On current trends the world will contain 33 billion tonnes of plastic by 20150, writes Mae Wan Ho, and much of it will litter the oceans, concentrating toxins and damaging marine life throughout the food chain. The alternative is to classify the most toxic plastics as 'hazardous waste', and for all plastics to be reused and recycled in 'closed loop' systems.
… Fighting the plastic plague in our oceans Dr Mae-Wan Ho | … 2015 News Oceans Waste Toxics Recycling beach-plastic-qr-mexico-cut.jpg On current trends … the world will contain 33 billion tonnes of plastic by 20150, writes Mae Wan Ho, and much …
An unimaginably large volume of plastic debris is reaching the world's oceans every year, write Britta Denise Hardesty & Chris Wilcox - and it's set for a ten-fold increase over the next decade, adding to the already terrible toll on marine life from turtles to seals, sea birds and fish. The solution must be to give waste plastic value - if we can find a way.
… Five to 12 million tonnes of plastic are going into the ocean each year … Natural World Pollution Toxics seal-ocean-plastic-cut.jpg An unimaginably large volume of plastic debris is reaching the world's oceans …
Already 60% of seabird species have plastic in their guts, often as much as 8% of their body weight. And with ocean plastic increasing exponentially, that figure will rise to 99% by 2050, threatening some birds' survival. Unless we act.
… Ocean plastic plague threatens seabirds Chris Wilcox … Already 60% of seabird species have plastic in their guts, often as much as 8% of their body weight. And with ocean plastic increasing exponentially, that figure …
Cornish beaches are awash with millions of 'nurdles', tiny wildlife-choking plastic pellets presumed spilled from an rogue shipping container. As England's plastic bag charge comes into force, it's a sign that there's still a long way to go to rid our seas of the plastic menace.
… Millions of plastic pellets contaminate Cornwall beaches … millions of 'nurdles', tiny wildlife-choking plastic pellets presumed spilled from an rogue shipping container. As England's plastic bag charge comes into force, it's a …
Three scientific expeditions into the Atlantic ocean will take place this summer, writes outdoor philosopher Kate Rawles. But as well as gathering data about plastic pollution and over-fishing, they will give participants the chance to think deeply about our society, its values, the often false narratives it tells; and our place, as humans, in the natural world.
… Rawles. But as well as gathering data about plastic pollution and over-fishing, they will … Gyre last summer to investigate ocean plastic pollution. The sparkling dolphins … A recent paper in Science puts the amount of plastic created annually at around 275 million …
For 25 years, a group of eco-aware surfers have been campaigning for cleaner waves, writes Summer Brooks. SAS was founded in 1990 to tackle sewage discharges into UK coastal waters, and now, bigger and stronger than ever, they are turning their focus to the global problem of ocean plastic - both picking it up on our beaches, and pushing for long term, global solutions.
… Against Sewage turns its fight to ocean plastic Summer Brooks | 2nd September 2015 … their focus to the global problem of ocean plastic - both picking it up on our beaches, … people's health." Marine litter and ocean plastic Increasingly SAS is turning its focus …
As if melting ice in Polar bears' Arctic habitat was not enough, Norwegian scientists have found that organic pollutants such as pesticide residues are disrupting their thyroid and endocrine systems, adding a further threat to the species' survival.
… the researchers found high concentrations of plastic pollution and pesticide contamination … that in 2010, around eight million tons of plastic waste ended up in the world's oceans. The resulting plastic particles concentrate organic …
The 'plasticiser' DEHP is known to leach out of plastics and cause fertility problems in male foetuses, writes Tess Crean. That's why it is banned under EU law. But now the Commission looks likely to grant a wide-ranging exemption for PVC recycling which would make the ban redundant. They must be stopped.
… EU must uphold ban on toxic plasticiser DEHP Tess Crean ClientEarth | 21st … Toxics Health disney-princesses-cut.jpg The 'plasticiser' DEHP is known to leach out of plastics and cause fertility problems in male …
The rapid deterioration of the world's oceans and the life they contain calls for a breakthrough in their governance, writes Deborah Wright. The seas must be protected, respected and policed as the common heritage of all mankind, and of all generations present and future.
… by nets, lines and debris of all kinds. Plastic waste covers hundreds of thousands of … fuel emissions and the proliferation of plastic waste. Over-fishing and destructive … become a thing of the past; pollution and plastic waste will diminish and eventually …
Lettuces, peppers and other vegetables grown under 'semi-slavery' conditions in Spain are filling supermarket shelves in the UK, writes Almudena Serpis. Workers are routinely abused, underpaid, sprayed with pesticide, and sacked if they dare complain, an C4News / Ecologist investigation has found. But now they are getting organised to defend their rights.
… Film Unit investigation. Working inside a plastic city A few hours East of this region, … Almeria, we arrive at El Ejido, the so-called plastic city which can be seen from outer … on a few kilometres away, under a sea of plastic. It looks abandoned but inside this …
Modern industrial capitalism is based on a simple premise, writes Derrick Jensen: our mother Earth is a great store of raw materials for us to pillage, and a vast trashcan for our endless volumes of waste, no matter how long-lived and deadly. How can this be changed? First we must regain our own sanity.
… greenhouse gases to pesticides to ocean microplastics? Can the capitalists clean up the … (like the invention and production of plastics, the bathing of the world in … ask how we can stop polluting the oceans with plastic, they don't really mean, "How can we …
A six-month investigation finds that the revolving door between government and the chemical industry has led the EPA to rely on easily manipulated toxicology research carried out entirely on computers - and this 'in silico' science often trumps both biology and epidemiology when it comes to regulatory action, or lack of it. The result? Toxic substances remain in everyday products.
… just now being recognized, such as the common plastics ingredient bisphenol A (BPA) and … as a solvent and as an ingredient in making plastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and … in use - to produce electronics, pesticides, plastics and synthetic fabrics, and in paint …
Naomi Klein famously called for a 'grand coalition' of the progressive left to fight climate change and Earth-destroying capitalism, writes Alexander Reid Ross. And now it's happening, drawing together diverse strands that encompass the fight for social and racial justice, the right to work, health, clean air and fresh water, and our freedom to be alive and thrive on this our one planet.
… sands, strewn amongst the bottles and random plastic like so many discarded dreams. …
Countries at the UN have agreed to start formal negotiations on a new 'legally binding instrument' to conserve the biological riches of the high seas that cover 45% of planet Earth, and ensure their sustainable use for the benefit of all mankind.
… and the clean up of vast floating islands of plastic waste. Following the decision by the …
Jeju, South Korea's 'island of peace' is the site of an extraordinary people's struggle against the construction of a new billion-dollar naval base destined to support the US's military posturing towards China and North Korea, writes Medea Benjamin. And even now, after eight years of peaceful resistance, the campaigning spirit is burning strong and bright.
… activists in their daily ritual of sitting in plastic chairs blocking the base entrance, …
Declining tuna stocks are not the only consequence of an out-of-control tuna industry, writes Cat Dorey. A major tuna fishing method used in tropical seas is causing serious damage to coral reefs and attracting a huge 'bycatch' of sharks and other species. Now responsible producers and retailers are taking matters into their own hands - and you can help!
… long pieces of old fishing nets, ropes, and plastic ribbons hanging beneath them to slow …
Indigenous forest dwellers in India's iconic Kanha Tiger Reserve have suffered another round of illegal forced evictions at the hands of the country's Tiger Conservation Authority - a move that is threatening the future of the tigers themselves.
… and were living in dire conditions under plastic sheets. They have not received the …
Biofuels are controversial because they are often produced from food crops or grown on farmland, writes Paul Brown, creating extra pressure on land and forests. But a common algae found in abundance around coastlines and clogging up beaches may be the answer.
… algae into eco-friendly food, medicine, plastic and energy. "We see algae as a …
So just how serious is the impact of industrial farming? Worse than you could ever imagine, writes organic farmer Julian Rose in this review of 'Farmageddon - the Real Price of Cheap Food', which lifts the lid on the industry's human and ecological devastation, and the systematic cruelty inflicted on the animals that feed us.
… that are about as different from 'natural' as plastic is to wood. Enter the factory farm ... …
From Australia to the UK, governments are pinning their hopes on 'carbon capture' technology stuck onto coal power stations, writes John Quiggin. But their choice carries a high risk of failure - the smart money is on renewables, energy storage and responsive power grids.
… to Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate that "plastics" were the one-word key to a …
A new review of the performance of politically fashionable 'voluntary' approaches to environmental protection demonstrates limited effectiveness, writes Donal McCarthy. Laws and regulations play a vital role in protecting nature and the wider environment - for which voluntarism is no substitute.
… centres or to cut the number of single-use plastic bags given out to customers by …
Humanity is continuing to drive species into extinction at a terrifying rate, writes Robert J. Burrowes - not just nameless beetles and midges, but mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and trees. The biggest causes are habitat destruction, pollution and hunting ... and unless we stop soon, we too will be among the victims of our ecocidal attack on Earth.
… of poisons and chemical pollutants, and even plastic. There are now 'dead zones' in several …
The EU Court has made a landmark judgement we should all be glad of, writes Tess Crean, firming up our right to know when products contain chemicals known to be seriously damaging to health. Now we must make sure that reluctant regulators step up to the mark.
… or design which determines its function. So a plastic handlebar grip is an 'article', … meaning that if an SVHC (for example a listed plasticiser chemical) made up more than 0.1% …
The UK's Trident nuclear missile system and the nuclear submarines on which it depends represent a massive danger to the UK due to faulty equipment, gross security lapses and ignorance of operating procedures, writes William McNeilly. This leaves the system open to accidents and terrorist attack, and apparently unable to even fire missiles should the need arise.
… numerous compartments on the boat you'll find plastic bags filled with rubbish sitting on … chief and a warrant officer. I said "There's Plastic bags filled with cardboard touching … by agreeing then laughing because I said plastic and cardboard are both great materials …