Because, according to the Nature Conservancy, half of the oxygen in the air is produced by plants in the sea and oceans absorb about one-third of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions.
As Earth Day approaches, here is another Featured Action suggested by the Nature Conservancy: switch to re-usable bags and re-usable water bottles.
Writer Cara Byington recently saw the effects of cast-off plastic first-hand: a sperm whale that died from plastic ingestion whose skeleton is now on display in the Bahamas’ Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. She reports:
"Thousands of animals — especially marine mammals and sea turtles — die every year from ingesting plastic they mistake for food.
- Last December, seven sperm whales washed up on an Italian beach — all of them dead from plastic (and, let’s be fair, other debris like rope, tin cans and other containers) in their stomachs.
- In 2008, it was a dead sperm whale near Point Reyes, California. Its stomach contents? An astonishing 450 pounds of fishing net, some kind of mesh, braided rope, plastic bags and one plastic comb.
- In 2006, scientists reviewed 371 sea turtle necropsies (an autopsy of an animal) since 1968 and discovered that one-third of the turtles had likely died from eating plastic."
Read more of her article here: Crisis in the Checkout Line
Please check out my re-usable cotton tote bags and water bottles--I have dozens of designs available for Feline Fanatics and Nature Lovers in both of my Cafepress Shops: Susan Faye Originals and Susan Faye for Nature Lovers. Click on each image for more information...
1 comment:
Susan, this is a wonderful post and a great reminder to all of us to be conscious of how our little, day to day decisions can have a huge impact.
Speaking of protecting our oceans and marine life, I'd like to remind everyone to never, EVER flush cat little down the toilet (even if it's the "Flushable" kind). Most cats carry a parasite caused Toxoplasmosis Gondii, which is resistant to standard sewage treatment measures and when flushed will eventually enter the water supply. A couple of years ago, it was determined that about 20% of sea lion deaths could be directly related to TG poisoning. Scary, but largely preventable if we don't flush kitty litter!
Now, I'm off to buy a new Cat Ladies water bottle!!!
Hugs,
Linda
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