Show and Tell
As the Lent season draws near its end, how would you say your use of plastic has changed? Have you tried purchasing loose produce from a farmers market? Have you sought out products that are made exclusively from recycled plastics or that were made entirely from natural materials? Have you remembered to bring your reusable bags at the grocery store?
If you have managed to reduce your consumption of single use plastics to any degree, congratulations! As I mentioned in last week’s article, I have felt a little overwhelmed at the prospect of reducing my use of plastic. It is challenging work.
Last Sunday during the Adult Education hour our special guest Kathi King from the Community Environmental Council provided some very helpful information that I found encouraging. Kathi has been working on waste reduction in the Santa Barbara area since the early 2000s, so the insights she brought were grounded in practical experience. She was realistic in her expectations of what people can and cannot do, insisting that every little bit of reduction makes a difference.
Here is some of the bad news:
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By 2025 it is estimated that there will be 1 ton of plastics in the ocean for every 3 tons of fish.
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If nothing changes, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
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There are five massive plastic/garbage patches in the oceans (one in each of the major ocean bodies).
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Microplastics are airborne and have been found in human lung tissues and arterial plaque.
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Only 9 out of every 100 plastic products are recycled.
Here is some of the good news:
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Since 2008 there has been significant legislation to reduce plastics at their source (manufacturing)
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121 hydration stations have been installed in the City of Santa Barbara, which have been used more than 7 million times
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There is an emerging market for re-filleries (stores where you can refill bottles of household products)
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Some manufacturers are making strides in producing affordable products made out of recycled and natural materials
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Local, grassroots efforts are emerging, led by determined people (https://planetprotectorssb.org/)
My takeaway from Kathi King’s presentation is that every act matters. With that in mind, this Sunday in the Adult Education hour we invite YOU to share about your efforts. Do you use Stashers bags? Do you have a bamboo toothbrush? Tell us about the efforts you are making and what has worked for you. I know for me, all of the changes that I have made over the last few years were the results of friends sharing their discoveries with me. So, please join us for a Show and Tell Adult Education hour. Come, teach and learn!
Blessings,
Pastor Jen
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