Question: What are the cutest reptiles in the ocean?
Answer: Sea turtles, of course!
Question: What is the biggest threat to these age-defying swimmers?
Answer: The millions of plastic bags we throw away daily.
Question: Is there any way to protect and keep them from going extinct?
Answer: Yes! And it is actually much easier than you might think...
Out of the haphazard mess that was 2016, one thing happened to make it marginally better. California issued a statewide plastic bag veto referendum. Proposition 67 passed by a narrow margin and California became the first state to ban the use of plastic carryout bags in grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores.
From a consumer perspective, this might seem to be an added nuisance rather than a benefit. If you forget to bring your own bags, you are charged a 10 cent fee for a recycled bag or reusable alternative. I agree that getting into the routine of bringing your own bag can be a process, but let me put a few facts out there that just might make it become a whole lot easier.
(Annual statistics as of 2015)
- Worldwide shoppers use between 500 billion and 1 trillion single-use plastic bags (that’s 150 bags per person).
- Only 2% of plastic bags are recycled within the U.S.
- 9 tons of plastic bags are dumped into the ocean.
- 100,000 sea turtles die from consuming plastic bags or toxic plastic pieces.
- Paper bags might seem like a good alternative, but 14 million trees are cut down in the U.S. to meet the paper bag demand.
Plastic bags have proven to be an enormous threat to animals living underwater, on land, or in the sky. Because they're non-biodegradable, plastic tends to stick around until it is broken up into smaller pieces and consumed by animals.
For sea turtles, especially, plastic bags seem to be their greatest nemesis. The undulation of the bags in currents, floating along with the motion of the water, mimics the movement of jellyfish; sea turtles’ favorite snack. The bags get lodged in the turtles’ throats or stomachs and either prevents the animal from breathing or creates a sensation of fullness that results in the turtle dying of starvation. Combined with the slow reproduction of sea turtles, this is a recipe for a quick extinction of the ancient race.
For years, humans have taken over the planet and have been responsible for increasing the extinction rate of animals by 1,000. It’s 2017 and time to seriously be mindful of our actions. The potential extinction of a 100-million-year-old animal race would be devastating; not just because we would have lost another species but because we would be forced to realize the complete lack of consideration humans have for any other living thing besides themselves.
The extinction of sea turtles is entirely preventable and the solution is unbelievably easy. If every state in the U.S. enacted a ban in 2017, 100 billion plastic bags would never see the light of day—a significant change!
Using our own (nonplastic) bags serves many benefits. We would be saving trees, oil, landfill space, money, and the lives of thousands of animals, just for starters. All by simply tossing extra reusable and canvas bags into the trunk of our cars. I'll repeat for the people in the back: The solution is easy.
So let's do it. Let's prove we aren't selfish and lazy. Let's save the ocean and the lives of all those precious sea turtles who only want to swim around and eat some jellyfish. We can all be heroes if we decide to be. This isn't a drill. This isn't something we can talk about and say we will do. We have to do something now! I implore you to be like California and the numerous cities around the U.S. passing plastic restrictions and act before you are required. If we can do this own our own, without being required to by law, we can make a difference before the government ever gets around to thinking about it. And let's all face it, global warming and the environment are not at the top of the residing president's agenda. It is up to us to save the ocean and all the sea turtles in it.
Here are some cool links to check out:
Monthly Donation to WWF *included adoption kit
