|
International Coastal Clean-up
It has been estimated that eight million tons of plastic make its way into the ocean every year. Eight million tons. Every year. This plastic breaks down into smaller pieces and is consumed by aquatic wildlife. It breaks down even further into "microplastics" (pieces less than five millimeters in length) that end up in plankton, which are then eaten by fish, and those fish are eaten by us. Last year, a study confirmed microplastics in human excrement in eight developed countries of the world. We as a species are struggling to deal with the pollution currently in the ocean.
It is estimated that by 2050, there will be as much plastic in the ocean as there are fish. It's hard not to be overwhelmed.
One way we can all help out, however, is to keep our local beaches clean and free of debris that can be swept out into the ocean to become part of the problem. Ocean Conservancy sponsors an event, started over 30 years ago, to collect and document trash from beaches all over the world on one designated day. Now known as the International Coastal Clean-up Day, volunteers from over 100 countries participate. For over 15 years, VOBEC has been a proud participant of this annual initiative. This year, we expanded beyond Ocean Beach to our neighboring communities, including Point O’ Woods, Ocean Bay Park, Seaview, Robbins Rest, Summer Club and Corneille Estates. The response was overwhelming. Every community we invited enthusiastically embraced the idea, and all (except Summer Club) provided volunteers and positive energy. We are working with members of Summer Club to facilitate their participation next year.
|
