Nữ tiến sĩ U70 ngành Khí tượng thủy văn và hành trình 12 năm nhặt rác ở Hồ Gươm

At 7:55 a.m., under Hanoi's 16-degree weather, when many people were still wondering whether to wake up or continue to lie in warm blankets to enjoy the weekend, on Hoan Kiem Lake, a familiar figure appeared. . With an old bicycle, Mrs. Phuong quietly prepared to start her job of picking up trash.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, 67 years old, lives on Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi and has a PhD in Hydrometeorology and worked at the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting. Even though she is retired, she still works as a hydrometeorological consultant. Currently, Ms. Phuong is the leader of the volunteer group “Cleaning and beautifying Sword Lake with Ninomiya”.

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At 7:55 a.m. Sunday morning, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong and some members prepared tools to pick up trash. (Photo: Hong Mai)

Environmental protection is the responsibility of the entire community

Every Sunday morning at 8 a.m., paper bags, iron clips, and fabric gloves are neatly arranged opposite Ham Ca Map (Dinh Tien Hoang ward, Hang Trong street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi). All of these tools are “tools” prepared by Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong and the co-heads of the group “Cleaning and beautifying Hoan Kiem Lake with Ninomiya” so that volunteers can start picking up trash around Hoan Kiem Lake. . This activity has been taking place regularly since 2012 for more than 12 years now.

Sharing about the opportunity to start this activity, Ms. Phuong said: “In September 2012, I accidentally read an article about Mr. Tohru Ninomiya, a Japanese person living and working in Hanoi. Uncle Ninomiya wants to thank Vietnam because our country has given him the opportunity to work and have a stable income.

Seeing the widespread garbage around Hoan Kiem Lake, he did not hesitate to pick up the trash himself. Some time later, he also called for the participation of the Japanese business community, young Vietnamese people working in joint venture companies with Japan, and anyone who wants to protect the environment to join. .

What is worth pondering is that even though he is not a Vietnamese citizen, Mr. Ninomiya still thinks of “paying back” to the place that created work opportunities for him by actively contributing to environmental protection. So, why can't we – those who live on our homeland and were raised by our homeland – make our country cleaner and more beautiful? Therefore, I decided to accompany Mr. Ninomiya to protect the environment from October 2012,” Ms. Phuong recounted.

Volunteers participating in picking up trash are of different ages and nationalities. (Photo: Hong Mai)

Earlier this year, Mr. Ninomiya returned to Japan due to his old age and weak health. Ms. Phuong continued to maintain the volunteer group “Clean and beautify Sword Lake with Ninomiya” activities of picking up trash around the lakeshore.

The female doctor confided: “In 2012, when the group first started picking up trash at Hoan Kiem Lake, some Japanese people asked me: 'If Mr. Ninomiya returns to Japan, who will continue to pick up trash here?'. That question made me feel extremely embarrassed and sad. As a Vietnamese, I realize that the responsibility to protect the environment must come from ourselves, and cannot be left to anyone else. I replied that 'we will pick up trash, we will clean up our country'. And I must fulfill that promise at all costs.

Currently, Mr. Ninomiya has returned to Japan, I am the team leader, when I am no longer healthy enough to work anymore, someone will continue the “fire” of this responsibility. Because protecting the environment is not one person's task, but the cooperation of the entire community.”

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Members of the group “Clean and beautify Hoan Kiem Lake with Ninomiya” walked around the lakeshore, carefully picking up remaining trash from bushes, roadsides, and under stone benches. The members of the group include Vietnamese, Japanese, members as young as 6 or 7 years old, members over 60 years old… They are different in nationality, age, occupation,… but have something in common. Connecting members is love for nature and responsibility for the environment.

Just 30 minutes after picking up trash, the paper bags were full of plastic waste: plastic bags, plastic boxes, plastic straws, paper, batteries,… All types of waste were taught by Ms. Phuong. Careful classification: from recyclable waste such as plastic bottles and cans, to difficult-to-decompose or toxic waste such as batteries and sharp objects, etc.

After less than 30 minutes, plastic waste was picked up to fill a paper bag. (Photo: Hong Mai)

After that, Ms. Phuong brings recyclable waste to trash recycling facilities, but because the locations only collect daily, the female doctor often has to take the trash home first. She transfers a portion of plastic waste to groups of young people to recycle into useful products such as decorative flowers, bags or plant pots.

“What I hope is not only that people are conscious of maintaining hygiene, picking up trash, and throwing trash in the right place, but also that people pay attention to trash classification. Recyclable waste such as milk cartons, bottles, and plastic jars can be completely reused, but in reality they are not collected effectively. We collect plastic bottles and send them to recycling collection points. In addition, there are many low-value plastic cases with few places to collect them, so I have to find rare places to recycle this type of plastic to ship to,” the female doctor added.

A small action but if persistent will create big changes

Many people wonder that if they just gather at a fixed location opposite Shark Jaw and pick up trash for 30 minutes, they will only be able to clean half of the lake shore, and the remaining half of the volunteer team will not have enough time to pick up. garbage. However, according to Ms. Phuong, gathering at a fixed location helps maintain group stability and attract more participants. When everyone knows where the meeting is, it will be easier to find and stick with this activity.

Besides, 30 minutes is enough and reasonable time to maintain long-term activities. If the activity lasts longer, members will feel tired, especially on hot summer days. That time is just enough to complete the work and does not affect the personal problems of team members. Picking up trash for 30 minutes around Hoan Kiem Lake is not a difficult task to do, however, maintaining this activity regularly every week for 12 years and more is not something everyone can do.

“To maintain long-term and regular trash picking activities, I and the members of the volunteer group must have determination and will. I am aware of my responsibility to the environment and protecting the place where I live. Loving country and the environment are not empty words, but concrete actions. We can show patriotism through small actions such as protecting trees, loving family, and protecting the environment. If we do not protect the environment, protect the beauty of the land Where will we live?

On the other hand, we must educate the younger generation about the responsibility of protecting the environment. This requires concrete actions, not slogans. Many parents bring their children to participate in picking up trash. After each session, the children will learn the value of labor and understand that it is necessary to respect and protect the environment to have a better future.” female doctor shared.

After picking up trash, Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong and volunteers sorted the waste. (Photo: Hong Mai)

During her journey as a volunteer picking up trash around Hoan Kiem Lake, there were many memories that made Ms. Phuong emotional. Ms. Phuong said: “I remember one day it was raining heavily, there weren't even many cars on the road. I went to pick up trash and thought that many people would be absent today. But then, when I arrived, I saw that almost everyone from the volunteer group was present to start work. We wore raincoats, held garbage bags, and diligently did familiar work in the torrential rain. We didn't say much to each other, just looked at each other and smiled and continued working.

On stormy days, not everyone can go out, but we still come, because we understand that this job is not just about picking up trash, but also about love for the environment, and responsibility to the community. . However, currently, aware of the danger when members move when it rains, we will temporarily suspend operations on days when the weather is very bad.

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There were sunny days in the peak summer, at 8 am I went to Hoan Kiem Lake, the temperature had reached 37-38 degrees Celsius, and after picking up trash, my shirt was drenched in sweat. However, looking at the bushes and clean paths, I and the whole group felt happy, forgot all the fatigue and felt that the effort we had put in was worth it.”

Members of the group “Clean and beautify Hoan Kiem Lake with Ninomiya” take commemorative photos after each trash picking session. (Photo: Hong Mai)

Painful concern for the environment

After each trash picking session, Ms. Phuong took photos as a way to record the changes of time. She happily showed off the photos taken on her phone, showing faces aging, children growing up, the four seasons rotating year after year. Some people have been with the group since they were unmarried and are now married and have children; There are children who have followed their fathers to pick up trash since they were 5 or 6 years old and are now in middle school. Even though they are busy with their studies, they still persevere with this meaningful job.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong also said that her family and friends are very supportive of her trash picking work. Even her daughter and friends also participate in this activity when they have time. There are times when the female doctor feels tired or busy with personal matters, but she always considers this important work and prioritizes taking the time to participate. Ms. Phuong believes that even if it is just a small action, if persistent, it will definitely create a big change.

Currently, many environmental problems make the female doctor of hydrometeorology worried. “Plastic bags and plastic bottles are widely used in daily life. If not collected and treated properly, they will flow into rivers and seas. There are billions of small pieces of plastic throughout the oceans and 90% of them are microplastics, even nanoplastics. When microplastics mix into the water source, they will absorb toxins in the water and become extremely dangerous, threatening marine life and human health,” the female doctor pondered.

Even though it is cleaned every week, trash still appears in many places around Hoan Kiem Lake area. (Photo: Hong Mai)

Besides, according to Ms. Phuong, the management and preservation of environmental hygiene at Hoan Kiem Lake is not really effective: “The plants planted along the lake are often trampled, and some children and adults do not have food.” awareness of preserving the common landscape. Meanwhile, large events are regularly held at Hoan Kiem Lake. After each event, the amount of waste increases significantly. Notably, many people still do not know how to classify waste.”

Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong emphasized that protecting the environment is not only a story for today but also a responsibility for future generations. Solutions such as planting trees to prevent erosion and flash floods are clear evidence that nature only returns what humans have built. Every small action, like picking up a piece of trash, limiting the use of plastic or joining hands to plant one more tree, if multiplied by each individual, will create great power, bringing a greener living environment. , cleaner and safer.

On a cold winter morning, amidst the hustle and bustle of people in the bustling capital, Ms. Phuong quietly took her old bicycle, filled with bags of plastic waste, slowly going home. No noise, no fanfare, perseverance and love for the environment have become a silent fire that warms the cold winter.

Vietnam Education Electronic Magazine hopes to receive articles from pupils, students, teachers, and readers about examples of characters living beautifully – living green, and at the same time sharing perspectives on consumption and use. Using green products and initiatives contributes to protecting our living environment. Please send articles to email toasoan@Giaoduc.net.vn.

Hong Mai

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