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Today is Earth Day and activists are aiming to end plastic pollution

Today is Earth Day and this year’s campaign is aimed at helping to end plastic pollution in our oceans and land.

The Earth Day Network, organizers of the annual campaign, says that 300 million tons of fossil fuel-based plastics are sold every year and 90% of it is thrown away, with a high percentage ending up in our oceans, landfills, and wildlife. Ocean Wise says that more than eight million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans every year.

They have started a petition to ask world leaders for a global ban on single-use plastics so that “we can begin to heal our oceans, our wildlife, and our children.”

“Our corporations are making billions of dollars selling their products in disposable plastic containers but are refusing to take responsibility for what happens to the 100s of millions of plastic containers and bags that move through our global economy every single day,” the petition says.

“Our governments are unable or unwilling to take the health risks of plastic seriously and are not moving to ban single-use plastics and non-recyclable products. And we are also at fault because we haven’t made the break from single-use plastics even though alternatives are now on the markets.”

Last month, a diver filmed himself swimming through trash in the ocean, off the coast of Bali, creating a shocking visual of how much plastic ends up in our oceans.

You can also support Earth Day by making the Ocean Wise pledge to break the plastic pattern. They are asking people to #BePlasticWise in order to protect ocean life.



Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to [email protected].



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