Eco-Hero Connects Webinar: Ocean Conservation: Protecting Marine Ecosystems

Not all heroes wear a cape. When they are eco heroes, they sometimes wear swim gear and take part in webinars.

That's what is ahead from Action for Nature next Saturday, August 1st, 2026 at 2 pm Eastern time (11 AM Pacific Time). They are hosting the "Eco-Hero Connects Webinar: Ocean Conservation: Protecting Marine Ecosystems." Four of the recipients of Action For Nature's Young Eco-Hero Award will be gathered together as part of an global panel speaking together about their individual journeys of ocean advocacy. In that discussion, they'll also talk about some of the ways we all can take action to protect our marine ecosytstems.

The webinar speakers include:

• Jade Bothma, 2020 Eco-Hero from South Africa who founded Oceano Reddentes ("the ocean revives"). Together with her team of volunteers they have gotten rid of 8,000+ pounds of waste from the beaches of Cape Town. They use the found-plastic to form "eco-bricks" to use as sustainable building materials for housing.

• Elijah Richardson, 2024 Eco-Hero of Australia who is active in many conservation organizations: Coral Watch, Neuralfin Shark ID, and Tangaroa Blue. You can check out his many associations through his LinkTree page.

• Cash Daniels, 2022 Eco-Hero from the USA is the founder of Wild Earth Defenders. Cash is known as "The Conservation Kid," and he has been a long-time advocate for waterways and taking action for our planet.

• Sean Russell, 2009 Eco-Hero from the USA is the Director of Youth Engagement at EarthEcho International (GenSea) and the Founder and Director of the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit. These organizations encourage our youth to start their own marine conservation projects.

To register and take part in this webinar showcasing these 4 young leaders, check out Action for Nature.

Image from https://actionfornature.org/events/2026/8/1/eco-hero-connects-webinar-ocean-conservation-protecting-marine-ecosystems

Plastic-Eating Microbes to the Rescue!

Not all heroes wear capes... nor are they all "larger than life." 

They may in fact be microscopic... and they maybe bit-sized bacteria. Bioengineered to eat their way through problems, these mini-sized superheroes are environmental problem solvers.... designed to digest plastic waste!

In an innovative twist, there is a growing field of science dedicated to the microscopic solution to a major problem: plastic pollution. Scientists are working to "genetically train" minuscule bacteria (called microbes) to break down PET plastic, which is the plastic used in soda bottles, clam-shell style plastic food containers, and synthetic fibered fabrics. 

Yes, it sounds more like science-fiction than science. 

But it is not new, and dates back to over two decades:

• In 2001, Japanese scientists led by Kohei Oda discovered a collection of bacteria at a garbage area that were degrading plastic. "Eating" it, if you will. As they consumed this plastic trash, it led to the bacteria to grow and multiply. 
• Scientific research over time led to the 2016 discovery by Kohei Oda and Kazumi Hiraga that the microbe Ideonella sakaiensis' enzymes could break down PET plastic. This in turn served as energy for the microbes.

Working in labs through research like this, scientists have discovered that they could help fast-track this process through genetic engineering. This "superpower" of science, combined with technology, helps speed up the process, helping to power through the plastic pollution problem. Of course, "speeding up" is all relative as it is currently still a rather slow process.

There's a name for this: biorecycling. It also could potentially help turn the plastic waste into new products, which ultimately saves resources down the line. Biorecycling is an emerging and growing field, so it not an overnight solution, Yet, it does open up possibilities of cleaning up oil spills, eliminating microplastics from water sources, and helping tackle hard-to-recycle materials. Additionally, with it being a new-technology, there are a lot of unknowns. Last thing anyone wants is for a solution to create new problems. Especially environmentally. (We've all seen the damage invasive species can do. Take Kudzu, Spotted Lanternflies, and Asian Carp for example.)

But it's hopeful to see a shift in the idea of "waste" as an end product. Rather than a dead end, it shifts to a "circular economy" model, transforming an item into something new rather than ending it in waste and pollution. Kind of nice to have a clean up crew of nature's tiny microbes!

Check out the clickable interactive below to learn more about how microbes can eat their way to our environmental solutions. I like the idea of having a shrinky-dink-sized clean up crew of nature's superheroes!

Click here for a screen-sized version of Microbes and How Microbes Eat Waste Digestion: Evolution and Engineering Concepts by Vicki Dabrowka

To do a deep dive into a some of the scientific research, check out these articles:

• Guardian's ‘We Are Just Getting Started’: The Plastic-Eating Bacteria That Could Change the World (9/23/2023)
• Eco-bees' Engineered Microorganisms (2025)
• University of Edinburgh's Microbes Transform Plastic Waste Into Paracetamol (6/23/2025)
• Nature Biotechnology's Plastic-Eating Bacteria Boost Growing Business of Bioremediation (9/23/2024)

Image created at Canva.com using the Magic Media tools; Interactive created in Canva.com using Canva Coding on June 23, 2025 with the following prompt: "Create an interactive HTML concept map showing how microbes evolved or were engineered to "digest" waste at a 5th grade reading level.Let students click each part of the images to reveal a short explanation." Circular vs linear economy image from https://www.facebook.com/storyofstuff/posts/pfbid0Gk9nmV5yx7vqS7jATiTxoL3arLuJo1aq7pBnPWZSdvggdUcqcwyHSWs8VQwG183Fl

Plastic Free July

Stop. 🛑 

Set a timer for 60 seconds. 

Watch that minute count down. 

In that minute (not to mention every other minute), the equivalent of one garbage truck full of plastic finds its way into the ocean. With 525,600 minutes in a year, that amounts to over 8 million TONS of plastic pollution created each year. 

But that's just what ends up in our waterways. Compare that to the approximately 400 million metric tons of plastic humans globally produce each year. And of that, 91% is often still not recycled--hard to believe when recycling has been "a thing" for decades. 

Not to mention, a majority of this is single use plastic--used once, then tossed. 

We need to be "once bitten, twice shy" instead! And July is a great time to flip this script. Plastic Free July is the perfect time to ditch disposables, rethink packaging, and demonstrate that "plastic is not fantastic." 

Small behavior shifts can make a a difference in our consumption, our landfills, & our values. 

Grab your stainless steel straw, your reusable tumbler, your tote bag of tote bags to make moves to step away from plastic.

Here's an oldie but goodie--It's not me, it's you:

Places to check out:

• Plastic Free July's website:
• To learn, go to their Ideas & solutions 
• For inspiration from others, check out their What Others Do page
• Take their Plastic Free pledge where you can get inspired by their visual gallery of pledge cards
• The Story of Stuff's "Fight Plastic Pollution" page
• Plastic Bank's Facebook page

Videos from https://youtu.be/ByayHG5CscE?si=0WkLH0_YXsmmRhHA and https://youtu.be/-DEc16dEMns?si=SIOjks5X-RLzQHk1, images from https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/resources/assets/ and https://123timer.com/60-second

Environmental Elmo

Elmo, of Sesame Street fame, is one pretty well-known and easily recognizable muppet. A regular on Sesame Street since 1980, he's one of our favorite 3-and-a-half-year-old...at least in our house. 

Elmo was a favored beanie baby in our house with our daughter. One particular trip to the Florida Strawberry Festival (many moons ago) brings back an Elmo fear-factor moment when we realized Elmo was once lost, dropped from stroller snuggles. Luckily, with swift retracing of steps, he was miraculously found before our 2 year old even realized he was missing. 

Phew! Crisis averted!

Just like being found in the vast fairgrounds for us, Elmo is always full of surprises. Elmo's latest is an environmental partnership between Sesame Street and Cut Media's HiHo Kids YouTube Channel. This collaboration pairs Elmo with HiHo Kids and their "Kids Meet" Series to create a two-part video series to help build environmental stewardship and curiosity of our natural world through eyes of kids and Elmo! 

In early May 2024, they released "Kids Meet a BeeKeeper," where Elmo does just that: meet a beekeeper. Bees can be a seemingly scary insect-enemy to small children (and let's face it--many adults). But, through their 7:41 short video, they highlight the importance of bees for pollinating our growing world as well as our grocery stores!

Just released this weekend on July 13th, the second in this series was "Kids Meet a Marine Biologist." With Elmo right there with the rest of the HiHo Kids again, they learn all about the importance of of oceans and how the protect the marine life that lives there by striving for clean ocean waters during this 7 minute short.

To get your Environmental Elmo fix, you can watch these two below. Then definitely check out the HiHo Kids YouTube channel to meet more folks with fascinating positions as well as some of their other series like "Kids Try," "Kids Design," "Don't You Dare," "Kids Show & Tell," "What's Popping," and more. You can also find them on the Sesame Street YouTube Channel. Additionally, Elmo & HiHo Kids paired together in 2022 to "Meet a Dancer" & "Meet a Basketball Player" where they discussed sports, wellness, character traits vital to athletes, as well as unique situations and their personal stories of triumph.

Videos from https://youtu.be/iYVguKQekRQ?si=armDfQWHVDqlw9Gh and https://youtu.be/NNItHwcj2no?si=6koBVqGz0TiaoHKE; Human Images from my camera archive. Elmo images from https://www.instagram.com/sesamestreet/reel/C6wPWYBOZlh/ and https://www.facebook.com/SesameStreet/posts/who-are-elmos-new-besties-the-bees-meet-a-beekeeper-with-elmo-and-our-friends-hi/984188723065117/?locale=af_ZA

Eight Ways To Celebrate Earth Day

Happy Earth Day 2024

If you are still looking for ways to celebrate your Earth Day, here are 8. Take care of Mother Nature today in order to feel your personal impact on the planet!

Erase Plastics in your life! With the 2024 Earth Day theme "Planet vs. Plastics," what can you do to eliminate your own plastics. How long can you go without plastics? A day? A few days? A week? A month? More? 

Also, check out the "End Plastic Pollution Earth Day Calculator" to see just how much you use...and what you can do to eradicate it.

Announce, applaud, admire, accept, and adopt a mindset that kindness, social justice, anti-racism, a sense of community, equality, fair treatment, and the betterment of society are all environmental justice issues. So often, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) populations and lower income/poverty level communities tend to get the negative effects of climate change, pollution, and more.. NIMBY ("Not In My Backyard") is an attitude of influence, prejudice, privilege and entitlement when it comes to polluting factories or landfills "should be over THERE" (aka: not here, in my backyard, where I have to see it and live with it.). Don't be that guy (or gal)! Abandon your prejudices and biases and argue in favor of equality!

Really go all in with all the R's...Repair something or reuse it versus replacing it. Reduce your waste. Refuse to trash something or buy it to begin with. Remove the need to keep up with the Joneses, buying what you don't need. Think responsibly. Act rationally, radically, and rally together, sharing ideas. Remind others of all they can do to help your local and global and planetary community!

Take an online quiz via Gapminder.org. Gapminder is an independent educational non-profit fighting global misconceptions, with their mantra "Upgrade your world view." Use their non-partisan, fact-based tools and teaching materials to get a true handle on what life is like in the world.

Some good Gapminder quizzes to start with include: Global Warming, Plastics in Ocean, Threatened Species, Electricity Access, Water at Home, and many more.

Help out by a nearby park, neighborhood, schoolyard, or stream by going by and staging your own environmental clean up. Remove trash and litter to help create a happier habitat for the plants and animals that live there!

Downgrade your transportation needs for the day. Can you find a better way to get from Point A to Point B? Consider carpooling, biking, walking, or taking public transportation as a cleaner way to get around today, this week, or this month. Downsize your commute and your environmental impact by working from home if you can.

Abandon a wasteful mentality. Turn off the lights when leaving the room. Stop the faucet flow when brushing your teeth. Buy only what you plan on eating so you don't have to worry about cleaning the refrigerator or throwing away old food. Do you need 14 or the same shirt or with one or two suffice. Bring your reusable shopping bags so you don't need single use plastic or paper grocery sacks. Use a real fork or plate versus a consumable or plastic one. Going out to eat? Take your own reusable containers for your leftovers you want to eat at lunch tomorrow.  Argue against that idea that you need extras when you have enough!

Yearn to learn....never stop. "Yomp" as you go and explore nature and the natural world (aka; move quickly and energetically toward your goal with "determination and resilience"). Yield to new ideas that embrace a global perspective, a vision of human connection, and an attitude of environmental stewardship.

Happy 54th Earth Day, everyone! 

Would love to hear what YOU did 

to take care of our planet!

Earth Day sign and letters created with letter frames and pictures on Canva.com.

Positive Environmental News for 2023

OneTreePlanted is a great place to go for good environmental news. After landing on their article "Good Environmental Stories From 2023," I was inspired to create the world map infographic below, showcasing some of the great news that includes plastic and paper bans, rejuvenated species, ocean clean ups, activism, biodiversity, and other great eco news. Click the poster to see an enlarged version, then click article links to find out more!!

Image created at canvas.com using information from https://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/good-news-2023

Ocean Elders

In Native American cultures and tribal communities, the elders are known for their widsom. They are the revered older members of the tribe that brings knowledge, sage advice, patience, honor, and expertise.

It was from that mentality merged with The Seventh Generation Principle (based on the Iroquois Great Law of Peace--which also served as the model for the US Constitution) that the Ocean Elders was created. From their website: 

"Ocean Elders is an independent group of global leaders who have joined together to serve as a catalyst in the conservation and protection of the ocean and its wildlife. These individuals use their collective influence, supported by science and data, to promote ocean conservation, pursue the protection of the ocean’s habitat and wildlife, and preserve its ecosystems and species biodiversity."

With sustainability at the center and the vision to work to benefit the next 7 generations ahead, the Ocean Elders are committed to protecting our oceans. They also are committed to the Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water--a fundamental piece of ocean conservation.

I view them sort of like the Marvel Marine Superheroes or the Eco Avengers, who are here to help save the oceanic day! At the very least, here to LEAD the way. The list of people involved--the Ocean Elders--reads like a "who's who" of the environmental world... which is where I think I get the superhero vibe. It's an impressive list of likeminded leaders.  You can find links to the bios of each of these elders here.

• H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco: Explorer, Environmentalist
• Richard Bailey: Founder, The Brando, Tetiaroa Society, & Blue Climate Initiative
• Sir Richard Branson: Founder & Chairman, Virgin Group & Founder, Virgin Unite
• Jackson Browne: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Environmentalist
• James Cameron: Founder, CAMERON Companies & Founder, Avatar Alliance Foundation
• Dr. Rita Colwell: Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland & Johns Hopkins University
• Jean-Michel Cousteau: President & Chairman, Ocean Futures Society, Explorer, Film Producer
• Dr. Wade Davis: BC Leadership Chair in Cultures & Ecosystems at Risk, University of British Columbia
• Dr. Sylvia A. Earle: President & Chairman, Mission Blue: The Sylvia Earle Alliance, Oceanographer
• Dr. Jane Goodall: Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace
• Graeme Kelleher: Former Chairman & CEO, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• Sven Lindblad: Conservationist, Explorer, Founder & Co-Chair, Lindblad Expeditions
• Gerry Lopez: “Mr. Pipeline,” Surfer, Shaper, Actor, Yogi
• H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan: International Public Servant, Founder, King Hussein Foundation
• Catherine A. Novelli: Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, & the Environment
• Dr. Frederik Paulsen: Explorer & Chairman, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
• Prof. Bertrand Piccard: Explorer & Chair of the Solar Impulse Foundation
• President Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr.: Former President, Republic of Palau
• David E. Shaw: Managing Partner, Black Point Group LP & Co-Chair, Aspen Institute High Seas Initiative
• Nainoa Thompson: Master Navigator & President, Polynesian Voyaging Society
• Ted Turner: Chairman, Turner Enterprises, Inc. Founding Funder of UN Foundation Founder of CNN & TBS
• Captain Don Walsh: Oceanographer & President International Maritime Incorporated
• Bob Weir: Founding Member, Grateful Dead, Environmental Advocate, UN Goodwill Ambassador

• Ocean Elders Emeritus 
• Sheila Watt-Cloutier: Environmental, Cultural & Human Rights Advocate
• Neil Young: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Activist, Humanitarian
• José María Figueres: Former President, Costa Rica & Co-Chair, Global Ocean Commission

• In Memoriam
• Dr. Walter Munk: Emeritus, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Dr. E.O. Wilson: University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University

The inspiration for Ocean Elders began in April 2010 on the Mission Blue voyage. This trip had more than 100 scientists, business and philanthropic leaders and long-time/big-name entertainers going to the Galapagos Islands to support Dr. Sylvia Earle's TED Wish to garner protecting the ocean. By combining both a base of experts in the field along with social and business/governmental leaders, their mission could move farther and faster. These Ocean Elders, much like tribal elders, serve as the voice of ocean and environmental conservation. 

Some of the their big projects include being involved with the following: Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition, Cuba's Marine Ecosystems, Half-Earth Project, Hope Spots, Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, Monaco Explorations, Palau Pledge, Roots and Shoots, & 1,000 Solutions to Protect the Planet. You can learn more about each one on their Showcase page.

May we all be the wise ones.

May we listen to these leaders.

May we learn from their voices of advocacy, sustainability, and our future.

May we all learn to be stewards, protecting our oceans.

Image from https://www.oceanelders.org/, video from https://youtu.be/dEwprXvNev8

Plastic Free July

It's July. What's your plastic intake looking like?

If you are participating in the Plastic Free July movement/challenge, you numbers are looking low and impressive.

But even if you aren't, today may be a good day to try. 

12 years ago, in 2011, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz started this movement with some colleagues in her local Western Australian Government. Just like Earth Hour, which also began in Australia, this movement has grown through the years as a way to bring about awareness of not only what we use, but also the power of our purchasing dollars and our voice. Change always seems to hit the loudest when it starts hitting companies in their pocketbooks and wallets!! By using less plastic at the front end, we help eliminate it in our waste streams and landscapes. 

In 2017 Rebecca Prince-Ruiz created The Plastic Free Foundation and you can check out her Plastic Free July website.  This video shows the impact of Plastic Free July 2022.

Whether you read about it last year here on GTG, have been a long time pursuer of less plastic, or are just wanting to start today, it certainly is never to late!

Things you can do today:

• 
  Check out the Plastic Free July Website
• Check out the Action Picker Challenge (click the link for the PDF of the thumbnail pictured here).
• Visit Plastic Free July's YouTube Channel
• Take part in one of Howard County, Maryland's remaining weekly virtual sessions on July 19 and July 26 to learn tricks on how to easily eliminate plastic from your life. (Earlier sessions were held June 28, July 5, and July 12.)
• Give yourself the challenge below created by WWF .

It doesn't matter that it's the middle of July. What matters is that you start. What's your step towards a plastic free lifestyle?

Plastic Free July 2023 badge & Action Picker from https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/resources/assets/; Plastic Free WWF Challenge screenshot from https://www.hausvoneden.com/sustainability/plastic-free-july-a-month-of-action-with-daily-relevance/; Video from https://youtu.be/47QU5rkJ8C4

Birthdays & "Be Kind"

Birthdays always put a smile on your face. Especially if you are a kid--what a jubilant day! Your day! But even as an adult, and even as those numbers get bigger, it's that special day all of your own. It's a day of a little bit extra attention, a tad more novelty, and maybe even a surprise or two. If you are on Facebook, you know that they give out birthday notification for your FB friends, and it's touching to see all those people from every corner of your life who took a minute or two out of their day to wish you well. Love or hate Facebook, it's the one thing that they do really well.

I recently had a birthday, and it certainly was the novelty of the day that made it. The kindergarten and the second grade class that spontaneously broke into song when I walked in their doors. The well-wishes from colleagues and kids alike as I walked down the hall (having heard my name in the list of birthdays du jour). My daughter joining us at my son's soccer game with a bouquet of flowers. Birthday cards and gifts that were unexpected. Trips made in the few weeks before and after that were loosely tied to myur birthday to be special visits with special people. I think it's the novelty and the adventures that were missed most during the 18-20 months of the pandemic, where days rolled into each other with a very "Groundhog's Day" movie of each day being on solitary retreat. 

One of the many surprises along the way came from a dear friend of mine who sent me Ellen DeGeneres' "Be Kind" box. The arrival on my doorstep was a good surprise as it was, but I really loved the sentiment that Ellen put into the concept of the box of goodies that came my way. She's been long known for her charitable works and in 2016 she was the recipient of the People's Choice Award for Philanthropy. She was quoted as saying, "It is a little strange to actually to get an award for being nice and generous and kind, which is what we are all supposed to do with one another. That is the point of being human." 

"Be kind" has become her trademark and motto over the years. Approximately 3 years ago, Ellen created her Be Kind Subscription box. I got the Fall 2021 box from my friend. Yes, it's a lovely gift, but the elements in side and the meaning behind them are some of the most beautiful part. I found myself reading the booklet of the box's content and my heart filling up with the humanity and charitable association that backed everything. It had me diving into websites to learn more about these amazing brands that are affiliated with the contents of this Be Kind box:

• A bottle of ZenWTR -- where the bottle is made from "100% recycled, certified ocean-bound plastic" in order to reduce marine debris. 1% of their sales go to preventing ocean pollution & promoting recycling campaigns. 
• Earrings from The Sanctuary Project -- Their mission is to provide jobs and job training to women who have not only endured but survived trafficking, violence/abuse, and additiction. 100% of their sales are reinvested in this mission.
• An organic cotton zippered small pouch from Terra Thread -- Created by the father and daughter team Via and Vizan Girl to create environmentally friendly, fair-trade, carbon-neutral products, where the purchase supports Feeding America. The collaboration with Ellen's Be Kind Box this season will provide 460,000 meals to American who struggle with hunger.
• Exfoliating bath body scrubber from Daily Concepts -- An organic, vegan, biodegradable soy-based bath scrubber that tells you when it's time to replace when the label text fades. This company supports LAVA MAEX which provides Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area homeless folks with mobile showers.
• Laundry detergent sheets from Miracle Brand -- Zero waste laundry detergent
• Self care items like the Modern Monet paint by number kit and Rose Quartz bracelet (the stone of compassion, peace, and unconditional love) from Charged Wellness (where you can opt into a donation to their monthly for a discount on your purchase). Both of these companies hold balance, creativity, self-renewal, and rejuvenation central to their mission.

With the holidays swiftly approaching, it may be worth considering checking out a Be Kind box or longer term subscription for your friends or your family....or visiting one of the affiliated companies included here. Next season for Winter there'll be a new box. Might be an interesting quarterly check in to see what good you can do for you (or a loved one) and our world. What a great way to "Be Kind" indeed!

Be Kind box from https://www.ellentube.com/video/get-groovy-with-zenwtr-and-the-fall-be-kind-by-ellen-box.html, Birthday image created at Canva.com

Continuing to Make a Difference, One Act At A Time

According to Wonderopolis, a video goes viral when it tops 5 million views, typically in a very short time and due to multiple shares on social media.

Over 18 million views strikes me as viral. 

This video, posted by Pall Sidgurddson in April 2019, showcases both how pollution in the form of marine debris has impacted nature AND how connected the human and natural world can be. The video details scuba divers helping an octopus replace its plastic cup shell with something far more protective. You can learn more about the dive and experience on Upworthy's article entitled "Kind Scuba Divers Try to Convince a Tiny Octopus to Trade its Plastic Cup for a Shell." This one small act of kindness potentially saved both this coconut octopus and any potential, future predators from consuming that plastic cup. 

One small act of kindness always makes a difference!

Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTJbdy097m0

Sailing the Seas of Citizen Science

In the 3rd and final part of my series following some of the 2019-2020 Severn School Van Eney Fellows Projects, activism and advocacy continue as senior (now graduate) Baillie McNitt merged her love marine biology, citizen science, and global health initiatives to to a deep dive into microplastics. Her project involved constructing a Low-impact Aquatic Debris Instrument, or LADI trawl, which came to be known as True the Trawl. Additionally, she created a YouTube channel to curate & document her beach clean up and more.

Using her LADI trawl, she also analyzed and classified her microplastics findings into 5 groups to determine the original source of plastics: fragments, fibers, foams, nurdles, and microbeads. By having this level of research, Baillie was better able to make the connection to the item--which ultimately helps keep marine debris out of our waterways. From there, she created a set of guidelines to help people reduce their use of plastic.

Here is Baillie's 6 minute "TED Talk" style explanation of her project.
Van Eney '09 Fellows: Bailey McNitt '20 from Severn School on Vimeo.


To learn more about Baillie's design process and project, check out her Fellows website. Of particular interest, check out her video page on her website. My personal favorite: "Seven Household Products that Contribute to Micropollution."

Going forward, even though there will be college life after Severn, you can't take the environmentalist out of Baillie. She has plans to share some information from of her Fellows project with Severn's Surfrider Instagram page to promote reducing marine debris.

As you go forward, think about the big and little things you can do in your house to minimize your plastic use. If you don't use it, it certainly won't wind up in our waterways!

Video from https://youtu.be/L4L7fU806ww, Compilation image created at Canva.com using pictures from Baillie's website: https://severnfellows20bmcnitt.weebly.com and micro plastic image from https://severnfellows20bmcnitt.weebly.com/bullet-journal

Sailing Seas of Plastic

There's a new data visualization interactive map/website in town: Sailing Seas of Plastic. It was created by Dumpark, a New Zealand based agency who has done other environmental graphics as well. 5 Gyres, Mapbox, and Natural Earth were also involved in the project.

In the visualization, you can investigate data to see how much plastic is currently floating in the ocean. The data was compiled from 24 expeditions over the course of 2007 to 2013. The estimated amount:  268,000 tonnes....or 590,838,863 pounds. Considering how light plastic is, that's a lot of plastic. On the map, each dot represents 20 kilograms of plastic (44 pounds). In plotting the map of estimated marine debris, 13 million dots are here on the map... the result of 5 trillion plastic pieces in the world's oceans.

These numbers are so mammoth, they barely feel real.

A wealth of information is available on this website by clicking the "Learn More" link in the bottom left hand corner of the interactive map. Be sure to check it out!

After investigating the map, you might be inspired to rethink the plastic wrap, ziplock bags, or other unnecessary plastic. Even better, you might be inspired to do a little beach or woods clean up.

Screenshot of the interactive map taken from their website: https://app.dumpark.com/seas-of-plastic-2/#

Hogwarts... Always. For the Win, Environmentally Speaking!

Last year I got bit by the Harry Potter bug... HARD.
And I came out changed.

After 25 years of teaching, with a classroom library to rival the school library... I had never read any of the Harry Potter books. Not when they first came out. Not after having them in my classrooms. Not after watching copious numbers of kids read them over the years. I never watched any of the movies, despite their popularity, because they were never “my genre.”

But last year that changed after we booked a trip to Orlando over Spring Break, with plans to hit Universal Studios hard. My son had been reading them and was up to book 5, and about a week before we left, our family binged #1-6 of the Harry Potter movies. It was really pretty cool, watching one a night, and watching the kids grow and the storyline continue over.

Then, after spending the week at Universal... I was totally and completely in awe. We were in Diagon Alley. We had butter beer in Hogsmeade (I will say, I won't drink that again). We waved our wands and rode the train. I came home with a book contest with my son to read #7 so we could watch the last 2 movies. I've read the entire series, several books more than once. The illustrated editions are my favorite!! There were things that happened in the series that even 20 years of it being out in the movies and spoilers galore online that were still totally new twists and shocking to me. I'm not sure how I managed to live under that rock so long!! But transformation is complete, and I am a true and total Potterhead fanatic at this point, just going to show that you always can change.

Along my Hogwarts journey, I always gravitated towards Ginny Weasley's spunk and fire as she grew. She was kind of my gal. Given that, I got all warm and fuzzy when I learned Bonnie Wright (who played Ginny) was an environmentalist! Again, it would seem as I'm a little late to the party, as she's been an environmental activist for awhile.

Bonnie's anti-plastic and marine debris campaigns speak close to my heart, much like her character of Ginny does as well. No, I'm not an avid surfer like she is. But that connection to the ocean makes it make sense that this issue would speak to her heart. She's not only raising awareness of the amount of plastic in our oceans right now, she's also heavily involved in encouraging kids to upcycle their toys as a way to reduce waste. Additionally, in March of this year she worked with Greenpeace UK as one of their ocean ambassadors researching micro plastic levels. She's also been to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta, with petition in hand of over 500,000 signatures, to urge them away from from single use plastics. She also backed TREE AID this past World Environment Day. TREE AID is a reforesting program that works to transform the deforested drylands of Africa, which in turn will turn the tables on poverty. (To learn more about this program, check it out here.)

She's also been known to write a time or two:

• In her January 23, 2018 article for i-D' entitled "Actress-Turned-Activist Bonnie Wright’s Real Life Guide to Saving the World" she details 10 ways you can start right at home, making a difference to eliminate extraneous plastic.
• In her December 5, 2017 Teen Vogue article "Bonnie Wright Shares Why She’s Teamed Up With Greenpeace" she wrote about her experience on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise where they were investigating the plastic content of our ocean.

Along my research of Bonnie Wright's travels, I also discovered that a few other Hogwarts alums have an environmental slant:

• Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) is an avid women's rights activist and a sustainable fashion trendsetter. (Some call this an "ethically curated wardrobe.")
• Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) is a vegan activist who sees both compassion and veganism as the way to heal our planet.

...Leading me, like Severus Snape to say to say of my Hogwarts love: "Always!"

Pictures from https://www.pngkit.com/view/u2r5y3i1r5t4o0a9_l-borders-rolled-harry-potter-harry-potter-logo/, https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/bonnie-wright, http://www.mugglenet.com/2019/06/bonnie-wright-oceans-ambassador/, https://www.playbuzz.com/hermionejeangranger12/text-group-hermione-luna-ginny, and my camera.

How To Not Be (Completely) Depressed About Climate Change by Sarah Lazarovic

I just ran across Sarah Lazarovic's beautifully hand-drawn and poignantly true, illustrated infographic "How To Not Be (Completely) Depressed About Climate Change" on YesMagazine's website.

The title grabbed me, because... let's face it: climate change is not the most uplifting conversation. Focusing long and hard on our planetary decline (especially in the age of deniers and folks that disregard facts) certainly can bring a person down.

Sarah has some good food for thought--and humor to go along the way. Click this link to see the 4-panel infographic in its entirety. My favorite line: "Be bold, but not a buzzkill."

Lazarovic's infographic also ties to another YesMagazine article that includes a book excerpt from Charles Einstein's book Climate: A New Story. The book excerpt (also published January 2019) entitled "Why the Climate Message isn't Working" with the title tagline: "Threats of global catastrophe won't move people to action. Only the heart can inspire zeal.

And...upon digging this up, I ran across some of her other work, that also is good food for thought!

Small Works: Little Actions Everywhere (click the link to see the infographic in its entirety)

The Buyerarchy of Needs (which is on the home page of her website, LongLiveIrony.com ) and her book: A Bunch of Pretty Things I Did Not Buy

I

mages from https://www.amazon.com/Bunch-Pretty-Things-Did-Not/dp/0143124714; https://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/mental-health/5-ways-small-actions-have-huge-power-20180910, https://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/how-to-not-be-completely-depressed-about-climate-change-20190107, http://longliveirony.com

7 Billion Dreams. 1 Planet. Consume With Care.

No words in this video (which is now over 3 years old), but it certainly does make an impact, leaving you thinking.

What will your impact be on these (now) 7.6 billion dreams?



Video from UN Environment for the 2015 World Environment Day (June 5th Annually) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyL58vlbvgw

Thames Plastic Project: Future Dust

With environmentalism, we talk a lot about footprints:  carbon footprint, plastic footprint. water footprint. It all relates to usage... and usually it's too much.

Art always has a way of making the story tell so much more, and helps us visualize the reality of a situation.

Such is true with the Thames Plastic Project Installation, Future Dust.

Maria Arceo, the Spanish artist and creator of this project, lives in London. Much of her work is inspired by the human-nature relationship, and our footprint upon the earth. She's always been drawn to archaeology and oceanography, and her works reflect that, with much of her medium being the remnants of what we have left behind. From her website bio:

"Her latest line of work utilises discarded plastic objects collected from various locations in the Thames. Her sculptures with these plastics are virtual ‘Time capsules’ preserved and displayed as visual evidence of the long-term properties of these polymers."

The project started 2 years ago in September of 2016 to help clean the tidal area of London's Thames River of plastic marine debris. In addition to cleaning (by way of handpicking the trash along the shoreline), the materials were color-sorted and became the building materials for the installation. Along the way, the scientific information about how plastics photodegrade in the sun (as well as the overall environmental impact of marine debris) is highlighted to all patrons. For more on the Thames Project's research on plastics, click here.

Check out the Thames Plastic Project website to learn more. Be sure to check out their gallery to get a full view of the project.

Photo of Maria Arceo from http://www.mariajosearceo.com/maria-jose-arceo-biography/; Images from https://www.thamesplastic.com/ (including the screenshot from their website of their goals), and https://captainjpslog.blogspot.com/2017/09/totally-thames-installation-future-dust.html.