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LISTEN UP: Over a dozen #PlasticSucks radio stories

April 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Huge news yesterday! The UK may ban plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton swabs (by Laurel Wamsley). To me, this indicates that there is an understanding that it’s not just because our planet looks disgusting with all of the plastic littered about, but that governments are getting the full picture that plastics are also deteriorating our health and well-being –  potentially, for generations to come. It’s not just an aesthetic issue – it’s a serious concern worth investigating.

Maybe reading about the many reasons plastic sucks is not something you consider a valuable use of your time. I get it – it can be depressing. So, I ‘ collected a new way to get the news across (for you to share the message with friends and family). Since January 2017, National Public Radio has found the subject of plastics and how it affects the world valuable enough to create these ten stories. There may even be more stories at the member station level. Feel free to share in the comments section if you find one.

Another place plastics are turning up: Organic fertilizer from food waste (April, 2018) by Christopher Joyce
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is much bigger than previously thought (March, 2018) by Christopher Joyce
UK lawmakers want to battle waste with a latte levy on disposable cups (January, 2018) by Samantha Raphelson
Plastic pollution is killing coral reefs: 4-year study finds (January, 2018) by Christopher Joyce
Recycling chaos in the U.S. as China bans foreign waste (December, 2017) by Cassandra Profita and Jes Burns
Guess what is showing up in our shellfish? One word: Plastics (September, 2017) by Ken Christensen
Warriors against waste: These restaurants and bars are aiming for zero (September, 2017) by Maanvi Singh
Using plastic bags is now illegal and punishable by jail time in Kenya (August, 2017) by Eyder Peralta
Plastic is everywhere and recycling isn’t the end of it (July, 2017) by Christopher Joyce
Are we eating our fleece jackets? Microfibers and migrating into field and food (February, 2017) by Jessica Boddy

5 more stories on plastic (check out the gap in 2016!)

8 million tons of plastic clutter our seas (February, 2015) by Christopher Joyce
Coffee horror parody pokes at environmental absurdity of k cups (January, 2015) by Maria Godoy
Plastics don’t disappear but they do end up in sea birds bellies (June, 2014) by NPR Staff
Why those tiny microbeads in soap may pose a problem for Great Lakes (May, 2014) by Cheryl Corley
How plastic in the ocean is contaminating your seafood (December, 2013) by Eliza Barclay

Not sure how to start and say “no, thank you” to a straw? Check out “How to say ‘no, thank you’ to a straw” bingo. Also, here are some tips to change behavioral norms at the household level: kitchen, bath/laundry, garden/garage. If you’re interested in learning more on how to create collective action in your community around plastics, check out the collective action project mentoring program. One way you can help is my asking establishments that use straws frequently to “Suck the Straws Out” and sign this pledge from the Inland Ocean Coalition.

Hey, can someone planning an environmental education conference have Christopher Joyce as a keynote speaker?

Filed Under: Environmental Education, Marine Debris, Ocean Conservation, Science Communication Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

February 3rd: International Strawfree Day

February 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Thanks to Inland Ocean Coalition for sharing this information about this upcoming Saturday:

“Join the movement on February 3rd for International Strawfree Day! Every day the United States uses 500 million straws, enough to encircle the earth 2.5 times! The global total is undoubtedly much larger. Please do your part and say no to straws this International Strawfree Day (and all other days too!).

This is what individuals can do:

  1. The next time you’re at a restaurant, simply say, “No straw, please.”
  2. If you want to use a straw, bring a reusable one with you.
  3. Encourage your favorite restaurants to join the movement.
  4. Spread the word to your friends and family.

If you want to get involved in pushing for more systemic change, you can join our Suck the Straws Out campaign, a collaborative effort with other nonprofits, restaurants, and communities (including in Colorado, Connecticut, New York, Illinois and Arizona) to encourage businesses to say no to plastic straws and to only offer paper or reusable alternatives upon request. Click the link below for more information and to get involved in the campaign!”

Share your story of saying no to the straws with this #suckthestrawsout hashtag.

 

Healthy Eating Tips for Seniors

Key Takeaways

  • Healthy eating begins with you!
  • Giving your body the right nutrients and maintaining a healthy weight can help you stay active and independent.
  • You’ll also spend less time and money at the doctor. This is especially true if you have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease.

The definition of healthy eating does change a little as you age. For example, as you grow older, your metabolism slows down, so you need fewer calories than before. Your body also needs more of certain nutrients. That means it’s more important than ever to choose foods that give you the best nutritional value. Visit https://www.firstpost.com/health/ikaria-lean-belly-juice-reviews-weight-loss-facts-from-real-customers-experiences-10635011.html.

Explore the materials below to get tips on how to find the best foods for your body and your budget.

Tips for Picking Healthy Food as You Get Older

Here are 6 tips to help you find the best foods for your body and your budget.

1. Know what a healthy plate looks like

You might remember the food pyramid, but the USDA recently unveiled a simpler way to help people see what they should eat each day. It’s called MyPlate. The simple graphic shows exactly how the five food groups should stack up on your plate. These are the building blocks for a healthy diet.

2. Look for important nutrients

Make sure you eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need. Your plate should look like a rainbow—bright, colored foods are always the best choice! A healthy meal should include:

  • Lean protein (lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans)
  • Fruits and vegetables (think orange, red, green, and purple)
  • Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta)
  • Low-fat dairy (milk and its alternatives)

Remember to choose foods that are high in fiber and low in sodium or salt. Also, look for Vitamin D, an important mineral as we age.

3. Read the Nutrition Facts label

The healthiest foods are whole foods. These are often found on the perimeter of the grocery store in the produce, meat, and dairy sections. When you do eat packaged foods, be a smart shopper! Read the labels to find items that are lower in fat, added sugars, and sodium.

4. Use recommended servings

To maintain your weight, you must eat the right amount of food for your age and body. The American Heart Association provides recommended daily servings for adults aged 60+.

5. Stay hydrated

Water is an important nutrient too! Don’t let yourself get dehydrated—drink small amounts of fluids consistently throughout the day. Tea, coffee, and water are your best choices. Keep fluids with sugar and salt at a minimum, unless your doctor has suggested otherwise.

6. Stretch your food budget

Want to get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you afford healthy food when you need it. Over 4 million older Americans use SNAP to buy food, and the average senior receives $113 each month. Visit BenefitsCheckUp.org/getSNAP to see if the program can help you.

Filed Under: Conservation, Marine Debris, Ocean, Ocean Conservation Tagged With: , , ,

5 must-see movies on marine debris

October 5, 2017 by 2 Comments

I am so excited to be in a town that is committed to reducing the use of plastic. Oak Park, IL will be implementing a 10-cent tax starting January 1, 2018. As trustee of Bob Tucker noted in August 2017, “What we’re really trying to do is change habits.”   Change for the good lawmakers … my favorite. Why should we care about changing the way we use plastic?

  1. In the ocean there are approximately 5.25 trillion plastic particles.
  2. For every foot of coastline there is approximately five grocery bags filled with plastic, according to estimates in 2010.
  3. Six continents have microfiber washing up on their shores.
  4. Each year, 8.8 million tons of plastic goes into the oceans.
  5. On average, Americans use 220 pounds of plastic per year.

If you want something MUCH more entertaining, and probably up-to-date, than my list of quick stats above here are some must-see films that are worth downloading for the treadmill or even showing in the classroom or your next community event.

A Plastic Ocean (2016/1h 40m/Netflix): Documents the newest science, proving how plastics, once they enter the oceans, break up into small particulates that enter the food chain where they attract toxins like a magnet. These toxins are stored in seafood’s fatty tissues, and eventually consumed by us.

The Plastic Age: A Documentary feat. Pharrell Williams (2014/17m/YouTube): We all talk about the Stone Age, the Iron Age and the Bronze Age, but what era are we living in right now? People are starting to refer to us as the – far less romantic – Plastic Age.

From the Waste Up – Life Without Plastic (2013/1h 16m/Vimeo for $4 rental or $8 purchase to download): Follows the lives of 19 people as they attempt to live without plastic. It explores the concepts of consumerism, waste, and convenience as well as the great abundance in going without. Live vicariously plastic-free as you watch these families navigate through this disposable world. 

Plastic Paradise – The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (2014/1h 25m/for purchase but also available on YouTube): Thousands of miles away from civilization, Midway Atoll is in one of the most remote places on earth. And yet its become ground zero for The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, siphoning plastics from three distant continents. In this independent documentary film, journalist/filmmaker Angela Sun travels on a personal journey of discovery to uncover this mysterious phenomenon.

Bag It (2010/78m; educational version 45 and 65m): What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investigation into plastic’s effects on our oceans, environment, and bodies. We see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up to us…and what we can do about it.

UPDATED:

Also, an important addition to the list I forgot about is Smog of the Sea. You can get a free download link for the film, released in 2017, here. The music and cinematography (in part) are by the musician Jack Johnson and as the film overview summarizes, “The Smog of the Sea chronicles a 1-week journey through the remote waters of the Sargasso Sea. Marine scientist Marcus Eriksen invited onboard an unusual crew to help him study the sea: renowned surfers Keith & Dan Malloy, musician Jack Johnson, spearfisher woman Kimi Werner, and bodysurfer Mark Cunningham become citizen scientists on a mission to assess the fate of plastics in the world’s oceans.”

Oh, one more here. I am hoping to catch Straws SOON … maybe I can bring it to my new town and more change will come:

Straws (2017/1h 10m): “I highly recommend STRAWS as an educational and entertaining film about plastic pollution. Its brisk and engaging storytelling uses humor, fairness and heart to inspire plastic use changes we all can do…especially no plastic straws!” – Actor and Environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.

UPDATED: I actually just requested a free download for preview purposes so I’ll post on that later this week. Thank you #strawsthemovie.

I am really hoping that since folks finally are able to let go of plastic bags and soon straws that balloons will be around the corner. Anything that’s more harm than good is not worth it … kids don’t know if they just don’t see them. Check out some alternatives to balloons at your next celebration here.

Filed Under: Inspiration, Marine Debris, Ocean Conservation, People Tagged With: , , , , ,