Rise Above Plastics

You have to check out this incredible campaign by Rhode Island Chapter of Surfrider Foundation  You can find them on Facebook too! 

Rise Above Plastics is a series of ice sculptures that are going to be around the Providence area to focus attention on the issue of plastics in the Bay and on our coastlines.  Trash was frozen in to each of the blocks of ice for people to see how our use of plastics effects the animals as well as the Bay and Beaches.

And yes, they will be cleaning up the trash when the sculptures melt so it doesn't blow freely around the city.

Check out some great information here on the campaign and see the first sculpture that went up today at Grants Block on the corner of Westminster and Union St, downtown Providence.

Toxic: Garbage Island

I stumbled upon this today - CNN  had a nice short piece and video up - but then I found the full film online at VBS.TV.  In it's entirity with all 3 episodes it's a little over 1 hour.  The page with Garbage Island can be found here. 

I can tell you, it is 1 hour of your time very well spent. If you only have the chance to watch 20 minutes - watch the last piece - segment 3 - it by far has the most impact for seeing what's in the oceans.

The short film follows the journey of a research boat and 3 members of VBS TV on a 21 day trip to the garbage patch in the pacific.  They are out to see what types of plastics are in the water and test water samples to see if the plastic toxins are in the water itself that the fish and marine animals are ingesting - and thus - we are ingesting. 

There are some great statistics in here, some great data, and some great illustrations of how industrial chemicals are impacting animals and humans. 

I will tell you - it's not meant for young children - there are times where there is profanity used.  There are also some points where you see them fishing and opening the fish up that can be graphic for people. 

The website also has some links to blogs and other pieces that are about plastics in the worlds oceans.

As the staff memeber at STB who heads up the cleanup program, I can honestly say that at every cleanup we do I'm always amazed by how many pieces of plastic we find that I know will never biodegrade.

So take a watch to learn about Garbage Island.

Yes, Even STB Staff Volunteer!

It's true! Even STB Staff Members get out in their communities and volunteer in a variety of capacities around the state.

I'm a large proponent of volunteering, for any organization, in any capacity.  I think volunteering is good for our personal well being and of course for the well being of others.  It's a way to try new things, build cofidence about your own skills and abilities, have fun, meet new people, and learn more about organizations in your area and how they help others.

A couple of our Explore The Bay Education Staffers recently volutneered at Mystic Aquarium to help with Inuk, the Beluga Whale who has been ill.  Our educators are all trained Marine Mammal First Responders from Mystic Aquarium, so they were more than happy to head down (very early I might add) on a Sunday morning to be of service to the husbandry staff at the aquarium.  (I made sure to think about them and their compassion for Inuk and service to the staff as I was rolling out of bed and lounging in my PJS with my hot tea!! That's how early it was!)

Grainne & Cherisa suiting up to help the MAIFE staff take care of Inuk!

Their service got me thinking about what else our staff members do in their communities to volunteer.  So I took a quick survey of our staff and was amazed by the incredible places they give their time and talents to. 

To name a few:

North Kingstown Free Public Library

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Mystic Aquarium - cleaning tanks!

Weekly town and coastal cleanups in their community

Common Cause

The Highlander School

Meals on Wheels

Sustainable Harvest International

Volunteer Lacrosse Coach

Camp Ker-Anna

The Traveling Theater
RI Chapter of Surfrider Foundation
Ronald McDonald House

I was so honored to see how many of our staff also give their time to volunteer in their free time and in so many different ways.

For me, volunteering is always a choice at the top of my list.  I like to find organizations that are a good fit for what I'm looking to gain and for what is important in the local area that may need my help. I've served on board committees for groups, I've done marketing and PR work for organizations, cooked, cleaned, answered phones, dressed in costumes, managed birthday parties, you name it - I'll do it.  I'm one of those people that really gets more enjoyment and fulfillment in my life when I volunteer than when I just sit on my couch and watch a movie!

So where do you volunteer??  How has volunteering changed you or impacted your life?