PETITION TO SAVE THE OCEANS FROM POLLUTION!

An Online Petition  By Ottavio Lo Piccolo, 6-11-17  (Rev. 11-5-17)

PROBLEM/ISSUE: The oceans of the world are in grave danger! They are being polluted at an alarming rate- with too much plastic- our plastic trash; plastic bottles and bags, plastic silverware, cups, dishes, cigarette lighters, markers, and other harmful products like; discarded fishing nets (640,000 tons/year) pesticides, herbicides, toothpaste, cosmetics and ocean acidification (high level of CO2 emissions/pollutions. In addition to sewer waste that contains micro plastics (from face scrubs, cosmetics and even toothpaste- Canada has banned them! Why not the USA?) Micro plastics are tiny pieces/particles of plastic, which are now also in the air we breathe- they are released from motor vehicle tires!

 “Every year 8-million tons of plastic ends up in our ocean. Seals get caught in discarded fishing gear and die trying to free themselves. Dolphins and turtles mistake plastic bags for their next meal and die eating them. Fish ingest deflated balloons and choke to death. Millions of sea birds have died because they too ingest pieces of floating plastic (cigarette lighters, straws, markers, etc.). Ocean Conservancy believes that if we take action now, we can reduce plastic in the ocean by 45%, saving ocean life, making our ocean cleaner and our earth healthier. Over fishing, pollution and habitat fragmentation are wearing down the health of our oceans… degrade coral reefs and corrode the shells of sea creatures— it's not surprising that ocean ecosystems are rapidly collapsing.”

(Source: https://takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/ea-action/action)

That is why marine biologists predict that within two generations -the oceans will collapse- hence; humanity would not be able to survive. The oceans are the biggest and most important source of life (water, food, oxygen, salt, etc.)- Therefore, we must do all we can, now! Before it is too late!

SOLUTIONS/REMEDIES NOW: sign my petition, and/or any other petitions that aim at protecting the oceans and our environment, by clicking on the link below;

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/180/844/892/save-the-oceans-from-pollution./

or log in to www.care2.org and type the following words: “SAVE THE OCEANS FROM POLLUTION & OTHER THREATS”  in the search box, top right.

Then take action to help the ocean, apply these steps in your life:

First- apply the 4Rs (Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and Refuse). We must begin in our homes, then in our schools and our work places. Deploy labeled recycling containers, in your home and at your place of work, next to trash containers in cafeterias, classrooms and meeting rooms. Also ,refuse, and/or boycott, plastic bags- this Recycle as many types of plastic containers as possible, bags, bottles, cups, and all other plastic that is recycled in your area. Use separate recycling containers for plastic bags, glass and metals. The more you can recycle the better!

Second- Start by informing others with love/concern for our planet and watch the documentary film A PLASTIC OCEAN, and have others see it too. You can watch the trailer of this film, on You Tube (or purchase the full-length movie on Amazon for $3.99). This documentary presents the problem beautifully, and 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. You will see one such depressing event in this documentary created by Craig Lesson, a famous journalist and Olympic world champion deep-sea diver, Tanya Streeter. After watching this film, you will ask yourself: Why do news reports, about these dying whales, always say this phrase at the end? "SCIENTISTS DON'T KNOW WHY THESE WHALES DIED."  It is now obvious to me, that whales and other marine animals are dying because they are eating plastic!

THIRD- communicate with political leaders, in our towns/villages, cities, county levels, those in Congress and at the state level. We must inform them of the dangers of ocean plastic pollution, and we must ask them to take action now to protect our environment, especially our oceans. These are some of the actions that our governments should take;

a.       Begin to RECOGNIZE/REWARD businesses and other public entities, schools, museums, food establishments, hotels, hospitals, prisons, farms, and other government organizations that voluntarily reduce the use of pollutants. Organizations and/or businesses that voluntarily follow the 4Rs, and use biodegradable, and/or natural products, should be declared environmentally friendly, or ECO-FRIENDLY, and should be given recognition, in the form of free publicity and financial rewards (e.g., tax reductions, grants, interest free loans, etc.).
 

b.      Support and finance recycling businesses/plants and/or research that aims at solving the plastic pollution problem. The US Navy Carriers use plasma flames (huge machines) that burn large quantities of plastic into an inert material, which doesn’t harm the environment and/or animals. Such machines could be used on land. A young European engineer, Boyan Slat, has designed an ocean clean up prototype that will be deployed into the Pacific Ocean within several years. For more info. on this project, visit You Tube and search for The Ocean Clean Up Project.  To see the You Tube video, click on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du5d5PUrH0I&t=22s

c.       Regulate the plastic industry, the 3rd largest industry in the USA. Regulation will motivate this industry to find ways/alternatives to plastic products, and finding ways of control and manage its plastic pollution. This industry makes plastic; therefore, it is also its responsibility to safely dispose of it (as to stop it from reaching and contaminating the oceans and other bodies of water).

d.      Declare all throw away, or single-use, and/or use-only-once plastic as hazardous waste! This would force the plastic industry, and everyone, to properly dispose plastic, instead of polluting our oceans. 

FOURTH - Join an organization, CITIZENS’ CLIMATE LOBBY, which protects the environment. This group meets every 3^rd Saturday of the month at the Colonie Public Library, NY, from 10am- 12 noon.  To join, log on to https://citizensclimatelobby.org/about-ccl/  Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change by consistently respectful, non-partisan approach to climate education.

FIFTH- EVALUATE MORE EVIDENCE… on the level of ocean pollution, and find out how- by click on these links: plastic trash is killing millions of sea birds

http://plasticfreetuesday.com/2016/05/24/midway/

Plastic kills marine mammals, click on the link below;

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/marine-animals-are-dying-because-of-our-plastic-trash/

Also:

How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean | National Geographic

https://youtu.be/HQTUWK7CM-Y

I hope that you too, will join me and work to save our oceans and our planet! Do it for our children! Do it out of love!

THANK YOU! Ottavio Lo Piccolo, ENL Teacher. ottaviolopiccolo5@gmail.com     Tel.  518-370-4476

PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT, S.1922

Violence should never be acceptable - please sign the petition 

By Gregory Mertz · Washington DC, United States · 10/03/2017

Oct. 3, 2017, Update: Victory - The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, by a vote of 237-189.  
Please sign and keep sharing as the bill moves to the Senate.  
http://citizengo.org/en-us/98252-pass-pro-life-pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act?tc=fb&tcid=42251021

"The United States is one of seven countries in the world that allows the inhumane practice of abortion post 20 weeks. Though all abortion is inhumane and wrong.
Sadly, starting at 20 weeks, if not sooner, it's proven that unborn babies can feel pain as they die. With pro-life majorities in the House and Senate, now is the time to act. Sign our petition to support the passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36).  
Tell Congress it’s time to pass laws that save the lives of unborn children and protect vulnerable women.

H.R. 36 was introduced in the US House of Representatives on January 3, 2017 by sponsor Representative Trent Franks, including 182 cosponsors and bipartisan support. This pro-life measure intends to ban abortion (in most cases) from after 20-weeks of pregnancy up to the day of birth.

The bill indicates there is substantial evidence that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain at least by 20 weeks after fertilization, if not earlier. In a report to the US Department of Justice, a leading expert in the field claims, “The pain perceived by a fetus is possibly more intense than that perceived by term newborn or older children.”

We need to stand with Representatives Franks and the 182 cosponsors as they act as the voice of the voiceless 18,000 healthy unborn babies that are aborted late-term each year.  According to Representative Franks, “Many of them cry and scream as they die, but because it is amniotic fluid going over their vocal cords instead of air, we don’t hear them.” 

Upon passing in the House of Representatives, we expect Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring it to the Senate floor for a vote. President Trump has promised to sign the bill if placed on his desk.
With your help -- we can end this inhumane and intolerable act of brutality against defenseless human beings. Please sign our petition and share with your friends.

---

A study published in the journal Pain: Clinical Updates argues that unborn babies under 20 weeks do in fact appear to feel pain in the same way that a newborn baby feels pain.
“Multiple lines of evidence thus corroborate that the key mechanisms of consciousness or conscious sensory perception are not dependent on cortical activity. Consistent with this evidence, the responses to noxious stimulation of children with hydranencephaly are purposeful, coordinated, and similar to those of intact children.” 
A more recent study by the researchers at the department of anesthesiology at the University Hospitals in Gasthuisberg, Belgium, further confirmed this finding: that the cortex is not necessary for an unborn baby to experience pain. 
A neurologist at the University of Toronto, Dr. Paul Ranalli argues that because of their early stage of development, "unborn babies probably feel pain more intensely than adults.” 
Dr. David Birnbach, a pro-choice doctor and president of the Society of Obsteric Anesthesia said that during fetal surgeries, “we need to administer anesthesia directly to the fetus, because even at these early gestational ages the fetus moves away from the pain of stimulation.”

S. 1922 would ban abortion at 20 weeks or more in all 50 states.
The bill provides exceptions for an abortion that is necessary to save the life of the pregnant patient, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
A physician would be required to determine the “probable post-fertilization age” of a fetus prior to performing, or attempting to perform, an abortion.
The bill states that an abortion performed after 20 weeks must be performed in a manner that provides the best opportunity for the “unborn child” to survive unless termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of death of the pregnant patient or the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions of the pregnant patient than another available method.
A second physician trained in neonatal resuscitation would be required to be present and prepared to provide care.
An individual who performs, or attempts to perform, an abortion in violation of the provisions of this bill would be subject to a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Individuals upon whom an abortion is performed would be exempted from prosecution.
The bill includes legislative findings based on junk science that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks.
Medical Exception
Abortion would be permitted if, in reasonable medical judgment, it is necessary to save the life of a pregnant patient whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition arising from the pregnancy, not including psychological or emotional conditions.
Rape/Incest Exception
The bill would permit abortion if the pregnancy is the result of rape against an adult individual and at least 48 hours prior to the abortion, they received counseling or medical treatment for the rape. The counseling cannot take place at an abortion clinic.
The amendment would also permit abortion if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest against a minor and the rape or incest has been reported to law enforcement or a government agency legally authorized to act on reports of child abuse.
The exception does not apply to adult victims of incest.

Source:
 https://rewire.news/legislative-tracker/law/pain-capable-unborn-child-protection-act-2017-s-1922/

WHY AREN'T MY CITY'S LEADERS LISTENING TO MY PLEAS? 

Schenectady's Mayor McCarthy, council member John Mootooveren and the City Council have hugely disappointed me. They have failed to respond to my pleas to address and fix a rainwater pipe that has collapsed under the front of my property on Kingston Avenue. This old underground pipe, which runs under Kingston avenue, and under my property (the driveway and my front yard) on the opposite side of Zoller Elementary, spews out water and dirt every time it rains hard. The water and dirt come out from underground my property at several locations from under my front yard and from under my driveway (near the by the curb). And as I suspected, this spring the rain damaged our driveway- it caused it to collapse and buckle at the front, near the road.

Mayor Gary McCarthy- hasn't yet responded to my letter and request to meet with him.

Council member John Mootooveren- hasn't yet called me, as he promised. 

This drainage pipe, runs from the top of Kingstown Avenue, starting at McClellan, and I believe it ends at the intersection with Lancaster Street. In fact, at this corner (of Kingston & Lancaster) several years ago, my wife's SUV front tire got stuck in a hole, which was also caused also by another collapsed pipe. Luckily for us- both my wife and the car- were fine.
So, this past summer I personally went to City Hall and talked to the man in charge of the Water Department. He told me that it's not the City's responsibility to repair this drainage pipe because it runs under my property, not City's property. However, he also said that the City may repair it, only if they have enough funds next year. And he suggested I file a complaint. And/or make an appointment to talk to the mayor.  So I did both.

I filed a claim with the City of Schenectady, on 6-27-17, and left a copy with Kytrena Vedder, the mayor's secretary. In my claim I requested the City of Schenectady to pay for $3,000 in damages to my property. Several weeks later they responded with thumbs down. It was turned down by the NY Municipal Insurance Reciprocal- the agency who takes care of these issues. The File # was CSCHE-2017-048-001. Their reason was: it isn't the City’s responsibility and/or its fault.

So, the 2nd of August, I  sent mayor McCarthy an email with two images of my damaged driveway and I also requested a meeting- hoping that he may be able to help me with this issue. It's been now almost 3 months, and I'm still waiting for an answer! Do you think that mayor McCarthy has bigger fish to fry? Probably! But at least have the decency to answer me! Or do you think he just stays away from stinky little problems?

But that's not all folks! The show hasn't yet ended. Let me tell you the rest of the story!
On 9-11-17, the 16th anniversary of 9/11, I attended a City Council meeting, so I could present this problem, and possibly get a solution. So, this what I said to them.
My name is Ottavio Lo Piccolo. I am a public school teacher. I have been a Schenectady resident since 1987. I have lived at 1467 Kingston Avenue since early 2004. I’m originally from Italy and recently retired from the NY Air Guard with over 35 years of service. My children graduated from Sch’dy HS, and I have always paid my taxes.
I would like to inform you that the water discharge pipe that runs along Kingston Avenue  and runs under my property, through the front yard and driveway, has broken and damaged both my driveway and front yard. This old underground pipe has collapsed at various points under my property causing the driveway to buckle and creating a valley shape across it, in addition it has also created 5-7 holes on my front yard. So, whenever  it rains hard, dirt mixed with rainwater comes out of these holes and from under the driveway. So, rain water is eroding the underground of my property along Kingston Avenue- this could cause a sink hole- hence the collapse of my front yard and the road along my property.
I suggest that the City of Schenectady fix and/or replace this underground pipe asap, because it can cause further damage to the road and my property (estimated at about 3 to 5 thousand dollars to fix both). I’m afraid that if this pipe isn’t repaired or replaced, I fear that it may break at other points and incur additional damages to other properties and on Kingston Avenue, including the road.
Thank you. 

I must say that the council members listened to me attentively, that evening. In fact, after I stepped outside the chamber, Mr. John Mootooveren, one of the council members, approached me and asked for my telephone numbers. I asked him why. He said that he was going to present this problem to the "right authorities" and he'd get back to me. So, I gave him the copy of the above letter- the one I read to the City Council- which had my home phone, my email and home address. I wrote my cellular number on it and gave him the letter.  I'm still waiting for an answer!
I want to also take this occasion to point out that, in addition to the problem on Kingston Avenue, Lancaster Street (the next street that is near and intersects mine) has had also problems since 2004- the year I moved to Kingston Avenue- and which aren't yet being addressed. Lancaster Street looks like a creek during the spring, and an ice rink during the winter months- it's always full of ice! Because the water collect there and can't go anywhere! It can't drain away. In addition, Lancaster is also full of path-holes!
What is the City waiting for to repair these streets? Will it fix it after they flow away? And/or when Kingston street collapses from a sink hole? It seems to me that the City of Schenectady is playing with fire- they're shoving these problems under the rug- they think they're not important- but our tax dollars are! They want them right away! Yet, good citizens like me have to wait, and God knows how long! for the mayor and city council to respond to us and address our needs! 
Do not expect my support at the November elections! You have let me down!

WE CAN SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT...if all work together. SUGGESTIONS, SOLUTIONS, RESOURCES to help toward this effort.

In 2016 I was shocked when I learned about the unimaginable amounts of plastic pollution in the world's oceans. This sad fact motivated me into action, so last the spring I began researching this subject. 

You see, I love the ocean, and can't stand see it so carelessly destroyed. My love for our planet and the oceans started when I was a child, growing up in the small hill town of Torretta, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, about 15 miles southwest of Palermo, the capital city of Sicily.

In this article I would like to share with you my findings and how we can help in protecting planet earth. I will briefly present explain the problems first, then I provide you with the suggestions/solutions (even my lessons/presentations on the ocean, and documentary movies), and finally the sources- where you can find facts and more detailed information- if you, like me- want to learn more and educate others.

The future of our planet is at stake. Everyday we're getting closer to a point of no return- a worldwide ecological disaster. We are allowing corporate greed to destroy our beautiful life giving planet, our soil,  our air and our oceans. We're allowing fossil fuel and plastic industry gradually and deceivingly degrade our earth with high levels of CO2 emissions from auto-vehicles, plastic pollution (of the oceans and all other bodies of water- rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, etc), with micro beads, that are spewed out into our air and water by billions of pounds. Microbeads are present in cosmetics, toothpaste and some liquid soaps, in polyester/synthetic clothe and automobile tires (hence electric driers- when they are used to dry syntetic clothes, and the billions of car tires beating and deteriorating on paved streets- release tire particles (also microbeads) into the air.  

 

 

So, it is clear and urgent that we all must work together to stop this degradation of our environment, before it is too late. We all can help to alleviate and reduce this serious threat to our health and our future. 
We can help if we all apply the 7RS; Reduce, Refuse, Recycle, Reuse, Rethink, Respect and Retell. We must;

1. Reduce our CO2 footprint (by using less use of energy and avoiding harmful products, like plastics and fossil fuels).  
2. Refuse plastic bags when we go shopping (and instead use paper, and/or your own reusable bags), and avoid also the use-once-only plastics). 
3. Recycle more, especially plastics and products with microbeads.
4. Rethink of ways of/solutions in order to save our environment.
5. Respect our planet by treating it with consideration/care.
6. Retell, inform others about these threat to our survival- me must let our local, State, national and world leaders know that we are very concerned and we expect urgent, efficient steps on their part.

  Sources:
1. Time to Ban microbeads-entirely https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/08/06/time-to-ban-microbeads-entirely.html

2. 4 Things You Can Do To Ban Beauty Products Containing Microbeads  http://sacredhabitats.com/2015/09/21/ban-beauty-products-microbeadsbanning-beauty-products/  

If you're a teacher and would like to teach your students about the ocean (it's benefits, it's animals, how the ocean feeds us and supports life on earth, how we are destroying, and what we can do to save it), then copy and paste the link below on your address browser and view my presentation, title: The Ocean. Why we Like it

http://ottaviolopiccolo.blogspot.com/2016/06/ocean-why-do-like-it-lets-take-look.html

 

PART 2;  

4 Things You Can Do To Ban Beauty Products Containing Microbeads 

 Anna Cummins, executive director and co-founder of 5 Gyres, an organization working to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. She celebrated the passage of the California ban as game-changing. Given the size of the California market, she is optimistic that this legislation could force more sweeping changes. “Manufacturers are not not going to be able to create a product for California, and a different product for other states,” she added.Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed a bill into law in July that bans the manufacturing and sale of personal care products containing tiny plastic beads that are known to pollute waterways.
The law makes Wisconsin one of seven states including Illinois and New Jersey to ban the tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic known as microbeads, often used as an exfoliant in soaps and toothpaste. It bans manufacturing of microbead products at the beginning of 2018 and their sale at the beginning of 2019.
Some manufacturers are already responding to what appears to be a shift in demand. Many multinational companies such as Proctor & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, The Body Shop, and IKEA have pledged to stop using microbeads in their personal care products. While authors of the report note the positive impact that such internal policies have had on the industry, they believe that a sweeping, federal ban will be necessary to secure real change in aquatic environments.
Microbeads are so small they often slip through wastewater treatment systems and end up in nearby waterways, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association.
In 2014, Illinois became the first state to ban microbeads after a team of researchers with 5 Gyres Institute, a California-based environmental group, found high levels of beads in 2012 from samples taken at Lakes Erie, Superior and Huron. Scientists have also found beads in the ocean.
Fish mistake microbeads for food and eat them, threatening the ecosystem and human health, according to Clean Wisconsin.
The Personal Care Products Council, a trade association representing the cosmetics and personal care products industry, supports bans on microbeads.

“We are guided by the core value to do the right thing based on the best available science when addressing product safety or the environmental impact of our products,” the council said in a statement after the Illinois bill was signed into law.

California’s State Assembly has approved a measure to ban microbeads, which are touted by big companies as skin exfoliators.
A 2013 study found as many as 1.7 million of the tiny plastic particles per square kilometer in Michigan’s Lake Erie, one of the bodies of water in the Great Lakes Region where many of our debris end up.
Because they’re so small, micro-beads don’t get filtered out by wastewater treatment plants. Instead, they get discharged directly into rivers, lakes, and the ocean.
There, fish, turtles, and other aquatic wildlife feed on the tiny bits of plastic, which to them are often indistinguishable from food. But rather than simply getting eaten and discharged by the animals, the micro-beads become lodged in the animals’ stomachs or intestines. When this happens, the animals often stop eating and die of starvation or suffer other health problems.
“We have the evidence that the micro plastics do cause harm,” Marcus Eriksen, the executive director of the 5 Gyres Institute, a research group who led the 2013 study, told Scientific American. “I am hoping we can translate that research into some positive action.”
Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble have all made pledges to phase out the most common kind of micro-bead from products.
The International Campaign Against Microbe ads in Cosmetics has compiled a helpful list of the products that likely contain micro-beads.

4 Things You Can Do To Ban Beauty Products Containing Microbeads

 http://sacredhabitats.com/2015/09/21/ban-beauty-products-microbeadsbanning-beauty-products/

 

 LETTER TO NY STATE GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO about Micro Plastic Contamination of Drinking Water

Dear Governor Cuomo,
I'm very concerned about this problem. Last spring I learned about plastic pollution in our oceans, and I wrote to you and many of our public officials at the local level (in the NY's Capital Region), at the State and in Washington. I'm doing the same thing now, writing you and other leaders again, because yesterday I learned about another ominous threat to our health and our existence on our planet. Micro-plastics are now in our drinking water!

According to 2 articles in the British publication, The Guardian, the world's drinking waters are polluted with micro plastics. Their most recent article titled: "We are living on a plastic planet. What does it mean for our health? (5 September 2017), talked about a study which revealed high levels of plastic fibers found in tap water around the world.

In the 2nd article, (published a month ago), The Guardian said the following- clearly- without mincing words; "Plastic fibers found in tap water around the world, study reveals. Recent tests show that billions of people globally are drinking water contaminated by plastic particles, with 83% of samples found to be polluted. Micro plastic contamination has been found in tap water in countries around the world, leading to calls from scientists for urgent research on the implications for health."

HERE'S THE GUARDIAN MAIN POINTS
"Scores of tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analyzed by scientists for an investigation by Orb Media, who shared the findings with the Guardian. Overall, 83% of the samples were contaminated with plastic fibers.

"New studies reveal that tiny plastic fibers are everywhere, not just in our oceans but on land too. Now we urgently need to find out how they enter our food, air and tap water and what the effects are on all of us."

"The US had the highest contamination rate, at 94%, with plastic fibers found in tap water sampled at sites including Congress buildings, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters, and Trump Tower in New York. Lebanon and India had the next highest rates".

Lots of the micro plastic "debris is washed into wastewater treatment plants, where the filtering process does capture many of the plastic fragments. But about half the resulting sludge is released back on to farmland across Europe and the US, according to recent research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. That study estimates that up to 430,000 tons of micro plastics could be being added to European fields each year, and 300,000 tonnes in North America."

"It is striking that transfers of micro plastics – and the hazardous substances bound to them – from urban wastewater to farmland has not previously been considered by scientists and regulators,” the scientists concluded. “This calls for urgent investigation if we are to safeguard food production,” they say in a related publication."

"Cities also appear prone to the extensive pollution. Another recent study, again the first to shed light on the topic, revealed a rain of micro plastics falling on Paris from the air, dumping between three and 10 tonnes a year on the city. The same team found micro plastics in an apartment and hotel room. A leading scientist, citing this work, says we are likely to be breathing micro plastics."

Governor, it is evident, imperative and urgent, that our public officials; our governments at all levels/everywhere (in our counties, in our rural areas, in towns, our villages and our cities, and then at the State and federal levels) work together to eliminate this threat to our health and our planet...before it is too late! If isn't already! 
As Boyan Slat (the young European engineer who head of The Ocean Clean up Project) says: "Technology made this problem and technology will solve it."
However, technology alone won't be enough, we must unite, work hard and effectively in this effort- the process of cleaning up our planet. We owe it to ourselves, but most of all we owe it to our children, our future.
I know you care for the environment and our health and I hope that you will address this problem in our State.

I would like to offer some suggestions in reducing this threat;
Ban plastic bags and/or any plastic that is used only once and then thrown out, increase our recycling capacities, including the increase in the deposit for redeemable to 10 cents/item. Encourage and reward schools in teaching about how to protect the environment. Encourage families/businesses/schools and reward them financially when they encourage and implement green living (e.g, use Eco-friendly/green products, by applying the 4Rs of: reducing waste, reusing products, recycling and refusing plastics and other pollutants).
We care for our planet and our health, and it also makes economic sense! We save money when we do these sensible things. Thank you!

Find additional info and video visit:
 https://www.pri.org/stories/2017-09-05/if-youre-drinking-tap-water-youre-consuming-plastic-pollutants

DRINKING WATER of the WORLD is now CONTAMINATED with MICRO PLASTIC too! 

 

According to 2 articles in the Guardian the world's drinking waters are polluted with micro plastics. The most recent article titled: "We are living on a plastic planet. What does it mean for our health? It was published in on Tuesday 5 September 2017. The topic was a study which revealed high levels of plastic fibers found in tap water around the world.  

To read the complete article copy and paste the link below on your address browser;

 https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2017%2Fsep%2F06%2Fwe-are-living-on-a-plastic-planet-what-does-it-mean-for-our-health%3FCMP%3Dshare_btn_fb&

The 2nd article- aslo by The Guardian: "Plastic fibers found in tap water around the world, study reveals". was published a month ago and it said the following- clearly- without mincing words; "Recent tests show that billions of people globally are drinking water contaminated by plastic particles, with 83% of samples found to be polluted.  Micro plastic contamination has been found in tap water in countries around the world, leading to calls from scientists for urgent research on the implications for health."
 To read the complete article copy and paste the link below on your address browser;
 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/06/plastic-fibres-found-tap-water-around-world-study-reveals?CMP=share_btn_fb

HERE'S THE GUARDIAN MAIN POINTS- I hope and pray that you, our public officials at the federal, Sate and local level will take protective action before it is too late.

"Scores of tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analyzed by scientists for an investigation by Orb Media, who shared the findings with the Guardian. Overall, 83% of the samples were contaminated with plastic fibers.

Analysis- 
We are living on a plastic planet. What does it mean for our health? New studies reveal that tiny plastic fibers are everywhere, not just in our oceans but on land too. Now we urgently need to find out how they enter our food, air and tap water and what the effects are on all of us.

The US had the highest contamination rate, at 94%, with plastic fibers found in tap water sampled at sites including Congress buildings, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s headquarters, and Trump Tower in New York. Lebanon and India had the next highest rates.

A lot of the micro plastic debris is washed into wastewater treatment plants, where the filtering process does capture many of the plastic fragments. But about half the resulting sludge is released back on to farmland across Europe and the US, according to recent research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. That study estimates that up to 430,000 tons of micro plastics could be being added to European fields each year, and 300,000 tonnes in North America.

It is striking that transfers of micro plastics – and the hazardous substances bound to them – from urban wastewater to farmland has not previously been considered by scientists and regulators,” the scientists concluded. “This calls for urgent investigation if we are to safeguard food production,” they say in a related publication.

Cities also appear prone to the extensive pollution. Another recent study, again the first to shed light on the topic, revealed a rain of micro plastics falling on Paris from the air, dumping between three and 10 tonnes a year on the city. The same team found micro plastics in an apartment and hotel room. A leading scientist, citing this work, says we are likely to be breathing micro plastics."

It is evident, imperative and urgent that our public officials; our governments at all levels/everywhere (locally in our counties, in our rural areas, in towns, our villages and our cities, and then at the State and federal levels) work together to eliminate this threat to our health and our planet...before it is too late! If isn't already! As Boyan Slat (the young European engineer who head of The Ocean Clean up Project) says: "Technology made this problem and technology will solve it."  
However, technology alone won't be enough, we must unite, work hard and effectively in the process of cleaning up our planet. We owe it to ourselves, but most of all we owe it to our children, our future.

So, if you're reading this and you are concerned like me, beg you, please do something now about this serious threat to our health and our environment.

These images you see here (below) will give us some suggestions on how we can help in reducing micro plastics into the environment.  
My family and I have began implementing the 4Rs steps; reduce, reuse, refuse and recycle- for many years now- in our own house;
We do not use the electric drier- we dry clothes in our basement and/or outside. 
We drive as little as possible, and avoid plastic bags, bottles etc., and recycle all that we can (plastic, glass, metals, paper, cardboard)- when we go shopping we refuse plastic bags and instead use our re-usable shopping bags.

Thank you! 
Ottavio Lo Piccolo
husband, father, retired USAF Veteran ENL teacher, 
and individual concerned with social and environmental justice