Plastics are Polluting Our Oceans
Plastics are devastating our oceans and sea creatures.
A few months ago, I presented to a group of 7th graders about the harmful effects of plastics, especially in our oceans. Oprah also brought attention to the problem after seeing a video of the Pacific Garbage Patch, an area of plastic waste in the ocean the size of Texas!
Did you know that fish are eating small plastic pellets in the water, thinking that it is food and are slowly dying as a result?
Now, I know plastics have been very, very good to us. We probably don't realize how many things we use every day that are made of the stuff. BUT, plastic does not biodegrade. it never goes away!
So, what's the answer? Recycling is one, but then we have to think of lots of ways to remake the recycled plastic. I believe that we must start by reducing the amount of plastic we use, and recycling what we do use. Let's try to think creatively together.
"So, every piece of plastic
I've ever used is still around?"
- 7th Grader
One Word: "Plastics"
Scene from the movie "The Graduate", Dustin Hoffman, 1967
Synthetic Sea
Video by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation
The Algalita Marine Research Foundation is dedicated to the protection of the marine environment and its watersheds through research, education, and restoration.
Charles Moore is founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation. He captains the foundation's research vessel, the Alguita, documenting the great expanses of plastic waste that now pollute our oceans. He first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he's drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.
"Live like
you love
the ocean"
Wallace J Nichols, Ocean Researcher
The Problem Begins With Us
Wallace J. Nichols, ocean researcher, in a Huffington Post article, suggests ways to start reducing plastics use in our own lives.
** See if you can go ONE day without using disposable plastic. If you can go a day, you can go a week.
** Once you've done that, challenge another person to do the same, and help each other by lending your reusable bag, sending reminders and encouragement, or gently applying peer pressure.
** Then add your voice to the growing chorus of thousands of communities, cities, workplaces, and schools who are striving to drastically reduce their waste streams. Or support one of the organizations shown below.
- Wallace J Nichols: The Plastics "Out There" and "In Here"
- A huge percentage of our plastic problem could be addressed immediately, using simple, cost-effective, off-the-shelf technologies.
Learn More About Wallace J Nichols
at this lens
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Wallace J Nichols - Ocean Researcher
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"Our planet is an ocean planet. Period. 71% of the surface of our planet is ocean." So says Wallace J Nichols, also known as Dr J, a well-known and respected sea turtle and ocean conservationist. His research focuses primarily on the behavior, migra...
Are Our Oceans Dumping Grounds?
You be the judge.
Photo from Greenpeace
An estimated 14 billion pounds of trash, much of it plastic, pollutes our ocenas every year. Green Ocean Facts
Search for Air France Flight 447 Reveals Astonishing Pollution of World's Oceans
Natural News
- Search for Air France Flight 447 Reveals Astonishing Pollution of World's Oceans by Mike Adams the Health Ranger
- Friday, June 05, 2009 by: Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
World Oceans Day is Celebrated on June 8th
Visit this page to learn more about it.
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World Oceans Day
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Although unofficially celebrated for years, in 2009 World Oceans Day was officially declared by the United Nations as June 8th each year. Why do we need a day to celebrate our oceans? Because they are in trouble! For years, the sheer vastness of the...
Learn More about the Pollution of our Oceans
through Amazon books
Strand: An Odyssey of Pacific Ocean Debris
Amazon Price: $14.21 (as of 12/20/2009)
List Price: $18.95
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Organizations you should know about
... that work to save our oceans from pollution
The Ocean Channel - to find out about the latest research.Ocean Revolution was created so youth can evolve. It links young people from all over the world in a network of information sharing and mentoring and links environmental action to their computers.
Oceana - the largest international organization focused 100 percent on ocean conservation-in the fight for healthy oceans.
Ocean Champions - the only political voice for the oceans.
Ocean Conservancy - It's time to understand that going green starts with living blue. It's time to start a sea change. Won't you join us?
Ocean's Alive - The oceans are alive! Our planet, mostly covered by water, is filled with movement and life. Learn all about our global seas in Oceans ALIVE!
Why do we drink water from plastic bottles?
(when it's much cheaper from the tap)
Bottled Water Consumption per person in the United States from 1976 to 2007. Graph from www.earth-policy.org.
Addicted to Plastic
by Ian Connacher
This film Filmmaker Ian Connacher conducts an international odyssey revealing the disturbing long-term effects of the most ubiquitous and versatile material ever invented. From water bottles and Styrofoam cups to toothbrushes and garbage bags, in less than a century the pervasive presence of plastics has marked every ecosystem and all aspects of human activity. Visually compelling, entertaining and thought provoking, ADDICTED TO PLASTIC is both a wake-up call and an inspiring consideration of possible recycling or down-cycling solutions.
Teach Your Kids
about the life cycle of a plastic bottle
The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling (Little Green Books)
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 12/20/2009)
List Price: $3.99
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Break the Bottled Water Habit
The New American Dream site includes 5 reasons
not to drink bottled water,
a bottled water cost calculator,
ways to kick the bottled water habit, and more.
Very helpful site.
Reducing Our Use of Plastics
Beth Terry of Oakland, California has a great blog called "Fake Plastic Fish" on her journey to reduce her use of plastics. Some of the simplest are:1. Carry reusable bags.
2. Carry a travel mug.
3. Stop drinking bottled water and sodas.
4. Buy in bulk.
5. Replace cleaners with vinegar and baking soda.
6. Download music rather than buying CD's
Here are some other great blogs or sites on reducing plastic.
A Day Without Plastic
Crafty Green Poet
One Green Generation
Plasticless.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Links to information about plastics and recycling
- Recycling Numbers on Plastics
- This is a great guide to the numbers on the bottom of plastics. Generally, 1's and 2's can be easily recycled while 3's through 7's are harder and not as often recycled. A 7th grader noticed that the #3 plastics (PVC's) could leach toxic chemicals. Since we incinerate trash in Indianapolis, he wondered if those toxic chemicals were going into our air. Good question!
- Recycling Revolution - Turning old plastic bottles into valuable recycled materials.
- Article from Science Daily about how plastic is recycled.
Check out this article
7 Misconceptions About Plastic and Plastic Recycling
from the Ecology Center.
News Posts from Google
about pollution in the oceans
- Aussie to swim as 'message in a bottle'
- "I'm trying to create the iconic media image... a man swimming in the middle of the Pacific Ocean inside a giant plastic water bottle. ...
- Switch to reusable bags for sake of Mother Earth—eco groups
- ... according to the group, is ?one simple act that caring consumers can do to save the climate and the seas from plastic pollution. ...
- Messenger in bottle lines up Pacific garbage swim
- A Sydney man is hoping to draw attention to the problems of global warming and plastic pollution by swimming between Japan and the US in a giant plastic ...
Related Lenses
on plastics and ocean pollution
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Death By Plastic
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Squidoo is at its best when lenses cause you to improve your life. This lens has changed mine more than all the rest I've done combined. Since creating it, I look at every plastic bag I use and wonder where it will end up. I've never been known as an...
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Chris Jordan?
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Chris Jordan is a genius! As a photographer interested in environmental issues, I was immediately drawn to Chris Jordans' environmental work, where he pictures the excesses of our consumer society. Through this page, I will show the trajectory of C...
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The Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch
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I got a wake-up call today watching the Earth Day show on Oprah. I discovered that there is a large floating island of garbage, twice the size of Texas somewhere between the West Coast and Japan. This moving ocean garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean i...
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51 Ways to Reduce Plastic Use
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I was so frustrated when I found out about the Pacific Garbage Patch (videos below). What is it? It's the largest landfill in the world, and it floats in the middle of the ocean. When I learned about it, I scoured the internet for solutions. There a...
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Making Your Own Reusable Bags Can Be Addictive
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How you ask? Simply by giving up your shopping plastic bags. Yes, it can be that simple. Did you know that over 1 million plastic bags are consumed per minute globally? According to the Worldwatch Institute, an environmental research group, "about...
Biodegradable Plastics?
Learn more with this book from Amazon
Green Plastics: An Introduction to the New Science of Biodegradable Plastics.
Amazon Price: $38.02 (as of 12/20/2009)
List Price: $45.00
Avg. Customer Rating:
Great buys From Amazon
... about reducing or recycling plastics
Plastic Bag Dryer - Recycling Kitchen Tool (Natural) (14"H x 3.5"W x 3.5"D)
Amazon Price: $17.74 (as of 12/20/2009)
CONTAINER,RECYCLE,SQR,BE
Amazon Price: $64.55 (as of 12/20/2009)
TRASHED
A DVD, Trashed is an investigation into the garbage business.
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 12/20/2009)
Ecobags Recycled Cotton Canvas Tote Bag
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/20/2009)
Liquid Logic Excursion BPA Free Single Wall Stainless Steel Water Bottle (26-Ounce, Stainless)
Amazon Price: $5.21 (as of 12/20/2009)
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Reader Feedback
How are you reducing your use of plastics?
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Reply
- poutine poutine Aug 3, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
- Excellent lens and so much information and great links to follow.
Lensrolling to:
Say goodby to plastic
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Reply
- paperfacets paperfacets Jul 2, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
- Yes! I am with you. I recycle all the plastic I can and do not buy the drinking bottles. The Brita works good enough for me. I use a reusable shopping bag for groceries. Good resource lens.
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Reply
- kimmanleyort kimmanleyort Jun 23, 2009 @ 7:31 am | in reply to BeverlySaltonstall
- Thanks for this information and for the writing you are doing about water pollution. http://pollutionwebsite.com/water/permalink.php?article=Marine Pollution 101.txt
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Reply
- BeverlySaltonstall BeverlySaltonstall Jun 23, 2009 @ 5:11 am
- Recovery crews of the recent crash of the Air France jet are being hampered by the fact that the jet went down in 15,000 feet of water. But more shocking was the fact that recovery effort of the black box was also being hampered by the fact that the ocean floor was full of trash! That was a shocker to me! I would never have thought there was garbage to that extent at that depth.
Check out my blog post to read more.http://pollutionwebsite.com/blog/?p=160
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Reply
- HenryE HenryE May 26, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
- I could not agree more! We live in Florida and it hurts my heart to think of how much damage we have done to the Gulf of Mexico! Hopefully things will start to improve. Great idea to spread awareness.
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About the Author
Lensmaster kimmanleyort has been a member since April 7 2009, has rated 1,218 lenses, favorited 638, and has created 74 lenses from scratch. Kim Ort donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund and Earthjustice. This member's top-ranked page is "Our Favorite Nuts and Bolts Recipe". See all my lenses
by kimmanleyort
Mother, wife and photographer who never stops learning. Squidoo allows me to explore my interests and the fabulous... (more)
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