POWERFUL VIDEO: Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans FOR GOOD | Oceana
Summary
TLDRThe transcript highlights the critical issue of ocean pollution caused by disposable plastics, emphasizing their pervasive presence and long-lasting impact on marine life and human health. It reveals the alarming rate at which plastics enter our oceans and the minimal percentage that gets recycled. The narrative calls for action, showcasing examples of progress and urging viewers to support a movement towards plastic-free choices to preserve our oceans for future generations. The solution lies in collective efforts to establish plastic-free zones and reduce single-use plastics, as demonstrated by successful campaigns and legislations worldwide.
Takeaways
- π Oceans are vital for sustaining life and have the potential to feed a billion people a healthy meal every day indefinitely.
- π Currently, a garbage truck's worth of plastic is dumped into the ocean every minute, totaling 17.6 billion pounds annually.
- π Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the oceans, floating on the surface, mixing with saltwater, and resting on the ocean floor.
- π Plastic does not biodegrade but instead breaks down into smaller pieces, including microplastics, which persist in the environment for centuries.
- π’ Over 60% of whale and dolphin species are affected by plastic pollution, which also harms sea turtles and disrupts the ocean's food chain.
- π― Microplastics are pervasive, found in our water, salt, honey, beer, and even the air we breathe, posing a risk to human health.
- ποΈ Many companies produce single-use items from plastics designed for permanence, contributing to the throwaway culture.
- β»οΈ Recycling is not a comprehensive solution; only 9% of all plastic was recycled by 2015, and recycling degrades the plastic quality over time.
- π Some companies are leading the way in reducing plastic use, offering plastic-free options in supermarkets, beverages, restaurants, and even flights.
- π Legislation and initiatives are making a difference, as seen in Oceana's successful campaigns in Peru, Belize, and the European Union.
- π₯ Collective action is needed to create a movement against single-use plastics and establish plastic-free zones to protect our beaches and oceans.
Q & A
How does the ocean contribute to sustaining life on Earth?
-The global oceans play a vital role in sustaining life by generating half of the world's oxygen, providing the largest active carbon sink, and absorbing a significant portion of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2).
What is the current rate at which plastic is being dumped into the oceans?
-The equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into the sea every minute, amounting to 17.6 billion pounds every year.
What happens to plastic in the ocean over time?
-Plastic in the ocean does not biodegrade. Over hundreds of years, it breaks down into smaller pieces, including microplastics, which remain as plastic despite their size.
How does plastic pollution affect marine life?
-Plastic pollution affects marine life significantly, with sea turtles choking on it and over 60% of whale and dolphin species being affected. Plankton, which form the base of the ocean food chain, consume it, leading to the ingestion of plastics by larger marine animals and humans.
How prevalent are microplastics in our daily lives?
-Microplastics have been found in our salt, honey, beer, and even in the air we breathe. They are pervasive due to the breakdown of larger plastic waste in the environment.
What is the current recycling rate for plastics?
-As of 2015, only 9% of all plastic ever generated has been recycled. Even when recycled, plastic degrades, and its quality diminishes with each recycling cycle.
What is the projected increase in plastic production by the middle of the century?
-Four times more plastic will be produced between now and the middle of the century than has been produced in all of history.
What are some plastic-free alternatives being offered by companies and organizations?
-There are throwaway plastic-free aisles in supermarkets, plastic-free soda and salsa from beverage companies, plastic-free service in water restaurants, plastic-free rooms in hotels, and an airline offering a plastic-free flight.
What are some legislative actions taken to reduce plastic pollution?
-Oceana and its allies have campaigned for plastic-free victories such as a law in Peru to keep plastic out of national parks and beaches, Belize eliminating styrofoam, and the European Union mandating reductions for throwaway plastic across its 28 member countries.
How can individuals contribute to the reduction of plastic pollution?
-Individuals can join campaigns to reduce throwaway plastic, help establish plastic-free zones in cities, towns, schools, and workplaces, and make conscious choices to avoid single-use plastics.
What is the ultimate goal of the movement to reduce throwaway plastic?
-The ultimate goal is to stop plastic pollution from wrecking our beaches and oceans, ensuring healthy oceans for future generations by providing real plastic-free choices and reducing the use of single-use plastics.
Outlines
π Ocean Plastic Pollution Crisis
The ocean is a vital source of sustenance, capable of feeding a billion people daily. However, it is currently facing a severe plastic pollution problem. Every minute, the equivalent of one garbage truck of plastic is dumped into the sea, totaling 17.6 billion pounds annually. Plastics persist in the ocean, breaking down into micro-plastics that do not biodegrade. These micro-plastics are harmful to marine life, with over 60% of whale and dolphin species affected. Plastics also infiltrate our food chain, entering our drinking water and everyday products like salt, honey, and beer. The situation is expected to worsen, with four times more plastic being produced by mid-century than in all of history. The current recycling efforts are insufficient, with only 9% of all plastic being recycled by 2015, and even recycled plastics degrade over time.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘oceans
π‘throwaway plastics
π‘microplastics
π‘plastic pollution
π‘recycling
π‘plastic-free choice
π‘Oceana
π‘campaign
π‘sustainability
π‘environmental impact
π‘policy change
Highlights
Oceans sustain life and can feed a billion people a healthy meal every day forever.
Oceans are being filled and killed by throwaway plastics.
One garbage truck of plastic is dumped in the sea every minute.
17.6 billion pounds of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year.
Plastic never goes away; it breaks down into small pieces called micro plastics.
Over 60% of whale and dolphin species are affected by plastics.
Plankton, the base of the ocean food chain, eat plastic.
Micro plastics are found in our water, salt, honey, and beer.
Companies are producing items from a material that lasts forever for one-time use.
A tsunami of throwaway plastic is expected in the future.
Four times more plastic will be produced by the middle of the century than in all of history.
Only 9% of all plastic generated as of 2015 was recycled.
Plastic degrades with each recycling, eventually becoming pollution.
We should not be forced to pollute the ocean every time we eat, drink, or go shopping.
Some responsible companies are already leading the way to a plastic-free choice.
Oceana and allies are winning plastic-free victories through campaigns.
Peru passed a law to keep plastic out of national parks and beaches.
Belize is getting rid of styrofoam.
The European Union has mandated reductions for throwaway plastic across its 28 member countries.
Join the campaign at Oceana.org slash plastics to help create a movement to reduce throwaway plastic.
Transcripts
our oceans sustain life an abundant
ocean can feed a billion people a
healthy meal every day forever but now
they are being filled killed by
throwaway plastics the equivalent of one
garbage truck of plastic is dumped in
the sea every minute 17 point six
billion pounds every year plastic is
everywhere in our ocean floating on the
surface mixing in the saltwater and
sitting on the ocean bottom miles and
miles deep and once in the ocean it
never goes away over hundreds of years
it breaks down into small pieces but
those pieces even the tiny ones called
micro plastics are still plastic sea
turtles are choking on them scientists
say that over 60% of whale and dolphin
species are affected by it it's all
plankton the base of the ocean food
chain eat it and so do we
it's in the water we drink it's in our
food micro plastics have been found in
our salt our honey and our beer and
sometimes even in the air we breathe
companies are choosing to make something
that will be used just once from a
material that lasts forever if you don't
like what throwaway plastics are already
doing to our world brace yourself
we face a tsunami of throw away plastic
in our and the oceans future four times
more plastic will be produced between
now and the middle of the century than
has been produced in all of history four
times more what can we do
recycling of all the plastic ever
generated as of 2015 only 9% was
recycled even when it is recycled
plastic degrades your plastic soda
bottle maybe becomes a shampoo bottle
then a floor mat even in the best case
it doesn't recycle it down cyclists and
then it becomes pollution that ruins our
beaches and chokes sea animals forever
we should not be forced to pollute the
ocean every time we eat drink or go
shopping we need to be given a choice a
plastic free choice this is not hard to
imagine indeed some responsible
companies are already leading the way
there are throw away plastic free aisles
in supermarkets beverage companies
already offer plastic free soda and
salsa water restaurants offer plastic
free service there are plastic free
rooms and hotels an airline is now
offering a plastic free flight
and oceania and our allies are winning
plastic free victories following
campaigning by Oceania Peru passed the
law that keeps plastic out of national
parks and beaches
[Music]
Belize is getting rid of styrofoam
[Music]
and the European Union has mandated
reductions for throw away plastic
throughout its 28 member countries but
with your help
we can do the work together we can
create a movement to reduce throw away
plastic we can make sure we're all given
real plastic free choices we can help
our cities towns schools and workplaces
establish zones that are free of throw
away plastic
let's stop plastic pollution from
wrecking our beaches and our oceans and
to have healthy oceans that delight the
sustained ease for generations to come
please join our campaign go to Oceana
org slash plastics today
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