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Posted: 2022-11-18 20:54:13

On a beach in Senegal with so much plastic trash that much of the sand is covered, one man is trying to raise awareness about the dangers of plastics — by wearing many of the bags, cups and other junk that might just as soon be part of the trash.

Environmental activist Modou Fall, who many simply call "Plastic Man," wears his uniform — "it's not a costume," he emphasises — while telling anybody who will listen about the problems of plastics.

sewage flows to the ocean along a beach covered in plastic
Open sewage flows to the ocean next to pirogues at Yarakh Beach in Dakar, Senegal.(AP: Leo Correa)

As he walks, strands and chunks of plastic dangle from his arms and legs, rustling in the wind while some drags on the ground.

On Fall's chest, poking out from the plastics, is a sign in French that says, "No to plastic bags."

boys play soccer on a beach covered in plastic
Senegal has passed a law banning some plastic products. (AP: Leo Correa)

A former soldier, the 49-year-old father of three says that plastic pollution, often excessive from people who chuck things wherever without a second thought, is an ecological disaster.

"It's a poison for health, for the ocean, for the population," he said.

a man covered in multi-coloured plastic bags walks along a beach covered in plastic
As Modou Fall walks, plastics dangle from his arms and legs, rustling in the wind while strands drag on the ground.(AP: Leo Correa)

On this recent day, Fall traverses Yarakh Beach in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

But it could have been any number of other places: Fall has taken his message national, visiting cities across the west African country for years.

Environmental activist Modou Fall stands among trees and talks to workers in green uniforms
The sign on Modou Fall's chest reads in French "No to plastic bags."(AP: Leo Correa)

During World Environment Day 2011, he started as Plastic Man.

He founded an environmental association, called Clean Senegal, that raises awareness via education campaigns and encourages reuse and recycling.

a close up image of Modou Fall wearing his plastic man uniform
Children refer to Modou Fall as Kankurang, a spirit that is considered a protector against evil.(AP: Leo Correa)

As he walks, kids on the beach shout: "Kankurang! Kankurang is coming!"

Part of the cultural heritage of Senegal and Gambia, the Kankurang symbolises the spirit that provides order and justice, and is considered a protector against evil.

the lower half of Modou Fall's plastic costume can be seen as he walks along a plastic covered beach
The environmental activist urges children to protect the environment.(AP: Leo Correa)

On this day, this Kankurang is telling the kids about plastic pollution and urging them to respect the environment.

"Climate change is real, so we have to try to change our way of life, to change our behaviour to better adapt to it," he told them.

an aerial view of Yarakh Beach with boats and plastic on the beach
Yarakh Beach has been littered by trash and plastics.(AP: Leo Correa)

Moudou says some people see him as a crazy, but often those people don't know the extent of the plastics problem and can change their views when he is given a chance to explain.

These days, he says his wife and children, who sometimes watch him appear on local television to share his message, understand and respect his work, support he didn't have in the beginning.

a beach can be seen covered in plastic with boats in the water in the background
The country appears to be struggling with enforcement of plastic bans. (AP: Leo Correa)

In 2020, Senegal passed a law that banned some plastic products.

But if the mountains of plastic garbage on this beach are any indication, the country is struggling with enforcement.

Modou Fall stands in his plastic man costume with his arms outstretched on a beach covered in plastic
Modou Fall aims to draw attention to the world's plastic problem with his outfit. (AP: Leo Correa)

Senegal is far from alone.

Each year, the world produces a staggering amount of plastics, which sometimes end up clogging waterways, hurting land and sea animals that may ingest the materials and creating myriad eyesores.

Modou Fall stands on a beach in his plastic man costume talking to a group of locals
Modou Fall has a tall task ahead of him, with global plastic production expected to quadruple by 2050.(AP: Leo Correa)

That pollution is in addition to all the greenhouse gas emissions, the primary cause of global warming, that are the result of producing plastics.

And things don't appear to be moving in the right direction: Global plastic production is expected to more than quadruple by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Programme and GRID-Arendal in Norway.

an aerial image of Modou Fall walking along a beach covered in plastic as children stand nearby
Modou Fall wants African leaders to fight back against plastic pollution.(AP: Leo Correa)

So, as world leaders gather this week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the UN climate summit known as COP27, Fall hopes his message about plastics resonates.

"Leaders of Africa need to wake up and work together to fight against this phenomenon", he said.

Modou Fall stands in his plastic man costume with his arms outstretched as people dance with their arms in the air in front
Plastic Man appears at an event held to talk about environmental health and pollution management in Dakar.(AP: Leo Correa)

AP

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