Plastic Ocean

When I recently heard the newscaster tell us of the huge oil spill into the Columbia River, my heart sank again. How long and how often will we witness such tragedies that destroy the beauty and life of our Mother Earth? It seems as if the seas and oceans, lakes and rivers are the oft-reported scenes of human abuse and, yes, trafficking!

A recent report from the World Economics Forum indicated that by 2050, the oceans’ plastic waste will outweigh fish! I can scarcely get my mind around that announcement – that today there are over 150 million tons of plastic in the ocean  (re-read that statistic, please); and that by 2025 — less than 10 years from today — the ocean is expected to contain 1.1 tons of plastic for every 3 tons of fish. . .and by 2050, more plastic than fish, by weight. Plastic! This same report indicated that at least 8 million tons of plastic — equivalent to one garbage truck every minute — leak into the ocean each year. (Please re-read that alarming statistic, as well.) 

How can it be? Is it because of our unexpected surge in consumption? Because everything we buy is being packaged in plastic? Some plastic bears the warning: “Keep out of reach of children!” I would say that our world is being choked by all the discarded plastic. What can I/you do to save our fish, dolphins, coral, children, Mother Earth, Sister Seas?  It’s too big for anyone or anything unless the whole supply and demand chain sits at the table and participates in this necessary revolution. Would you agree? Are we willing? When do I/you begin the revolution against plastic, to say nothing of oil spills, pop cans etc.?

 

Renée Domeier, OSB