Voiceover Script

1. SUMMARIZED DATA

Introduction

1. Definition

• Sea pollution is the presence of harmful substances like plastics, chemicals, and waste in the ocean. It comes from sources like littering and industrial waste. This pollution threatens both sea creatures and the health of the ocean.

2. General info about sea pollution

• Sea pollution is the contamination of oceans and seas by harmful materials such as plastics, oil, chemicals and waste. It comes from sources such as industrial activities, agriculture, shipping and urban development. The main pollutants include debris, oil spills and toxic chemicals which harm marine life and ecosystems.

3. Global facts and figures on sea pollution

• #1🇵🇭 Philippines 356,371
• #2🇮🇳 India 126,513
• #3🇲🇾 Malaysia 73,098
• #4🇨🇳 China 70,707
• #5🇮🇩 Indonesia 56,333
• #6🇲🇲 Myanmar 40,000
• #7🇧🇷 Brazil 37,799
• #8🇻🇳 Vietnam 28,221
• #9🇧🇩 Bangladesh 24,640
• #10🇹🇭 Thailand 22,806
• 🌐 Rest of the World 176,012

Sea Pollution in Southeast Asia

1. General info

• Southeast Asia holds around 34% of the world's coral reefs yet 80% of it is now facing numerous threats including marine/sea pollution
• 6 out of 10 highest polluting countries are in Southeast Asia; Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand. These countries' waste accumulates to more than half of the global marine plastic pollution
• Why is it concerning? Heavy consumption of plastics and the lack of overall waste management.
• Heavily affects tourism and fishing industry

2. Facts & Figures

• Major Contributors: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand are among the top contributors to ocean plastic pollution. Collectively, these countries are responsible for a substantial portion of the plastic waste entering the oceans annually.
• River Plastic Pollution: The Mekong River, which provides livelihoods to about 1.3 billion people, is one of the top contributors to plastic pollution in global oceans.
• Impact on Marine Life: Plastic pollution kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals annually, as well as a million seabirds and countless fish and invertebrates.
• Microplastic Accumulation: Southeast Asia's coastal habitats, including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, are hotspots for microplastic accumulation due to their capacity to trap debris.
• Economic and Environmental Impact: The region's reliance on marine resources means that ocean pollution directly threatens food security, tourism, and fisheries, while also contributing to climate change.

3. Causes of sea pollution in SEA

• 1) High Plastic Waste Leakage Due to Poor Waste Management:

Six of the 10 nations with the highest rate of plastic leakage are in Southeast Asia, making this region a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution. Poor waste management systems are mostly the reason for this, as improperly disposed of plastic waste gets its way into rivers and ultimately the ocean (Guzman, 2022).

• 2) Industrial and Urban Wastewater Discharge:

In several Southeast Asian countries, rapid industrialization and urban expansion have led to water contamination from chemicals, industrial waste, and untreated sewage. This pollution affects water quality and poses health risks to communities that rely on these water sources (Serratosa, 2023).

• 3) Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing:

Overfishing reduces biodiversity, triggering trophic cascade effects and, for some species, leading to an extinction vortex. The unsustainable overexploitation of marine resources by modern commercial fishing practices further exacerbates this issue (Idrica, 2021).

4. Impacts of sea pollution in SEA

• Harms the tourism industry (pls add more details)
• Harms fishing industry, in which many SEA countries are dependent on (pls add more details)

5. Actions done

• Thailand: banned the use of microbeads in the production, sale, and import of cosmetic products in 2020 (Curren et al., 2021).
• Cambodia: working on a sub-decree that bans the import, production and consumption of single-use plastics such as spoons, cups and straws (Curren et al., 2021).
• The ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris (2021-2025): the World Bank and PROBLUE, carries out the strategy by producing local knowledge on trash trade regulations, pollution assessment techniques, and plastic packaging standards (Bosquet, 2023).
• Country specific studies on plastics: determining the most leaked plastic products, evaluating the market potential for recycled plastics, and supporting the development of national action plans to cut down on plastic pollution and phase out single-use plastics in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam (Bosquet, 2023)

(SEA-MaP), which was made possible by a $20 million IDA funding, supports 10 of the RAP's main initiatives to improve waste management, increase recycling, and decrease plastic usage throughout Southeast Asia (Bosquet, 2023).

Prevention

1. Do not litter

• Litter is trash in any shape that is scattered around us, on grounds or lakes. Most are plastic and poisonous wastes that can harm humans and animals. Recyclable wastes that can be burned should be separated as another category, but most people still throw things away carelessly.

2. 3R: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

• 3R are very important in stopping sea pollution. Reduce means using fewer things such as plastics which usually ends up in the ocean and harm the animals, by doing this we can lessen the waste that ends up in the sea. Reuse encourages us to use things again like reusing bags instead of getting new ones. Recycle is about turning old things such as plastic bottles into a new product instead of letting them harm the oceans.

3. Spread awareness

• Tell people what you know about sea pollution and inform them on how to prevent it. Spreading awareness to those around you helps

2. SCRIPT

INTRO: 31.8 sec

4.30 sec

Calm, serene ambience.

NARRATOR: It's a wonderful day at the beach today. Calm winds, and a beautiful sea.

7.77 sec

NARRATOR: Oh no! Our sea is full of plastic, chemicals, and trash. This is called sea pollution—it happens when harmful stuff ends up in the ocean!

10.80 sec

NARRATOR:  These don’t belong in the ocean! Pollution from factories, farms, ships, and cities fills the water with plastic, oil, and toxic waste, harming marine life.

8.93 sec

NARRATOR: They hurt sea creatures, but it’s better to understand these if we ask someone who has experienced this, right? Let’s ask our friend, Bob!

General Info: 29.91 sec

14.74 sec

FISH 1: Hi friends, I’m Bob and I live in the sea! Do you know that sea pollution has gotten worse? Especially in Southeast Asia, where I live! It is home to about 34% of the world’s coral reefs! Wow! Coral reefs are like beautiful underwater cities where we live.

6.25 sec

FISH 2: But sadly, 80% of these coral reefs are in danger. One of the reasons is because of sea pollution!

8.92 sec

FISH 3: Did you know 6 of the 10 biggest ocean polluters are in Southeast Asia? The Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand create over half of the ocean’s plastic waste!

Fun Fact: 10sec

10 sec

FISH 4: Here’s a little not-so-fun fact: The Mekong River is important—it helps millions of people! But, it's one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution.

Impact : 34.76sec

Text: Change to ‘The Impacts of Sea Pollution” 2.76 sec

FISH 5: Now, why should we be concerned about this issue?  

10 sec

FISH 6: Firstly, plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and harms us who sometimes mistake it for food. It hurts us, our environment, and the people that rely on the ocean.

9 sec

FISH 7: Second, sea pollution, especially plastic, is really dangerous! Every year, it kills around 100,000 marine mammals, a million seabirds, and other sea creatures.

13 sec

FISH 8: Ocean pollution isn’t just bad for sea creatures, yet harms many Southeast Asians living in coastal areas who depend on fishing and the tourism industry for their income. It also badly affects the climate!

NEXT SCENE

CAUSES: 25.45 sec

11.25 sec

FISH 9: Southeast Asia’s ocean places like mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs can trap tiny plastics called microplastics! Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and it harms the environment.

9 sec

FISH 10: A big reason for this is poor waste management from cities and factories. When plastic is thrown away wrong, it ends up in rivers and then the ocean, making the water unsafe!  

5.20 sec

FISH 11: Big fishing companies also take too much from the ocean, making the problem even worse!

PREVENTION: 26.53 sec

NEXT SCENE

9 sec

FISH 12: Fixing the problem is great, but stopping it is better! Don’t litter! Trash, especially plastic, harms people and animals. Always throw waste in the right place!

4.85 sec

FISH 13: Remember the 3Rs! Reduce waste by saving water and energy, reuse items, and recycle them!

6 sec

FISH 14: Spread Awareness! Share knowledge about sea pollution and ways to prevent it—every conversation makes a difference!

FISH 15: Well, I’m done here. It was a pleasure to meet you! 2.58 sec

NARRATOR: Did you learn something new about sea pollution? We hope so, see you next time! 4.10 sec

DURATION: 2min38sec