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Not sweet! This “Sweet 16” birthday balloon reminded me that an estimated 16 million pounds (8 billion tons) of waste enters the ocean annually. #notsweet16 #balloonsblow #litterati #take3forthesea #2minutebeachclean #shoresweep #justgrabbits #plasticpollution #marinedebris #balloonsblowdontletthemgoDegradation—plastics degrade into smaller and smaller bits until they become microscopic, but they will never mineralize or completely break down. In other words, petroleum-based plastics never go away, and sadly, the various meanings of the word degradation all apply. . Degradation: the process by which something is made worse, esp. the quality of air, soil, or water (environmental degradation) . Degradation: the process in which the beauty or quality of something is destroyed or spoiled (destruction) . Degradation: the situation in which people are made to feel they have no value (demoralization) . Degradation: the process of wearing down (disintegration) . The last image includes x-rays of my shoulder both before and after the surgery to repair the fracture that occurred when I slipped on ice at Lake Tahoe on New Year’s Day. The x-rays remind me of the broken-down plastic items in more ways than one. I encourage all of you to make sure you are getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Bone health is key to a long, active life, and strong bones are especially important for litter-picking, beach-cleaning eco-warriors! ❤️ . #degradation #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #shoresweep #plasticpollution #marinedebris #onlyloserslitter #trashtag #xrays #takecareofyourbones #takecareoftheearth #selflove #oceanlove #earthlove #wheelofwellbeing #2minbcphotochallenge8 #helpinghand #callofthetideSuch wise words spoken by 2nd graders after a collaborative art-making experience with my plastic debris collection. I am incredibly lucky that I have the opportunity to work with amazing students and teachers every day. #educationiskey #kidsgetit #wisewords #kidssaythedarndestthings #2minbcphotohallenge8 #marinedebris #plasticpollutesCome make litterbugs with me at Wild Barrel Brewing in San Marcos today beginning at 2:00pm as we celebrate the first anniversary of @thebountifulbag with eco-vendors, art, good food, and family fun for all! #litterbugs #litterbugsme #litterati #onlyloserslitter #shoresweep #marinedebris #plasticpollution #artivism #2minbcphotochallenge8 #worldartdayScientific name: plasticada pacificus detritus—these pesky plastic litterbugs are evolving. #litterbugs #litterbugsme #litterati #onlyloserslitter #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #justgrabbits #shoresweep #plasticpollution #plasticpollutes #marinedebris #makeartnottrash #artivismMaybe every cloud doesn’t have a silver lining after all. #balloonsblow #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #plasticpollution #trashtag #shoresweep #justgrabbits #balloonsblowdontletthemgoInsects, including native nine-spotted ladybugs, are disappearing from the planet. Sadly, this plastic lady beetle that I found washed up on the beach will exist forever. 🐞 The North County Climate Change Alliance recently hosted a fascinating talk about the impact that climate change is having on insects. During the event, Dr. Wall, an entomologist from San Diego’s Natural History Museum, explained that insects are impacted by agricultural practices, including pesticide use and habitat loss. In addition, pollution and rising temperatures are taking a toll. In fact, “More than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered....The rate of extinction is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds and reptiles.” 🐞 It would be catastrophic if insects vanished, but there are things we can do to protect them, including supporting organic farming and eliminating pesticide use around our homes. We can also sign petitions and contact our representatives to demand pesticide legislation at the local, state, and federal levels. For more information, and to learn what you can do, visit the Xerces Society (link in my bio). 🐞 #litterati #plasticladybug #2minutebeachclean #justgrabbits #trashtag #shoresweep #marinedebris #plasticpollution #insectapocalypse #bringbackthepollinators #pollinatorsnotplastic #xercessociety @xercessociety @northcounty.climatechangeGreen doesn’t always mean good luck. Sometimes it’s just greenwashing. . Starbucks will be phasing out their ubiquitous green straws by 2020 and will replace them with “sippy cup” lids that can be recycled. Ironically, most Starbucks stores don’t even have recycling bins available, and we are terrible at recycling even in the best of circumstances. In fact, only 9% of plastics worldwide are actually recycled, and it has become even more complicated now that China is no longer accepting our waste. . Some believe that Starbucks is simply greenwashing by replacing straws with lids rather than making more impactful changes that will ultimately lead to a reduction in the amount of plastic produced, and if recycling rates are any indication, 91% of the sippy cup lids will either go to landfills or will end up polluting the natural environment. . In short, Starbucks is simply exchanging one plastic hazard for another, and if we accept this change in the guise of a green initiative, we are too. Please refuse single-use cups, straws, lids, and stirrers—choose to reuse instead! . #greenwashing #starbucks #starbucksstraws #litterati #2minutebeachclean #take3forthesea #trashtag #justgrabbits #shoresweep #stpatricksday #happysaintpatricksday #goodluck #green #greenstraws #strawssuck #refusesingleuse #choosetoreuse #lonelywhaleRecent 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
