I'm just one person, but what can I do?

Question

I just got done watching Toxic - Garbage Island and I'm completely floored. I was like the people on that boat voyage, expecting a floating mass of trash and it turns out the problem is much worse.

We're doing ourselves in! Sooner or later we'll be studying extinct marine life and our people in future generations won't be able even take a dip in the ocean without being surrounded by plastic fragments and trash from the land. I've talked with my family about this and I just get really nonchalant answers. There's no way to reverse what's happening in the ocean at this point...but what exactly can I do? It's hard because like it's expressed in the movie...we're a plastic world.

But what can I do? What kind of causes could I join? Who would I need to talk to? Is there anything out there right now that's leaning in the direction of finding a solution for this problem?

Answer 1

Start small.  Buy canvas grocery bags, and never again use paper or plastic.  Recycle ALL plastics, papers and cans.  Even your ink cartriges and cell phones can be recycled.  (Go to any PetSmart store and they have recycle envelopes that donate money to animal shelters).  

Along with recycling, try to cut back on everything you use.  Buy wholesale foods so that you reduce the ammount of packaging.  If you have a baby use cloth diapers.  Buy a permanent water bottle/coffee mug.  

Use biodegradable soap for washing your car, washing yourself and your dishes.  Also use biodegradable cleaners.  Clorox makes them and so does Holy Cow.  

Start riding your bike everywhere!  Get some bags on the back and you're ready to go!  Reducing your carbon footprint is really a matter of reducing your consumption.  Be conscious of what you're buying and make sure its not something you will have to throw away.

Answer 2

Apart from the above suggestions, join -

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/

http://www.peta.org/

http://www.wwf.org/

https://secure.worldwildlife.org/ogc/

http://www.keepersofthewild.org/

Use their services like greeting cards as much as possible, sign for campaigns, volunteer for welfare of the environment, & donate if pocket allows.

Answer 3

That gyre in the Pacific will get harvested as soon as it becomes economically feasible to do so. You aren't going to be able to do anything about it for quite some time. However, there are annual creek cleanups all over the place. You can volunteer for those. I've worked on one since its inception. You get a t-shirt, gloves and other safety equipment and supplies, and there is a picnic afterward. It also gives you a chance to chat with the people who keep the watershed group running. They do more than just the annual cleanup.

Answer 4

You can do a Lot!! (never expected before?)

You can remind other peopLe not to throw any garbage, trash, toxic, and etc to the river. Or you can remind your seLf :P

This LittLe thing can affect BIG!

       From the river goes to ocean..!!!

Or you can support another group who concern to marine Life..

Give your voice to them..

Hoho, I'm new member here..

Sorry, I cant teLL more..