My name is Bayli and I am 18 years old. I have been a member of Kids Against Plastic since 2021. As I will be beginning to write regular articles, I am starting with a bit of an introduction.
My passion for helping our planet was first brought on by a persuasive speech writing assignment in year 7. We watched a few example videos of environmental activists speaking at events and I was fascinated and horrified that people seemed to not really care about such a huge issue. I started borrowing books from my local library about reducing plastic consumption and climate change. This led me to find Amy and Ella’s book, Be Plastic Clever. It was inspiring that a few young girls, just like me, could make such an impact, and I was shocked when I reached the end of the book and discovered that I could join the KAP club, and actually talk to, and learn from Amy and Ella. Younger me would be so proud of my role in the KAP club today!
Since first joining KAP in 2021, I have witnessed a lot of changes within the club and a lot of successes, which I am proud to say I played a small role in these achievements. From multiple impressive campaigns run by some incredible members to the impressive growth of plastic clever schools – hopefully to Australia pretty soon, it has been an honour to be a part of this incredible action. In my time at KAP, I went from a kid filled with awe by Amy and Ella, to making a few presentations, to now working weekly with the KAP Team. Although I am no longer a kid, I hope to be a role model for many other KAP members.
Whilst I am passionate about all areas of environmentalism, my particular interests lie in global warming, biodiversity conservation, over-consumption, advocating for vulnerable populations and, of course, plastic pollution. Being one of the few KAP members from Australia has certainly posed its challenges at times. However, I have found it allowed me to grow outside the bubble of everything I hear about in Australia, and learn about the issues and impacts in the everyday lives of other KAP members. I hope these articles will be able to bring a deeper understanding to others all over the world, much the same as being a part of KAP has done for me. I hope to, in the future, bring more of KAP to Australia as well!
Along with my hobbies of writing, I also enjoy photography, which is another vital tool for journalism. I like basically all forms of art, especially collage, as well as taking long walks and watching DVDs. For me, art is not only an important form of self expression, but also a vital tool to raise awareness about issues. Sometimes art can create impacts that words can’t, whether it be straightforward photographs, or pieces much more open to interpretation. The 2 most common subjects I focus on in my art are feminism and environmentalism. I believe that art is able to appeal to viewers emotionally, especially through their own experiences, thus creating a far deeper influence. It is also able to create a much more immediate effect than long essays – no matter how brilliant the essays are – yet still hold the attention of viewers for longer as they uncover more layers and details.
Through these articles, I hope to raise awareness about a variety of topics, including those listed above. I am interested in journalism, and now, more than ever, it is so important. Fast approaching climate deadlines that seemed so far away when 12 year old me read about them are now lurking just around the corner. 2030 is now just 3.5 years away! There is no time like the present for fixing our planet.
I am excited to begin writing articles for KAP, and although I have no formal training I believe I will be able to tell important stories, and hopefully, as time goes by, I will gain more confidence in writing.
And if you wanted to read more of my writing about a range of different topics, this is my blog: https://bayliruby.wordpress.com/
