New Delhi, Feb 12 (UNI) Ahead of Valentine's Day, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is launching a short, funny and thought provoking promotional film, 'The Break-up,' which asks people around the world to break-up with single-use plastics, such as mineral water bottles and straws.

The Break-up' is part of the Clean Seas campaign to address the global challenge of plastic pollution, which is choking the oceans and marine life.

The film takes a lighter look at the issue of marine litter and calls for viewers to make a pledge to reduce their plastic use at cleanseas.org.

The 'Clean Seas' is one of UN Environment’s most ambitious campaigns that aims to build a global movement, working with governments, industry and consumers, to urgently reduce the production and excessive use of plastic that is polluting the earth's oceans, damaging marine life and threatening the human health.

India is super-charging this effort by volunteering to be the global host of the World Environment Day celebrations this year, on June 5. This year's efforts will focus on plastic pollution.

As the host nation, India will strive towards reducing plastic use, seeking to stimulate private sector efforts to address plastic pollution and urging the citizens to change their behaviour on waste management.

'UNEP in India is working closely with the Indian Government and there is recognition and commitment to addressing the damage plastic is having on the environment and health. Traditionally, India has never been dependent on plastic. We used to carry a jhola (cloth bag) to buy groceries, eat food on banana leaves and

have tea in a chai kulhar. It's time to go back to the basics and revive our green parampara,' said Atul Bagai, Head, UN Environment Programme Country Office, India.

The flick is a public engagement tool, which aims to inspire behaviour change towards single-use plastics and potentially shift people's engagement with the issue.

In the film, Sandra realises she has been in a toxic relationship for too long and decides it's time for a break-up.

'This Valentine's Day, I urge you to give up the toxic relationship with plastics and find a new love. We can all start by choosing a forever relationship with real love for cloth shopping bags and metal or glass water bottles, re-usable coffee mugs and saying no to straws. Breaking up with single use plastic can really help save our oceans and beat pollution,' said Bollywood actress and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza, a long-standing supporter of environmental conservation.

The Break-up aims to encourage greater awareness and understanding of the critical point, which unsustainable plastic consumption rate has reached. It also seeks to mobilise action to reduce single-use plastic consumption in support of a world free of plastic pollution.

Some of these actions include saying no to straws, carrying reusable bags, avoiding products with microbeads, using a refillable water bottle, choosing products with no or less plastic packaging, and bringing own take-out containers, the petite actress noted.

UNI PY RJ 1402