This is such a fascinating perspective & one I need to continue mulling over, thank you for writing this. While the 'new upstarts' of support that marine pollution can provide may offer a new matrix of life to consider, my sense is that the rally cry to clean the ocean is because the pollution is harming today's marine life in such a profound way that most of the experts for various different species and ecosystems are all sounding the alarm.
It seems like for at least the next several decades (until we get a handle on the issue) cleanups and interception of the problem (pollution) is one of the only near term solutions we all must promote given the amount of pollution being dumped in the ocean is monumentally increasing in the short term.
Removing that as quickly as possible seems to make very good sense to me as it would seem to provider greater chances for our (current marine life mix) sea turtles, whales, fish, sea birds, and ecosystems to reduce the chance for ingestion; and this applies to us humans too! It feels like the upstart marine life minority that may be 'supported' by pollution is not necessarily worth putting the current ocean food web at risk. There is so much to consider here and this is a fascinating topic, thank you.
Gosh, I need to think about this one. I clicked the heart because I like that you're not just going with the flow (pun not intended). You're that odd fish that swims against the current. But I loathe seeing plastic in the ocean. However, now that I do begin to consider your perspective, it occurs to me that what I hate to see is wildlife dying because of plastic. The turtles and whales consuming plastic bags, the albatross parents feeding bottle caps to their chicks (have you seen Chris Jordan's Albatross film? - https://www.albatrossthefilm.com/), the entanglement in plastic nets that leads to drowning or injury. I mean, sure, plastic provides homes and breeding sites, but do we know how much ocean wildlife is killed by it?
Jessica, I’m confused, to a point. I’ve spent a great deal of time campaigning against ocean plastic. I’d be happy to see it all gone tomorrow, but this also requires sophistication and to consider those species that call plastic home.
Thank you for penning this, Luke. I work with the Break Free From Plastic movement, and supported colleagues at Geneva this week. I appreciate this perspective. In some ways, it follows from another shift in conservation thinking: how exotic/ introduced species that haven't disrupted ecosystems, may have naturalized. These cannot be cleared, and need to be factored into new conservation models. Yes, perhaps, it's time we factor in plastic-rich ecosystems too.
I do however disagree, that the objective at the treaty talks was that plastic must be removed — that may be a distant, unrealistic dream, if at all. Plastic production reduction, regulating chemicals of concern, and creating systemic change through reuse/refill, were some of the key CSO demands. This is to curb as best as we can the plastic that enters ecosystems, and our bodies. In the hopes that this mitigates some of the detrimental effects of plastics, you'd mentioned.
I had never thought about it like this before, then recently I was in the ocean and saw a floating flip flop. I swam over to collect it and found some small crabs living on it. I didn’t know what to do: “everyone” knows if you see rubbish you pick it up and dispose of it correctly, but did I have any right to take away this home? Either way I was going to be doing the wrong thing so I chose to leave the crabs their habitat.
Very interesting and provocative subject . As i frequently and regularly do clean up events the the thought has crossed my mind over the years. I frequently as scientists about the pathogens on micro/nanoplastics that rain down over our planet, and the effects its has on aerobacter. #OceansAidGlobal is a concept that not only protects our ocean from pollution. It's a method to unite Humanity and connect with nature as our ancestors previously understood. The Metacricis/Polycrisis and Modernismcrisis we face is in short coming down to cultural and social behaviour. With ATTENTION being our greatest asset. It is important to build trust with Transparency,innovation and collaboration to make that turning point. It's not an experiment, it's collective education with inner development skills new way thinking. Equitable Distribution Economy for survival of humanity. And a healthier living ecosystem.
I love how you are grappling with this topic (seeing all sides). It's a challenging one. Perhaps we must learn to appreciate these new, hybrid ecosystems and direct our conservation energies toward supporting both the old and the emerging forms of life.
Very interesting perspective. Thanks for writing this. I hope you are able to raise this as a point in Geneva.
This is such a fascinating perspective & one I need to continue mulling over, thank you for writing this. While the 'new upstarts' of support that marine pollution can provide may offer a new matrix of life to consider, my sense is that the rally cry to clean the ocean is because the pollution is harming today's marine life in such a profound way that most of the experts for various different species and ecosystems are all sounding the alarm.
It seems like for at least the next several decades (until we get a handle on the issue) cleanups and interception of the problem (pollution) is one of the only near term solutions we all must promote given the amount of pollution being dumped in the ocean is monumentally increasing in the short term.
Removing that as quickly as possible seems to make very good sense to me as it would seem to provider greater chances for our (current marine life mix) sea turtles, whales, fish, sea birds, and ecosystems to reduce the chance for ingestion; and this applies to us humans too! It feels like the upstart marine life minority that may be 'supported' by pollution is not necessarily worth putting the current ocean food web at risk. There is so much to consider here and this is a fascinating topic, thank you.
Gosh, I need to think about this one. I clicked the heart because I like that you're not just going with the flow (pun not intended). You're that odd fish that swims against the current. But I loathe seeing plastic in the ocean. However, now that I do begin to consider your perspective, it occurs to me that what I hate to see is wildlife dying because of plastic. The turtles and whales consuming plastic bags, the albatross parents feeding bottle caps to their chicks (have you seen Chris Jordan's Albatross film? - https://www.albatrossthefilm.com/), the entanglement in plastic nets that leads to drowning or injury. I mean, sure, plastic provides homes and breeding sites, but do we know how much ocean wildlife is killed by it?
Jessica, I’m confused, to a point. I’ve spent a great deal of time campaigning against ocean plastic. I’d be happy to see it all gone tomorrow, but this also requires sophistication and to consider those species that call plastic home.
Thank you for penning this, Luke. I work with the Break Free From Plastic movement, and supported colleagues at Geneva this week. I appreciate this perspective. In some ways, it follows from another shift in conservation thinking: how exotic/ introduced species that haven't disrupted ecosystems, may have naturalized. These cannot be cleared, and need to be factored into new conservation models. Yes, perhaps, it's time we factor in plastic-rich ecosystems too.
I do however disagree, that the objective at the treaty talks was that plastic must be removed — that may be a distant, unrealistic dream, if at all. Plastic production reduction, regulating chemicals of concern, and creating systemic change through reuse/refill, were some of the key CSO demands. This is to curb as best as we can the plastic that enters ecosystems, and our bodies. In the hopes that this mitigates some of the detrimental effects of plastics, you'd mentioned.
I had never thought about it like this before, then recently I was in the ocean and saw a floating flip flop. I swam over to collect it and found some small crabs living on it. I didn’t know what to do: “everyone” knows if you see rubbish you pick it up and dispose of it correctly, but did I have any right to take away this home? Either way I was going to be doing the wrong thing so I chose to leave the crabs their habitat.
Very interesting and provocative subject . As i frequently and regularly do clean up events the the thought has crossed my mind over the years. I frequently as scientists about the pathogens on micro/nanoplastics that rain down over our planet, and the effects its has on aerobacter. #OceansAidGlobal is a concept that not only protects our ocean from pollution. It's a method to unite Humanity and connect with nature as our ancestors previously understood. The Metacricis/Polycrisis and Modernismcrisis we face is in short coming down to cultural and social behaviour. With ATTENTION being our greatest asset. It is important to build trust with Transparency,innovation and collaboration to make that turning point. It's not an experiment, it's collective education with inner development skills new way thinking. Equitable Distribution Economy for survival of humanity. And a healthier living ecosystem.
Thanks for the interesting article.
://e360.yale.edu/digest/airborne-microplastics-auckland
I love how you are grappling with this topic (seeing all sides). It's a challenging one. Perhaps we must learn to appreciate these new, hybrid ecosystems and direct our conservation energies toward supporting both the old and the emerging forms of life.