Timor, this island, this land, is unique and is like a treasure that was left to us by our ancestors. That’s why we need to protect it.

My life is working with the ocean. Every day with the ocean.

My husband work as a fisherman, diving, collecting seaweed, banabi, spear fishing catching fish, putting out nets. My husband works at this every day.

Our mother gives us everything but we don’t love our natural mother back. This is something that we need to wake up too

Timor-Leste is a beautiful, unique, island of rich resources located between Australia and Indonesia. As a small Island we have always had a close relationship with the sea that surrounds us. It has always fed and supported us and now in both traditional, and new ways, we are seeing how it can continue to feed us. We are discovering Timor’s unique place in the world. Conservation International and NOAA recently declared Atauro Island the most marine diverse place on the planet. While the yearly Blue Whale migration is helping to put us on the map as a place for eco-tourism. These provide opportunities, but the balance of the ocean is fragile and it is under threat.

My name is Ricardo, I’m from Movimentu Tasi Mos. We created this group to focus on environmental effects on the sea. Today we are fighting against the rubbish that is in the sea.

We know the impact of rubbish is a big issue throughout the world and also in Timor. There is no knowledge about rubbish here, especially how plastic affects our health. And also how it effects the wealth of the sea. We are here to educate each other. To teach each other through what we are doing

That’s why today we are in Tasi Tolu. Because Tasi Tolu is a typical place in Timor Leste but also quite unique. It has great potential for tourism, but right now the community here has only minimal knowledge. So today Tasi Tolu is full of rubbish.

But rubbish and plastics aren’t just a problem for people in Dili and Tosi Tolu. On the island of Atauro the coastal community’s way of life is at risk as plastics wash up on the beaches Sea weed farming is one of the main sources of income here and the lines are often littered with bottles or sandals that drift in from the ocean.

My name is Nor Soares. I am going to clean up the seaweed and then, when it’s done, I will go back. Some of this sea weed is to eat and dry. When it’s dry, I will keep it so when foreigners come I can sell it and get money. Every day I am with the ocean.

Neka da Conceicao Soares has lived on Atauro all her life. She has seen how the relationship with the ocean has changed over the years. And especially since plastics have started to arrive

In our life we have always lived from the ocean. It used to be more from fishing, but now our life is depends on seaweed. In the past we would bind the seaweed and leave it in the ocean. We only needed to clean it up once a week. But now we have to do it every day. Because plastics, water bottle, slippers, come from neighboring island likes Liran-Indonesia. Also from Dili which is part of our nation, Timor-Leste. It all arrives here. Every day we need to clean it and then clean again. It's not like before. Nowadays there is so much trash.

The diving and beautiful beaches attract visitors from all over the world And a new industry for local homestays is beginning to spring up to cater to this influx of people.

We started doing the home stay in January 2017, and we've run it for a year now. Tourists like to stay here because our place is good, simple and shows Atauro’s culture.

The house was built using grass and coconuts leaves. Tourists like it because there’s not that kind of house where they live.

When we do fishing and farming we only earn enough to eat. But when we do home stay its really helps our family. With the income I get from home stay I will take care of my kids. My sisters kids too, and send them to school so they have a bright future.

The tourists tell us that they like Atauro Island. But when it’s dirty, full of rubbish that’s something they don’t like. People on Atauro need to take care of the environment, and love our island.

As well as plastics and rubbish there are other practices threatening those living by the coast of Timor-Leste. In the mountainous region of Laclubar, traditional farming methods are having a major impact on the communities by the shore.

My name is Rufina Soares. I am a farmer and I have been working here for more than 10 years. We grow corns, cassava, peanuts, peas. Our lives here depend on farming to give enough to send our children to school.

My name is Vicente Duarte I've worked for Raebia NGO for the last two years in the Laclubar area. During these last two years I've observed that the community here uses a soil burning system to clear the land.

When the rains come, all the burnt soil is carried down river to Cribas. And then eventually out to sea at Manatutu.

When all the dirty water comes it makes all the fish flee suddenly and we lose our livelihood. My name is Francisco da Costa. I was born in Manatuto Sau village, sub-village of Obratu. My life every day is spent in the ocean.

When I catch fish, I bring it to the road to sell to pay for my children’s school. We have real difficulties when there are no fish. In the rainy season, it brings all the dirty water, wood, stones and rubbish. When there is a high tide the fish will not come close.

Before there were not many plastics. Now there's much more plastic in the ocean. Based on what I've seen, I'm worried for my children. It will have a great impact on our children's future.

On Dolon Oan beach, behind Cristo Rei, Movimento Tasi Mos, along with other local NGO’s and groups of young people, are out early on a Saturday morning They are here to clean up the beach of plastics and other rubbish

Most people who visit here don't understand. When they're finished they leave plastic paper, trays, cans they just throw them everywhere, they don't put them in the proper place. If we don't do anything about this problem what I think is that this area will be full of rubbish, which won't just be a problem here but will also affect the fish that are living in the sea here and also us. For us humans we will have sicknesses and illness.

We have to resolve this problem starting now. Start by making a habit of throwing rubbish in the proper place and begin getting used to cleaning up our place.

Kiki, Ricardo, Neka, Mary, and Francisco all have reason to be concerned about the amount of plastic they are seeing around the shores of Timor Leste now.’

Almost all the plastics in Timor-Leste are thrown away. Joining the 8 million tons that end up polluting the world’s seas each year. If we continue as we are, by 2050, there will be more plastic, per kilo, in the ocean than fish.

If I see people throwing rubbish into the ocean I will tell them not to do that. Because we need to love our ocean, our fish, and we need to love our environment.