Captain Charles Moore has one word for you: Refuse!

A short conversation with Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, an organization working to study the plastic pollution in the ocean and bring the world's attention to this growing problem. This is his response to my question, "Is there something individuals can do personally to fix this problem?" Read more about how we can all learn to live with less plastic at http://www.fakeplasticfish.com.

Here is a transcript of the video:

(Beth) Is there something that individuals can do personally?

(Moore) They can refuse. They can refuse to be part of this non-stop consumer culture. They have to realize that it's their own freedom that's being compromised by consumption. It's space that makes people free. They have to have their own space to develop their own potential, and as consumers, they're not given that space. Their time is all taken up with dealing with products. There's nothing in their own personal development that leads them to a better way of life, so they have to start by refusing. By demanding space away from all the productivity, away from all the consumption.

(Beth) So more and more stuff is actually like a prison for people...

(Moore) That's what I'm saying.

(Beth) It doesn't allow people to actually think for themselves and have some time to...

(Moore) It doesn't give them space to think at all, really. The kind of thinking is more like a machine. How do I get it open? How do I use it? How do I put it back? How come the directions are so confusing? How come it doesn't work very long? How come it's broken? Where can I get it fixed? How come nobody will fix it? How come it doesn't work right? You know. How come I need to buy a bunch of extra stuff to get what I need out of it?

(Beth) How come I have to work more hours to make more money to get all this stuff?

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• plastic
• environment
• ocean
• Algalita
• synthetic sea
• Captain Charles Moore
• plastic pollution
• consumption

[Infamissus]

I remember a world without plastic. This man is trying to make that possible for you

[lastormwaterprogram]

Right on, Captain Charles Moore! Plastic pollution in the ocean is a growing problem, and we help stop it by choosing to refuse plastic and properly disposing our trash! Clean water is a team effort - together we can make a difference!

[Mikdeelo]

I like his necklace, looks like it's made from plastic refuse.

Hawaii should collect the plastic on it's shores and made trinkets to sell to the tourists. It would be a win, win, win, win, for them. Clean beaches, profits and the haoles take the crap back to the mainland, no landfill issues.

I know that is not a solution.

[rahmoore]

All that stuff we buy that needs fixing... we also waste so much time and engery cleaning, organizing, storing, dusting, etc. all of it. It traps and paralyzes us. How often do we turn down an opportunity to do something worthy or fun because we need to dust and tidy all our stuff? Our consummerism and materialism is halting our quality of life in every way. It is such a shame.