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“It is one world. And it’s in our care. For the first
time in the history of humanity, for the first time in
500 million years, one species has the future in the
palm of its hands.”

— DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
Broadcaster and natural historian

Arlian and his mother now reside in Port Douglas where they are working on Greta is certainly one of Arlian’s biggest inspirations. “I think she does an
a new movie called ‘Plan B - Full of Solutions’ which involves filming damaged amazing job; it would be so good if more kids took action in their day to
parts of the Great Barrier Reef. About 80 % of the air we breathe comes from day lives,” he said. Whilst here in Port Douglas, Plastic Free Boy continues to
the ocean. The ocean is our life source. The ocean needs our help. The film recruit disciples to his ethos and has presented and conveyed his message to
aims to focus on solutions such as tree planting and creating awareness on many children in the local schools here.
how we use plastic, especially single use plastics. The film will also identify “I love speaking to the students about the importance of our environment
ways that individuals can be proactive in monitoring and helping to save the and how students can be part of the solution by creating innovative projects
reef. “Imagine that every tourist becomes an agent to protect the coral reefs to solve today’s problems,” he said. His captive audiences are a testimony to
which play such a vital and important role in our human survival,” Arlian said. Plastic Free Boy’s hold on his audience. How much clearer is the message of
Through initiatives of citizen science we hope to be able to protect the next the environment when delivered by someone of the same age connecting and
generation of baby corals born at the recent coral spawning event (Nov/Dec informing and being relevant.
full moon).
“I believe that my generation is the key to change. Let’s make climate action
part of school education,” Arlian said. Through his presentations he gives all
children examples of how to make a difference, from tree planting to reusable
“We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, coffee cup use.
but we can at least prepare our children for the future” “I share my story as well as achievements to inspire and empower them that no
one is too young to make a difference,” he said.
- FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT He has attended beach clean ups with local foundation Tangaroa Blue, and
has spoken with local politicians about the Council’s recycling and waste
disposal. He has also worked with local business owners in Port Douglas to
Due for release in March 2022, it will be premiered at the Ocean Lover’s create awareness of reusable coffee cups by producing posters and conveying
Festival in Sydney and then sent to schools nationally and internationally to the message.
spread awareness. Plastic Free Boy is a real-life superhero to kids of all ages, giving them a
Arlian recently became PADI Ambassador diver for 2022. Together with his perspective on what they can do to create sustainable solutions. Arlian’s
mum, a former PADI Instructor, they are excited to promote PADI’s Ocean passion and commitment is sending an SOS to the world, a living message in
Action by sharing their Conservation Specialty Courses, which tourists can a bottle to future generations that the world’s future is now in the hands of
take part in through local tourism operators. children who will have to deal with this toxic legacy.
Arlian, now 15, is committed to spreading his message. This ‘Greta Thunberg In the words of American author, critic and educator, Neil Postman: “Children
of Australia’, as he is often compared to, has now become a passionate and are the living messages we send to a time we will not see”. Arlian’s living
persuasive activist in the fight against plastic pollution advocating for healthy message with Plastic Free Boy is being sent through to the next generations
ecosystems. with a megaphone, tweeters, woofers and the volume turned up to the max.

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