Thread by @_Anunnery

Over half of sea turtles and over 90% of seabirds have ingested some form of plastic (washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-…).

On #WorldTurtleDay I'm urging you to do something about your plastic use and about pollution in your area.
I also want to share how I think of these kinds of problems.

First I want to address something. When I talk about small actions we can take, I often get some variation of these responses:
-there's so much pollution, or
-it's going to take systemic change to get rid of [problem],
-nothing I do makes a difference.

🙄

EVERYTHING you do makes a difference and has consequences that cascade out from your action or inaction.

Yes, it will take systemic change to address plastic pollution and other problems. But taking part in small actions doesn't preclude you from ALSO taking on large problems.

It's true that we can lose sight of the bigger picture when we engage in small actions. Get that feel-good feeling.

So, don't.

Pick up plastic litter, don't let yourself forget there's a garbage patch 3 times the size of France floating in the Pacific.

If anything, let that thought course through you, make you angry, make you committed to do more. Think about turtles, birds, dolphins. Think about yourselves too, because that plastic makes it quickly back to your table.

Then do something about it.
independent.co.uk/environment/pl…

All of us have different sorts of abilities, free time, privilege or access that affect what we can do, or want to do. We may have issues that are more pressing. It goes without saying, but take whatever actions are most appropriate for you and within your abilities.

I like to think of these actions in levels, blame my video game upbringing.

Level 0 is for the polluters who don't give a shit, the @McDonalds and @Starbucks of the world who produce single-use plastic garbage and whose detritus we spread around the world.

Level 1 is for the companies who pretend to care and take steps to curb waste, but still actively contribute to the problem.

On the consumer side, Level 1 is the jerks who tear off the corner of their Sneezi Gummis bag, toss it on the street, eat the contents then toss the bag.

Level 2 is the people who at least don't litter, and maybe take steps to cut down their consumption of single-use items. We can all be Level 2.

Level 3 is picking up some plastic litter you see on the street occasionally, cause it bothers you. Turtles thank you.

Level 4, you pick up litter *all* the time, and join or organize clean-ups. You volunteer for community or wildlife organizations. Heckin right on.

Level 5, you started a campaign to ban single-use plastics or to get people to cut consumption out of their life. NICE.

By Level 8, you have become one with the Garbage Patch, and with your newfound garbage powers, you crafted the plastics into millions of missiles which you used to destroy capitalism and the imperialistic powers that are perpetuating extractivism and destruction around the world.

To get serious again, whatever "level" you're at or are comfortable with, just help -do- something. Whether it's changing your own behaviors, cleaning up pollution where you live, or taking on the systems that create all this garbage, it *all* helps.

And if you need suggestions on where to start, I can offer tons of them.

There are organizations like @SOLVEinOregon that give you all the tools you need to organize a cleanup.

Join @oceana, @Greenpeace and many other orgs to #BreakFreeFromPlastic:
oceana.org/our-campaigns/…

You can do small but important things to cut plastic waste out of your life, like refusing to use straws EVER AGAIN: stopsucking.strawlessocean.org/i/khlvtp5
#StopSucking #GoStrawless #WorldTurtleDay

(yes, 🔽that's a straw that was removed from this sea turtle's nostril)

One thing I do, almost every single day, is just pick up litter every time I go on a walk. Plastic straws, cups and lids, cigarette carton wrappers, candy bags, etc.

Obviously, use common sense and avoid using your hands for:
❌condoms
❌syringes
❌condom-wrapped syringes

Most plastic on the ground is pretty inert and not any dirtier than any of the other objects you touch in the outside world. Just pick it up and carry it to a trash can. Wear gloves or use a grabber, if you want!

Pro tip: use cups you find to collect other small bits of plastic.

It's a short trip from the sidewalk to the nearest storm drain. Plastics begin degrading and breaking apart in the sun, and will rapidly break into tinier and tinier pieces in our waterways and the ocean.

Each piece you pick up will prevent future thousands of micro-plastics.

Picking up trash does make a difference, and it influences other people to change their behaviors. It feels good to know you're doing something, no matter how small.

Just don't lose sight of the bigger picture. We have a huge fight ahead of us, so many things need to change.

So let's work to change them. Get involved. Do it for this little guy. #WorldTurtleDay