Each week, as part of our Thursday Thoughts series of blogs, we like to have a good think about the issues and challenges society faces on a day-to-day basis.  This week we’re shining the spotlight on how we all have the capacity to make a positive impact on the world we share.

With global problems such as climate change, destruction of nature, large scale conflict/wars, inequality and poverty we can be left feeling helpless and unable to make a difference to the world we live in.  Although understandable it is not necessarily true. There are many organisations that seek to make a difference to our world. Rather than dwelling on what we can’t change, let’s focus on what we can.

#2minutebeachclean

#2minutebeachclean is a not for profit organisation that encourages people to do their part and help clean up their local beaches. Created by Martin Dorey & Tab Parry back in 2009 #2minutebeachclean didn’t take off until the winter of 2012/13:

 “After 20 years living in the South West of the UK I have been able to see just how bad the marine litter problem is becoming. I wanted to do something to make a genuine difference and hoped that the #2minutebeachclean might inspire others to join environmental groups, join in with organised cleans and make beach cleaning part of their daily routine.”  Martin Dorey

Plastic is a problem because there is so much of it and because it can take up to one thousand years to decompose, its presence is felt for a long time.  Although we are aware of ways in which we can cut down on the amount of plastic we use, it doesn’t help with what is out there already littering our oceans and beaches.

Can two minutes really make a difference?

At #2minutebecahclean, the belief is that every single piece of plastic or litter removed makes a difference. Not only are you making the general environment cleaner, but you will be making a difference to marine life too. Each piece of plastic that is removed will not be left to cause strangulation or break down into microplastics, possibly ending up in the digestive tract of a living creature.

We know that being outside is good for our mental health and general being but add to this the fact that you ARE making a difference and it is a win, win situation.

In 2017, #2minutebeach launched an app that enables ‘beach cleaners’ to record their beach clean finds with ease. It also provides a way to post directly to Twitter or Instagram and tells you where your nearest beach clean station is.