The Need For CHange:
Stop the ENDANGERMENT of these animals and their environment
Image: Go Overseas
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Image: Sea Voice News
Polluted OceanAround 8 million metric tons of plastic is dumped in the ocean each year (Ocean Conservancy 2010) |
Image: Engadget
DolphinsThere are 38 oceanic dolphin species and 5 river species: - Long-Beaked Common Dolphin -Short-Beaked Common Dolphin - Bottlenose Dolphin - Killer Whale (Orca) - Boto (Amazon River Dolphin) Although many species of dolphins are not endangered many of the species are going extinct. |
The Problem: Over 100 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic debris in the ocean. Currently, it is estimated that there are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world. ~ Sea Turtle Conservancy
I am at heart an artist who appreciates natural beauty and the importance of the role that nature plays in everyone’s lives. This ranges from simple pleasures like walking along the beach to hiking in the mountains. The vastness of the oceans and the variety of species that inhabit them hold the greatest appeal to me, particularly Dolphins and Sea Turtles. The oceans make up around 97 percent of all water in our world and the waters are heavily polluted by man-made trash, notably plastic, which is destroying the wildlife and has entered the food chain. It is a substance that no living creature was meant to ingest and it is not naturally occurring in the ocean environment. Too many people either do not realize or do not care how human actions on a daily basis affect another species. Recycling and the proper disposal of plastic can help save thousands of animals and help protect our oceans from being uninhabitable and polluted.
First Let'sDiscover
"Here, all waste will be viewed as a recycling opportunity."
~ Beezer Molton Image: Eco Business
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Now let's WORKConserve
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today"
~ Abraham Lincoln Image: Budapest Water Summit 2016
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IT'S UP TO USChange
"There is no such thing as 'away'. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere."
~ Annie Leonard Image: National Geographic
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Oceans alive project
My initial motivation came following a recent service trip I took to Belize with my school. I witnessed the terrible impact that we have on the ocean. We spent a lot of time cleaning up the coral reef and it was shocking to see how much marine debris - trash dumped by humans - ends up in the ocean. We learned how this causes harm to the animals and the ecosystem; either when creatures accidentally eat the marine debris, which allows it to enter into the food chain, or by getting trapped in the debris which can maim and kill. I was really inspired by the people in Belize and the program they were implementing to recycle and pick up litter. By completing this project, I want more people to understand and avoid the negative impact of littering and not recycling.
I believe that education is the greatest key to understanding how important it is to be a global citizen and to help to protect these massive bodies of water and the ways we can help in our day to day lives. The main focus of my project is to educate everyone on the changes they can make that will help to prevent more plastic and other trash from entering the oceans. Litter does not have to be on the beach or be dumped off the side of a boat upstream to cause harm, inland sources find their way downstream and through the network of waterways back into the oceans. Some of the most harmful trash we manufacture and drop are plastic can holders that get stuck on turtles, and plastic bags and utensils which are commonly mistaken as food by turtles, dolphins, and other animals. I also propose highlighting what efforts are being made to clean up the existing problem.
I believe that education is the greatest key to understanding how important it is to be a global citizen and to help to protect these massive bodies of water and the ways we can help in our day to day lives. The main focus of my project is to educate everyone on the changes they can make that will help to prevent more plastic and other trash from entering the oceans. Litter does not have to be on the beach or be dumped off the side of a boat upstream to cause harm, inland sources find their way downstream and through the network of waterways back into the oceans. Some of the most harmful trash we manufacture and drop are plastic can holders that get stuck on turtles, and plastic bags and utensils which are commonly mistaken as food by turtles, dolphins, and other animals. I also propose highlighting what efforts are being made to clean up the existing problem.
Our Goal