Posts Tagged ‘marine life’

Ocean of Change

Sunday, March 15th, 2015

water on Earth

 

As mankind we have trouble comprehending what’s going on at land . The oceans have consequently been ignored . On a planet that is 71% water – of which 96% is oceans – ignoring the oceans is not an option anymore .

A recent article by the National Geographic profiles the loss of Oxygen from the oceans and it’s consequent impact on marine life . We would encourage everyone to read it to understand in detail the rapid changes that are taking place in the oceans .

In the last several years there has been a growing understanding of the impact of disposal of waste and pollutants into the oceans. Marine life and birds either undergoing mutation or painful , untimely death as a consequence of mankind’s chosen way of life. The risk to marine life does not end there . Marine life need oxygen which they imbibe from water . Natural changes compounded by climate change are resulting in a rapid increase of low oxygen areas . This is pushing marine life closer to the surface , putting certain species at risk . Imagine if we had a sprawling city – but ALL of it’s residents had to live only in 3 neighborhoods . Something like that is happening in the oceans .

The discussion on this can easily degenerate to allocating how much of this is due to climate change . In doing so we will be deluding ourselves .

Our everyday choices as individuals , households , businesses are shaping the Planet . An Ocean of Change is needed to ensure sustainabilty for mankind and other species .

As individuals and households we can make a vast range of choices that reduce disposable waste which choke the planet . As businesses we have even greater responsibility to make choices that go beyond the next quarter results and nurture the planet. Produce responsibly , sell responsibly , buy responsibly . Let’s take good care of the one Planet that is our only Home .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let Earth Breathe!

Monday, November 25th, 2013
Non-biodegradable plastic. Choked Earth.

Non-biodegradable plastic. Choked Earth.

A mother always protects her child from wearing a plastic bag over their head, else they may suffocate and die.

What about Mother Earth? Why do we ignore such a deed from happening to our planet? Why do we continue using polythene bags, plastics, etc. and choke the rivers, drains, etc. Doesn’t the same principle apply to it as well?

The over utilization of plastic bags across the world has suffocated Earth. Marine life, the animal kingdom, plants and forests, etc. all get affected by the human’s “inhuman” actions. All because we forget to nurture Nature.

Let’s not aggravate this situation. Let’s switch to better, biodegradable and reusable solutions such as cloth, jute bags, etc. Remember,

1 cloth bag = 300 plastic bags.

By using simply ONE cloth bag we are saving planet Earth from 300 plastic bags worth of torture. Why not make this difference today?!? Switch to a reusable, Eco-friendly alternative.

TV Off, Planet On!

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Clean Planet supports HT’s – No TV Day initiative. It’s time to turn the box off and turn life on or like how we say it here – TV Off, Planet On! This could be a wonderful day to make the most of the outdoors, enjoy the weather and have a fantastic day out. Or you could choose to stay back home and do all the little things you love that make you happy. What would you rather do, other than watch tv today? Check out what folks have to say about what they’re about to do right here – www.notvday.in

Have a very happy No TV Day =)

 

Awesome 2012

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Decorate your wall board or desktop background with this earthy worthy calendar. Click on the link to the right to download a printable pdf or jpeg as per your screen size.

 

 
 

Now the Mediterranean…

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

So far we’ve read about the Pacific Garbage patch . Now enormous amount of plastic has been found in the Mediterranean sea.

Some 250 billion microscopic pieces of plastic are floating in the Mediterranean Sea, creating a biological hazard that reverberates up the food chain, says research supported by green campaigners.
Micro-sized plastic is an enduring hazard because it becomes mixed with plankton, which is then eaten by small fish that are then eaten by larger predators, says Expedition MED.

We’ve long suspected that the reason for plastic debris in sea not being widely reported elsewhere (other than the Pacific ) is not due to the absence of plastic but due to it not being tested.

The planet is meant to be a nurturing space for life forms. Not a dump yard for non bio-degradable / toxic / life threatening junk.

If the ocean ain't happy..

Monday, July 12th, 2010

There’s a tight and surprising link between the ocean’s health and ours, says marine biologist Stephen Palumbi. He shows how toxins at the bottom of the ocean food chain find their way into our bodies, with a shocking story of toxic contamination from a Japanese fish market. His work points a way forward for saving the oceans’ health — and humanity’s.

It seems that since we human beings live on land we take the oceans lightly. Not that we have demonstrated exceptional care of the land and it’s inhabitants.

Pl view the video . Share with friends .It’s appalling that dolphins in some parts of the world lose their first born to an unnecessarily pre-mature death due to the toxins in the female dolphin’s milk courtesy pollution. Would we human beings be ok to have such a fate thrust upon us due to the thoughtless actions of another species ?

As Stephen aptly summarises..the ocean pyramid connects to our own pyramid of life. It’s an ocean planet, and we think of ourselves terrestrial species. But the pyramid of life in the ocean and our own lives on land are intricately connected. And it’s only through having the ocean being healthy that we can remain healthy ourselves..

Pl resolve to make a contribution towards a cleaner planet which nurtures life of all species.

Share your ideas and resolutions with us at Clean Planet World .

Plastic 101

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

Plastic issues

Some of the facts about plastic in a succinct , graphic style . Pl read and share . Lack of awareness of issues pertaining to plastic is a part of the problem.

source : www.theplastiki.com

Garbage Island

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

It appears that the planet’s landfill is not on land . It’s the oceans.

The Great Pacific Garbage patch stretches for hundreds of miles across the North Pacific Ocean, forming a nebulous, floating junk yard on the high seas. It’s the poster child for a worldwide problem: plastic that begins in human hands yet ends up in the ocean, often inside animals’ stomachs or around their necks. It is outrageous that other species suffer the consequences of human choices.

Phenomena like the Garbage Patch cannot be the fate of the Pacific alone . Possibly the Pacific Ocean is studied more intensively and frequently resulting in ‘sea’ of information.

World over plastic is used widely . Very little of it is recycled . No one is holding on to plastic objects like heirlooms . It’s therefore ending up on land fills or in water.

The planet is a closed system . What we do stays on the planet and it’s atmosphere .The plastic in the land fills and in circulation is going to hang around for hundreds of years . Our best bet at not turning the entire planet into a junk yard is to radically increase creation and usage of biodegradable objects.

The problem is global and local . The solutions have to be local and consistent for it to cascade to a global level.

Pl choose to make a difference.

A planet money can't buy

Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

Pres Obama’s declaration that BP will pay for clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico is symbolic of capital’s hubris and naivete based on the idea that cash can solve all problems. The magnitude of the ongoing BP Gulf gusher is beyond a payment plan. The long term degradation of the fisheries, the die off of animal and plant life, effects on the tourist industry along Alabama and Florida’s panhandle will be irreparable. How big a check will BP write? … How many lives human and otherwise are worth our lust for bigger, better, stronger, faster, newer, next new things?

Time we looked seriously at alternative forms of energy as well as a sustainable way of life.

All the money we have + all the money we can print can not buy us another life nurturing planet.

Why use a cloth bag ?

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

Why use a cloth bag when retailers recklessly and generously hand out plastic bags of varying sizes considering -

- Plastic Bags save you the effort of carrying a cloth / reusable bag with you.

- Plastic Bags can be used as bin liners

- Plastic bags can be used to store veggies in the refrigerator

- If the plastic bag is that of a fancy brand – you get to let your friends , colleagues , neighbors and all in visual range know that you are able to afford the fancy brand in question. Carrying it again and again establishes beyond doubt that you are a person that frequently buys that brand = you have taste + the financial resources to do so.

-Carrying multiple bags shows you’ve been shopping = you can afford it.

Why use a cloth bag ?

- There are innumerable everyday objects for which we don’t have easily available / alternatives to plastic – toothpaste , toothbrush , razor , primary food packaging (e.g oil , pulses , bread , biscuits), plastic water bottles , kitchen containers . These few items alone are enough for an average urban resident to be responsible for a hillock (if not mountain ) of plastic in his/her lifetime. At this point in time we don’t have easily alternatives (or even answers) for some of these everyday items that come in plastic. With a bag at least you have a CHOICE.

- Plastic does not bio-degrade . At least we won’t be alive to witness it . The plastic bag you use is going to hang around on the planet long after we are gone.

- Lives of birds , animals, marine life are threatened by the plastic remnants . They die due to ingestion of plastic . Those that survive undergo mutation . Would you like it if consequences of the thoughtless actions of another species affected your health and the duration of your life ?

- The plastic we throw away enters the food chain of human beings through animals , birds and marine life.

- We already have the challenge of dealing with depleting natural resources , pollution,  consequences of climate change, terrorism, poverty . From being stuck in the problem end of the equation we need to move to being part of the solution. Governments alone are not responsible for the state of the planet . All of mankind is . No government forces us to use plastic , to leave the tap open , to drive around pointlessly burning fuel , to not reach out to someone whose life we can impact .

The changes needed to make this a sustainable planet need us to participate . Not just by clicking answers on some internet poll. Participate by making tangible , consistent changes.

Your actions matter. Every action matters.