STOP
PAPER
RACISM
STOP
LOOK
THINK
The Story of Us
From small beginnings to great things?:
The Launch of SOHAPPY Insights
In SOHAPPY Insights, we share positive perspectives about any issue and simplify complex topics to make them more approachable. The first episode was about my trip to the Swiss Alps, where I witnessed the stark reality of global warming firsthand and felt an undeniable calling to take action.
Creating the term "paper racism"
The second episode of SOHAPPY Insights reveals the severity of deforestation, a major cause of global warming. Unfortunately, we are the ones worsening deforestation by our careless use of paper made from trees. But we can also be the ones to solve deforestation. There is a way we can continue to use paper, without chopping down a single tree, but something in our minds is stopping us from implementing this solution. Watch the video to learn more!
2022
2023
From ideas to action
In 2023, #stoppaperracism, a sprouting idea in 2022, grew into a campaign. I reached out to several suppliers of sugarcane paper, requesting a donation for my school. Unfortunately, one supplier declined because our school was located too far away, and another was hesitant to assist since I was reaching out as an individual student. Although I was disheartened, I decided to try one more time. Fortunately, Ecomass agreed to support this campaign and sent NLCS Jeju a donation of sugarcane paper and upcycled decoration materials. I then presented to the NLCS Jeju principals and vice principals, who approved the campaign after two presentations. As a result, NLCS Jeju became the world's first institution to switch from wood-pulp paper to sugarcane paper. Click on MORE RESOURCES to see the full presentations as well as other resources.
2024
2024 was the year of the official launch of the Stop Paper Racism, Stop Look Think campaign. This year, the National Assembly Library of Korea and NLCS Singapore joined the campaign. Watch the Launch Assembly and Campaign Launch Video by SOHAPPY Insights for a closer look of our campaign!
The launch
It was an honour to be invited to deliver the keynote address at the 16th Annual Korean National Environmental Diary Competition for Elementary, Middle, and High school students (hosted by the IM financial group). To speak in front of passionate environmentalists, who have been awarded for their exceptional diary entries about their actions in protecting the planet, was an unforgettable experience.
Taking it further
A Greener Christmas
In December 2023, NLCS Jeju's fabulous design technology teachers and students decided to use 100% upcycled materials to make a "Green" Christmas Tree, which symbolised the importance of saving trees. Someone was paying attention, as in 2024, the Global Education City Administration borrowed and rebuilt the tree. Watch the beautiful 1-minute film created by Mr James Tuffs (link teacher of SPRC) to see our Green Christmas Tree.
A Greener 2025
In February, I had the honour of introducing the Stop Paper Racism, Stop Look Think campaign NLCS Jeju's new heads of departments. I am so grateful to be at a school where there are amazing teachers who support climate action and are excited for this campaign to grow bigger.
During the final week of the 2024-2025 academic year, the Hallabong Market brought our NLCS Jeju community together. The use of wood-pulp-free, sugarcane paper posters to promote this event symbolised the market's aim in building a culture of sustainability and kindness.
The items in the video could have become waste adding to the already overflowing landfills of Jeju Island. But thanks to the generosity of the students who donated them to Hallabong Market, they've been given a new life.
The spirit behind the market comes from Jeju's tradition of freely sharing hallabongs with their neighbours, out of generosity and abundance. It was inspired by Karrot Market, a popular Korean app where people give away or sell items they no longer need.
In this year's Hallabong Market, everything was 100% free, as it was a small trial run built on generosity, trust, and the simple joy of sharing. Hallabong Market will be back next year, hopefully growing into something even greater. Great things often have small beginnings, and kindness is a pretty nice place to start.
Hallabong Market x StopPaperRacism
With no lanyard around my neck and only a stack of sugarcane paper in my hand, I visited an International ESG Forum, this month. I weaved through a crowd of businessmen towards the stage, where the four ambassadors (from Italy, Denmark, Hungary, and Croatia) that had just concluded their dialogue on the European Sustainaibility Agenda. Handing the ambassadors the sugarcane paper flyers, I introduced myself and #StopPaperRacism, the campaign I’ve been building for three years.
During my conversation with Ambassador Gatto 🇮🇹, we agreed that what hinders climate action isn’t a lack of solutions, but mindsets that hinder their implementation. For example, the “drop in a bucket effect” - the feeling that one’s individual actions are too small compared to a large problem like climate change. We agreed that yes, small actions for the planet may seem like tiny drops, but they certainly add up. I used to have this quiet whisper in the back of my mind that my #stoppaperracism campaign is a mere minuscule drop in a large bucket, but Ambassador Gatto’s inspiring encouragement to continue what I’m doing silenced that whisper for good. Grazie, Your Excellency.
Although my conversation with His Excellency Mr Philip Alexander Hallqvist 🇩🇰 was relatively brief, we immediately agreed: why cut down more trees - valuable natural carbon sinks - for paper, when tree-preserving materials like sugarcane bagasse exist?” I was elated to meet someone who resonated with core message of the #stoppaperracism campaign. Mange tak for your support, your excellency!
Out of the businesspeople and ambassadors I handed out sugarcane paper flyers to, some accepted the flyer with little more than a glance. Others (particularly the wonderful ambassadors I got to speak with) responded with sincere interest in and support for the #stoppaperracism campaign. But only one person approached me first and asked me if he could have one: Ambassador Szerdahelyi 🇭🇺. Köszönöm, Your Excellency, that small moment meant more to me than you know. Your thoughtful attention to and genuine interest in the #stoppaperracism campaign reminded me why I keep doing this. I have sent you the photo of the two of us (as you kindly requested ☺️).
“You’re much more powerful than you think.” - Croatian 🇭🇷 Ambassador, Dr Damir Kušen. Hvala, your excellency, your encouraging words made me feel more powerful than I ever have in my environmental activism journey. During our conversation, Ambassador Kušen encouraged me to convince “old people” to take climate action. However, during my three years campaigning to stop paper racism, I’ve found that doing so is easier said than done, as some people care more about the planet than others. But listening to the ambassadors discuss the European and global sustainability agenda, I felt that they weren’t repeating cliched empty promises, but were speaking from their hearts. Ambassador Kušen, when you said “sustainability is life” and isn’t limited to policies, I felt hope that even if convincing everyone to take action is difficult, when I’m an “old person”, I’ll be someone that doesn’t need to be convinced - someone like you. Until then, I’ll do my best 👍
Beyond Borders: Grazie, Mange Tak, Köszönöm, Hvala
A Bigger Stage, A Bigger Chapter
It was a distinct honour to deliver the keynote address by invitation at the 2025 Love-For-Environment Contest Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Korea Environment Corporation. This prestigious national competition celebrates the exceptional work of South Korea's talented environmental artists. The Korea Environment Corporation (K-Eco) is a government-affiliated agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment. I was thrilled to share my now 3-year-old environmental campaign, #StopPaperRacism, with the awardees, K-Eco officials, and the press. I am grateful to be able to transform my sense of responsibility for our planet into a perception-shifting solution we can all implement today.
2025
Post-lecture conversations!
An honour to share my thoughts on environmental activism
with Mr Sang-Jun Lim,
Chairman of the
Korea Environmental Corporation