Ocean Love: Cleaning Up Our Plastic Mess | Carol Devine | TEDxMontrealWomen

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this image of reindeer in the Arctic

this image of reindeer in the Arctic with their antlers entangled in fishing

with their antlers entangled in fishing

with their antlers entangled in fishing net stopped me in my tracks we have a

net stopped me in my tracks we have a

net stopped me in my tracks we have a garbage problem but before I can tell

garbage problem but before I can tell

garbage problem but before I can tell you about how I became interested in

you about how I became interested in

you about how I became interested in plastic pollution in the Arctic come

plastic pollution in the Arctic come

plastic pollution in the Arctic come with me far south for a moment to

with me far south for a moment to

with me far south for a moment to Antarctica

Antarctica

Antarctica why Antarctica growing up in Northern

why Antarctica growing up in Northern

why Antarctica growing up in Northern Ontario I thought I was near the North

Ontario I thought I was near the North

Ontario I thought I was near the North Pole but I was barely in the subarctic

Pole but I was barely in the subarctic

Pole but I was barely in the subarctic then at University here in Montreal I

then at University here in Montreal I

then at University here in Montreal I became obsessed with going I used to

became obsessed with going I used to

became obsessed with going I used to love to spin the globe and look at the

love to spin the globe and look at the

love to spin the globe and look at the Arctic this white mass at the top of the

Arctic this white mass at the top of the

Arctic this white mass at the top of the earth and spin it over and see this

earth and spin it over and see this

earth and spin it over and see this white continent this frozen continent at

white continent this frozen continent at

white continent this frozen continent at the bottom did we forget about it

the bottom did we forget about it

the bottom did we forget about it because it was tucked to under that

because it was tucked to under that

because it was tucked to under that under there I was curious

under there I was curious

under there I was curious Antarctica obsessed me there were no

Antarctica obsessed me there were no

Antarctica obsessed me there were no borders and no permanent population

borders and no permanent population

borders and no permanent population about 3,000 to 5,000 people a year go to

about 3,000 to 5,000 people a year go to

about 3,000 to 5,000 people a year go to Antarctica temporarily scientists

Antarctica temporarily scientists

Antarctica temporarily scientists support staff and tourists go but a tiny

support staff and tourists go but a tiny

support staff and tourists go but a tiny fraction of us go to this place what I

fraction of us go to this place what I

fraction of us go to this place what I love about Antarctica is its governance

love about Antarctica is its governance

love about Antarctica is its governance the fact that countries during the Cold

the fact that countries during the Cold

the fact that countries during the Cold War said let’s dedicate this continent

War said let’s dedicate this continent

War said let’s dedicate this continent to peace and science it was a pioneering

to peace and science it was a pioneering

to peace and science it was a pioneering treaty the first nuclear arms treaty in

treaty the first nuclear arms treaty in

treaty the first nuclear arms treaty in the world and the first time we said no

the world and the first time we said no

the world and the first time we said no nuclear dumping here we decided that the

nuclear dumping here we decided that the

nuclear dumping here we decided that the common good of humankind was important

common good of humankind was important

common good of humankind was important here and we also said that science is a

here and we also said that science is a

here and we also said that science is a tool of diplomacy well how was I going

tool of diplomacy well how was I going

tool of diplomacy well how was I going to get there

to get there

to get there being so remote it was so expensive a

being so remote it was so expensive a

being so remote it was so expensive a friend of mine was working for an

friend of mine was working for an

friend of mine was working for an eco-tourism company Pat and he said

eco-tourism company Pat and he said

eco-tourism company Pat and he said Carol there is so much garbage in the

Carol there is so much garbage in the

Carol there is so much garbage in the Antarctic why don’t you find one of

Antarctic why don’t you find one of

Antarctic why don’t you find one of these research stations and get them to

these research stations and get them to

these research stations and get them to host you find volunteers and we’ll bring

host you find volunteers and we’ll bring

host you find volunteers and we’ll bring you there on our ships well that was a

you there on our ships well that was a

you there on our ships well that was a big undertaking but I put one foot in

big undertaking but I put one foot in

big undertaking but I put one foot in front of the other

front of the other

front of the other I wrote letters to countries that had

I wrote letters to countries that had

I wrote letters to countries that had research stations in Antarctica the US

research stations in Antarctica the US

research stations in Antarctica the US UK Poland Russia Australia New Zealand

UK Poland Russia Australia New Zealand

UK Poland Russia Australia New Zealand etc Russia wrote me back and said help

etc Russia wrote me back and said help

etc Russia wrote me back and said help us clean up the timing was good because

us clean up the timing was good because

us clean up the timing was good because this Antarctic Treaty that dedicated the

this Antarctic Treaty that dedicated the

this Antarctic Treaty that dedicated the sign at the continent to peace and

sign at the continent to peace and

sign at the continent to peace and science added an additional protocol an

science added an additional protocol an

science added an additional protocol an environmental protocol that said we also

environmental protocol that said we also

environmental protocol that said we also have to better manage the environment

have to better manage the environment

have to better manage the environment and monitor ourselves so then I had to

and monitor ourselves so then I had to

and monitor ourselves so then I had to find expedition team a cook and

find expedition team a cook and

find expedition team a cook and volunteers but the volunteers came and

volunteers but the volunteers came and

volunteers but the volunteers came and we cleaned up a tiny fraction of the

we cleaned up a tiny fraction of the

we cleaned up a tiny fraction of the pollution that was there but we shined a

pollution that was there but we shined a

pollution that was there but we shined a light on the problem and this is the

light on the problem and this is the

light on the problem and this is the Russian research station and I led the

Russian research station and I led the

Russian research station and I led the first civilian cleanup expedition and it

first civilian cleanup expedition and it

first civilian cleanup expedition and it was called the Russian the joint Russian

was called the Russian the joint Russian

was called the Russian the joint Russian Canadian ecological expedition and we

Canadian ecological expedition and we

Canadian ecological expedition and we were there with the Russians at one of

were there with the Russians at one of

were there with the Russians at one of their stations and what we found were

their stations and what we found were

their stations and what we found were age old abandoned fuel pipes paint

age old abandoned fuel pipes paint

age old abandoned fuel pipes paint chipped cigarette butts nails empty

chipped cigarette butts nails empty

chipped cigarette butts nails empty fridges but something that surprised me

fridges but something that surprised me

fridges but something that surprised me was some of the garbage had also come

was some of the garbage had also come

was some of the garbage had also come from the ocean it appeared so how does

from the ocean it appeared so how does

from the ocean it appeared so how does this mess in our oceans happen eight

this mess in our oceans happen eight

this mess in our oceans happen eight million tons of garbage are in our

million tons of garbage are in our

million tons of garbage are in our oceans

oceans

oceans that’s one dump truck every minute

that’s one dump truck every minute

that’s one dump truck every minute well humans are sloppy 80% of the

well humans are sloppy 80% of the

well humans are sloppy 80% of the garbage that ends up in the oceans comes

garbage that ends up in the oceans comes

garbage that ends up in the oceans comes from land-based activities

from land-based activities

from land-based activities we’re sloppy and we leave trash near

we’re sloppy and we leave trash near

we’re sloppy and we leave trash near beaches and that gets into river ways

beaches and that gets into river ways

beaches and that gets into river ways and into the oceans another way is

and into the oceans another way is

and into the oceans another way is inadvertently or sloppily because ships

inadvertently or sloppily because ships

inadvertently or sloppily because ships that containers they dump by mistake

that containers they dump by mistake

that containers they dump by mistake containers of plastics also plastic

containers of plastics also plastic

containers of plastics also plastic factories a fraction of the garbage

factories a fraction of the garbage

factories a fraction of the garbage comes from plastic factories that are

comes from plastic factories that are

comes from plastic factories that are near waterways and a tiny and another

near waterways and a tiny and another

near waterways and a tiny and another percent comes from these tiny fibers

percent comes from these tiny fibers

percent comes from these tiny fibers which are micro fibers that come from

which are micro fibers that come from

which are micro fibers that come from our fleece and synthetic clothing

our fleece and synthetic clothing

our fleece and synthetic clothing clothing and gets into waterways and the

clothing and gets into waterways and the

clothing and gets into waterways and the garbage lasts a really long time to

garbage lasts a really long time to

garbage lasts a really long time to decompose so here’s the design flaw

decompose so here’s the design flaw

decompose so here’s the design flaw something plastics were supposed to make

something plastics were supposed to make

something plastics were supposed to make our lives easier but they haven’t and

our lives easier but they haven’t and

our lives easier but they haven’t and they can take generations to decompose

they can take generations to decompose

they can take generations to decompose socks one to five years

socks one to five years

socks one to five years plastic bags 20 years and then we get

plastic bags 20 years and then we get

plastic bags 20 years and then we get into 50 to 400 years styrofoam cups 50

into 50 to 400 years styrofoam cups 50

into 50 to 400 years styrofoam cups 50 years and then those plastic beverage

years and then those plastic beverage

years and then those plastic beverage holders not only do they last for 450 or

holders not only do they last for 450 or

holders not only do they last for 450 or so years but they tangle animals in them

so years but they tangle animals in them

so years but they tangle animals in them and then things that we use plastic

and then things that we use plastic

and then things that we use plastic disposable diapers and sanitary products

disposable diapers and sanitary products

disposable diapers and sanitary products 500 years so how does this garbage

500 years so how does this garbage

500 years so how does this garbage travel around the world well just

travel around the world well just

travel around the world well just quickly to say we have these things

quickly to say we have these things

quickly to say we have these things called gyres you will have heard of

called gyres you will have heard of

called gyres you will have heard of gyres are these vast whirlpools that are

gyres are these vast whirlpools that are

gyres are these vast whirlpools that are caused by the Earth’s rotation and by

caused by the Earth’s rotation and by

caused by the Earth’s rotation and by wind driven currents and there’s five

wind driven currents and there’s five

wind driven currents and there’s five big tires these whirlpools that are full

big tires these whirlpools that are full

big tires these whirlpools that are full of plastics and more are forming one in

of plastics and more are forming one in

of plastics and more are forming one in the Arctic and the plastics move around

the Arctic and the plastics move around

the Arctic and the plastics move around and they become this soup and then the

and they become this soup and then the

and they become this soup and then the soup gets ingested by animals so here

soup gets ingested by animals so here

soup gets ingested by animals so here are the three problems just that the

are the three problems just that the

are the three problems just that the animals mistake it for garbage seals

animals mistake it for garbage seals

animals mistake it for garbage seals think that

think that

think that stick bags or jellyfish and we’re just

stick bags or jellyfish and we’re just

stick bags or jellyfish and we’re just learning that animals and sea life

learning that animals and sea life

learning that animals and sea life actually like the taste of it this seal

actually like the taste of it this seal

actually like the taste of it this seal got caught in plastic and in the Arctic

got caught in plastic and in the Arctic

got caught in plastic and in the Arctic it a band of plastic and it grew and

it a band of plastic and it grew and

it a band of plastic and it grew and unfortunately it died and four out of

unfortunately it died and four out of

unfortunately it died and four out of five sea birds have plastics in their

five sea birds have plastics in their

five sea birds have plastics in their stomachs so they die of starvation or

stomachs so they die of starvation or

stomachs so they die of starvation or because of that plastic and the other

because of that plastic and the other

because of that plastic and the other reason that plastics are dangerous of

reason that plastics are dangerous of

reason that plastics are dangerous of course is that they ingest it and then

course is that they ingest it and then

course is that they ingest it and then we ingest it gets into our food chain so

we ingest it gets into our food chain so

we ingest it gets into our food chain so I joined a expedition in recently this

I joined a expedition in recently this

I joined a expedition in recently this summer called ex expedition and it was

summer called ex expedition and it was

summer called ex expedition and it was an all-women sailing expedition and what

an all-women sailing expedition and what

an all-women sailing expedition and what we were doing was sampling waters around

we were doing was sampling waters around

we were doing was sampling waters around the UK for plastics and also toxins

the UK for plastics and also toxins

the UK for plastics and also toxins particularly looked to look at how

particularly looked to look at how

particularly looked to look at how toxins affect women’s health and I’m

toxins affect women’s health and I’m

toxins affect women’s health and I’m sorry to say in every single water

sorry to say in every single water

sorry to say in every single water sample that we trawled

sample that we trawled

sample that we trawled in the water we found plastics visible

in the water we found plastics visible

in the water we found plastics visible and quite invisible these micro plastics

and quite invisible these micro plastics

and quite invisible these micro plastics the United Nations environmental program

the United Nations environmental program

the United Nations environmental program said that plastic pollution is a global

said that plastic pollution is a global

said that plastic pollution is a global problem on par with climate change and

problem on par with climate change and

problem on par with climate change and in fact it’s interrelated and also that

in fact it’s interrelated and also that

in fact it’s interrelated and also that these micro plastics these tiny plastics

these micro plastics these tiny plastics

these micro plastics these tiny plastics threaten human health and marine

threaten human health and marine

threaten human health and marine ecosystems so I’d been to the Antarctic

ecosystems so I’d been to the Antarctic

ecosystems so I’d been to the Antarctic and now I wanted to go to the Arctic

and now I wanted to go to the Arctic

and now I wanted to go to the Arctic decades later and see what the plastic

decades later and see what the plastic

decades later and see what the plastic was happening up there and I came across

was happening up there and I came across

was happening up there and I came across this initiative called clean up Svalbard

this initiative called clean up Svalbard

this initiative called clean up Svalbard small bird is an archipelago of islands

small bird is an archipelago of islands

small bird is an archipelago of islands at the top of the world the northernmost

at the top of the world the northernmost

at the top of the world the northernmost inhabited place on earth

inhabited place on earth

inhabited place on earth but 3,000 people and about 3,000 polar

but 3,000 people and about 3,000 polar

but 3,000 people and about 3,000 polar bears and the governor of Svalbard it

bears and the governor of Svalbard it

bears and the governor of Svalbard it was finding so much plastic pollution

was finding so much plastic pollution

was finding so much plastic pollution because there are many fjords and

because there are many fjords and

because there are many fjords and beaches and he started cleaning up with

beaches and he started cleaning up with

beaches and he started cleaning up with locals and going on ships and going

locals and going on ships and going

locals and going on ships and going around and cleaning because that’s one

around and cleaning because that’s one

around and cleaning because that’s one way to reduce plastic pollution to

way to reduce plastic pollution to

way to reduce plastic pollution to actually intercept it and remove it and

actually intercept it and remove it and

actually intercept it and remove it and then

then

then invited international people so I joined

invited international people so I joined

invited international people so I joined people from 18 countries from the ship

people from 18 countries from the ship

people from 18 countries from the ship we couldn’t see the plastics and as we

we couldn’t see the plastics and as we

we couldn’t see the plastics and as we got closer there was herds of walruses I

got closer there was herds of walruses I

got closer there was herds of walruses I see freezing waters and these

see freezing waters and these

see freezing waters and these sugar-coated mountains but behind these

sugar-coated mountains but behind these

sugar-coated mountains but behind these logs that floated in from Siberia and

logs that floated in from Siberia and

logs that floated in from Siberia and under rocks was green blue plastic a lot

under rocks was green blue plastic a lot

under rocks was green blue plastic a lot of it was fishing equipment but it was

of it was fishing equipment but it was

of it was fishing equipment but it was also these tiny fragments we would pick

also these tiny fragments we would pick

also these tiny fragments we would pick up a piece of plastic rope and it would

up a piece of plastic rope and it would

up a piece of plastic rope and it would disintegrate in our hands and then we

disintegrate in our hands and then we

disintegrate in our hands and then we knew where does that go

knew where does that go

knew where does that go so we did this cleanup and we found

so we did this cleanup and we found

so we did this cleanup and we found household waste food packaging from many

household waste food packaging from many

household waste food packaging from many countries alcohol bottles that still

countries alcohol bottles that still

countries alcohol bottles that still smelled of alcohol but something that

smelled of alcohol but something that

smelled of alcohol but something that caught my eye and surprised me the most

caught my eye and surprised me the most

caught my eye and surprised me the most were children’s toys and this dolls head

were children’s toys and this dolls head

were children’s toys and this dolls head who played with this doll how did it get

who played with this doll how did it get

who played with this doll how did it get way up here

way up here

way up here well we cleaned up ten nautical miles of

well we cleaned up ten nautical miles of

well we cleaned up ten nautical miles of garbage 13.5 cubic meters about the size

garbage 13.5 cubic meters about the size

garbage 13.5 cubic meters about the size of a big shipping container but again it

of a big shipping container but again it

of a big shipping container but again it was just a fraction I want to bring you

was just a fraction I want to bring you

was just a fraction I want to bring you back to these reindeer but to tell you

back to these reindeer but to tell you

back to these reindeer but to tell you when I went to the cabin with my garbage

when I went to the cabin with my garbage

when I went to the cabin with my garbage my roommate said Carol are you seriously

my roommate said Carol are you seriously

my roommate said Carol are you seriously bringing more crap into our cabin and I

bringing more crap into our cabin and I

bringing more crap into our cabin and I said yes and that crap as gray said is

said yes and that crap as gray said is

said yes and that crap as gray said is going to be in the Science and

going to be in the Science and

going to be in the Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa I want us to

Technology Museum in Ottawa I want us to

Technology Museum in Ottawa I want us to look at ourselves and look at our

look at ourselves and look at our

look at ourselves and look at our consumption so these reindeer I was

consumption so these reindeer I was

consumption so these reindeer I was dying to know what happened to them I

dying to know what happened to them I

dying to know what happened to them I needed to know and I searched and I

needed to know and I searched and I

needed to know and I searched and I tracked down the photographer and his

tracked down the photographer and his

tracked down the photographer and his name is fennec Raman and he was out

name is fennec Raman and he was out

name is fennec Raman and he was out snowmobiling in the northern in a

snowmobiling in the northern in a

snowmobiling in the northern in a northern island and came across the

northern island and came across the

northern island and came across the reindeer and he said we had a dilemma if

reindeer and he said we had a dilemma if

reindeer and he said we had a dilemma if we don’t cut the rope they will die

we don’t cut the rope they will die

we don’t cut the rope they will die slowly but also they know that

slowly but also they know that

slowly but also they know that interfering with wildlife is dangerous

interfering with wildlife is dangerous

interfering with wildlife is dangerous and that they shouldn’t do it well I

and that they shouldn’t do it well I

and that they shouldn’t do it well I teary when he sent me this photo they

teary when he sent me this photo they

teary when he sent me this photo they were able to cut the rope but that is

were able to cut the rope but that is

were able to cut the rope but that is extremely rare most animals die out of

extremely rare most animals die out of

extremely rare most animals die out of sight and they die because we leaving

sight and they die because we leaving

sight and they die because we leaving our garbage everywhere we shouldn’t be

our garbage everywhere we shouldn’t be

our garbage everywhere we shouldn’t be doing this this is an indictment of us

doing this this is an indictment of us

doing this this is an indictment of us humans so we have to clean up our act if

humans so we have to clean up our act if

humans so we have to clean up our act if we can create an Antarctic Treaty that

we can create an Antarctic Treaty that

we can create an Antarctic Treaty that dedicates a continent to peace and

dedicates a continent to peace and

dedicates a continent to peace and science and that says we need to

science and that says we need to

science and that says we need to collaborate and we have limited

collaborate and we have limited

collaborate and we have limited resources then we can do it for all of

resources then we can do it for all of

resources then we can do it for all of the world and for all peoples in my own

the world and for all peoples in my own

the world and for all peoples in my own life I try to reduce plastic pollution

life I try to reduce plastic pollution

life I try to reduce plastic pollution but it’s really difficult there’s so

but it’s really difficult there’s so

but it’s really difficult there’s so much single-use plastic I refuse straws

much single-use plastic I refuse straws

much single-use plastic I refuse straws and plastic bags but there’s also so

and plastic bags but there’s also so

and plastic bags but there’s also so many innovations and efforts today so we

many innovations and efforts today so we

many innovations and efforts today so we need to ramp it up together if we can do

need to ramp it up together if we can do

need to ramp it up together if we can do this together

this together

this together we can do it for each other for these

we can do it for each other for these

we can do it for each other for these species it’s not only about animals we

species it’s not only about animals we

species it’s not only about animals we are interconnected we can do it for

are interconnected we can do it for

are interconnected we can do it for Mother Earth and for future generations

Mother Earth and for future generations

Mother Earth and for future generations thank you