World Oceans Day Statement on Plastic Pollution

ollowing a presentation to Google employees by Captain Charles Moore, an oceanographer who pioneered the study of plastic debris, the Strategic Council on Plastic Pollution convened at the Google Campus in Mountain View, California on June 4, 2009. It was the first meeting for the council on plastic pollution, which was recently formed to raise awareness of this rising threat to the world's oceans. Said council member and marine biologist Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, We are finding plastic in the stomachs of sea turtles, birds, and fish all over the world. I find this extremely disturbing." In honor of World Oceans Day, the council has issued the following statement regarding this increasingly urgent threat to wildlife and human health:

Do you know where our plastic goes?

Did you know that our oceans are filling up with plastic pollution?

Plastic fragments contaminate even the most remote locations on earth, and harmful chemicals leached by plastics are present in the bloodstream and tissues of almost every one of us.

Plastic pollution harms people, animals, and the environment. Plastic is not biodegradable. In the marine environment, plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller particles that absorb toxic chemicals, are ingested by wildlife, and enter the food chain that we depend on.

Consumption of throwaway plastics, such as bottles, containers, bags, and packaging, has spiraled out of control.

Recycling is not a sustainable solution. The reality is that most of our plastic waste is landfilled, downcycled or exported to other countries. And tragically, millions of tons of plastic are poisoning our oceans.

Businesses and governments need to take responsibility for new ways to design, recover and dispose of plastics.

Plastic pollution is the visible symbol of our global crisis of over-consumption. Let's pledge to shift our societies away from the disposable habits that poison our oceans and land, eliminate our consumption of throwaway plastics, and begin embracing a culture of sustainability.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• plastic
• plastic no
• plastic pollution
• garbage
• patch
• garbage patch
• ocean
• world oceans day
• plastics
• poisoning
• debris
• sea turtle
• pacific garbage patch
• Daniella Russo
• Dianna Cohen
• Lisa Boyle
• Manuel Maqueda

[lastormwaterprogram]

We know that plastic bags among other trash left on the streets ends up in our ocean! Together we can make a difference towards clean water! Learn simple steps you can take to protect our ocean at LAstormwater.info

[lakotamoira]

Great video. and some great shots in this. Any chance you could publish under a "Creative Commons" license, that way we can re-edit and use with campaigns abroad? (I'm based in Indonesia) Of course, we would credit PlasticPollution for the footage. thanks.

[clnewcomb]

a small ordinary item such as a single use plastic straw is replaced with reusable, and the thought process continues to other reusable items. The idea grows and the need for single use plastics might be eliminated in time. I'm hoping there is time. reuse reuse reuse

[TheProjectKaisei]

Ocean Voyage Institute is making a HUGE effort to clean up this mess. They are currently raising funds to go the North Pacific Gyre this summer with a team of volunteers to collect the plastic and trash that has accumulated there, as well as researching environmentally friendly ways to dispose of it. Please help save our oceans and the wildlife that live there by googling “dream sail raffle” and visiting our website, as well as posting it on your pages!

[jetsetpeasant]

Completely agree.  Thanks for putting this up!

[smokeyflea]

This could really use more views... and who's the arse who thumb-downed this?

[dontlikenumbers]

So harp on the FDA and USDA about it. I wouldn't mind having my meat purchases wrapped in butcher paper instead of 2 or 3 layers of cling wrap, or reusing my own storage containers, but there are "health" regulations that prevent that.

And address the chemicals that Monsanto pushes on farmers that get into the water as well.

Government laws have done this not just the "consumers".