“Joanna’s input and expertise on plastic matters have been an invaluable guidance and I have used many of her briefings and input for this work. This is very much also her win.”
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From the latest Transition Exmouth newsletter:
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MEMORIAL TO JOANNA TOOLE
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On Saturday 5th March 2022 friends and family of Joanna Toole met and held a ceremony to unveil a memorial to her on the Exe Estuary Trail on the outskirts of Exmouth.
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Joanna Toole who spent her young life in Exmouth died, with 156 others, three years ago on 10th March in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines ET302 in Tulu Fara, Ethiopia. At the time of her death Joanna, who had turned 36 only three days before, was living in Rome and working for the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. She had been en route to the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya where she was to have presented on Ocean Plastic pollution.
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Just last week, heads of State, Ministers of environment and other representatives from 175 nations at the 2022 round of the same Assembly, endorsed a historic resolution to end plastic pollution by forging an international legally binding treaty by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal.
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A delegate at the Assembly has praised Joanna’s work on the plastic crisis, writing: “Joanna’s input and expertise on plastic matters have been an invaluable guidance and I have used many of her briefings and input for this work. This is very much also her win.”
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It is a comfort therefore to those close to her to know that progress has been made that promises an end to this plague of plastic.
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Joanna’s father Adrian, a member of Transition Exmouth, has been planning a physical memorial for his daughter for over two years. With the cooperation of Richard Scott and Jeff Trail, both Devon County Council councillors, and help from professionals and volunteers, the existing bench was renovated and the sculptured panel attached. Design was by Jo ‘Salty’ Salter with metal-work by Anthony Doble. Landscape design by Graham Bell of Exmouth in Bloom.
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The sculpture bench was unveiled by Exmouth Mayor, Cllr. Steve Gazzard, in front of a crowd of friends, relatives, professional colleagues and well-wishers. The bench is on the Exe Estuary Trail with views across the estuary from Exmouth up to Countess Weir. When Joanna was at home in Exmouth she would frequently exercise running this route.
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The wording of the tribute on the sculpture plaque is:
As you pause here to enjoy the view, think of Joanna Toole from Exmouth who ran many times on this trail.
Jo’s life mission was to protect animals, including marine creatures. She wants you to think not only on what you can see but also on all the hidden life below.
Born Exeter 7 March 1983, died Ethiopia 10 March 2019. You can scan the QR code on the bench to learn about Jo’s work.
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Cllr Steve Gazzard, Mayor of Exmouth said:
‘It was an honour to attend the unveiling of the memorial for Jo, it was a wonderful tribute to her hard work and dedication; now her memory will live on in Exmouth.”.
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Her father Adrian Toole said:
“I’m so pleased to have this memorial to Jo in her home town. My colleagues in the Joanna Toole Foundation and I have many other initiatives around the world to keep her name and her mission alive but this is something tangible and local that I am very proud of. My thanks to all who have helped with the project.”
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🌷Execargo launch, Active Travel Day & other news …. April 2022 🌷
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