04-28-2008, 12:55 PM
Plastic ... and the ciminalization of grocery bags ....
I have spent a lot of time on the ocean. Seen first hand how far plastic makes it out to sea and what it does to wildlife.
Bottom line ... when plastic leaves my hand it is secure and either recycled or trash ... it is not allowed into the environment .... will another law make me a better steward?
My solution is to be a good steward and teacher - I tell my stories to the kids (and adults) that will listen and try to get them to practice simple things, like cutting the rings that hold a six pack together so it will never strangle a sea bird or marine mammal...
there is already an international treaty covering trash and plastic (marpol) what we need to do is bring it home to the kids
Six pack rings and monofilament line are what i see most .... imagine a sea lion that has 10 or so yards of 20 lb monfililament wrapped around his neck for a week or three, by that time there is a half inch deep cut that encircles the neck., or a sea turtle , similar scenario, only his mistake was to swim to close to a six pack ring and now will wear one as a necktie till he drowns from fatigue
I see one or two a week like this near any urban area - and as far as 500 miles out at times. Plastic is every where a consumer society is, once in the oceanic currents , collecting in the sargasso sea. all the laws in the world isn't keeping this stuff out of the ocean, think a few more will help?.
what we really need is fewer laws that arent enforced and a little bit more personal responsibility, awareness and empathy for the others that share our space, human or otherwise - and to teach that philosophy .
ok Ill get off my soapbox now
I have spent a lot of time on the ocean. Seen first hand how far plastic makes it out to sea and what it does to wildlife.
Bottom line ... when plastic leaves my hand it is secure and either recycled or trash ... it is not allowed into the environment .... will another law make me a better steward?
My solution is to be a good steward and teacher - I tell my stories to the kids (and adults) that will listen and try to get them to practice simple things, like cutting the rings that hold a six pack together so it will never strangle a sea bird or marine mammal...
there is already an international treaty covering trash and plastic (marpol) what we need to do is bring it home to the kids
Six pack rings and monofilament line are what i see most .... imagine a sea lion that has 10 or so yards of 20 lb monfililament wrapped around his neck for a week or three, by that time there is a half inch deep cut that encircles the neck., or a sea turtle , similar scenario, only his mistake was to swim to close to a six pack ring and now will wear one as a necktie till he drowns from fatigue
I see one or two a week like this near any urban area - and as far as 500 miles out at times. Plastic is every where a consumer society is, once in the oceanic currents , collecting in the sargasso sea. all the laws in the world isn't keeping this stuff out of the ocean, think a few more will help?.
what we really need is fewer laws that arent enforced and a little bit more personal responsibility, awareness and empathy for the others that share our space, human or otherwise - and to teach that philosophy .
ok Ill get off my soapbox now