The last straw: how Portsmouth is tackling plastic pollution
Imagine all the stars in the galaxy. Times it by 500. A lot of stars, right? Now take those stars and imagine each one is a tiny piece of plastic, doesn’t seem so pretty anymore, does it?
Sadly, this is the actual amount of plastic that is polluting our oceans today and, unless we change our ways, it is set to grow.
With 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and one million sea birds killed by plastic pollution every year, it’s high time we stop burying our heads (and fag butts) in the sand and take action.
It may seem like only one plastic bottle, only one plastic bag, only one plastic straw; but if the seven billion people in the world shared that attitude, that then turns into seven billion plastic bottles, seven billion plastic bags, seven billion plastic straws.
It’s easy to assume that plastic pollution doesn’t affect us; it doesn’t seem to interrupt our daily lives on the surface. But what if I told you that, once in the ocean, plastic absorbs chemicals like PCBs and DDTs — which have been linked to some cancers — which is then mistaken by food by fish. The fish that we eat.
So, what can we do? It only takes small efforts to make a difference. Instead of buying a 5p carrier bag, bring along a reusable bag for your shopping. Instead of buying a bottle of water, use a refillable bottle and fill it from the tap. Say no to a plastic straw, drinking straight out of the glass isn’t actually that horrific.
Top Tip: bring Tupperware to the supermarket, butchers or similar shops when buying things like fresh meat, fish and loose veg — this way you can make use of that lunch box you never use and save the planet all in one shopping trip.
However, if you want to do more there are many amazing organisations out there doing their bit to help save our seas.
Like Southsea Beachwatch. Part of the Marine Conservation Society, the Portsmouth-based organisation holds monthly beach cleans with the help of volunteers just like you and I. Each month they take around two hours of their Saturday to clean up a different part of Portsmouth’s coastline.
“It’s not about trying to solve the problem, because we are just one tiny drop in the ocean, but we are trying to make people more aware of what the problem is, what the issues are and make them realise that they can have a positive impact.”
Sergio Di Dino, event organiser
They encourage everyone to do their bit, from donating two hours or just two minutes to pick up a few bits of rubbish.
Katie Carew-Robinson got involved in the October clean, along with the team at Good Gym Portsmouth, who — like many of us — like to enjoy the seafront regularly.
“We try to get involved with it as much as we can. We all run along the seafront, so we like to keep it nice.”
Katie Carew-Robinson
Local MPs are in support of the scheme, too. The Green Party’s Tim Sheerman-Chase has praised the group, saying:
“The beach cleans are very helpful, not only in cleaning but they raise the profile of the problem.”
Even the university is getting involved. They’ve recently engineered an enzyme that can digest some plastics, which could potentially be a breakthrough in the way we recycle and could breakdown the ever-growing mountain of plastic in our ocean.
It’s all well and good praising the people who are doing their bit to protect our oceans, but charity starts at home. We as individuals need to change our ways before it is too late.
Want to get involved? Southsea Beachwatch are holding their next beach clean on Saturday November 3 from 10am. Everyone is welcome to come along and get stuck in. Find out more information here.
