Landcare Illawarra hosted an event on 16 September 2015
as a call to action and to inform people of the devastating impact rubbish and
marine debris has on wildlife. Environmentalist Tim Silverwood spoke for an
hour about the downfall of our environment since the "easy lifestyle"
began in 1955. Tim is founder of "Take 3" whose initiative it is to
take 3 pieces of rubbish when you leave our beaches, waterways or parklands. They
are sponsored by Taronga Zoo and are partners with Tangaroa Blue, Plastic Free
July and Surfriders. He spoke of things such as tiny plastic beads in hand
creams and body cleansing lotions, chemicals in Bakelite products, thin plastic
film in some tea bags which break down in hot water - yep and then you drink
it!
Research has shown that 8 million tonnes of plastic per
annum goes into the ocean. He showed slides of debris in the Philippines, USA,
Bali and a devastating major spill of plastic beads in Hong Kong - ever seen a
beach with plastic sand? A very sad picture taken by a diver off Bali in December
2014 of a Manta ray surrounded by floating plastics was also shown.
Research from the CSIRO indicates that in the near
future every seabird will have plastic in it - its already over 30%. They are
the ones that are not killed outright as their bodies are blocked. 100% of
shearwaters washed up on Lord Howe Island had plastic in them.
Another interesting talk by Lachlan Fetterplace and
Matt Rees of Fishthinkers followed. Both marine scientists, they showed a video
of a lab study to see if plankton would eat plastic beads - and in doing so
would be shooting this up the food chain to humans which is already impacting
Inuit people. Slides also of a beached turtle and dolphin with plastic in the
gut. Ten people from Australia and New Zealand recently went to Cape York and
in a five day 6.5km beach walk picked up and catalogued 451m of fishing line,
310 commercial remnants, 151 ghost nets and 650 toothbrushes! They also filled
14 bags with what should have been recycled.
Australian Seabird Rescue South Coast Branch
co-ordinator Kirsten Hort was also a guest speaker and spoke of our
never-ending problems with sea and shore birds affected by human rubbish.
Another speaker from Surfriders showed shopping bags
they made from recycled materials.
The evening was certainly a "wake up". What
monsters we have become through the years? Why are we letting this happen to
us? Its ruining our lives and nature’s creations round us.
I'm not giving up - are you?
Please take the time to look at these websites and have
a rethink of what's around your home and talk to everyone you meet about this
problem.
Betty
www.take3.org.au
www.rechusable.com
www.surfriders.org.au
fishthinkers.wordpress.com
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