Marine biologist and our collaborator Camilla Parenti from Milan State University, was a few days ago at an important international forum regarding the situation of microplastics in the sea: she sent us a concise report and some worrying photos.
Lanzarote hosted the International Conference ‘Micro 2018’ where about 500 papers on the topic of plastics are discussed and presented, proposed by about 1,500 researchers from around the world.
The Cabildo de Lanzarote, through its Biosphere Reserve, and the Marine Sciences For Society network of researchers are organizing the meeting where the 600 participants from the international scientific community on the island will renew the commitment from the last International Conference in 2016 where the ‘Lanzarote Declaration’ was prepared, to continue to analyze the causes, effects and especially solutions to this global problem.
During the week, some 460 papers proposed by more than 1,500 researchers from around the world were shared, which will enable detailed and collaborative progress on the current state of knowledge, identifying responsibilities and building solutions to address the serious global problem posed by the presence of microplastics in all corners of the world.
Also displayed were 175 graphs illustrating these studies and the problem of microplastics.
In 2016, the assembled scientific community has already shown a “troubling diagnosis” and expressed its utmost interest in improving the understanding of the problem, the magnitude of its causes and effects. Today the situation has not improved on the contrary, Camilla continues. Although many unknowns remain, the international public is already aware of the ubiquity of plastics on the planet and the opportunity to prevent the degradation of affected ecosystems. “As with climate change, the alarming situation is closely linked to human activity,” they said from the stage. The responsibility to reduce the harmful public health impact of some additives, coupled with accumulated knowledge about other types of chemical and mechanical impacts, make MICRO 2018 participants join the challenge of reducing the plastic footprint to improve the quality of life in different ecosystems, including human health.
Here are some important links:
http://www.cabildodelanzarote.com/tema.asp?sec=Noticias&idTema=17&idCont=21894
https://www.facebook.com/Aguitaconelplastico/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v2-EEmvdqE
https://twitter.com/PlasticoCero
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WHAT IS MEDPLASTIC
Medplastic is a project strongly supported by the Journal of Sailing and Motor Boats to help defend the Mediterranean Sea. We are a community of boaters and sea lovers established to help solve the problem of plastic and waste disposal in the Mediterranean basin, particularly by raising awareness and giving voice to good policies and actions to improve the quality of the environment of our lakes, rivers, coasts and seas, while also educating citizens on the good use of otherwise polluting materials.
Our activities and purposes:
– To be a megaphone for: ideas, projects, products, research and studies pertaining to studying and overcoming non-recyclable, perishable or toxic materials.
– Promote sea and beach cleanup activities
– Media support for sports and cultural events of environmental interest
– Support of third-party associations that are committed to the recovery and support of Mediterranean fauna/flora
– Raising funds to arrive at the fulfillment of its goals
– Rank the status of Italian Marinas and Ports according to their degree of eco-sustainability
– Finding efficient methods for disposal of fiberglass
– Designing an environmentally friendly recreational boat
– Actively support the recovery of marine wildlife threatened by pollution
– Actively support research or research center on microplastics and their presence in the Mediterranean/lakes/rivers
– Monitor policy proposals at the national and local levels by suggesting and supporting the most meritorious initiatives
TIME TO TAKE ACTION Time to Take Action is the slogan of Medplastic, the project of the Journal of Sailing and Powerboats to safeguard the Mediterranean. Join the MedPlastic Team Facebook group, there you can post news, projects, photodenunciations, videos. Then participate in the NO Plastic Instagram contest (by sending a photo to our instagram inbox – @giornaledellavela – or on the Medplastic Team facebook group: we will reward the best testimonials at the 2019 VELAFestival. In addition, if you have structured projects to propose that you think would be useful to the “cause,” please emailasavethemed@gmail.com.www.medplastic.org
1 thought on “Microplastics, act today or die tomorrow?”
I fought many lawsuits to fix this beginning in the 80s and lasting over 20 years. Both government and industry spent millions defending it. PCB laced micro-plastic is displacing phytoplankton as the beginning of the oceans food chain. As Phytoplankton goes all life will soon follow, it’s half gone in my lifetime.