By Ottavio Lo Piccolo. ENL Teacher. May 29, 2017.
1. In May 2016, I was reading and discussing a book with 4th graders, in Mrs. Vissat’s reading class, at Jefferson Elementary School, in Schenectady, NY. The title of that book was The Voyage of The Plastiki, a beautifully illustrated and well-written book. It is the story of “Plastiki”, a sailboat with the hull (the underside) made from 12,000 plastic bottles. Plastiki sailed from San Francisco in California, to Sydney in Australia, the summer of 2010.
2. Why did the crew of Plastiki take such a risk in crossing an immense and dangerous ocean? Because the people on board wanted to raise awareness- show the whole world that our oceans are being destroyed with our pollution- mostly our plastic garbage and trash. I was shocked to learn that our oceans have so much plastic trash in them.
3. This story motivated me to recycle more and write a letter to our government leaders in Washington and in NY State. I also shared this letter with colleagues, other teachers. And I also wrote a simpler version for students. If you want an electronic copy of these two letters just email me at ottaviolopiccolo5@gmail.com
4. It is my also my hope that you to will take some positive action- do something good- to protect our oceans and the environment. One thing you can do is to refuse plastic bags; say no to plastic bags when you go shopping, and /or recycle any plastic that you can’t keep. And of course, our school too, should start recycling all the plastic that often gets thrown in the garbage.
5. In addition, in an effort in raising awareness of this problem, I have shared my findings about plastic pollution in the oceans, with colleagues and students. I have also made classroom presentations (about the oceans and plastic pollution) and shared articles, about this topic, on my personal blog. In fact, one of my posts, is about oceans, and in it you’ll see many colorful images that show the ocean’s importance; how it contributes to our survival on earth, what it provides us, how we use oceans, but also how we are destroying it with pollution, and finally what we can do to stop the plastic threat to our planet. You can read/see my post if you log on to http://ottaviolopiccolo.blogspot.com/2016/06/do-you-like-ocean-why-lets-take-look.html Just click on this link, or copy the link on the address box and then press enter.
6. I would like to share some of my findings on plastic pollution in the oceans. About 80% of the debris (trash and garbage) in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from land-based activities (what people do) in North America and Asia. The remaining 20% of debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from boaters, offshore oil rigs, and large cargo ships that dump or lose debris directly into the water. The majority of this debris—about 705,000 tons—is fishing nets. More unusual items, such as computer monitors and LEGOs, come from dropped shipping containers. I learned that plastic goods do not biodegrade (do not get absorbed by nature), but instead break down into smaller pieces (micro plastic) which is ingested (eaten) by sea animals, hence very harmful to marine life and to us humans because we eat seafood.
7. For instance, loggerhead sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellies, their favorite food. Albatrosses mistake plastic resin pellets for fish eggs and feed them to chicks, which die of starvation or ruptured (broken) organs. Seals and other marine mammals are especially at risk. They can be entangled in abandoned plastic fishing nets, which are being discarded more often because of their low cost. Seals and other mammals often drown in these forgotten nets—a phenomenon known as “ghost fishing.”
8. Marine debris (ocean trash) can also destroy marine food webs in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. As micro plastics (tiny pieces of plastic) and other trash collect on or near the surface of the ocean, they block sunlight from reaching plankton and algae (sea plants) below. Algae and plankton are the most common autotrophs, or producers, in the marine food web. Autotrophs are organisms that can produce their own nutrients from oxygen, carbon, and sunlight.
9. If algae and plankton (sea plants & food for fish) communities are threatened, the entire food web (all food in the ocean) may change. Animals that feed on algae and plankton, such as fish and turtles, will have less food. If populations of those animals decrease (lessen), there will be less food for apex predators such as tuna, sharks, and whales. Eventually, seafood becomes less available and more expensive for people. These dangers are more serious because plastics release and absorb (suck up, take in) harmful pollutants such as PCBs (harmful chemicals) into the seawater. These chemicals can then enter the food chain when consumed (eaten) by marine life.
(Source: http://nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
You can also find additional info and images at http://www.lazerhorse.org/2013/11/23/great-pacific-garbage-patch/#
10. And the 2017 National Geographic and Green Peace''s estimates only 9% has been recycled. The vast majority—79%—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- Scientists tell us that 12 million tons of plastic is entering our oceans every year – that's a rubbish truck full every minute. (Sources: www.greenpeace.org and (https://news.nationalgeographic.com/.../plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-...)
If you’re wondering how
this trash gets to the ocean. The answer is simple; many garbage dumps are near
rivers, hence the chemicals that are released from plastic trash (items, like
plastic bottles, foam and many others- seep into the ground and water, and a
large amount of it floats to the ocean. In addition, there are other threats
that 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
(There isn’t much we can do
about micro-plastic now, except to ban cosmetics and certain toothpastes, and
to use natural fibers instead of polyester clothes. In the future, as
technology improves; better and more efficient sewer filtration systems could
replace the old ones to filter the micro-plastics.)
According
to two
estimates we have only ten years to clean up the world’s oceans from
our plastic pollution (and other pollutants)- before it will be too late. The
second estimate, marine biologists, predicts that within two generations -the
oceans could collapse (die) - hence; humanity would not be able to survive.
And according to the Ocean Conservancy (an environmental organization that protects the oceans), “Every year 28-billion pounds of plastic ends up in our ocean. Seals get caught in discarded (thrown away) fishing gear and die trying to free themselves. Dolphins (and also turtles) mistake plastic bags for their next meal and die eating them. Fish ingest (eat) deflated balloons (without air) and choke to death (can’t breathe). Ocean Conservancy believes that it doesn’t need to be this way. 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. Add to that ocean acidification—a process caused by increased carbon emissions (smog, pollution) that can degrade (brake/destroy) coral reefs and corrode (damage) the shells of sea creatures—and warming, and it's not surprising that ocean ecosystems are rapidly collapsing.”
(Source: https://takeaction.oceanconservancy.org/ea-action/action)
Source, image below: http://www.saveourseasmagazine.com/the-co2-conundrum/
A - Facts from the multiple award winning documentary
A PLASTIC PARADISE - The Great Ocean garbage Patch.
I. There are 640,000 tons of discarded fishing nests in oceans worldwide. These thrown away nets rip corral heads (hence killing them). These nets also kill thousands of sea animals.
II. Americans use 300-700 plastic bags per year!
III. Marine biologists estimate that 3.5 million tons of floating trash is all plastic – this is 6 times more plastic than plankton (food that many fish eat).
IV. 80% litter comes from land, since it is dropped in waterways and/or blown by wind, which brings it to the ocean.
V. Millions of seabirds and sea mammals have died because of this ecological disaster.
VI. BPA is harmful to animals/humans (BPA stands for bisphenol A). BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. They may also be used in other consumer goods.
VII. 70% of the oxygen comes from the ocean.
VIII. By 2050 plastic production will be nearly 2 billion pound/year!
IX. Plastic is made mostly by big corporations like Exxon Mobil and DuPont. They are represented by the umbrella organization called American Chemistry council (ACC), also known by SPI, the 3rd largest industry in the USA. And they, obviously are trying to hide any negative news about plastics. The plastic industry uses the same tactics that the tobacco industry used in the 60s, they denied the harmful effects of cigarette smoking, and insisted that smoking was not harmful. Now the plastic industry is following the same path; they cover up any negative news/facts and/or scientific findings that jeopardizes their ever increasing production of plastic without any restraint, and/or without a solution to protect the environment/oceans.
B - Facts from the documentary A PLASTIC OCEAN
I. The ocean is the largest source of protein (food), and 2. 6 billion people depend on it.
II. By 2025 there will be 10 times more plastic is estimated to be dumped in the ocean.
III. An estimated 90% of all sea birds have swallowed plastic at some time in their life.
IV. In 58 minutes 5,793,620 lbs of plastic is thrown away in the USA alone.
V. 80 million tons of waste/year in the USA comes from plastic food packaging.
VI. GOOD NEWS. Germany requires plastic packaging manufactures to be responsible for its disposal; they sell it and they dispose of it properly/safely- they recycle it at a profit! Recycling is in fact a profitable business in Germany!
VII. Rwanda has banned all plastics bags in their country! And they’re doing great!
VIII. The US Navy uses plasma torches on board its aircraft carriers, which burns trash and changes the plastic’s molecular structure- turning it into an inert/non-toxic substance.
IX. Lobby (ask, demand from) the government into forcing manufactures to be responsible for the safe disposal of their plastic products. And also to classify plastic waste as hazardous.
X. Inform the public, because from knowing comes caring, and from caring comes change.
XI. We all can take positive action now and make a difference; think reusable- not disposable. Refuse single-use plastics (like plastic bags/bottles, plastic silverware and plastic cups. And finally, join the global movement at www.plasticoceans.org
I watched PLASTIC PARADISE, an award winning documentary film (LEFT SIDE). I recently purchased the one on the right, A PLASTIC OCEAN. You can watch the free trailers of both films on You Tube, and/or purchase them from Amazon.
14. What can we do help our oceans today to help our oceans? Here’s what the organization: MORE OCEAN- LESS PLASTIC- THE 5 GYRES INSTITUTE, suggests; “Pledge to go plasticfree" for a day, a week, a year—or forever. You can go plastic free today by refusing the top five sources of single use plastic: plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic to-go containers, plastic takeaway cups, and plastic straws. Follow them @5Gyres to get tips on living #plasticfree. Together, we can make a difference—one piece at a time.” (Source: https://www.5gyres.org/faq )
CITIES/COUNTRIES
WHO ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
A. San Francisco is a
prime example of how it is reducing waste and becoming 100% green, hence reducing its carbon footprint
Sweden Burns Trash and
creates clean energy
INDIAN FAMILY MAKES BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS - Edible
CUTLERY
Biodegradable silverware
can be purchased from Amazon at;
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_24?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=biodegradable+silverware&sprefix=biodegradable+silverware%2Caps%2C137&crid=1EP84KOTM0EE7 Or you can log on to Amazon and write: Biodegradable Silverware (forks, spoons & knives)
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_24?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=biodegradable+silverware&sprefix=biodegradable+silverware%2Caps%2C137&crid=1EP84KOTM0EE7 Or you can log on to Amazon and write: Biodegradable Silverware (forks, spoons & knives)
BIODEGRADABLE CUPS
Educational videos
1. 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.
This is an inspiring video,
although sad, it shows the ocean trash/destruction with still images and
upbeat 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!
3. How We Can
Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean | Nat Geographic
(3 min.)
This video shows us the sea-
and what we can do to prevent and/or stop it.
4. OCEAN
TRASH: 5.25 trillion pieces and counting
5. Plastic
in the Ocean- how it affects us. There are tiny pieces of plastic in the
seafood you're eating. -- Zooey Deschanel , h/t The Farm Project.
A PLASTIC OCEAN – Documentary film
Subject: Craig Leeson wants to film
blue whales, but discovers a startling amount of plastic pollution in the
world's oceans, and researches this ecological threat to the world’s oceans. Released
in 2016. Director: Craig Leeson
Time: 102 min (1 hr. and 42
min)
This
film was made in 2011 by journalist, filmmaker and adventurer Craig Leeson.
He set out to make a documentary on whales, but then, noticing all that plastic
in the ocean, he changed the main message. Featured also, in this movie, Tanya
Streeter, the 1st woman to beat a man's record! For deep diving (into the
sea)! I have watched this documentary
film at home and in school with my students and colleagues. It is an eye
opener. A Plastic Ocean will show you how we are ruining our
oceans with our throw-away plastic.
Feb 2, 2016 - Uploaded by A Plastic Ocean
A Plastic Ocean is an
adventure documentary shot on more than 20 locations over the past 4 years.
Check
this out! This post, below, it will tell you what to do on a personal level!
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/.../plastic-produced-recycling-waste-ocean-trash-...
If
present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic.
Find
out how you can help reduce this threat!
a. I’d also like to suggest in joining the organization: CITIZENS’ CLIMATE LOBBY. I already did! They have a local group, which meets every 3rd Saturday of the month at the Colonie Public Library (in Colonie, 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. They use a consistently respectful, non-partisan approach to climate education, which is designed to create a broad, sustainable foundation for climate action across all geographic regions and political inclinations. By building upon shared values rather than partisan divides, and empowering their supporters to work in keeping with the concerns of their local communities, they work towards the adoption of fair, effective, and sustainable climate change solutions. In order to generate the political will necessary for passage of our Carbon Fee and Dividend proposal they train and support volunteers to build relationships with elected officials, the media and their local community.
b. I have also joined and supported Oceana, an organization that helps protect the oceans. You can join them by visiting their online site http://oceana.org/
c. You can find many other good /reliable organizations that help protect the environment by searching Charity Navigator, an online site that lists the best, most reliable/effective environmental and charitable agencies.
15. Here are my final suggestions. It is clear that plastic pollution is a serious threat because it concerns our ability to live on this planet. Therefore, we all must do our part, if we want to have a good future. We should do our best to follow the 4Rs; Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. However, this will not be enough; unless we all do our part, and the government and the plastic industry work together to help in this effort- to stop the destruction of the environment and the oceans. That is why it is important to that we do the following;
a. Write to our local, State and National leaders, in our towns/villages, cities, and/or county levels, then to our political leaders in Congress and at our state. We should ask them to regulate (control) the plastic industry, which is represented by the umbrella organization called American Chemistry council (ACC), also known by SPI, the 3rd largest industry in the USA. We must tell our government leaders that they must find ways of reducing and/or controlling plastic pollution- because SPI makes plastic, hence it must be responsible for its safe disposal- as to stop it from reaching bodies of water, especially our oceans. Governments must declare that all plastic waste is hazardous (dangerous for our health)! Governments should also invest/give financial incentives (money, grants, tax breaks, low interest loans, etc.) to businesses and/or organizations, schools, hospitals, and even to State government agencies, that support/encourage/apply the 4Rs curbing (hence stop and/or reduce) plastic pollution, and also those who employ/test out new technologies (like plasma torches) that can eliminate the plastic trash problem.
In the meantime governments should ban all throw away plastics, once and for all! In fact, we should demand that use-only-once plastic be banned and/or at least controlled/curbed, recycled, and eventually avoided- so that plastic would not pose threat and end up the environment. California did it! They banned all plastic bags. So can we!
16. So, I believe that we can all be part of the solution, not
the problem, in reducing this threat to our health and our planet, by recycling
more, banning plastic/foam packaging and investing in renewable energy. This would greatly benefit
our environment and our economy because we’d stop wasting resources like plastic and aluminum, and by
recycling them we’d put them back
into the economy at a profit. Germany and many other North European countries
have done this successful, including the country of Rwanda. And here in the
USA, the State of California, Austin and San Francisco have banned plastic. Why
can’t our schools, businesses, local governmnts, town, cities, and our State do it? I think we should!
17. However, in the meantime, as a first positive/effective step; we, the parents and teachers, can educate our children, by recycling ourselves, in our homes and schools. This can be done by informing them about the ocean (its benefits to life on earth, how we are polluting it, and what we cad do to protect/save it). But most importantly, schools must apply the4Rs in their buildings, so that they provide a strong model (good example) for students to emulate (follow). In addition, when schools recycle their plastic bottles and soda cans, they will be recuperating (getting back) some of their funds (the 5 cent deposit- that can add up to hundreds of dollars per month, and thousand per year! So when we take care our environment we also save money! That's a smart and wise way!
18. I hope you will do your part and cooperate in saving our planet. If you’d like receive an ENL (English as a New Language) lesson and quiz on the Ocean and pollution, please email me at ottaviolopiccolo5@gmail.com and I’ll send them to you, you will cover the cost for shipping/postage.
ACTION
FOCUS FOR WORLD OCEANS DAY 2018:
About Us
On World Oceans Day, people around
our blue planet celebrate and honor the ocean, which connects us all. Get
together with your family, friends, community, and the planet to start creating
a better future. Working together, we can and will protect our shared ocean.
Join this growing global celebration on 8 June!
How can I get involved?
It’s fun and easy! This site was developed as a free resource for everyone around the world to use:- Plan your event and download free resources
- Register your event
- Find a planned event to attend
