Episode 19: Surfriding to a Cleaner Environment

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Looks pretty pristine from herenear Trujillo, Honduras, 2004

Looks pretty pristine from here

near Trujillo, Honduras, 2004

Welcome to Episode 19, Surfriding to a Cleaner, More Plastic Free Environment.  In this episode we share more about impacts of plastics seen in remote places 20 or so years ago and then we meet up with Liz, the Volunteer Coordinator of the Olympia Surfrider Chapter, discuss a little background of Surfrider and their programs, the impacts of plastic bans on plastics in environment, and opportunities for you to connect and volunteer!

Although we had planned on going right into part two of our spotlight on plastics this month, after we interviewed Liz with the Surfrider Foundation, we decided we had enough juicy bits for a whole episode, which is Surfrider focused, but we still talk a lot about plastic pollution!  We learned a lot from Liz and Amy learned that Jen has a problem saying, “Can you tell us more about your volunteer programs,” which is almost as difficult as Amy saying synthetic. Amy laugh cried as Jen struggled for a good five minutes of the interview and I’m sure we both impressed Liz with our verbal agility. In Jen’s defense, we were having a real life echo created from our long distance recording with three mics. But you’ll just have to wait for that amazing blooper reel, cause it also got edited out…one day.

Next month we are planning on focusing on Long Live the Kings so we can remind you all about Survive the Sound, which has their sign-up in April with the actual “competition” in May. Then in May we will finally get to part two of our plastic spotlight, getting deep into plastics and their impacts on environmental and human health.

There is no GIS segment this month, but hopefully that will pay off big time with a sweet Jen designed map in the future.

Last month we shared some background on plastics, how plastic recycling isn’t working, the plastic ban from China, oh and a bunch of depressing plastic facts. So, if you haven’t listened to that episode and want a little more background before we delve into this episode check out Episode 18 first. 

We wanted to share a correction to Episode 17: The State of the Sound. We do make mistakes and we want to share corrected information when we become aware of those mistakes...because that’s how science do. If you catch a mistake we’ve made, please let us know so we can correct it! You will get all of the gold stars!!! And who isn’t motivated by a gold star???!

Looks like such a pristine beach. But those wrack lines are hiding a secret…

Looks like such a pristine beach. But those wrack lines are hiding a secret…

Before we get to our fun interview, Amy brings us down, yet again, with some stories of plastic and beach trash ruining some of her vacations 20 years ago (you know, before she was born…because she’s so young now). Most of the pictures accompanying this blog post were taken by Amy the Poop Detective on Sunset Beach, near Trujillo, Honduras in 2004. The problem has been around for a long time, even though plastics have only been mass produced for about 60 years.

Interview Time!

You’ll have to listen to the episode to get all of the juicy, laughter inducing details, but below are some of the sweet resources we that were referenced from Liz. Thanks Liz!

Olympia Surfrider:

upon closer inspection the wrack lines were littered with plastics

upon closer inspection the wrack lines were littered with plastics

 Want to be more involved? 

  • Sign up for for the Surfrider Newsletter (scroll to the bottom) for a monthly email about upcoming events, legislative updates, and other local Surfrider news.

  • Come to a chapter meeting, the last Wednesday of every month, 7:00-8:30 p.m, see their website for the location (rotates every month, but usually at an Ocean Friendly Restaurant).

  • Eat at one of our local Ocean Friendly Restaurants and tell them why you're there and how much you appreciate their efforts to reduce our use of disposable plastics. Or encourage one of your favorite establishments to become Ocean Friendly! 

  • Become a Surfrider member and support their work locally and nationally.

  • Attend a cleanup, help them table an event, or join our Executive Committee and help Oly Surfrider continue to grow and improve our coastlines - email OlySurfrider@gmail.com for more information!

  • Call your legislators and tell them to support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

  • Join the Blue Water Task Force and help collect samples to monitor local water quality .

 Marine debris resources 

I wasn’t walking barefoot on this beach. There were even hypodermic needles. Looks like they need some help with beach clean ups, and plastics!

I wasn’t walking barefoot on this beach. There were even hypodermic needles. Looks like they need some help with beach clean ups, and plastics!

This cool cat is thinking about doing their own Plastics clean up if only I had opposable thumbs!!!

This cool cat is thinking about doing their own Plastics clean up if only I had opposable thumbs!!!

Thanks for joining us!

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We think this is the video of the creepy raccoon hands Liz talks about in this episode.

Footage provided by ViralHog: (https://www.facebook.com/viralhog/) Introducing Dodo ...