On Sunday, February 16, 2025, the local ASEZ group held a cleanup following the Zero Plastic 2040 Initiative. Many news outlets came to cover the event, including NBC 7 San Diego. The cleanup took place at 54th and Chollas Parkway, with a mission to clean up Chollas Creek. Through the cleanup approximately three tons of trash were collected.
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, ASEZ held the Zero Plastic 2040 Forum in unity with local churches from the San Diego County area. This event focused on initiatives from the overseas IUBA group that had been sent to the local Escondido Church of God.
ASEZ Holds a Zero Plastic 2040 Forum
ASEZ’s “Zero Plastic 2040” is an awareness-raising initiative, where diverse individuals take on the challenge to commit to zero plastic through small daily actions and commitments to tackling plastic pollution, hoping for a plastic free future.
Zero Plastic 2040 Forum event took place at the University of California San Diego’s (UCSD) Price Center to continue the campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution and to draw global attention to the United Nations and the international community’s goal of a plastic free world by 2040.
Almost 400 guests attended the event. In addition, experts in the study of Microplastics, leaders in education, and government representatives, spoke powerfully on the issue and what can be done to tackle it.
Other special guests attended the event, including the following:
- Dr. Sara Belontz, Postdoctoral research scientist at CSU San Marcos
- Dr. Dimitri Deheyn, Marine Biology Research Division at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Dr. Mark Sanchez, Superintendent/President of Southwestern College
- Francine Busby, current Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party and District Director to California State Senator Catherine Blakespear
- Tiffany Aguinaldo, Board President of the Orange County chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and Head of Public Relations & Business Development at Forge Media Group
- Dr. Calvin Collins, UCSF Alumni Ophthalmology UCSD and Clinical Research Fellowship at UCSD
Dr. Jong Won Min, a Deacon of the San Diego Church of God and a Director & Professor of the School of Social Work at San Diego State University, helped host the expert guests and introduce them to the work of ASEZ worldwide.
Dr. Sam Ho, a Deacon of the Orange County Church of God and a Clinical Consultant Pharmacist, was the moderator of the event.
Toward Zero Plastic Pollution!
The guest speakers covered many different topics of discussion, including but not limited to the Zero Plastic 2040 Campaign, No More GPGP Campaign forum at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Chollas Creek environmental service event on Feb. 16, ASEZ’s climate change mitigation work and potential future events.
Dr. Dimitri Deheyn presented on the awareness of micro plastics and how it is everywhere from our beaches to the air, and even in our food and bodies. He encouraged the audience to minimize plastic use by being aware of our everyday purchases such as clothing and hygiene products.
Francine Busby, the District Director from California Senator Blakespeare’s office, presented at the forum. ASEZ previously worked in her district in September of 2023 through a cleanup in Fiesta Island. During her presentation she stated that one person’s action can influence or impact the world. Busby gave uplifting and gracious words regarding ASEZ and gave an award to both ASEZ and the Church of God.
Dr. Sara Belontz and Dr. Sam Ho held an insightful discussion regarding micro plastics and nano plastics. They discussed how making the proper actions today can make a difference in the world.
Conclusion
The attendees of the Zero Plastic 2040 Forum were able to hear from experts on the awareness of reducing microplastic and waste, as well as solutions for tackling plastic pollution and protecting our oceans and waterways.
On a global scale, the ASEZ group from the World Mission Society Church of God has been hosting these events worldwide, including one in Singapore on Feb. 16 and one in Haeundae Beach, Busan, Korea in Nov. 2024.
Through events such as these, the ASEZ group hopes to make a contribution to environmental protection and play a pivotal role in solving the issue of plastic pollution.
