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Boo! Something scary for Halloween: marine debris masks made from unmodified plastic found on North County San Diego beaches. #marinedebris #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #planetorplastic #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #marinedebrismasks #surfriderfoundA baby loggerhead sea turtle that died after washing up on the beach near the Gumbo Limbo Nature Centre in Boca Raton, Florida had 104 pieces of plastic in its digestive system. Sadly, it’s just one of the many that have washed back to shore only to end up dying after ingesting plastic. The viral image of the tiny turtle next to the plastic fragments found in its stomach is helping raise awareness about the problem, but awareness isn’t enough. . As Emily Mirowski from the turtle rehabilitation center states, “We have to reduce plastic use as much as possible. Not just recycling, but eliminating plastic out of daily use.” There are simple things we can all do to reduce our impact. We can refuse single-use plastic items such as straws, take-away cups and lids, utensils, stirrers, and Styrofoam take-out containers, but we must also put pressure on manufactures and we must advocate for legislation that will make a difference. . The tiny bits filling up this toy turtle are microplastics much like the ones the loggerhead babies mistake for food. The colorful pieces are the result of the photo-degradation of larger plastics, which fragment into smaller and smaller toxic bits. The opaque rounded pellets are nurdles, which are preproduction plastic pellets used to make other plastic products. They are often spilled during manufacturing and transportation, and when they enter waterways, they can be swept out to sea. Watch the short animated TED-Ed video called "Nurdles Quest for Domination" for more information. . #microplastics #nurdles #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #planetorplastic #plasticturtle #loggerheadseaturtle #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #surfriderfoundBatman might not be in the new “Joker” movie, but he recently made a surprise appearance at the beach when he washed in at low tide. #batman #joker #lowtide #litterati #take3forthesea #2minutebeachclean #shoresweep #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #marinedebris #planetorplasticPachydermata Plasticus . We are usually reminded of sea life when we think of the impacts of our plastic waste; however, land animals are also affected. . According to National Geographic, plastic bags and wrappers have been found in the dung of the 300 elephants living in the Khao Yai National Park, a world Heritage Site in Thailand, while In india, a 20-year-old elephant died from a blockage caused by the large amount of plastic it had consumed. . Thailand’s National Parks have banned plastic bags and Styrofoam in order to reduce the impact of litter left behind by tourists, and in India, Hindu temples are encouraging pilgrims to participate in “Plastic Free Prayer.” . The changes that I make won’t directly affect the health of these wild elephants, but by changing my habits, I can ensure that my waste doesn’t harm the wildlife that struggles to survive in the ecosystem in which I live. . #refusesingleuse #bedisposablefree #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #planetorplastic #plasticorpachyderm #marinedebris #plasticpollutes #plasticpollutionI am incredible honored to have one of my photographs highlighted on the first plastic-free water aisle on the West Coast at the all new @jimbosnaturally in The Del Mar Highlands Town Center, and I am proud to volunteer with the amazing people at @surfridersandiego . Please watch the video of Mitch Silverstein as he speaks at the grand opening, and don’t forget that today is Coastal Cleanup Day. Even if you didn’t make it to a cleanup location this morning, it’s not too late to make a difference. I encourage everyone to do a quick pickup wherever you are, whenever you can. “Every litter bit” helps! #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #plasticfreewater #jimbosnaturally #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #marinedebris #onlyloserslitterThe eyes are watching! . The Watching-Eye Effect describes the positive changes in behavior that occur when people are being watched or believe they are being watched. Even images of eyes can cause people to behave pro-socially. . In Houston, a team from Rice University concluded that illegal dumping decreased in areas where signs that included eyes were posted. . In addition, researchers from Newcastle University found that when they printed an image of eyes on a leaflet, the odds of the leaflet being littered was reduced by approximately two thirds even without including an anti-littering message. Several other studies that used wall-mounted images of eyes had similar results. . In the conclusion of their report, the Newcastle researchers state, “In view of litter’s negative aesthetic and environmental impacts, the tendency for litter to beget more litter, and the tendency of litter to promote other forms of disorder, the potential societal benefits from cheap interventions that reduce littering by even a small amount are very large.” . Apparently, we need eyes posted everywhere and printed on everything! . #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #onlyloserslitter #eyeswatching #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #marinedebris #planetorplastic... _ _ _ ... #SOS: Sending Morse Code messages on behalf of the planet! #morsecode #saveourseas #savetheplanet #litterati #take3forthesea #2minutebeachclean #shoresweep #planetorplastic #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #marinedebris #artivism #climatecrisis #climatechangeHelp Owlette from PJ Masks “save the day” by volunteering at the Surfrider beach cleanup today, and maybe you will find a toy treasure. We will be just north of the pier until 11:00am. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th. Everyone is also invited to the next @onlyloserslitter cleanup in Vista on September 15th. And don’t forget Coastal Cleanup Day coming up on September 21! #litterati #surfrider #onlyloserslitter #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #pjmasks #savetheday #owletteRecent Comments
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Monthly Archives: December 2013
What Will You Do?
I have known about the problem of plastic pollution for a long time. Many years ago, my sister and her husband made me aware of the issue through their art. Judith and Richard Selby Lang collect plastic refuse from Kehoe … Continue reading
