Earlier this month a whale was recently found in Taiwan, struggling, unable to swim. During attempts of rescue it regurgitated five plastic bags. Days later an autopsy was performed after unsuccessfully being able to bring the whale back to a stable state. The results concluded nearly 20 pounds of trash clogged the whale’s stomach, 18 single use bags and other plastic debris, making it impossible to ingest food.
We are seeing a significant increase of wildlife being killed from ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic around the world. By 2050 scientists predict every seabird species on this planet will be eating plastic. 18 billion pounds of plastic ends up in the ocean covering 40 percent of its surface each year is expected to double within the next seven years.
But they’re not the only ones being affected. Recent studies into water contamination have found microplastics in 83% of tap water samples from major cities around the world and in 93% of samples from the world’s top 11 bottled water brands. Arizona State University’s on plastics adverse affects on humans has been inconclusive. This is due from the globally spread contamination of plastic in humans. There are almost no unexposed subjects.
The average person produces nearly a pound and a half of plastic each day. We have become irresponsible in our habits of picking up after ourselves. Part of the problem is that we don’t see the issue starts with the individual. In many ways we have adopted the mindset of if we don’t see it it’s not happening. The first step in change is awareness and if we don’t come together we risk losing it all. Even killing ourselves.
I’m a Tennessee native and local photographer! I’m a mother to two beautiful boys and a wife to one handsome hunk.
My only hope as a photographer is to show someone else the beauty of what I see through the lens.
I spend my days chasing around my two boys behind a camera. Recently we have embarked on a zero waste journey. I have been documenting our trials to show others how easy it is to get involved.
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This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by: Giacomo Abrusci