Plastic is clogging up the planet's lungs.
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Recently, we talked about how incredibly difficult it would be to remove plastics from the ocean. The prospect is daunting, and the energy spent taking the plastics out of places like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch would be nullified by the amount of plastics heading straight into the water from the shores.
We have to stop the flow of plastics from the source, it's true. But is it really impossible to remove plastics from the ocean? Leah Lamb of Current TV doesn't think so. She's determined to remove from the ocean every piece of plastic she's responsible for. It's a big undertaking, and I asked her how she plans to accomplish this feat.
How To Remove YOUR Plastic From The Ocean
Planet Green: It starts by figuring out just how much plastic Lamb is responsible for. How can that be measured?
Leah Lamb: When I initially announced this project, I asked the good people of the Internets to assist me. I intentionally set up the project to have a lot of way for people to get involved. One of our readers (who I am worshiping at the moment) told me he spent a few days developing the following calculation:
14 billion pounds of garbage is being dumped into the ocean every year. The US is responsible for 1/3 (at least), so 4.6 billion pounds each year divided by the 304,059,724 Americans on record - and you get 15.1286067731 pounds. Multiply that by my age, and I am suddenly responsible for 560 pounds of garbage in the ocean. Of course, Derk then turned around and recommended that I consider getting a little extra garbage out while I'm there, to create a...savings for the future.
That is a LOT of plastic to remove from the ocean! Lamb wants to remove it directly from the water - not satisfied with simply walking along beaches every weekend and picking up what's scattered on the shore. "Anyone can do that," she says. But not everyone goes diving. Diving is a passionate hobby of Lamb's, so that's where her project begins.
Is It Possible Even To Gather Just What You Are Responsible For?
[b]PG: You're pulling out what you find when you go diving, which is
great! But how will you be able to gather ALL that you're responsible for? Can it be accomplished? What about reducing how much you're responsible for?[/b] LL: Well I certainly hope that it's accomplishable! But I do wonder how long it will take! Much of the garbage out there doesn't weight that much...right? I could end up doing this for...years. Or...just go out and drag up a bunch of anchors and nets and call it done. I have just started the project, and it already makes me look at everything differently. The more time I spend at the ocean and just see the shoreline, it's startling to see beaches covered with garbage and think about the dangers we expose to marine life. Being so close helps me think twice about reaching for things I know are going to end up in the ocean (like those darn soymilk containers). I am very lucky; living in Berkeley, we have a top notch composting and recycling system, so it makes some things easier. WATCH VIDEO: Plastic vs Plankton: Watch the battle of plastic trash vs CO2 absorbing plankton in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with G Word correspondent Summer Rayne Oaks. PG: While inspiring, the project is huge. What was the catalyst? LL: It actually started last year as a new year's resolution. I had had a horrible year, and wanted to make a point of filling my life with things that were rejuvenating and rejuvenated my soul. So I made a list of the things I really cared about and wanted to have a positive influence on. Because I had such a miserable year, and it had taken me away from being in direct contact with the land, I wanted my project to have a direct action component, so it wouldn't mean volunteering my social media skills, but rather actually going out and doing something I could see for myself (I confess, it comes from a selfish origin). I chose cleaning the oceans because the first thing that came to mind was images of turtles and other marine life drowning on our garbage. I also wanted to do something that addresses all of the damage that has already taken place, While so many efforts are focused on changing future habits I wanted to go address our past mistakes. I liked the idea because: 1) it creates a daily reason for me to engage with the ocean 2) I could make (and see) an immediate difference 3) It would be a fun way to share information about something I am passionate with my friends and community without being obnoxious or preachy. You Can Do It! PG: This isn't a project that can be done alone. Where are you gathering support? LL: I'm pretty sure my mom likes the idea. I am actually in the process of looking for a scuba sponsor because it is an expensive endeavor. (After this interview, a local dive shop, Bamboo Reef, came on as a sponsor for Lamb's San Francisco Bay Area dives.) And of course I'll be giving updates as I go on Current's green channel and my blog. PG: Do you think this is something other people can take on? If so, what do you recommend they do? LL: Oh my God yes! My dream would be to have teams around the country who have weekly meet ups (hmmm. Ok: my real dream is to find a way to rid the 5 garbage patches). The whole point of doing this was to have a way to share the information, awareness, and show how easy it can be to follow your passion and make a difference. But I think it's important that people can get involved in a way that fits and makes sense. While some people might want to start weekly dive meet ups to check their local waters, others can walk the beaches (which protect sea birds etc). Of course, everyone can engage by minimizing how and what we contribute to the problem, which involves being more conscious of what you consume, and holding the producers of the things you consume accountable. And of course I hope that people will continue to stay engaged and get the information out and help me find solutions to the problems I come up with. I've been blown away by the ideas and suggestions that have come in from readers. Everything from stories about local initiatives that pulled 5.67 tons of trash from the James river in one day, to suggestions about what I should do with the garbage (collect it and take to the capital steps to advocate for smart use of plastics). My hope is to create many ways that people can engage with as we go along. [b]WATCH VIDEO: Learn how you can get involved in protecting our oceans
