That quiet journey began in 2019, when Ms. Thoan witnessed her hometown beach – once beautiful and pristine – becoming increasingly polluted by waste from tourists. Her initial feelings of indignation turned into action. Initially, she picked up trash alone. Later, she shared images on social media with a simple message: "Please don't litter." No grand slogans, no loud shouting, but her practical actions created a powerful ripple effect. People began to notice her, inquired about her, and then… joined in.
By March 2024, the "Trash-Fighting Warriors" group was officially established – stemming from a shared idea to spread community responsibility. At that time, the group had only 5-6 members. Today, the number has grown to approximately 30 members of diverse backgrounds and ages, from 21-year-old students to retired seniors. They all share one thing in common: They don't wait for reminders or special events; they show up whenever it's the weekend.
Every Saturday and Sunday morning, from 5:15 to nearly 8:00 AM, the group gathers at Bai Chay beach, a popular tourist spot, to collect and pick up trash. “Usually, from Monday to Friday, the beaches are quite clean with little litter. However, on weekends, with the large number of tourists , the beach looks like a ‘battlefield.’ Empty cans, baby diapers, milk cartons, leftover food containers… are scattered all over the sand. Looking at the beach then is heartbreaking. We jokingly call it the ‘battlefield’ – and we are the warriors. Eliminating trash is how we preserve the beauty of the city,” Ms. Thoan shared.
What makes people admire Ms. Thoan is not only her initiative in starting the group, but also her unwavering dedication. From Monday to Friday, she consistently goes out alone to collect trash, regularly every morning from 5:15 to 6:30, regardless of the weather. With gloves, a basket, and a deep sense of responsibility, she persistently collects waste, creating an inspiring image for the surrounding community. It is this dedication and steadfastness that keeps the movement burning brightly and spreading strongly.
Within the group, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung (Hoanh Bo ward) is a prime example of the movement's widespread impact. Her house is nearly 10 kilometers from Bai Chay, but she arrives early every Sunday morning. "I feel happy because I'm doing something useful. Seeing the beach clean and tidy after the group finishes its work, I feel it's all worthwhile. I just hope people don't litter so we don't have to pick up trash anymore," she said humorously.
It's noteworthy that none of this group were sanitation workers or assigned specific tasks. They weren't working for rewards or requests from anyone, but simply because they felt keeping the beach clean was the right thing to do. They clearly understood that tourism development must be linked to environmental protection, and that a truly tourist city is not just beautiful in promotional photos, but also clean in the daily lives of its residents.
Not content with just picking up trash, Ms. Thoan is now nurturing another humane idea: installing free drinking water dispensers at the beachfront shower areas. "I hope that if tourists know there's free drinking water here, they won't bring their own plastic bottles, thus reducing plastic waste. It's a small change, but it can make a big difference," she expressed.
In an era where many people remain indifferent to the environment, the actions of the "Trash-Fighting Warriors" group serve as a gentle yet profound reminder: Change doesn't necessarily have to start with big things. If each person reduces one act of littering, or is willing to pick up a discarded can, then beaches will be less polluted, cities will be more beautiful, and life will be kinder.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nhung-chien-binh-diet-rac-3360637.html
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