The Goulburn Post editorial of July 7 mentioned the positive chalk drawn images and messages of hope on the footpaths of Goulburn. I have seen many other chalk drawings and messages around Goulburn recently.
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One features chalk drawings of marine life affected by plastic pollution with the message "Be the solution, not the pollution" and "Save the sea. No debris"
They are timely, as it is Plastic Free July. During this month people are asked to take up the challenge and see how long they can go without plastic, and spread the message of Refuse, Reuse and Recycle. Plastic is so much a part of our lives that I failed after just two days.
As long as major corporations continue to pump out the plastic it's hard to avoid. We may not want it, but it's there, and the truth is that in Australia the vast majority of it cannot be recycled effectively.
According to the United Nations at least 800 species worldwide (an estimated 77 species in Australian waters) are affected by marine debris. Seabirds, fish, whales, sea turtles, etc can become entangled in or ingest plastic debris, causing suffocation, starvation, and drowning. It is estimated that the equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic ends up in the ocean every minute.
Us humans are not immune to these effects - many plastics will take hundreds of years to fully decompose, but others break down into tiny particles, and end up in the seafood we eat.
The NSW Environment Minister was quoted as saying plastics will exceed the combined weight of all of the fish in the seas by 2050.
As the chalk message says - Be the solution, not the pollution.
Mark Selmes, Taralga
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