Keeping our oceans and waterways clean.

Auntie Em (aka Auntie Emerald) read about the annual Oregon Beach Clean Up in March 2011 on a recent visit to Newport, Oregon. While happy to learn that record numbers of people showed up to help rid the coastline of plastic debris, Auntie Em was sadden by the need to organize such events.

Using our oceans as garbage cans is a global problem!  Increasing our awareness of this messy issue is a good starting point. Auntie Em was thrilled to vist the Newport Aquarium and their array of educational displays and art work encouraging visitors to rethink their “I’ll just throw it in the garbage when I ‘m done” mentality with plastic containers and packaging.

At the main entrance to the Newport Aquarium, visitors are greeted by a large fish, made entirely from plastic and fishing debris gathered from Oregon beaches, commissioned by the The Washed Ashore Project.

“That’s disgusting!” said one visitor to her partner, when looking at the large white coral reef, made entirely of styrofoam debris, containers, cups and packaging, on loan to the Aquarium.  Let’s hope visitors like this one make the connection when they get home and make changes.    Wherever you live, switching to cardboard egg cartons, purchasing and using a resuable coffee mug,  reusable grocery and shopping bags, reusable mesh bags for produce and bulk foods is a good starting point.

THE CHALLENGE

Wanting to live plastic free can be challenging!  Getting manufacturers, retailers and restaurants to use eco friendly alternatives to plastics and styrofoam is an important part of the solution.  Imagine what positive change we could bring about if we all took the time to voice our concerns to people in positions of  power at grocery stores, restaurants, fast food eateries, coffee shops and stores.

After spending the day at the Newport Aquarium and then leaving a local restaurant with left-overs in styrofoam containers, Auntie Em had to speak up.  She sent an  email, voicing her concerns,  to the restaurant.  A few days later she received a long distance phone call from the restaurant thanking her for the gentle reminder about the ‘Big Picture’.  The restaurant promised to  switich to biodegradable take-out containers and invited Auntie Em to come to the restaurant and see for herself during her next visit to Newport!

DID YOU KNOW

The SOLV Spring & Fall Oregon Beach Cleanup took root back in 1984 when Judie Hansen, who was working as an Executive Assistant to the Director of Oregon Fish & Wildlife, saw an article in an issue of Alaska’s Fish & Game magazine about the untimely death of a brown bear.  The autopsy revealed that its stomach held the remains of 13 Styrofoam cups! The article prompted Judie to begin asking wildlife managers about plastic rubbish and a short while later, the Oregon Beach Cleanup was created!

TAKE ACTION

Please consider volunteering and joining shoreline cleanup programs like The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and SOLV Beach Clean Up.

We encourage you to take things one step further, like Judie Hansen and Auntie Em did.  Speak up.  Take action.  Enlist help from others.  Ask your grocery store,  favorite restaurants, coffee shops and stores to rethink their use of styrofoam containers and packaging, plastic bags, plastic food containers, plastic cultery…afterall, we are in this together.

Everyone is welcome to order from our catalogue.  Send us your order and we will match it up with an active fundraising group that is registered with us.  Every purchase helps fundraising groups get closer to reaching their goals and keeps our communities and shorelines green and clean.

Book your Eco fundraiser now.  For more information go to Fundraising on our website and get started today!

The Green Team
Emerald Planet Fundraising
May 2011

Emerald Planet Fundraising is dedicated to helping groups and individuals run successful fundraisers with products that promote a sustainable lifestyle.

Articles written by the staff at EmeraldPlanet.ca are presented in good faith, with the intent to motivate and inspire others to join in and do their part to keep our world green and clean.