So, it is time that people find out, and then begin to tell others about the global environmental problem of plastic pollution, and also begin to celebrate this day, but most importantly-and seriously- all of us must start applying 4Rs, in order to protect our oceans and our planet.
We have no choice- if we really care about Mother Earth, our planet- our only home- in this vast and immense universe... we must begin to do it now because time is running out. However, we all must participate in thes rescue effort. For this effort to succeed; it is essential that individuals, families, corporations, churches, businesses, schools, local, State and national governments, work together, so that we can prevent further degradation of the world's oceans. In this post I show you how you can participate in this effort and restore our planet.
The City of Palermo, sits on the Mediterranean Sea, in Sicily
Why do people celebrate World Ocean Day on June 8? This is what the official online site says: "We celebrate World Oceans Day to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet, providing most of the oxygen we breathe. The purpose of the Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans. They are a major source of food and medicines and a critical part of the biosphere. In the end, it is a day to celebrate together the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean.
Action focus for 2018: preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean
Plastic pollution is causing tremendous harm to our marine resources. For example:- 80% of all pollution in the ocean comes from people on land.
- 8 million tonnes of plastic per year ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on wildlife, fisheries and tourism.
- Plastic pollution costs the lives of 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals per year.
- Fish eat plastic, and we eat the fish.
- Plastic causes $8 billion in damage to marine ecosystems each year.
http://www.un.org/en/events/oceansday/
Why celebrate World Oceans Day?
A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, help protect, and conserve our world’s shared ocean. The ocean is important because it:
· Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
· Helps feed us
· Regulates our climate
· Cleans the water we drink
· Offers a pharmacopoeia of medicines
· Provides limitless inspiration!
NOW EACH ONE OF US CAN GIVE BACK
Participate in a World Oceans Day event or activity this year and help protect the ocean for the future. It’s up to each one of us to help ensure that our ocean is healthy for future generations. World Oceans Day allows us to:
- Change perspective – encourage individuals to think about what the ocean means to them and what it has to offer all of us with hopes of conserving it for present and the future generations.
- Learn – discover the wealth of diverse and beautiful ocean creatures and habitats, how our daily actions affect them, and how we are all interconnected.
- Change our ways – we are all linked to, and through, the ocean! By taking care of your backyard and helping in your community, you are acting as a caretaker of our ocean. Making small modifications to your everyday habits will make a difference, and involving your family, friends, and community will benefit our blue planet even more!
- Celebrate – whether you live inland or on the coast, we are all connected to the ocean. Take the time to think about how the ocean affects you, and how you affect the ocean, and then organize or participate in activities that celebrate our ocean.
IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN HELPING THE OCEANS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THESE ACTIVITIES;
Visit the World Ocean Day site, and learn what people all over the world are doing, and what you can do to make a difference http://www.worldoceansday.org/about
And/or ask your principal to register our school fro next year’s World Ocean Day 2019!
Here are some activities to begin your celebration;
1. Give the World Ocean day quiz to students school staff, friends and family members; to raise awareness of the oceans' plight.
I tell my students: "TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE... IF YOU WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE! Take the World Ocean Day Quiz!" Here in my Dolce-Amaro blog by visiting: http://ottaviolopiccolo.blogspot.com/2018/04/students-ocean-pollution-quiz-contest.html
2. Teachers: could encourage students to take part in Earth Day & World Ocean Day contest. We must invite students to write essays/stories and create artworks and recycling boxes for cans/bottles and single-stream recycling (other recyclable items; plastic, glass, metal. cardboard and paper) (the money collected from these redeemables can be used to give to charity and/or buy prizes for the contest winners)
3. Organize an art exhibit for next Eart Day & World Ocean Day. I'm planning one for 2019. If you're a teacher, a student, and artist, and/or an environmentalist, and are interested, join me and contact me!
Ottavio Lo Piccolo. Educator and environmentalist
email: ottaviolopiccolo5@gmail.com
tel. 518-370-4476
Remember to: BE KIND TO EARTH AND TO ALL LIVING THINGS! Including people!
Thank you for caring! For doing your part in keeping our planet, Mother Earth clean/healthy/safe. Remember to: reduce/cut down on single-use plastic and/or recycle them, because your participation counts! It makes a huge difference! By applying the 4Rs, we can reduce the destructive impact of plastic on our environment and the world's oceans. By applying the 4Rs we truly shows that you care...because ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!
GRAZIE MILLE!
THANKS A THOUSAND!
SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD OCEAN DAY
In addition to inviting experts/speakers on the ocean you can also show documentary films and/or videos. Here below are some of my favorite ones.
NATURE MOVIES... for EARTH/OCEAN Day lessons
1. Earth. Disney nature. This Disney film, is a documentary movie that will be loved by students of all ages. They will enjoy it and learn much about our wonderful planet earth! This is a global journey reveals how animal mothers struggle to raise their young in an increasingly dangerous environment. In the Arctic, a polar bear and her two newborn cubs must find food across the quickly melting ice. In Africa, an elephant and her calf begin an arduous journey in search of water, but a pride of lions guards the pool. A humpback whale must keep her calf safe over thousands of miles as they migrate from the equator to Antarctica. Released in 2007. Narrated by James Earl Ray.
2. DisneyNature. OCEANS. Students of all ages will also enjoy this amazing documentary film that has plenty of under and above the waters scenes- that show the incredible stuff that animals do in order to survive. This film will also be a great learning experience about our wonderful oceans! Most of the Earth's surface is covered by water; using the latest technology, filmmakers Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud set out to explore the underwater world. Diving deep into the waters that ultimately sustain all life on Earth, Perrin and Cluzaud capture spectacular footage of the amazing beauty and harsh reality of life beneath the waves. Released in 2010. Narrators: Jacques Perrin, Pierce Brosnan, Rie Miyazawa Awards: César Award for Best Documentary
3. Blue Planet. This is a space film about Earth; an experience of our home planet that, until now, has only been shared by astronauts. Spectacular scenes from space, filmed aboard several space shuttle missions, are intercut with scenes of the Earth's surface, clearly showing the powerful forces that affect our planet. It starts at the frozen tundra in the north to the dry forests of the equator, Sir David Attenborough narrates a compelling view of the planet. "Planet Earth" was the first natural history documentary to be filmed in high definition, and now a decade later improved technology has made it possible to capture further details, from elusive animal behaviors to previously inaccessible remote landscapes. In addition to exploring the wilderness, the series examines urban dwellings, focusing on animals that have adapted to city life. Blue Planet is an IMAX film directed by Ben Burtt, and produced by the IMAX Space Technology corporation for the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, as well as Lockheed Corporation. Filmed with the cooperation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Narrated by: Toni Myers Release date: 1990 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Planet_(film)
Four Excellent Documentary films about the oceans and nature
1. A PLASTIC OCEAN. This is an adventure documentary (suited for grades 4th to 12th). It was shot on more than 20 locations for over 4 years. Explorers Craig Leeson (also a journalist) and Tanya Streeter (an Olympic world champion deep-sea diver), and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. An interesting and educational film that presents the problem ocean plastic pollution beautifully. It also offers hope/solutions; hence it will motivate you to act. In fact, after watching it, I finally understood why we often see whales dying on beaches worldwide. To take action join the global movement at www.plasticoceans.org
From this site you can request for a public screening of A PLASTIC OCEAN and to watch trailer CLICK/VISIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrn4-FfbXw
2. Plastic Paradise. The GREAT Pacific Garbage Patch. The Great Pacific garbage patch is documentary film (suited for high school and adult), also described as the Pacific trash vortex, a large area that is polluted with plastic. This film was released in August 2010; Plastic Paradise Movie – an independent documentary by Angela Sun uncovering the mystery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch known as the Plastic Paradise · The source of the garbage patches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf5JI0b1L7k\
3. An Inconvenient Sequel- TRUTH TO POWER. This is a powerful and urgent message for humanity. This documentary is appropriate for high school students and adult. This documentary will inspire and teach you what you need to do if you are interested in protecting earth and want to begin taking action in making our planet, cleaner, safer and livable again. I love VP Al Gore's dedication, passion and leadership in fighting for our planet. He truly is a visionary, an intelligent, but most of all, a caring human being who cares for our planet and for environmental justice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huX1bmfdkyA
Learn about the plastic pollution problem by watching the following educational videos:
1. A PLASTIC OCEAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju_2NuK5O-E&feature=share
This is a short video of the adventure documentary film. It was shot on more than 20 locations for over 4 years. Explorers Craig Leeson (also a journalist) and Tanya Streeter (an Olympic world champion deep-sea diver), and a team of international scientists reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and share solutions. An interesting and educational film that presents the problem ocean plastic pollution beautifully. It also offers hope/solutions; hence it will motivate you to act like millions of others around the world!
2. Blue Planet 1990 documentary - YouTube ▶ 42:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f60oLcFv_CY
Blue Planet is an IMAX film directed by Ben Burtt, and produced by the IMAX Space.
3. Blue Planet II Opening Intro Titles Episode 1 (HD), 2.43 min.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9DtfswXhxg&index=16&list=PLFOpfttx4NLCPaks6OnYUl4JjdwAi15Tf
The introduction of the first episode of Blue Planet II. Sir David Attenborough highlights the wonder of our oceans and the sustainability of it's future I do not own anything. Copyright BBC.
4. Blue Planet II.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_38JDGnr0vA&list=PLFOpfttx4NLCPaks6OnYUl4JjdwAi15TfThis is an 8 episode series. You can watch The Prequel (video 5min). It is a world-exclusive introduction to the show is narrated by series presenter Sir David Attenborough and set to an exclusive track developed by Hans Zimmer and Radiohead. The prequel features an array of some of the most awe-inspiring shots and highlights from the new series, as well as several exclusive scenes that will not feature in any of the seven episodes which are set for UK broadcast on BBC One later this year.
It starts at the frozen tundra in the north to the dry forests of the equator, Sir David Attenborough narrates a compelling view of the planet. "Planet Earth" was the first natural history documentary to be filmed in high definition, and now a decade later improved technology has made it possible to capture further details, from elusive animal behaviors to previously inaccessible remote landscapes. In addition to exploring the wilderness, the series examines urban dwellings, focusing on animals that have adapted to city life.
5. What really happens to the plastic you throw away - By Emma Bryce (4 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6xlNyWPpB8 This is an excellent fun/educative documentary that everyone will understand. We’ve all been told that we should recycle plastic bottles and containers. But what actually happens to the plastic if we just throw it away? Emma Bryce traces the life cycles of three different plastic bottles, shedding light on the dangers these disposables present to our world.
6. Ocean Pollution - Save Our Marine Life (4 min) - https://youtu.be/l3XGUnjDRUQThis is an inspiring upbeat video, although sad, display of ocean trash/destruction video & still images are used together with music- a great combination that summarizes the actions we need to take- in order to save our oceans. Catching images and energetic music will inspire and motivate you to take action now!
7. The World Ocean "Trashed" (10 min.) https://youtu.be/aBOlzTeyTZg
An award winning film. The world ocean's food chain is being polluted with plastics. This program has won the Ocean Film Festival Award of Excellence at the NOAA sponsored Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary film festival. This short educational documentary shows the negative effects of plastic pollution, but it also shows what people around the world are doing to contain/reduce plastic pollution.
4. How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean | National Geographic (3 min.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTUWK7CM-Y&t=30s
This is an excellent straight to the point video. It shows us how our plastic trash and other pollution reach the sea- and what we can do to prevent and/or stop it.5. How can we clean up the oceans (4 min.)- In this brief video we learn that 4-12 metric tons of plastics wash into the oceans every year. So plastic is a huge problem in the oceans, but engineers and research groups are working on how to deal with it. Hank describes some of the leading proposed solutions. https://youtu.be/7i8pjnjZcF8
6. BAG IT 1- Part 1 of 'Bag it' (also check out part 2-4) American Jeb Berrier researches the use of plastic.
https://youtu.be/Km-CYcf2ags?list=PLiQmjwY1e5icKM_1j9VMX7u5y5fgpvNOj&t=57
7. A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn't Recycled
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/.../plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-...Jul 19, 2017 - Of that, only nine percent has been recycled. The vast majority—79 percent—is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. Meaning: at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans, the final sink. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic.
8. How does plastic end up in the ocean? | GREENPEACE New Zealand Aug 23, 2017 - Scientists have shown that up to 12 million tons of plastic is entering our oceans every year – that's a rubbish truck full every minute. ... And microbeads (which are too small to be filtered out by wastewater plants) end up flowing into the ocean. From: www.greenpeace.org
9. When The Mermaids Cry: The Great Plastic Tide
By Claire Le Guern Lytle. Last updated in January 2017. Of the 260 million tons of plastic the world produces each year, about 10 percent ends up in the Ocean, according to a Greenpeace report (Plastic Debris in the World's Oceans, 2006). Plastic Pollution plastic-pollution.org/
8. The Oceans Are Drowning In Plastic - And No One's Paying Attention https://www.huffingtonpost.com/.../plastic-wasteoceans_us_58fed37be4b0c46f0781d...Apr 27, 2017 - That's a total of about 19 billion pounds of garbage. And according to one of the best estimates available, that's how much plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year. “We're being overwhelmed by our waste,” said Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineer who led the 2015 study that determined this …
11. Plastic trash is killing millions of sea birds. http://plasticfreetuesday.com/2016/05/24/midway/
12. Plastic kills marine mammals
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/marine-animals-are-dying-because-of-our-plastic-trash/if you want to teach about the Ocean and the English Language, then use... MY ENL (English as a New language) LESSONS
1. Oceans- Why we like it? This 1st lesson/presentation/introduction that covers the following topics; the benefits of the ocean, how it supports life on earth, but also how we are polluting it, and what we can do to protect it. It can be used for primary grades, up to HS). However, it is a very large post. It is both in English and Italian (I share with relatives, friends and colleagues in Italy). It is an extensive and informative post with many images, and the following parts: an introduction about the ocean, a list w/explanations of 10 Essential Ocean Facts, how the ocean sustains life, how we benefit from it, but also how we are polluting it and what we can do to save it. In addition, it lists the 7Rs; these are actions that we can take in order to better protect the ocean and the environment), the voyage of Plastiki, a boat with the hull (underside), made with 12,000 plastic bottles. Plastiki crossed the pacific to raise plastic pollution awareness in 2012. I also provide a list of educational/informative videos and two films, on the ocean plastic threat and various solutions to this problem. To see it it, click, on this link: http://ottaviolopiccolo.blogspot.com/2016/06/ocean-why-do-like-it-lets-take-look.html
(If the link doesn’t work, do a search in this blog and type this title: Ocean- Why do we like it?)
2. Oceans’ 13 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1152318122222144980#allposts/postNum=0 This is a simple written lesson with 13 questions and 13 answers (on the ocean) and many images. I also have a paper version of this lesson. If you’d like a copy let me know and I’ll get you a copy.
2. WORLD’S OCEANS SUBMERGED in our PLASTIC POLLUTION! LET’S work together and RESCUE our Oceans! This is an extensive research article that I wrote soon after I became aware of this problem in 2016. You’ll learn about this issue in more details from National Geographic sources, the documentary films: A Plastic Ocean, Plastic Paradise and others. Click on the link below to read it.
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1152318122222144980#editor/target=post;postID=4352937638082951406;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=link
I. WHY the USA MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT THE OCEANS AND PLANET EARTH!
a. Simple! Because The US, is the 2nd biggest polluter in the world, 2nd to China! And the USA recycles only about 10% of all trash, while almost 80% sits in the environment (in landfills), and some of it can even be seen in our streets and parks too! But unfortunately much of it winds up into the oceans, contaminating our environment, and especially the oceans of the world and our drinking water too! So, it is the moral thing to do! But that's not the only reason. It makes sense to keep our planet clean and healthy...if we want to survive! And it also makes economic sense! We must stop wasting resources, when they could be re-introduced into the economy at a profit too!
II. Let me present you the ugly facts! The latest statistics.
According to National geographic and Green Peace’s 2017 statistics; "Only nine percent- of all US trash has been recycled. The vast majority—79 percent—is accumulating in landfills or sitting in the natural environment. Meaning: that at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic (https://news.nationalgeographic.com/.../plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-...)
Scientists say that 12 million tons of plastic is entering our oceans every year – that's a rubbish truck full every minute. ... And micro beads (tiny pieces of plastic)-too small to be filtered out by wastewater plants, are flowing from our sewers into the ocean. www.greenpeace.org
If you’re wondering how this trash gets to the ocean. The answer is simple; many US landfills/garbage dumps are near bodies of water (creeks, rivers, lakes), hence large quantities of trash flow to the ocean, and plastic bags are carried by the wind. In addition, the chemicals that are released from plastic trash seep into the ground and mix into the water. Most of this dangerous trash is made up of single-use items, like plastic bottles, cups, straws, lids, dishes, silverware, Styrofoam, etc., and plastic/foam packaging. However, that's not all- other threats endanger the health of the ocean; discarded fishing nets, pesticides, herbicides (used by farmers), toothpaste, cosmetics, and high level of CO2 emissions.
(Sources:
https://takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/ea-action/action
http://nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/)
I see this plastic trash problem everywhere I go- in my city, Schenectady NY, to to Sharon Springs and Middleburgh. These are upstate NY schools where I teach. I see soda cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, plastic bags, large and small pieces of plastic sheets and Styrofoam sheets, plastic/foam cups. I see this trash, stuck on trees and bushes, on the side of the highways- especially around exits/entrances (on exits 25-23 on highway 88) and even on corn fields! I see this plastic trash also all over my city, Schenectady, NY. I see it in culverts, by the tree lines along roads/streets, on fences, on sidewalks, on curbs, near the entrances of stores, in parking lots (especially the one on Altamont Avenue- the one with a Wal-Mart), in shopping centers, and even in Schenectady's Central Park- the creek that runs behind the children's playground is filthy.
II. Many people think that it's OK to throw plastic trash in the garbage and or out in the environment; I must tell you, w/all due respect; you are WRONG! You need to know that it isn't! the reasons are above- your plastic trash is floating to the ocean; it's contaminating it and killing marine life and destroying ocean habitats!
a. We all need to know that the level of plastic pollution in the oceans is so bad that according to two estimates, scientists and marine biologists, don't know if we have much time to reverse it- before it maybe too late. The first estimate tells us that humanity, has only ten years to clean up the world’s oceans from our plastic pollution (and other pollutants). The second estimate, marine biologists, predict that within two generations -the oceans could collapse (die) - hence; humanity would not be able to survive.
b. I'm not a pessimist- I believe there is hope for our planet- there are solutions- however, the vast majority of people in the USA aren't aware of the damage that their plastic trash is causing. In fact, not much is being done here in my city and county. I'm doing my part in trying to change this. We all must participate and reverse this situation, this big problem- this threat to our environment, our health and our future.
c. We must demand/ask our local town/city/county governments to start recycling and banning single-use plastic products (plastic bags, straws, stirrers, cups, lids, dishes, silverware and foam/plastic packaging. Municipalities (cities/towns/villages) should also put warning signs for those who litter with plastic trash, and to slap stiff fines to those who do pollute by throwing plastic items in the trash- instead of recycling!
d. Schools should also be leaders in this effort, and ask its students/staff this question: Have I put plastic items in the trash? Have I littered?
That is why it is essential that schools lead, not only by teaching environmental ideas, but also and applying the 4Rs themselves in the classrooms and school grounds. The 4Rs stand for; recycle, reduce, reuse and refuse single-use plastic. These are 4 civic responsibilities and/or actions that everyone should adopt! Because by following them we truly show how much we care and love Mother Earth. It's not enough to say I love mother earth! We must show our love/care through our actions! As the saying goes; "ACTIONS, SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!"
III. So, what do we do now? How can we solve this huge, global environmental threat to our oceans and our existence on Earth? There are solutions, however, we need everyone's participation. That is why individuals, families, communities, businesses, local, state and national governments need to work together to solve this crisis.
IV. EVERYONE MUST START APPLYING THE 4RS;
a. Schools must inform and teach students/staff about the condition of the earth and the oceans- how badly we are polluting them. We, the educators, must teach the 4Rs, but also show them how to do it- by doing it in our own classrooms and the whole school. Schools (and all food places) should have two recycling containers for redeemables (plastic bottles and soda cans with reimbursable deposit fees, 5 cents each at this time- hopefully it will go up in the near future) and one for non-redeemable items, such as plastic, glass and metal containers in their classrooms, cafeterias
b. Businesses should also follow suit, and stop using/carrying single use plastic items (silverware, dishes, cups, lids, stirrers and/or foam cups/food trays).
c. People should stop using single-use plastic bags, and instead use canvas and/or other reusable shopping bags that last years. When you go shopping refuse plastic bags from vendors! respectfully tell them that they should get rid of them because they contaminate the environment.
d. Consumers/customers, should not buy drinks from businesses that serve them in plastic cups with plastic lids and stirrers. Again, respectfully, let them know why they should.
e. Refuse/boycott- Do not use/purchase plastic items like: cups, stirrers silverware and/or dishes- use paper instead and your own metal silverware- or buy biodegradable ones from Amazon!
e. Start recycling at home, at work and wherever you are!
VI. WE MUST DEMAND ACTION FROM OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS
a. Ask your city/village/town to deploy outdoor recycling bins on busy streets, in/around parks, schools, hospitals, and office building.
b. Businesses (restaurants, supermarkets, stores, etc), hospitals, prisons, government entities should be forced to follow the 4Rs also. They should recycle all single-use plastic, metal, glass, paper and cardboard. These items are valuable natural resources that can re-enter the economy- turned into new products- at a profit!
Recycling benefits our environment and our economy. Germany and many other North European countries have proved this! They are doing it successfully!
c. As your city/county/State to ban plastic bags! The country of Rwanda, California, Austin and San Francisco have banned plastic bags. Why can’t our city/village and State do it too?
d. Cities/counties should also pass/enforce ordinances forcing public entities (schools, hospitals, government offices), stores/businesses, etc., to have their own single-stream recycling programs. Many other city are already doing like NY City, Washington DC, San Francisco Austin (Texas) and many countries have banned plastic bags, like California. And look at Vermont- a model of clean living!
e. Encourage your city to become eco-friendly! Like Vermont! According to MReport, Vermont was ranked the most environmentally-friendly state in the nation, ranking No. 1 for both environmental quality and eco-friendly behaviors. The state ranked around the middle, at No. 23, for climate-change contributions. Vermont was reported to have some of the best air quality in the country and had the second-least amount of solid waste per capita.
The top five most environmentally friendly states were rounded out by Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, and South Dakota.
West Virginia came in last, leaving it as the least environmentally friendly state in the nation. It ranked lowest for both eco-friendly behaviors and climate-change contributions and was No. 41 for environmental quality.
The list of five least environmentally friendly states also included Louisiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, and Alabama.
(Source: http://themreport.com/daily-dose/04-18-2018/the-5-most-environment-friendly-states)
VII. SOLUTIONS/ACTIONS THAT OTHER COUNTRIES, and US States/cities, ARE TAKING TO PROTECT OUR PLANET.
a. Sweden charges a little more on plastic bottles deposits; they get from 5 cents to 30 cents per bottle/can- depending on its size (the bigger ones will get you 20-30 cents) so their recycling/return rate is 95%! Sweden also burns trash to make electricity! From 3,000 lbs. of trash they get 1,000lbs of fuel! They even import it! They buy trash from other countries! Their trash turned into energy pollutes only 1% ! Swedish runners pick up plastic trash as they run! (I'm imitating them! I pick it up too, and I put in my car trunk and on my bike rack)
b. Germany has turned recycling into a business- into a circular economy! They make a profit from trash! Because the government has regulated it.
c. England charges taxes to plastic manufactures (of plastic containers, bottles, etc) and to packaging makers. This is the industry that packs meats, and other foods. England paves road with recycled plastic, which is 60% stronger than asphalt (what we normally use).
d. Costa Rica (a small country in Central America) and Rwanda (a small country in Africa) have banned all plastics bags. In addition Costa Rica and Indonesia (a company named AVANI) make biodegradable/natural plastic from the Yuca root! It can be eaten by animals and will not harm them! In India a family makes edible cutlery (silverware) that you can eat! Because it is made from food (rice, millet water, etc.)! Costa Rica has also banned straws, and uses instead straws made from plants, like bamboo.
e. CANADA is the country that suggested, to the United nations, to adopt WORLD OCEAN DAY, which is celebrated on June 8th. Canadians are very environmentally conscious, they care about our planet.
f. The USA has passed many laws to protect the environment and the ocean, like the Clean Air Act (CAA), Ocean Dumping Act - Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA), and the Endangered species Act (ESA).
(Source: https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/laws-and-executive-orders
Vermont, San Francisco, Austin (TX) and many other cities/counties have banned plastic bags.
However, in June 2017, U.S. President Trump withdrew the US from The Paris Climate Accord or Paris Climate Agreement, signed by 195 countries. The Agreement aims to reduce global climate change threat by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. (Source: Wikipidia)
VIII. It is also clear that we can't just rely on others- we must be the first to take action and help reduce pollution! If we truly care/love Earth! Without the oceans, we would not have be able to survive! Yes, because most of the earths' oxygen, between 60-70%, originates from the oceans! I thought it came mostly from trees! I was wrong! In fact, according to the wonderful documentary film: Blue Planet II, 93% of all water on our planet comes from the ocean. The ocean also feeds millions of us- and let's not forget salt, and many other wonderful things.
a. I can safely say that after studying ocean plastic pollution for over two years (since May 2016), those who; throw plastic in the garbage and/or litter our oceans, our cities and highways aren't aware of what they are doing- the damage they are causing our environment, and in particular the world's oceans.
b. Why do they do it? I think it's mostly out of ignorance- they do not know- they have no idea- of the extent of the problem. I also realize that some, simply don't care- that's why we need everyone to cooperate, work together to protect our planet, because Earth is everyone's home- it belongs to all of us! We need our governments to apply and enforce laws/fines for such people! Earth is everyone's home- hence no one has the right to carelessly destroy it with pollution!
I also think that a big portion of the blame should go to the plastic and oil industry who produce billions of plastic products, but they do not show any concern for controlling it, preventing the contamination of our land, our drinking water and the oceans.
c. As a person who loves and cares for mother Earth, and as an educator, there are things I can do, and I hope you will too. I can lead by example, I inform/educate others-all whom I come in contact; my family, my students, my colleagues, my community, my country and the world thanks to the Internet. people need to know about the precarious, poor, condition our planet, and in particular the oceans. And if they do not listen, then there's nothing I can do; as they say: You can take the water to the horse, but you can't make the horse drink!" But those who care will listen. So here is the ugly truth/reality.
d. That is why I, as an educator, but also as concerned father, I strongly believe that schools do a better job at teaching and modeling social/environmental responsibilities, and how to respectfully work together to solve problems. Schools can positively affect/influence young minds- therefore, schools create a better future.
IX. Why did I write this article? Because I care and love mother earth! I grew up near the Mediterranean Sea (in Torretta, a small town near Palermo, Sicily, Italy), and when in 2016 I discovered the level of plastic pollution in the oceans, I decided to act. I started teaching my students, informing others and raising awareness of the oceans’ poor condition, and encourage schools and everyone to follow the 4Rs.
a. So, in addition to following the 4Rs and teaching others; my aim here is to inform, to raise awareness of the oceans’ condition.
It is my hope that, you too will take positive action and show your love/care for mother Earth.
The P.O.P.E. (Protector Of Planet Earth) Promise:
I promise to do all I can, and be kind/compassionate to all living things- including humans!
Become also a F.O.T.O. Friend Of The Oceans!
Thank you for caring! For doing your part in keeping our planet, Mother Earth clean/safe.
PS, below read Seven of the pope’s strongest statements on the environment:
“God always forgives, we men forgive sometimes, but nature never
forgives. If you give her a slap, she will give you one. I believe that
we have exploited nature too much.”—Press conference, flight from Sri Lanka to the Philippines, January 15, 2015
“As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the earth a
beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests,
ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.” —Speech, Manila, Philippines, January 18, 2015
“A Christian who doesn’t safeguard creation, who doesn’t make it
flourish, is a Christian who isn’t concerned with God’s work, that work
born of God’s love for us.”—Meditation, Vatican City, February 9, 2015
“May the relationship between man and nature not be driven by greed,
to manipulate and exploit, but may the divine harmony between beings and
creation be conserved in the logic of respect and care.”—General audience, Vatican City, April 22, 2015
“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an
immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament
that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish.”
—Papal encyclical, Vatican City, May 24, 2015
"We received this world as an inheritance from past generations, but
also as a loan from future generations, to whom we will have to return
it!”—Remarks, meeting with political, business and community leaders, Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015
“Our common home is being pillaged, laid waste and harmed with impunity. Cowardice in defending it is a grave sin.”—Speech, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, July 9, 2015
—Papal encyclical, Vatican City, May 24, 2015
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