hey everyone my name is Amelia like she said and I’m a junior here at Hawaii
said and I’m a junior here at Hawaii
said and I’m a junior here at Hawaii Preparatory Academy but my home is all
Preparatory Academy but my home is all
Preparatory Academy but my home is all the way on the East Coast in New
the way on the East Coast in New
the way on the East Coast in New Hampshire and today I will be talking to
Hampshire and today I will be talking to
Hampshire and today I will be talking to you about something I’m extremely
you about something I’m extremely
you about something I’m extremely passionate about marine conservation
passionate about marine conservation
passionate about marine conservation imagine yourself walking on a beautiful
imagine yourself walking on a beautiful
imagine yourself walking on a beautiful white sand beach in the Caribbean just
white sand beach in the Caribbean just
white sand beach in the Caribbean just enjoying the pristine shoreline I myself
enjoying the pristine shoreline I myself
enjoying the pristine shoreline I myself was in this position about a year ago in
was in this position about a year ago in
was in this position about a year ago in Costa Rica on my walk however I came
Costa Rica on my walk however I came
Costa Rica on my walk however I came across something rather odd right in the
across something rather odd right in the
across something rather odd right in the sand in front of me Lyonne old school
sand in front of me Lyonne old school
sand in front of me Lyonne old school dial telephone I recalled my mother
dial telephone I recalled my mother
dial telephone I recalled my mother telling me one of her favorite childhood
telling me one of her favorite childhood
telling me one of her favorite childhood memories was calling up her friends on
memories was calling up her friends on
memories was calling up her friends on the landline listening to the slight
the landline listening to the slight
the landline listening to the slight clicking noise as she spun each number
clicking noise as she spun each number
clicking noise as she spun each number around the dial my biggest question was
around the dial my biggest question was
around the dial my biggest question was how did this get here this brings me to
how did this get here this brings me to
how did this get here this brings me to the topic of this talk plastics it’s low
the topic of this talk plastics it’s low
the topic of this talk plastics it’s low cost reusability and durability we once
cost reusability and durability we once
cost reusability and durability we once thought of as a plus but if you think
thought of as a plus but if you think
thought of as a plus but if you think about these three words carefully you
about these three words carefully you
about these three words carefully you can see how they can be quite harmful
can see how they can be quite harmful
can see how they can be quite harmful plastic is easy to produce and extremely
plastic is easy to produce and extremely
plastic is easy to produce and extremely cheap it is meant to be reused and it
cheap it is meant to be reused and it
cheap it is meant to be reused and it lasts a really really long time
lasts a really really long time
lasts a really really long time let’s travel back about 70 years no one
let’s travel back about 70 years no one
let’s travel back about 70 years no one predicted the toll that plastic would
predicted the toll that plastic would
predicted the toll that plastic would take on the environment or that it would
take on the environment or that it would
take on the environment or that it would end up in the marine ecosystem being
end up in the marine ecosystem being
end up in the marine ecosystem being consumed by animals and killing marine
consumed by animals and killing marine
consumed by animals and killing marine plants this graph produced by the World
plants this graph produced by the World
plants this graph produced by the World Economic Forum shows that since 1964
Economic Forum shows that since 1964
Economic Forum shows that since 1964 plastic production has increased 20
plastic production has increased 20
plastic production has increased 20 times producing a staggering 311 million
times producing a staggering 311 million
times producing a staggering 311 million tons in 2014 this is the equivalent of
tons in 2014 this is the equivalent of
tons in 2014 this is the equivalent of about 100 million elephants there are
about 100 million elephants there are
about 100 million elephants there are less than 1 million elephants in
less than 1 million elephants in
less than 1 million elephants in existence today all of this plastic
existence today all of this plastic
existence today all of this plastic waste eventually ends up in the ocean
waste eventually ends up in the ocean
waste eventually ends up in the ocean through sewage pipes and waterways
through sewage pipes and waterways
through sewage pipes and waterways culminating and 5 gyres or vortexes of
culminating and 5 gyres or vortexes of
culminating and 5 gyres or vortexes of converging currents here it spins around
converging currents here it spins around
converging currents here it spins around creating a sort of plastic soup in which
creating a sort of plastic soup in which
creating a sort of plastic soup in which plastic pieces break down smaller and
plastic pieces break down smaller and
plastic pieces break down smaller and smaller this plastic soup spans the
smaller this plastic soup spans the
smaller this plastic soup spans the area of twice the size of the
area of twice the size of the
area of twice the size of the continental United States let that sink
continental United States let that sink
continental United States let that sink in oceanography Kurtis Abbess Meyer
in oceanography Kurtis Abbess Meyer
in oceanography Kurtis Abbess Meyer describes this trash flow as a living
describes this trash flow as a living
describes this trash flow as a living entity he said it walks around like a
entity he said it walks around like a
entity he said it walks around like a big animal without a leash when this
big animal without a leash when this
big animal without a leash when this animal comes close to shore and rears
animal comes close to shore and rears
animal comes close to shore and rears its teeth it dumps its waste as a result
its teeth it dumps its waste as a result
its teeth it dumps its waste as a result there are trillions of tiny pieces of
there are trillions of tiny pieces of
there are trillions of tiny pieces of plastic floating in the ocean being
plastic floating in the ocean being
plastic floating in the ocean being consumed by fish shrimp clams eventually
consumed by fish shrimp clams eventually
consumed by fish shrimp clams eventually ending up on our plate and being
ending up on our plate and being
ending up on our plate and being consumed and Entering idea our digestive
consumed and Entering idea our digestive
consumed and Entering idea our digestive system and if we are what we eat I guess
system and if we are what we eat I guess
system and if we are what we eat I guess we truly are a plastic Society another
we truly are a plastic Society another
we truly are a plastic Society another result of marine plastics is the
result of marine plastics is the
result of marine plastics is the endangerment of species plastic bags
endangerment of species plastic bags
endangerment of species plastic bags often look like jellyfish main food
often look like jellyfish main food
often look like jellyfish main food source for the turtle in Hawaii
source for the turtle in Hawaii
source for the turtle in Hawaii AJ Mirren’s conducted a study in which
AJ Mirren’s conducted a study in which
AJ Mirren’s conducted a study in which 71 turtles were analyzed over an
71 turtles were analyzed over an
71 turtles were analyzed over an eight-year period and while this might
eight-year period and while this might
eight-year period and while this might not sound a lot don’t like a lot don’t
not sound a lot don’t like a lot don’t
not sound a lot don’t like a lot don’t forget that turtles are endangered
forget that turtles are endangered
forget that turtles are endangered he concluded that 83% of these turtles
he concluded that 83% of these turtles
he concluded that 83% of these turtles had ingested lethal levels of plastic
had ingested lethal levels of plastic
had ingested lethal levels of plastic almost dying of starvation because their
almost dying of starvation because their
almost dying of starvation because their stomachs could not break down the
stomachs could not break down the
stomachs could not break down the plastics so they would not eat
reflecting on the damage done by the
reflecting on the damage done by the human consumption and production of
human consumption and production of
human consumption and production of plastic I began to think of possible
plastic I began to think of possible
plastic I began to think of possible solutions what can we do on the topic of
solutions what can we do on the topic of
solutions what can we do on the topic of recycling I have found that of the
recycling I have found that of the
recycling I have found that of the nearly 6 billion pounds of plastic
nearly 6 billion pounds of plastic
nearly 6 billion pounds of plastic bottles purchased in 2014 only 1.5
bottles purchased in 2014 only 1.5
bottles purchased in 2014 only 1.5 billion of those were recycled about 25%
billion of those were recycled about 25%
billion of those were recycled about 25% since it’s cheaper and easier to produce
since it’s cheaper and easier to produce
since it’s cheaper and easier to produce virgin plastic than to wash chop and
virgin plastic than to wash chop and
virgin plastic than to wash chop and milk bottles companies don’t have any
milk bottles companies don’t have any
milk bottles companies don’t have any economic incentive to reduce production
economic incentive to reduce production
economic incentive to reduce production upon investigation I also learned that
upon investigation I also learned that
upon investigation I also learned that the only way the Hawaii $0.05 initiative
the only way the Hawaii $0.05 initiative
the only way the Hawaii $0.05 initiative works is if the majority of consumers do
works is if the majority of consumers do
works is if the majority of consumers do not return their bottles to be recycled
not return their bottles to be recycled
not return their bottles to be recycled when you buy a plastic water bottle in
when you buy a plastic water bottle in
when you buy a plastic water bottle in the supermarkets of Hawaii pay a five
the supermarkets of Hawaii pay a five
the supermarkets of Hawaii pay a five cents fee you get this five cents back
cents fee you get this five cents back
cents fee you get this five cents back when you return the bottles to be
when you return the bottles to be
when you return the bottles to be recycled but if the company does not
recycled but if the company does not
recycled but if the company does not make any profit they have no way of
make any profit they have no way of
make any profit they have no way of shipping these plastic bottles offshore
shipping these plastic bottles offshore
shipping these plastic bottles offshore to be recycled in plants in Korea Canada
to be recycled in plants in Korea Canada
to be recycled in plants in Korea Canada and California while there are efforts
and California while there are efforts
and California while there are efforts to remove or to reduce the existing
to remove or to reduce the existing
to remove or to reduce the existing marine debris recycling is not the
marine debris recycling is not the
marine debris recycling is not the answer we must refuse the use of plastic
answer we must refuse the use of plastic
answer we must refuse the use of plastic in our society Hawaii has already been
in our society Hawaii has already been
in our society Hawaii has already been making steps towards this with its
making steps towards this with its
making steps towards this with its recent plastic bag ban in which non
recent plastic bag ban in which non
recent plastic bag ban in which non biodegradable plastics as well as paper
biodegradable plastics as well as paper
biodegradable plastics as well as paper bags containing less than 40 percent
bags containing less than 40 percent
bags containing less than 40 percent recycled material are not allowed to
recycled material are not allowed to
recycled material are not allowed to checkout and this will make a
checkout and this will make a
checkout and this will make a significant difference as the average
significant difference as the average
significant difference as the average American takes home about 1500 plastic
American takes home about 1500 plastic
American takes home about 1500 plastic bags this needs to spread across the
bags this needs to spread across the
bags this needs to spread across the country however there are also efforts
country however there are also efforts
country however there are also efforts to remove debris from the ocean and the
to remove debris from the ocean and the
to remove debris from the ocean and the beaches but the ocean is too immense to
beaches but the ocean is too immense to
beaches but the ocean is too immense to completely remove all the existing
completely remove all the existing
completely remove all the existing plastic micro plastics will always be
plastic micro plastics will always be
plastic micro plastics will always be present the only rational thing we can
present the only rational thing we can
present the only rational thing we can do is to stop using and producing
do is to stop using and producing
do is to stop using and producing plastics humans are conditioned to
plastics humans are conditioned to
plastics humans are conditioned to choose the simplest route like buying
choose the simplest route like buying
choose the simplest route like buying plastic water bottles on the go and
plastic water bottles on the go and
plastic water bottles on the go and taking plastic bags that check out but
taking plastic bags that check out but
taking plastic bags that check out but we need to realize there are plenty of
we need to realize there are plenty of
we need to realize there are plenty of alternatives that we can switch to these
alternatives that we can switch to these
alternatives that we can switch to these include reusable bags or purchasing a
include reusable bags or purchasing a
include reusable bags or purchasing a bus or a non plastic durable water
bus or a non plastic durable water
bus or a non plastic durable water bottle a hydro flask costing about 50
bottle a hydro flask costing about 50
bottle a hydro flask costing about 50 dollars would be the equivalent of about
dollars would be the equivalent of about
dollars would be the equivalent of about 60 plastic water bottles and in
60 plastic water bottles and in
60 plastic water bottles and in perspective the average American buys
perspective the average American buys
perspective the average American buys 170 plastic water bottles per year so it
170 plastic water bottles per year so it
170 plastic water bottles per year so it seems like a big investment at first but
seems like a big investment at first but
seems like a big investment at first but in the long run you actually end up
in the long run you actually end up
in the long run you actually end up saving money this graphic is simple yet
saving money this graphic is simple yet
saving money this graphic is simple yet profound let’s start with dispose the
profound let’s start with dispose the
profound let’s start with dispose the very last option which is not even an
very last option which is not even an
very last option which is not even an option this is to mindlessly throw away
option this is to mindlessly throw away
option this is to mindlessly throw away our trash the materials in landfills can
our trash the materials in landfills can
our trash the materials in landfills can never be broken down because there is no
never be broken down because there is no
never be broken down because there is no oxygen to break down the materials and
oxygen to break down the materials and
oxygen to break down the materials and we need to realize Hawaiian landfills
we need to realize Hawaiian landfills
we need to realize Hawaiian landfills are full the rest of the world faces
are full the rest of the world faces
are full the rest of the world faces this problem as well
this problem as well
this problem as well the next option is to recover remember
the next option is to recover remember
the next option is to recover remember that dial telephone I spoke up before
that dial telephone I spoke up before
that dial telephone I spoke up before pick it up while it may feel satisfying
pick it up while it may feel satisfying
pick it up while it may feel satisfying to see the see the trash recovered from
to see the see the trash recovered from
to see the see the trash recovered from beach cleanups we need to realize that
beach cleanups we need to realize that
beach cleanups we need to realize that this is just making a small dent in
this is just making a small dent in
this is just making a small dent in perspective next option recycle as I
perspective next option recycle as I
perspective next option recycle as I spoke up before there is not really any
spoke up before there is not really any
spoke up before there is not really any economic incentive for big industries to
economic incentive for big industries to
economic incentive for big industries to recycle the one benefit that comes out
recycle the one benefit that comes out
recycle the one benefit that comes out of recycling however is seeing plastic
of recycling however is seeing plastic
of recycling however is seeing plastic as a valuable object while when we take
as a valuable object while when we take
as a valuable object while when we take time out of our day to put these
time out of our day to put these
time out of our day to put these plastics in a separate bin and wash them
plastics in a separate bin and wash them
plastics in a separate bin and wash them we see that they are an important
we see that they are an important
we see that they are an important commodity but recycling does not make
commodity but recycling does not make
commodity but recycling does not make any dent in our plastic production
any dent in our plastic production
any dent in our plastic production levels next option is to reuse wash
levels next option is to reuse wash
levels next option is to reuse wash those bags that you get at the
those bags that you get at the
those bags that you get at the supermarket and reuse them use what you
supermarket and reuse them use what you
supermarket and reuse them use what you have for other purposes around the house
have for other purposes around the house
have for other purposes around the house next we have reduce don’t take that
next we have reduce don’t take that
next we have reduce don’t take that plastic straw say no to the plastic bag
plastic straw say no to the plastic bag
plastic straw say no to the plastic bag use look for packaging that has less
use look for packaging that has less
use look for packaging that has less plastics in it finally we must refuse
plastics in it finally we must refuse
plastics in it finally we must refuse for the purchase of plastics the only
for the purchase of plastics the only
for the purchase of plastics the only thing that will drastically change our
thing that will drastically change our
thing that will drastically change our garbage footprint is to stop buying
garbage footprint is to stop buying
garbage footprint is to stop buying plastic bottles to stop buying to stop
plastic bottles to stop buying to stop
plastic bottles to stop buying to stop taking plastic bags from the supermarket
taking plastic bags from the supermarket
taking plastic bags from the supermarket I desperately want to see my beaches
I desperately want to see my beaches
I desperately want to see my beaches your beaches are beaches free from
your beaches are beaches free from
your beaches are beaches free from plastic debris so unless the world of
plastic debris so unless the world of
plastic debris so unless the world of Disney’s wall-e
Disney’s wall-e
Disney’s wall-e is pleasing to you please refrain from
is pleasing to you please refrain from
is pleasing to you please refrain from the use of plastic in society thank you
the use of plastic in society thank you
the use of plastic in society thank you [Applause]
”
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