Cyclists and joggers go early morning plogging

Kolkata: Enthusiastic cyclists, along with joggers, picked up trash and cleaned up litter on the way while jogging and cycling at a fun event titled ‘Eat Green Ride a Bike & Love the Planet’, aimed at propagating a plant-based diet for a healthy and sustainable future. It was a unique eco-friendly Sunday morning get-together of cyclists supporting a zero waste awareness campaign through plogging, which refers to the activity of picking up trash while jogging or cycling.
Participating volunteers were displaying badges saying: “I Ride and Eat Right” and “I cycle for a Green Planet”.
More than 300 people came together along with environmental groups and nature lovers in this unique event organized by SwitchON Foundation, Ubuntu Eat, Vegan Daily along with Asia for Animals (AFA) Coalition, Samayu, A Just World (AJW), Citizens For Animals (CFA), The Happy Calf, The Indian Ploggers Army, and Robin Hood Army.
“We are creating awareness of how issues of environment, individual and public health, and animal well-being are threaded together,” said a volunteer. The event was kicked off by Colonel Indrajit Roy, GM, Newtown Business Club at 6am from Godrej Waterside and continued throughout the East Kolkata Wetlands, covering 10-15 kms, with the cyclists making pit stops and ending back at Godrej Waterside around 9am.
Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Indrajit Roy said, “We are committed towards the cause of the environment and dedicated to practicing a healthy and sustainable future.” Stopping at various places during the pit stops, the awareness event also witnessed speeches and talks from experts and environmentalists on health, sports and animal protection.
“The event highlighted the power of individuals when they make sustainable and environment-friendly choices using pollution-free transport such as bicycles, making their city litter-free, and eating a green diet that benefits animals, people, and the planet. It is indeed very inspiring to see communities with diverse interests joining hands for taking climate action,” said Vinay Jaju of SwitchON.