Sieto Verver/iStock
READ MORE ABOUT:
We have all heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and some have even sailed into the ocean to explore it firsthand. But the problem, it turns out, is even larger than a centralized net of trash twice the size of Texas. The entire world is threatened by a "tidal wave of trash."
A recent report from Ocean Conservancy, entitled A Rising Tide of Ocean Debris: And What We Can Do About It, compiles the findings from a global cleanup effort. Including more than 400,000 volunteers in 100 countries, the cleanup uncovered some startling facts. The more than 7 million pounds of debris collected, the organization reports, is part of a rising tide of trash in the world's waterways, one that will become a major pollution problem in the 21st century.
This trash, the report explains, is currently threatening, even killing, marine life and hurting tourism at the world's beaches. The trash is poisoning the waterways, injuring tourists, and damaging the economies of beach communities.
So what can we do to stop this alarming trend?
Ocean Conservancy provides ten tips including reducing our consumption, properly storing and disposing of trash, and writing elected officials. Planet Green also has tips for keeping your trash out of the ocean.
Like all green initiatives, it is best to start small and build up to larger efforts. Maybe, by next year, you will be ready to join Ocean Conservancy's global cleanup project.
Read more about the oceans:
Focus on Focus Earth: Ocean Protection
To Support the Oceans, Support Oceana
Save Our Oceans for World Water Day: 10 Ways
Clean a Local River, Check Out Environmental Art, Learn About Dying Oceans, and Hug Trees Digitally
-
- {}
