We were honored to contribute to Dr. Hideshige Takada International Pellet Watch program throughout our trip. He has written a summary of his research and why it is so important. http://www.oceanhealthindex.org/News/Microplastics
Photographer/Artist Michael JP Hall took his entanglement project to the streets of Vancouver this past weekend http://vimeo.com/63225640
The Plastic Pollution Coalition is back at it ! Right here in Vancouver, they installed a giant plastic 6-pack holder on the orca whale exhibit on the corner of Georgia and Thurlow Streets ! Go and check it out !
First up, the small African country of Mauritania has stepped out and banned the plastic bag:
Mauritania has banned the use of plastic bags to protect the environment and the lives of land and sea animals.
More than 70% of cattle and sheep that die in the capital, Nouakchott, are killed by eating plastic bags, environment ministry official Mohamed Yahya told BBC Afrique.
Plastic bag manufacturers could be jailed for up to a year. Plastic makes up a quarter of 56,000 tonnes of waste produced annually in Nouakchott, official statistics show.
Mauritania’s Organization of Consumer Protection head Moctar Ould Tauf said he welcomed the ban, Efe news agency reports. It was of “particular importance” given the negative impact of plastic bags on the environment, animals and marine species, he said.
Environment Minister Amedi Camara said that nearly all of the plastic package waste is not “collected and is found in the natural environment – land and sea – where they are sometimes ingested by marine species and livestock, causing their death”. Continue reading
Thanks to the classes of Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Shomura at Henry Hudson today for being so enthusiastic during Hugh’s presentation for the educational portion of the Debridement Project with Community Arts Vancouver and the Vancouver Maritime Museum. http://www.cacv.ca/announcing-the-debridement-project
Friends of Oceangybe and talented filmmakers Gamut Productions are working on very worthy project, Us and Them. Check out their indigogo campaign:http://www.indiegogo.com/usandthem
Local activist, chef, ideas man and friend of Oceangybe Hunter Moyes has a brilliant project to pair conscious consumers with forward thinking restaurants. http://thetiffinproject.com provides people with reusable take-out containers that give discounts and perks at participating eateries. Nice one!
This graphic is a very nice summary of the cause, effect and magnitude of plastics in our oceans: Continue reading
Excellent info, review of the book Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair With Trash. The best description of the Gyre yet: “a swelling, suspended solution of pulverized plastic”
The Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up team has begun to register volunteers to help with the clean-up effort that will be required when the buld of the Japanese Tsunami debris reaches our beaches. Follow this link to add your name…
The Centre for Alaskan Coastal Studies is also readying for the massive clean-up at hand. They just send out the following press release to mention their effort and hopefully inspire more volunteers to help out. Check it out….
@oceangybe Great meeting Bryson Robertson last week, here is the Net Impact Case Study that on may 9th http://t.co/GDsN5XhSiE - posted 1 week ago (retweet)
