Our ocean and the array of species that call it home are succumbing to the poison of plastic. Are we as individuals really taking this seriously? Or are we just letting others solve our problem of more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050?
The Sea Turtle Conservancy says that 100 million marine animals die each year from ocean debris. How do we even allow this?
You probably saw the video of the sea turtle with a plastic straw embedded in its nose? 52% of sea turtles worldwide have ingested plastic. Some starve after doing so, mistakenly believing they have eaten enough because their stomachs are full. On many beaches, plastic pollution is so pervasive that it’s affecting turtles’ reproduction rates by altering the temperatures of the sand where incubation occurs.
An estimate that 60% of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic, a figure they predict will rise to 99% by 2050. Plastic waste kills up to a million seabirds a year.
56% of all cetacean species have been recorded eating plastic.
Sadly, it is foreseen that plastic production and consumption are to double over the next 10 years due to growing economies. If we don’t start doing something about it now, we could be facing 250 million metric tons of plastic in the ocean in less than 10 years.
Apart from the pollution, plastic bottles contain a chemical called BPA. This has been linked to causing reproductive, immunity, and neurological problems, as well as an increased likelihood of Alzheimer’s, childhood asthma, metabolic disease, 2 types of diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
We have to think of the future. It’s a progressive mindset held by those who care about more than just themselves. This means being committed to making daily decisions that positively impact our environment, thus creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
Don’t think you cannot make a difference, because you can.
8 million people said, its only one straw. . . .