong hopes that in the process of getting to know the ocean, children can understand what "extreme beauty and selflessness" means. "The ocean is a beautiful scene that only nature can create. Many children now use too many electronic products. Although it is impossible to take them all to the seaside, I encourage them to get close to the real ocean, and I hope that one day they can truly experience and touch it."
Even though visiting schools and promoting the idea of protecting the ocean is sometimes not easy, and he may be turned down because schools are busy, are holding activities, or because he is seen as an odd person, Hailong has always believed that if he can meet kindred spirits during his trip around Taiwan and call on the next generation to understand the connection between the ocean, the land and physical health, that is his greatest achievement.
If you would like to invite Hailong to speak at a school, you can fill out the online form to make an appointment: http://goo.gl/PYTpNx
Blog: http://healthyoceans.blogspot.tw/2015/03/blog-post.html
Facebook: Healthy Ocean, Walk for the Sea
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(This article was funded by the Jianzhen Environmental Education Foundation to sponsor personnel costs, but it did not interfere at all with news topic selection or reporting and writing, ensuring news independence.)