'Echoing Voices' at the G20: Maritime expedition delivers ocean pollution manifesto in Rio

Messages on environmental preservation, collected from Santa Catarina to Rio de Janeiro, will be presented to summit leaders A small sailboat embodies the power of ocean culture, the purity of childhood, and the hope for preserving Brazilian seas. This is the vessel Vitória Régia, which will deliver messages against environmental pollution to the G20 summit authorities in Rio de Janeiro during the Oceans 20 Summit this Saturday. The sailboat arrived in the city on Wednesday and is docked near the Museu do Amanhã, carrying a document that includes insights from environmentalists, students, educators, civil society representatives, and leaders of initiatives and NGOs. Produced collaboratively across four different regions of the country, the material brings to life the manifesto "Echoing Voices." G20 in Rio: See how traffic and commerce will be during the mega-holiday in the capital Fun in Rio: 20 paired activities for the G20 holiday weekend in Rio de Janeiro Rio was chosen as the final destination for the "Voices of the Oceans Maritime Expedition - Brazil Route" 2024, conceived by the Schurmann Family, due to the global summit. The journey began in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, in September, when the crew of five sailors started collecting messages. Brazilian navigator Vilfredo Schurmann aboard the Vitória Régia sailboat Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO Initially envisaged as a single 30m² scroll, the manifesto now spans two scrolls (60m²) due to high demand for participation. It features contributions from children, students, quilombolas, Pataxó people, riverine communities, and others inspired by the initiative. Students leave messages and drawings on scroll for G20 leaders Reproduction/Alexandre Moreno — It's in a wooden box. We made it like an ark, a treasure 'Echoing Voices'. It brings together the diverse voices we encountered along our journey — notes Alexandre Moreno, spokesperson for the Schurmann Family. — It's a literally large document. Civil society is on board with us. According to Moreno, the crew took the scroll to every stop and exchanged experiences with project leaders. In these communities, they unfurled the scroll and collectively built the manifesto. People could freely write, draw, or leave messages about maritime preservation. Students send messages and drawings on scroll to G20 leaders Reproduction/Alexandre Moreno — Whether through drawing, poetry, or text: make your statement — he recalls advising the volunteers. “The popular manifesto will be delivered to society. Vilfredo Schurmann, a sailor leading many of the family's maritime initiatives, at 76 years old, understands that “everyone could express themselves in their own way” on preserving the seas. Rolo to be delivered to authorities at G20 aboard the Vitória Régia sailboat Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO — We had Oceanography students, university students, PhD candidates, coastal people, riverine communities. Everyone had their moment to write something. There are some beautiful messages... — he observes. He chose the Vitória Régia for the Brazilian expedition, which covered 700 miles (1,400km). The family’s vessel, Kat, was left in New Zealand for refurbishment. Vitória Régia belongs to navigator Fernando Horn, 65, a longtime friend and travel companion of Schurmann. The 18-meter sailboat was handcrafted in Belém, Pará, in 1987 but is “practically new.” Horn reports having completely refurbished it last year, making it a strong candidate for the G20 mission. Box with scroll to be presented to G20 leaders aboard the Vitória Régia sailboat Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO — I was shocked when I arrived in Rio. There was a lot of plastic in the sea. Private and public sectors must unite to improve conditions — opines Schurmann. — I have seen many cities. The mayor who takes care of city cleanliness is always reelected. He is taking care of his city, and people notice. Vitória Régia: an 18-meter handcrafted sailboat from Belém, Pará, host city of COP30 Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO Although the captain found the journey overall smooth, he believes the Marvelous City greeted the sailboat with surprisingly harsh conditions: — The challenge was reaching Rio. A strong south wind came, and we encountered 35 to 40 knots, almost 80 km/h, near Sugarloaf Mountain. The wind was so strong it tipped and then broke the boom. Broken boom on sailboat Vitória Régia docked at Praça Mauá near the Museum of Tomorrow Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO Besides “Echoing Voices,” the partnership Voices of the Oceans, G20 Brazil, and Oceans 20 also plans to produce a logbook of the expedition, published in online bulletins, content for podcasts, and social media. The initiative has global support from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The cities included in the "Voices of the Oceans Maritime Expedition - Brazil Route" are: Vitória Régia: an 18-meter handcrafted sailboat from Belém, COP30 host city Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO Florianópolis; Itajaí; Balneário Camboriú and São Francisco do Sul (in Santa Catarina); Paranaguá and Ilha do Mel (in Paraná); Santos; Ilhabela and Ubatuba (in São Paulo); Paraty, Angra dos Reis/Porto Frade, Ilha Grande, and finally, Rio de Janeiro (in Rio de Janeiro). This is the second expedition in Brazilian territory, aiming to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans and climate urgencies. The vessel’s journey is part of the environmental conservation project “The Voice of the Oceans,” a partnership of Voices of the Oceans, G20 Brazil, and Oceans 20. Vitória Régia is an 18-meter handcrafted sailboat from Belém, Pará, the host city for COP30. Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO The route will resume in 2025, departing from the Marvelous City to Belém, Pará, where it will meet the Kat sailboat, which is expected to complete an international journey. During the first stage, about two years ago, the initiative witnessed the presence of plastics and microplastics in 100 destinations across more than ten countries in South, Central, and North America, and Oceania. The Oceans 20 Summit, the site where the scroll will be delivered, will take place at the Museum of Tomorrow, in the port area, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It marks a milestone in promoting sustainable ocean management and fostering a “thriving blue economy,” notes the Schurmann Family. Economist Vilfredo Schurmann on the sailboat Vitória Régia gathers messages from four Brazilian regions on ocean conservation Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO Ocean Preservation Alongside his family, Captain Vilfredo Schurmann has been sailing for four decades. He has circumnavigated the globe several times and, besides admiring marine and terrestrial beauty in over 50 countries, has witnessed human-induced environmental damage. — In these 40 years of sailing, we have seen degradation up close. We are not alarmists, but the situation is dire. The oceans are losing their colors — warns the navigator. — We have been talking about cleaning the seas for 30 years. We were called ‘eco-bothers’. Today, it’s completely different. People see and are concerned, especially the young. It’s impressive. Sailing vessel Vitória Régia to deliver document to G20 authorities Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO Marine biologist Fabio Araújo, a researcher and professor at Uerj, emphasizes that the ocean is vital for human life. Besides being a food source and regulating the planet's climate, a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, not the Amazon Rainforest, which is a common misconception. — We need to learn more about the ocean and understand its importance. People only preserve what they know — he stresses. — It's necessary to promote ocean culture and knowledge, which can be done in schools and informally. Vitória Régia is an 18-meter handcrafted sailboat from Belém, Pará, the host city of COP30. Luisa Giraldo/Agência O GLOBO The expert warns that Brazil is responsible for 3.44 million tonnes of plastic entering the oceans annually. In total, there are 86 to 150 million tonnes of such waste in the water. This estimate comes from a Blue Keepers study, a project linked to the UN Global Compact, conducted in 2023. The previous year's research indicated that each Brazilian could potentially contribute 16kg of plastic pollution to the oceans annually.