Save Our Happy Place - 🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Hello there Sunshine! Welcome back to Save Our Happy Place, your weekly pop of environmental and climate activism. Throughout the month of June (World Oceans Month), we have been tackling how to protect our oceans in relation to climate change from personal actions you can take to demanding systemic action. This week we are tackling plastic pollution, and its effects on our waterways, as well as measures you can take to help mitigate plastics. Unenthusiastic About PlasticOur Plastic Problem & How It Affects Our OceansPlastic by many means is fantastic. It has allowed us to revolutionize healthcare, travel to space, and many safety measures like helmets. But the downside to plastic, is that it has facilitated a consumer throwaway culture. We use a piece of plastic for a few seconds to a few minutes just to throw it away. It then carries on and far outlives us on this planet. These single-use plastics are everywhere, integrated into everything, and are causing big problems for our waterways, climate change, and our own health.
I am willing to bet that most of the plastic you touch is single-use and highly unnecessary. For some, a low-plastic planet might seem unrecognizable. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that plastic production truly ramped up, and for 9% of the world’s population, a world without plastics was at one point a reality. But “what about all of that recycling I’ve been doing my entire life?” you ask. That has to count for something, right? Unfortunately, due to a lack of recycling infrastructure, overwhelmed recycling facilities, and the fact that some plastics are just outright not recyclable - only around 10-15% of single-use plastic gets recycled, meaning that as much as 90% of plastic goes straight into landfills, streams, rivers, and oceans. It then degrades into microplastics ending up in our food, water, and bodies. The Toxic Relationship Between Oil & Gas and PlasticsAs it turns out, only 20 firms are producing 55% of the world’s plastic waste. The largest offender is ExxonMobil which accounts for more plastic waste pollution than any other company on the planet. Oil and gas companies are so interested in creating plastic because plastics are made from fossil fuels. As we transition to more sustainable energy sources, like wind and solar, oil and gas companies are frantically creating more plastic to make up for the loss. The creation of plastic is a growing greenhouse gas emitter, making the production of plastic inextricably linked to climate change. The Macro Problem with Microplastics
It is estimated that 24.4 trillion pieces of microplastics, equivalent to 30 billion plastic water bottles, are floating around in our oceans. The largest known effect of microplastics is that if ingested they can block the gastrointestinal tracts tricking the organism into thinking they don't need to eat. Additionally, toxic chemicals adhere to plastics exposing organisms to high concentrations of toxins. Organisms as small as zooplankton can consume microplastics. Seeing that a significant amount of marine life ingests or processes water through their bodies in some capacity to survive, the presence of microplastics is detrimental. Microplastics exist for two reasons. One, they are purposefully created to go into products like cosmetics and microfibers in clothing and fishing nets. Two, microplastics are created through the breakdown of larger plastic items. Sun exposure and ocean waves can cause larger plastics to break down. But do not confuse this with decomposition. Microplastics can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose wreaking major havoc in the meantime. How do we stop the plastic problem?First and foremost, we can cut plastic production off at the source by restricting oil and gas from running rampant with its production. Take our three actions below to let your representatives know that you support restrictions on plastic. Let’s take the onus off of ourselves and put it back on those responsible. Next, we can use our consumer power to support brands using sustainable materials and practices, while sending a message to brands not taking these initiatives. This means saying NO to plastic wherever you can and purchasing plastic-free products. Lastly, eliminating new plastic waste is a must, but we also need to do something with the plastic that already exists. Many brands are incorporating recycled plastics into their products. But from the standpoint of processing plastic into organic materials, scientists have identified 50 known species of ‘plastivores,’ or plastic-eating organisms. This solution is currently not scalable, but we’re definitely keeping an eye on this one for the future. Take Action to Protect the Oceans from PlasticKeep Microplastics Out of Our Ocean
Tell Congress: Support the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act
Tell Congress to Support the REDUCE Act
Some Rays of SunshineThe Headlines We’re Happy to See
Magnify Your ImpactShare the Save Our Happy Place Newsletter with a friend. Support Save Our Happy PlaceIf you enjoy making waves against climate change with us, please consider supporting our efforts by donating through Patreon. Volunteer with UsIf you would like to contribute to Save Our Happy Place or volunteer your time & skill set, please let us know. |
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🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Combat Climate Change Today
🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
To guide us through World Ocean's Month, welcome guest writer and activist Kevin Travis - an SOHP community member and Science Officer at California Ocean Science Trust. We're covering both
🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Combat Climate Change Today
🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Combat Climate Change Today
🌎 Take Simple Climate Action
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Combat Climate Change Today
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