TEDxNewy TALK: Tim Silverwood - How did our lives become so plastic?

In July 2011, Tim Silverwood sailed 5000km from Hawaii to Vancouver to research and document the accumulation of plastic in the infamous North Pacific Gyre, otherwise known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Tim, a keen surfer, developed a love affair with the ocean from a young age and has since become an advocate and activist of the need to protect our sea from the scourge of plastic pollution. Tim is an ambassador for Keep Australia Beautiful and is co-founder of the non-profit organization, 'Take 3' that asks everyone to simply take 3 pieces of rubbish with them when they leave the beach, waterway or... anywhere. Tim is currently gathering content for an Australian based documentary on the plastic pollution issue.

www.timsilverwood.com

www.ausmepa.org.au

TED TALK: Camille Seaman: Haunting photos of polar ice

"http://www.ted.com Photographer Camille Seaman shoots icebergs, showing the world the complex beauty of these massive, ancient chunks of ice. Dive in to her photo slideshow, "The Last Iceberg.""


The talk is certainly one of real wonder. 




www.ausmepa.org.au

TED TALK: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution | Video on TED.com

Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution | Video on TED.com

http://www.ted.com/talks/dianna_cohen_to...

TED Talks Artist Dianna Cohen shares some tough truths about plastic pollution in the ocean and in our lives -- and some thoughts on how to free ourselves from the plastic gyre.

This really is the bottom line regarding plastics. We must refuse them whenever and wherever possible.There will be some trade-offs. We need to take a step back in time in order to regain our footing. For me the bin liners are a killer. If you have ideas for dealing with kitchen needs send them to me or post a comment on this article. 

Some of the things we can do:

Purchase goods in glass jars and save them for food storage in the fridge.

Use a dish to cover over food in the fridge rather than plastic wrap

There are so many reasons not to use plastics in the freezer but alernatives are challenging -- use foil containers and then reuse them for as long as you can.

If your premises can't manage a compost bin then you might trial digging a small hole in the garden and bury the food waste progressively - it would keep the garden turned over too.


FOR TEACHERS:
AUSMEPA has a free online Marine Pollution unit of work for middle year students. Click here for more