Plogging may sound like blogging/vlogging but in no way are they related. So, what's plogging? While the concept of it is nothing new, the term was coined by Swedish Erik Ahlstrom in 2016. It's basically picking up trash while jogging hence the term is the combination of those words. Plogging = pick up ("plocka upp") + jogging!
With this activity, you hit two birds with one stone. Taking care of your fitness and taking care of Mother Earth. This rewarding activity has since then spread to different countries. In Qatar, the new group called The Qatar Ploggers, is looking to make a difference through their plogging events.
So we reached out to the founder of The Qatar Ploggers, Jules Bevin, to find out the story behind the group! Read our short interview with him below.
QP: Having spent the last 4 years in Qatar and running 4 times a week along the Corniche I noticed the accumulation of plastics and other trash that people carelessly had left behind, despite a large number of trash cans along the corniche.
Fed up with this and being unable to socialize as a result of Covid I strengthened my resolve to do something about it and one Saturday morning I took a trash bag, gloves, and a mask and picked up about 7 kg of trash in 2 hours.
The following week I invited friends and colleagues and now the group has taken off but thankfully we never have more than 10 people at any one time so we can observe social distancing.
QP: We meet at the front of MIA park gates at 6 am Saturday morning and we have 3 rules. You must run, (a little or a lot/fast or slow) you need to bring a mask and gloves and most importantly, you have to laugh and joke with your fellow ploggers!
QP: On the group, we have at least 40 members but we have never had more than 10 at one time.
QP: Find us at Instagram @theqatarploggers send a message and after we have spoken and know a bit about you then you are free to join us!
QP: Our goal is three-fold; firstly, to clean up some of the trash that people through along the Corniche and this help the environment get cleaner in the run-up to the World Cup, secondly, to get fit physically and mentally through cardiovascular activity, Finally to meet new people, have a laugh and inspire similar groups online
QP: The heat. We have to meet early 6 am -7.30 am to avoid the rising of the Middle Eastern sun. Also, we have to ensure we are protected with masks and gloves and not break social distancing rules. There is also the risk of cutting yourself on bits of glass if you find any while plogging.
QP: Running gear, mask, trash bag, gloves, and most importantly a smile!
QP: We should reduce the amount of waste thrown on the ground and in the ocean and keep this wonderful country clean while getting fit and meeting new people at the same time.
Instagram: @theqatarploggers
Facebook group: The Qatar Ploggers
Cover image credit: The Qatar Ploggers
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