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Wrack Wreath #2 . Wreaths are common holiday decorations that can also have a variety of symbolic meanings. Some believe that the circularity represents eternity with no beginning and no end. This #wrackwreath, made of degrading plastic bits, exemplifies the fact that plastic is eternal. It doesn’t biodegrade; it photodegrades, breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces that pollute the environment and never truly go away. . Check out the creative posts with the #wrackwreath hashtag and be inspired to make your own. For more fun and good cheer, join the wreath-making competition that @seastuff_ is hosting. . #litterati #shoresweep #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #marinedebris #marinepollution #upcycle #artivism #refusesingleuse #planetorplastic #wrackwreath #wreath #trashart #makeartnottrashPeople around the world buy 20,000 bottles of water every second, which equals 1,000,000 per minute. Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year and only about 23% were recycled. The vast majority went to landfills or ended up in the natural environment like this one that I found washed up on the beach. . The Story of Stuff’s short film about bottled water linked in my bio explains how consumers have been deceived by the advertising tactics of the beverage industry. Contrary to what they have led us to believe, tap water is still the best choice for most of us. However, the film urges that we demand clean tap water for all, explaining that “In the US, tap water is underfunded by $24 billion partly because people believe drinking water only comes from a bottle!” The narrator also shares that we spend millions of dollars to manage the plastic bottles that are discarded while a billion people around the world don’t have access to clean water. In the end, the film asks viewers to consider an important question: “What if we spent that money improving our water systems or better yet, preventing pollution to begin with?” . #numbers #2minbcphotochallenge6 #litterati #plasticwaterbottle #refusesingleuse #plasticpollutes #plasticpollutes #thestoryofstuff #pickup1millionSnow Flakes (made with marine debris, including plastic flossers, bio-filters, and the tops from Kool Aid Bursts all found on North County San Diego beaches) ❄️ The most remote places on Earth are being impacted by human activity, and recent research on microplastics and chemicals in sea ice and snow samples taken from the Arctic Sea and in Antarctica indicates that man-made pollutants are contaminating these pristine wildernesses. ❄️ Scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany concluded that microplastic pollution has contaminated Arctic sea ice at higher levels than previously thought, and not surprisingly, the plastic particles they found were traced to common items such as shopping bags, food packaging, and cigarette filters. Polyester and nylon microfibers were also embedded in the ice. ❄️ In addition, researchers with Greenpeace recently found microplastics and chemicals in snow and water samples taken in Antarctica. The Guardian reported that “Seven of the eight sea-surface water samples tested contained microplastics such as microfibres,” and almost all of the freshly fallen snow samples taken on land contained toxic chemicals. ❄️ Even though these untouched places are far removed from our daily lives, they are being impacted by the choices we make every day, and there are things we can do to help. We can reduce our use of single-use plastic items and unnecessary plastic packaging, and we should also rethink polyester clothing, which sloughs off micro-fibers when washed. Micro-fibers are actually one of the most ubiquitous micro-plastics found in water samples taken around the world. ❄️ For more information, please see the article from The Guardian linked in my bio: “Antarctica: plastic contamination reaches Earth's last wilderness.” ❄️ #2minbcphotochallenge6 #pethates #biofilters #koolaidbursts #flossers #shoresweep #artivism #makeartnottrash #dontbeasnowflake #snowflakes #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #marinedebris #litterati #microplastics #microfibers #greenpeaceGlow Stick Sun Burst #2 . Most of the glow sticks I find on the beach were probably once tied to fishing line and were used to lure fish toward bait at night. Unfortunately, the plastic outer shell can’t be recycled due to the chemicals inside. When one is activated, it lights up for a few hours, and then it ends up in a landfill or in the natural environment forever. Sadly, it is estimated that “700 million chemical light sticks weighing 7,000 tonnes are discarded into our oceans every year.” . There are many alternatives for holiday celebrations, concerts, and other special events. For example reflectors, flashlights, and glow stick apps can have a similar effect. However, until recently, the options for fishing have been limited. A British company has developed an LED alternative that is reasonably priced and can last forever with proper care. Visit Fishtekmarine.com to read about their Proglow products, and while you are there, you might also want to explore their website to learn about their efforts to design bycatch reduction technologies that will reduce the possibility of harm to marine life such as sea birds and sharks. . #glowstick #sunburst #sun #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #glowstickgo #marinedebris #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #artivism #shoresweep #2minbcphotochallenge6Calamity Clown . A calamity is a disaster “marked by great harm and lasting distress and suffering.” Calamity Clown, created with unmodified pieces of plastic debris collected from North County San Diego beaches, represents the harmful impact that plastic pollution has on ocean ecosystems and the distress and suffering it causes marine life. Calamity Clown also signifies the urgency of the problem and the fact that there is no time to clown around. Individuals can help stop the plastic pollution calamity by reusing, reducing, and refusing single-use items such as plastic water bottles, take-away cups, straws, stirrers, utensils, and styrofoam to-go containers. . Calamity Clown will be on display this Saturday in downtown Vista during Backfence Society’s Bozo Show: Group Art Show for Clowns and Jokers. Join us at 110 S. Citrus on November 24th from 6:00pm-9:00pm for a fun evening filled with with art, food, drinks, crafts, music—and clowns! . #calamity #calamityclown #environmentalcalamity #plasticpollution #planetorplastic #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #onlyloserslitter #artivism #makeartnottrash #choosetoreuse @backfencesociety @onlyloserslitterJason was motivating the other Power Rangers, when he said, “Isn’t the smallest chance of victory enough of a reason for us to keep on fighting ? The world needs us, Rangers.” . To all the beach-cleaning, litter-picking, #rubbishnerds everywhere: Let’s keep on fighting, friends! The planet needs us!! . #redranger #powerrangers #powerranger #mightymorphinpowerrangers #mightymorphin #actionfigure #actionfigures #trashnerd #theworldneedsus #2minbcphotochallenge6 #2minutebeachclean #litterati #take3forthesea #shoresweep #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #marinedebrisI made this winged rainbow heart out of bottle caps a couple of years ago and was inspired to revisit it after @ittybittyplasticcommittee recently shared her incredibly delicate and perfect little micro-plastic rainbow. I am posting mine again for World Kindness Day because it represents so much of what is needed in the world right now. The heart symbolizes love; the rainbow signifies hope; and the wings represent the ability to rise above. #love #hope #riseabove #bekind #2minbcphotochallenge6 #2minutebeachclean #litterati #take3forthesea #shoresweep #bottlecaps #marinedebris #plasticpollutes #plasticpollution #planetorplastic #2minbcphotochallenge6Found a hoop trap and filled it with rope and other debris. #hooptrap #finditfillit #2minbcphotochallenge6 #2minutebeachclean #litterati #take3forthesea #marinedebris #derelictfishinggearRecent Comments
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Category Archives: Writing
Del Rio’s Green Team Dream
When I walk at the beach, I often stop and scan the ocean out to the horizon. I notice the surfers as they wait patiently for the perfect wave, and I watch seabirds soaring overhead as they search for something … Continue reading
Posted in #Litterati, Education, Environment, Leading, Living, Teaching, Writing
Tagged #greenteam, #litterati, #teaching, #writing, #zerowaste, #zerowasteschools
2 Comments
What Is Hope?
Hope is taking action and becoming part of the solution… I found a water bottle on the beach last week. There wasn’t anything unusual about that. Every time I go to the beach, I pick up several empty beverage containers, … Continue reading
Posted in #Litterati, Education, Living, Mentor Text, Teaching, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged #beachplastic, #hope, #literacy, #litterati, #sdawpphotovoices, #sdawpvoices, #teaching, #writing
3 Comments
Writing to Connect with Nature
Write to Connect is the theme for the 2013 National Day on Writing, which has expanded into a weeklong celebration of making connections through writing. In my October 6th blog post, I wrote about the importance of being a connected … Continue reading
Something to Celebrate
I lucked into an invitation to hear Lucy Calkins speak at the Marriot Marquis Hotel in San Diego on Saturday, and I spent the day in awe. Lucy is a renowned writing teacher who has written many influential books on … Continue reading
Posted in Creating, Education, SDAWP Photo Voices, Teaching, Writing
Tagged #celebrate, #celebration, #leadership, #literacy, #teaching, #writing
7 Comments
I Am a Connected Educator!
October is Connected Educator Month, which “seeks to broaden and deepen educator participation in online communities of practice and move toward a more fully connected and collaborative profession.” In response, I have been pondering my own connections. I have always … Continue reading
Posted in Creating, Education, Leading, Living, Making, Teaching, Writing
Tagged #clmooc, #connectededucator, #connecting, #teaching, #writing
5 Comments
A Purple Balloon
I was inspired by the incredible ideas shared at the San Diego Area Writing Project’s Fall Conference yesterday morning, and my mind was reeling as I stopped at my favorite Carlsbad beach on the way home. I didn’t expect to … Continue reading
Posted in #Litterati, Education, Photography, SDAWP Photo Voices, Teaching, Writing
Tagged #litterati, #poetry, #purpleballoon, #sdawpphotovoices, #sdawpvoices, #teaching, #writing
4 Comments
“Talking About…” A Nonfiction Mentor Text
I wrote the article that follows in the spring of 2011. I am finally sharing it here for the first time as my contribution to SDAWP’s #113texts Mentor Text Challenge. I realize that this is more timely than ever with … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Mentor Text, Teaching, Writing
Tagged #113texts, #CCSS, #Informative Writing, Common Core State Standards, SDAWP Voices
3 Comments
