Friday, February 22, 2019


EARTH DAY & WORLD OCEAN DAY CELEBRATIONS AT OUR SCHOOLS, HOMES and WORK PLACES!

This is a resource where you will find; educational activities, art/writing contests, movies, videos, and opportunities to take concrete actions that will help preserve our planet from the threats of plastic pollution and other environmental dangers.
By Ottavio Lo Piccolo, ESL teacher and social/environmental activist. Schenectady, NY.
(Last updated: March 24, 2019)



Why Earth Day and World Ocean Day? Millions of people around the world celebrate and honor the ocean/earth, which connects us all. Get together with your school, 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!

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 of it:


EDUCATIONAL ACTICITIES for World Ocean Day 
log on to: https://www.worldoceansday.org/resources?fbclid=IwAR0IcJQgnAWlq0HgWBgkrWt56HhHE3ukz13fWILJ6VtlFC0e6_hmbm-JVyc 

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES- that Schools can/should do to LEAD/INSPIRE others to HELP PROTECT EARTH   
  • Please, ask your principal for permission to register your School!
  • I’ve already got permission and registered with the schools I work at. If you are a teacher, you may do so- but first, make sure that your permission is granted by the principal and enough teachers will be interested in participating.
  • Hundreds of schools have now registered to take part and have access to all our free teaching resources for the day. It’s full of activities and classroom resources; fact sheets, posters, and even a quiz, to help you plan your day. If your school wants to sign up please register here: https://worldoceanday.school/

POSSIBLE EARTH DAY/WORLD OCEAN DAY ACTIVITIES
  • Presentations/Showing of videos/documentaries; on the causes/threat/problem of ocean plastic pollution and what we can do to reduce it (on pages 3-6)
  •  Art shows, installations, murals, Earth Day/World Ocean day quiz contests
  •  Writing/poster contests
  • Plastic bottles/cans all year recycling in our schools (classrooms, lounges, cafeterias, hallways, near soda/food vending machines)  
  • Clean up of one and/or several neighborhoods (separating recyclable plastic/glass bottles/cans, metals, etc)
  • Use plastic trash to make artwork!
WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE POLLUTION? We all need to do all we possibly can to reduce waste (especially all single use-plastic trash) and carbon footprint to save our planet! Here are some ways how we can reduce pollution and help our planet Earth!

GET CLEAN ENERGY! SAVE MONEY AND THE PLANET!
Connecting to a company that carries clean energy (electric)  from renewable sources is easy! You do not need to change your utility company/carrier. All you have to do is find the most convenient/cheapest and most efficient company for you by signing up online and choosing the utility you want. All you need is your utility bill, your account number your name, and your contact information. Simple! Click on the link below!
 https://www.powersetter.com/energy-rate-for-your/home/schenectady/ny/12308/nat-grid-upstate/electric/

WHY SWITCH TO RENEWABLE SOURCES? Because it is better for the Earth- you will reduce CO2 emissions and will save money too! SIMPLE! We may be paying a little extra now, but if everyone switches to renewable energy, the prices will go down.


WHAT THINGS HARM (damage) PLANET EARTH?     
1. Our planet faces many threats (dangers) that are manmade- created by humanity. The first most dangerous threat is nuclear war, and the second threat is pollution from several sources; CO2 emissions (smog from auto vehicles and factories), herbicides (plant killers) and pesticides (bug/insect killers), single-use plastic trash (things we use once, and then we throw away, as plastic bags, bottles, cups, silverware, straws, cups, lids, etc. And the third threat is deforestation the cutting down and/or burning of forests because of development (for farmland and/or to build roads, factories, etc.)

2. There is so much plastic pollution in the world because the USA, and many other countries, do not recycle enough; farmers use harmful chemicals to grow their crops, people throw their plastic waste in the trash, and some even throw it outside, in the environment, on the ground or in the sea. In fact, 79% of plastic waste/trash is accumulating in landfills/dumps)- and as it sits (stays) in the natural environment, it contaminates (poisons, spoils) the soil and water sources, our drinking water. Lots of this plastic waste gets transported to the sea by the wind, sewer systems and water bodies, creeks, and rivers. In addition to microplastics (tiny pieces of plastic, 1/5 of an inch) are also released from motor vehicle tires, which get washed into the oceans- by rain- into the sewer system! And microplastics from electric clothes washers/driers when they wash/dry synthetic clothes (made with polyester/plastic fibers)!

3. No wonder why scientists are continuously warning us. They tell us that if present trends (these destructive ways) continue, by 2050, there will be 8 billion metric tons of plastic in the oceans! This means that every minute that passes, the equivalent of rubbish (trash, garbage) truck full goes into the world’s oceans! This pollution is poisoning our drinking water and killing millions of marine (ocean) animals. 

4. So, it is evident, that everyone, me, you, our families, our communities, our neighborhoods; schools, stores, parks, hospitals,  businesses, corporations, and the governments must do more to reduce (decrease, lessen) and eventually stop this enormous (huge, very big) amount of waste (trash, pollution) that is filling and destroying our planet earth. 

Source: Earth Day ESL Lesson © Ottavio Lo Piccolo, 4-26-17, Rev. 5-2-21. Teachers have permission to make copies for their own students. Written permission is required from the author to use/quote any of this content.   In FD9

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COLLECT PLASTIC BOTTLES/CANS & PLASTIC BAGS!
The CLYNK recycling program (In Upstate NY/New England)  is convenient/easy- we just collect/drop them off at Hannaford (after you affix your bag tag/sticker that has your online info), CLYNK will recycle them and funds will be deposited in your account- cash it at any Hannaford Supermarket!

SCHOOL RECYCLING CHALLENGE/CONTEST to all SCHOOLS in MAINE & in NEW YORK STATE.  You can join the CLYNK school recycling program- by sending home to parents/families- the individual Hannaford recycling bags. Just fill it with bottles/cans (affix the tag/sticker on it) and drop it off at your local Hannaford Supermarket. For every dollar earned in bottle/cans returns, Hannaford Supermarkets will add a $.50 bonus. The first prize will be $1,500, the second prize 1,000 and the third prize will be $500- to those schools that will collect the highest number of redeemable containers. 

To join this program https://www.clynk.com/clynk-for-schools/

OR CALL 1-866-883-4113. Official contest rules can be found at www.clynk.com

8th Annual CLYNK for Schools Recycling Challenge 2019 Launches January 14th! CLYNK! Did you hear that?  It’s the sound of change for K-12 schools-  

We encourage our schools to raise funds and recycling awareness by Clinking redeemable bottles and cans year-round at participating Hannaford Supermarkets. And during our annual Recycling Challenge, January 14 – March 22, 2019, schools will get even more change—or better yet, funds in the form of a check. For every $1 raised in the Challenge period, schools will get an added 50-cent match, plus the opportunity to compete for other cash prizes! Last year’s winners raised an average of $1,500 for their school. Public and private K-12 schools in Maine or New York are eligible.

Families, you can also give some change by signing up for CLYNK and donating to your school through your personal online CLYNK account. Your influence will impact schools and the community through positive recycling momentum.

Green Schools CLYNK All Year!
So, where do you start? Check with your school Principal to be sure that they’re on board—no deduction points for nudging.
School-Assigned CLYNK Coordinators:
  1. Call and place an order for bags, tags, and promotional pouches at 1.866.228.8454. We will mail them to your school.
  2. Place school identifier sticker tags on all bags
  3. Fold bags and place them in pouches
  4. Handout pouches to students, families, and teachers to fill at their homes
  5. Drop filled bags at any of our Hannaford Supermarket drop locations
When it’s time to get more bags, tags, or pouches, or if you have questions, school CLYNK account coordinators can call or email us.
Be sure that your school, Green Team, and/or PTO connect with us on social media @thinkCLYNK to stay up to date on everything surrounding CLYNK for Schools. Tag us in all of your posts and use the hashtag #CLYNKforSchools to show us how your school creates change. We’ll share the best stuff, so get creative with it. We’re cheering you on from the sidelines!

Purchase a plastic trash bin and start recycling in your school! I got several so far! They are white Sterilite Swing Tops (13.2 Gal/50Liters- you can buy them at Walmart for $11.85- taxes included. I bought two for Schalmont HS! But I got approval from the principal first. I placed one in the room where I teach and one in the hallway near my classroom. The black 20 gals. bins with lids can also be purchased at Walmart- they cost 8.79 each, and they hold the Clink bags almost perfectly!
  
THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DONE SO FAR...
The bottles/cans that I collect are donated to the Capital Region BOCES Clynk Recyclizing program that I started- the funds raised are donated to the Backpack Program and the Skill USA Programs at BOCES! 
Voorheesville Elementary will begin Clinking in the fall of 2021!

You can buy the Hannaford Clink recycling cardboard boxes for $ 5 each, and the recycling bags (one box has 10 bags in each- for $2.79 each). CLYNK will also recycle any non-redeemable items, like Gatorade, juice/drink bottles, yogurt cups, etc.- as long as they’re clean! Please, make sure no trash/food/liquids are included-otherwise they’ll be thrown in the garbage.

I hope that you’ll consider recycling in your classroom, at work, and or hallway and join me in the CLYNK program. 
If you do, please; 

·         Inform/educate your students (Ss) to recycle correctly; they shouldn’t throw plastic in the trash! Because it contaminates the land and water sources! Recyclables bottles/cans must be empty/clean and bottles caps must be screwed on the bottles- because these (if thrown in the trash- may end up in the sea and kill marine animals too!

For more info. and/or signing up for the CLYNK program at Hannaford’s Supermarket bottles/cans & non-redeemable (recyclable items without a deposit fee), call 1-866-883-4113, or email at info@clyink.com
 
Please also consider joining these recycling programs;
·         Office Depot’s Recycle program for old technology, and toner for copiers/printers, and cartridges. They will deposit $2 in your Rewards Account for emptying every toner/cartridge you turn in. Each person with a Rewards Account can turn in 10 cartridges per month. You can use your rewards toward a store purchase! To join their Rewards Program visit one of their stores or log on to: www.officedepot.com for assistance  call 1-866-562-3872

I invite all teachers/school personnel (and offices everywhere) to join and recycle these cartridges. Do not throw them in the trash! Take turns in bringing them into your local Office Max store.

ColorCycle | crayola.com

·      https://www.crayola.com/colorcycle.aspx
·         Through this initiative, students in K-12 schools across the continental United States and parts of Canada can collect and repurpose used Crayola markers. I invite all of my colleagues in all schools to do so. I placed a crayon recycling box in my classroom and in the teacher’s lounges. I will send these to Crayola.

WHY is it important to recycle plastic? Because our planet and the world’s oceans are being submerged- they’re literally filled with plastic trash! It's mostly single-use, disposable items and Styrofoam/plastic packaging. This plastic trash is destroying our oceans and our planet. The extent of the damage inflicted on the world’s oceans, and our planet, is enormous.   According to the June 2018 National Geographic;
  •          40% of our everyday plastic is used once and then it is tossed (thrown away in the trash) - so 8 million tons of it ends up in the ocean each year. (Source: National Geographic)
  •         Only 9% of our trash is recycled (in the USA), and the rest- 79%- is accumulating in landfills, hence, it sits in the natural environment and contaminates our land and water. And 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 also estimate that 12   million tons of plastic are entering our oceans every year – that's a rubbish truck full- every minute!  
  •          Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. Nearly 700, including endangered ones of species of marine animals, are known to have been affected. Marine species of all sizes, from zooplankton to whales, now eat microplastics, the bits smaller than one-fifth of an inch across. This is plastic that has broken down into smaller pieces (after years of floating in the ocean, and/or sitting in the environment).
  •         And other sources tell us that 94% of all drinking water in the USA is polluted with plastic, and 70% of the world’s water contains plastic too!

Nature Movies... for EARTH/OCEAN Day lessons.

Disneynature Earth. Released in 2007 (90 min.). An entertaining/educational film to teach about Earth Day! An excellent film that children of all ages will enjoy. An entertaining/educational film for all ages! 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: Oct.10, 2007 (France)    Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield. Narrated by: Patrick Stewart (British release). Production companies: BBC, Discovery Channel, Disneynature, BBC Worldwide, Gaumont, Greenlight Media

Watch the trailers!

Disney Nature's- Earth- Webisode 1 (HQ!) https://youtu.be/NdnPzjqGZDU

Earth (2007) Trailer https://youtu.be/DlF2zaiVyLM


Disneynature. Oceans. A film for all ages! Entertaining/educational! 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: April 22, 2010 (USA). Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud. Narrators: Jacques Perrin, Pierce Brosnan, Rie Miyazawa Awards: César Award for Best Documentary https://youtu.be/4INXJ70DLyQ?t=6

Disney Nature- "Oceans" Teaser (HD!) https://youtu.be/owpbYmxtEJo

Oceans - Disney Nature Official Trailer 2010 https://youtu.be/fwxZuKErHs8

 

Below you also find my resources we can like you to know that I am available to come into your classroom and do a presentation on Earth Day and World Ocean day, anytime you want (when I have your ESL kids with me) sometime this spring.

You can view my 2 presentations online, if you like, they are posted on my personal blog.

EARTH DAY & WORLD OCEAN DAY LESSONS BY Ottavio LoPiccolo

1.    EARTH- The Greatest Gift of All! Earth Day Lesson

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/preview/1152318122222144980/934057611886770566


2.    OCEANS' 13 ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 

An ENL (English as a New language) Lesson 

by Ottavio Lo Piccolo

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1152318122222144980/8570913548250517692


3. OCEANS- Why do we like them? What the oceans provides humanity, 

how we are destroying them with pollution, 

and what we can do to save them.

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/preview/1152318122222144980/7258378934575540495



MOVIES TO RAISE AWARENESS/INTEREST IN PROTECTING OUR PLANET AGAINST THE SCOURGE OF PLASTIC TRASH
I have seen three excellent/educational and inspiring documentary films, and 7 short videos, that show and explain the extent of the ocean plastic mess. The first one that I saw recently is titled:  
·       
 1.  Inside the Garbage of the World Documentary. The Ugly truth About Plastic Pollution (released in 2016). 

  2. A PLASTIC OCEAN (released in 2012). And
·          
  3. Plastic Paradise. The GREAT Pacific Garbage Patch (released in August 2010).

Summaries of the above films.
1. Inside the Garbage of the World Documentary. The Ugly truth About Plastic Pollution (76 minutes/Not Rated- released in 2016). This is a must see for anyone, children (from 5th grade and above. After the Japan Tsunami and the Fukushima disaster in 2011, pollution and radiation is traveling through the Pacific Ocean to the U.S. via discarded plastic. Without a realistic solution in sight, the film explores personal accountability each one of us shares to solve this global crisis. We are on the edge of a tremendous disaster – can humankind act before it is too late? You can find this film online at hoopla.com (if your local library has this online service- it’s free for those who have a library, visit: https:www//hoopladigital.com/play or https://www.hoopladigital.com/play/11980748

Here are some facts from the 2016 documentary film: Inside the Garbage of the World. The Ugly Truth About Plastic Pollution;
  • An estimated 100 billion tons of plastic is produced each year, more or less 4.7 million tons of plastic trash per year, 80% originates on land and the rest- 20%- is discarded from ships/boats
  • 30%-75% of river debris is plastic trash
  • helium balloons are also a major problem,
  • 50% of plastic sinks to the bottom of the ocean, where it deteriorates- breaks into smaller pieces) and most likely marine animals ingest it.
  • Plastic is hard to see at sea because it breaks up into smaller fragments (tiny pieces) in a vast ocean.
2. A PLASTIC OCEAN. An adventure documentary that was shot in 4 years and in over 20 countries. In 2011 by journalist, filmmaker and adventurer Craig Leeson set out to make a documentary on whales, but then, noticing all that plastic in the ocean, he changed the main message to the ecological threat of plastic pollution to our planet. Featured also, in this movie, Tanya Streeter, the 1st woman to beat a man's record! For deep diving (into the sea)! Released in 2016. The time of the film is 102 min (1 hr. and 42 min.). To see the trailer (2-2-16), type the following title on You Tube: A Plastic Ocean Official Trailer (2:09 minutes), or click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrn4-FfbXw

I have a copy of A Plastic Ocean. It is an eye opener. It show how we are ruining our oceans with our single-use plastic. According to them 8 MILLION pounds of plastic/year end up in the sea! In fact, marine biologists predict that within 2 generations (our grandchildren) may not have an ocean; hence, the earth may no longer be a livable planet! Take action join the global movement at www.plasticoceans.org At 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

For a public showing of this film visit: http://aplasticocean.film/
And to join the plastic cleanup efforts visit: https://youtu.be/6zrn4-FfbXw

3. Plastic Paradise. The GREAT Pacific Garbage Patch. This is an award winning documentary film. The great Pacific garbage patch is 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\

EARTH DAY VIDEOS, p. 6-7

This below is a list with links to Videos & Movie trailers (short videos, 4-15 minutes). I invite you to watch some of them, and learn more on the effects (results) and devastation (destruction and harm) that plastic waste is doing to our oceans. Also, if you can, view some of the films listed at the end of this lesson. 

 

Documentary Movies

1.     A Plastic Ocean - Trailer (2:09 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zrn4-FfbXw

2.     Plastic Paradise. The GREAT Pacific Garbage Patch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf5JI0b1L7k\

 

3.     Plastic Oceans | What is the impact of pollution in the sea?  12 minutes. ABC Science, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTDvqaqPlM Oceans are silently choking on our plastic waste. 

Videos on the threat of ocean plastic pollution and solutions

1.     How does plastic end up in our oceans? (1.2 min) Aug 24, 2017 By Greenpeacehttps://youtu.be/Our5CZz5qoU

A truckload of plastic is entering our oceans every single minute. But how does it get into the sea? Find out by watching this fascinating video. If we act together - we can hold governments and corporations to account and stop our oceans becoming dumping grounds for plastic. Pledge to end ocean plastics now: http://act.gp/2x4oahV

 

2.     The effects of ocean pollution (1.5 min) Aug 6, 2016 by Project Seavax

https://youtu.be/ZqTTSVM5TCo

 

3.   Are You Eating Plastic for Dinner? | Short Film Showcase (4.4 min)

Oct 23, 2014      https://youtu.be/FjT8GG0ETQg

 

4.     POWERFUL VIDEO: Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans FOR GOOD | Oceana (4 min) Oct 9, 2019 https://youtu.be/Yomf5pBN8dY

5. Ocean Pollution - Save Our Marine Life (4 min) - https://youtu.be/l3XGUnjDRUQ

6.  How We Can Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean | National Geographic (3 min.)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQTUWK7CM-Y&t=30s

 

7. How to Save Our Planet (8.3 min) by Apr 5, 2019 by WWF International

https://youtu.be/0Puv0Pss33

It’s simple. Sir David Attenborough explains how humans can take charge of our future and save our planet. What is Our Planet? A Netflix original documentary series and groundbreaking collaboration between WWF, Netflix and Silverback Films, Our Planet showcases the world's natural wonders, iconic species and wildlife spectacles that still remain. We are all a part of this amazing planet, but we're changing it like never before. Discover the story of the one place we all call home. Watch Our Planet on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/ourplanet

 

 

 

7 Educational/informative short videos for families/educators
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 for all ages that will help everyone 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.

2. Ocean Pollution - Save Our Marine Life (4 min) -  https://youtu.be/l3XGUnjDRUQ
This 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!

3.       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 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.  BAG IT 1-  https://youtu.be/Km CYcf2ags?list=PLiQmjwY1e5icKM_1j9VMX7u5y5fgpvNOj&t=57

6. How can we Clean up the Oceans (4 min.)- In this brief video we learn that between 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
7. The Latest Video on Ocean Plastic Pollution; The Monumental Effort To Rid The World's Oceans From Plastic | VICE on HBO (13 min.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74YQWthFz8g

Me next to Sailboats. Acrylic painting on canvas.

MY ENL (English as a New language) LESSONS on the OCEANS; to educate all students (at all grade levels) on the benefits of the ocean, how we are polluting it, and what we can do to protect it.

1. Ocean presentation. To see it, do a search in this blog and type this title: Ocean- Why do we like it? And/or visit, or click, on this link: http://ottaviolopiccolo.blogspot.com/2016/06/ocean-why-do-like-it-lets-take-look.html

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 (about the ocean)  and 13 answers and many images.


3. OCEAN POLLUTION QUIZ- A CONTEST TO LEARN/ACT 
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1152318122222144980#editor/target=post;postID=5718529962237430675;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=8;src=link

4. EARTH DAY ESL (English as a 2nd Language) LESSON:
https://ottaviolopiccolo.blogspot.com/2019/03/earth-greatest-gift-of-all-earth-day.html

Sign my petition, with www.change.org titled:
GOV'TS MUST DECLARE PLASTIC, STYROFOAM HAZARDOUS when RELEASED into the ENVIRONMENT.
by visiting/clicking the link below; 
 https://www.change.org/p/u-s-house-of-representatives-gov-ts-must-declare-plastic-hazardous-to-the-environment/edit
 If the link doesn't work, please do a search for this title at  www.change.org

The town of Sferracavallo, near Palermo, Southern Italy.

On March 15, 2019, the Climate Kids held a massive, international, youth-led mobilization that demanded action on the climate crisis. Tens of thousands of high-school and middle-school students in more than 30 countries skipped school to demand that politicians treat the global climate crisis as the emergency it is. To read the whole article written by The Nation, click on the link below, and/or copy and paste it on your internet browser.

https://www.thenation.com/article/greta-thunberg-climate-change-strike/?fbclid=IwAR2Jsp3JA5stgWl9cH_S41Sliv8IUh_2euyomRq8K3yKSbZCpqvwY-umcU8

WHY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE SPEAKING OUT? Because we
are in a sea of troubles (lots of problems)! Our planet, and in
particular, the world's oceans are being submerged (flooded, filled) devastated (ruined, destroyed) with plastic trash- our single-use plastic and foam packaging- items (things) that are used just once and then tossed in the trash, like: bags, bottles, silverware, cups, lids, straws, dishes, swabs (q-tips), etc. However, that's not all! Other harmful products are also degrading (damaging, hurting) the world’s oceans; discarded fishing, pesticides, herbicides, toothpaste, cosmetics (that contain micro beads- these are tiny pieces of plastic 1/5 of an inch in size), high level of CO2 emissions/pollution from fossil fuels (oil, coil and methane gas) - are causing ocean acidification- the bleaching (or death)- of corrals. In addition to, sewer waste, loaded with micro plastics- also  tiny pieces/particles of plastic- found in; face scrubs (in women cosmetics/make up) and in tooth paste and some liquid soaps are also damaging.  Micro plastics are also released from motor vehicle tires, and get washed to the oceans! And from electric clothes washers/driers when they wash/dry synthetic clothes (made with polyester/plastic fibers)! So, micro plastic now is also in the air we breathe, the water we drink and in seafood! It is estimated that 1/4- 1/3 of seafood contains it. And finally two more; over fishing (usually by commercial fleets) has depleted marine life, and so does sonic blasts (loud noise for oil exploration) and are contributing (causing) to the devastation and killing of marine life.

For those of us who want to help our planet by reducing the
threat of plastic and foam- I'd like to share parts of two
reports/articles; 

The first one is titled: BIOPLASTICS. MADE FROM PLANTS & NATURAL
MATERIALS from The Food Revolution Network to read all of it logon to:   
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/single-use-plastics-problems/

Second, from National Geographic is titled:  A running list of action on
plastic pollution. The world is waking up to a crisis of ocean plastic—and we're
tracking the developments and solutions as they happen. To read all of it logon to:  
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/07/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions/

Action Alert: Petition to Help Protect Coral Reefs- SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE THEM!  At:
 https://www.earthday.org/2019/03/15/action-alert-petition-to-help-protect-coral-reefs/

Around the world, coral reefs are in danger. These fascinating
organisms, which provide habitat for thousands of other species and help support global industries with a value totaling as much as $9.9 trillion, are under attack. With their existence threatened by rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, chemical pollution, and damage from human contact, coral reefs need your help!
 
Here’s what you can do to help protect coral reefs. Buy and use only oxybenzone and octinoxate-free sunscreens and sign our petition urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove these chemicals from sunscreens. The FDA has issued a
proposed rule that would update regulatory requirements for most
sunscreen products in the United States and is seeking public
comment until May 28, 2019.

Extended exposure to the sun’s rays can be harmful, which is
why wearing sunscreen is so important. Equally as important is
making sure that the sunscreens we are wearing are not
harming the outdoor environment we enjoy. That is why it is
essential we demand access to sunscreen that is free of the coral
killing oxybenzone and octinoxate.

The Environmental Working Group has found that both ingredients are found in nearly 65% of non-mineral sunscreens. Consumers have the right to protect themselves and their children from the sun without causing harm to the outdoor environment.
For this reason, Earth Day Network is asking you to sign this
petition urging the FDA to remove oxybenzone and octinoxate
from sunscreens.

 The first one is titled: BIOPLASTICS. MADE FROM PLANTS & NATURAL MATERIALS from  
The Food Revolution Network to read all of it logon to: 
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/single-use-plastics-problems/

A LITTLE ABOUT ME.
I am a naturalized US citizen from Italy; a public school teacher, a an
artist and writer, and a social/environmental activist. In May 2016 I
became aware of ocean plastic pollution after finished reading and
discussing a book with 4th graders, in one of my colleague’s classrooms.
It was Mrs. Pat Vissat’s reading class, at  Jefferson Elementary School, in
Schenectady, NY. The title of that illustrated children’s book was The
Voyage of The Plastiki. This story motivated me to do more. In fact,
soon after I read that book, I began applying the 4Rs with more
effort/passion. I started recycling plastic in the schools where I work and
I encouraged them to do so. I also began teaching about the  oceans\
and what we can do to protect them and the Earth. Students and I wrote
letters to our government leaders, at the federal and State levels. This
effort continues, and I hope to get others like me, who care for our
planet, to support it.
            


Planet Earth is our home, so she is everyone’s responsibility. We
all have a moral obligation- a duty- to do something and protect
her from the harmful effects of pollution. Earth is the only livable
planet that we have and we know of today. Let’s keep it safe.  

 I hope that you will do all you can in reducing plastic/foam trash.
If you are already doing it, I thank you for your support/effort- our 
planet needseveryone's help- please consider to become a
POPE, a Protector Of Planet Earth!
 
“Be the change you want to see in the world”   - Ghandi 

  “Actions speak louder than words”  - Popular saying   
                 
“From knowing comes caring, and from caring comes change”
- From: A Plastic Ocean, documentary film

"When your world is in danger, you’ve got to speak up. When everyone else is quiet and too many leaders are silent on the truth right outside the window, you’ve got to be the voice of reality." 
Former US Vice President and Nobel winner Al Gore

Thank you for supporting the Earth and for being a POPE! 
A Protector Of Planet Earth!  
Our only home! 

GBY!
Ottavio Lo Piccolo 


(c) Ottavio Lo Piccolo 2018, Teachers may make copies only for
their students in an educational setting. Publication, in part or 
whole, is forbidden, and it requires written permission from the 
author.

For a hard copy of this lesson, and/or if have any questions, please contact me at ottaviolopiccolo5@gmail.com     
Home Tel. 518-370-4476 Please call after school hours.



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