LOVE IT OR LOSE IT!
MOTHER EARTH
MOTHER EARTH
A. You have to create a Weebly account if you haven't already created one.
B. You need to explain how you feel about one of the negative effects that mother earth, animals, insects, plants, forest and humans are enduring as a result of global warming and/or what can humans do to help the earth heal.
C. You have to write an essay with at least 3 to 5 paragraphs of at least five sentences each.
D. The first paragraph should explain what is global warming and it should state how you feel about what humans, animals and the planet have to endure as a result of global warming.
F. The second paragraph should describe why YOU have selected to speak about what you are writing and describe the problem and the solution. Be sure to link your chosen subject to global warming.
G. The last paragraph should be about how YOU feel about people in power that can do something to remedy global warming and how you feel about the ongoing neglect and abuse to our only home planet earth and the animals affected by the abuse. What can YOU and every day people do to help the planet heal and all the animals thrive to avoid extinction. Every action counts!!
WHAT CAN YOU WRITE ABOUT?????
(If you feel strongly about something not on the list and is hurting GLOBAL warming, earth, humans and/or animals, write about it)
-ALASKA CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS AND POLAR BEARS SUFFERING OR DYING AS A RESULT.
-DEFORESTATION DUE TO PALM OIL AND THE EFFECTS ON ORANGUTANS
-DEFORESTATION
-ANIMALS IN DANGER OF BECOMING EXTINCT
-EXTINCTION
-ANIMAL FARMING = GREEN HOUSE GAS
-RECYCLING
-GLOBAL WARMING
-CLIMATE CHANGE
-AMAZON BURNING
-SAVE THE SEA TURTLES FROM SEA TRASH, FISHING NETS AND STRAWS
-SEA POLLUTION
-POLLUTION
****LOOK BELOW FOR IDEAS*****
B. You need to explain how you feel about one of the negative effects that mother earth, animals, insects, plants, forest and humans are enduring as a result of global warming and/or what can humans do to help the earth heal.
C. You have to write an essay with at least 3 to 5 paragraphs of at least five sentences each.
D. The first paragraph should explain what is global warming and it should state how you feel about what humans, animals and the planet have to endure as a result of global warming.
F. The second paragraph should describe why YOU have selected to speak about what you are writing and describe the problem and the solution. Be sure to link your chosen subject to global warming.
G. The last paragraph should be about how YOU feel about people in power that can do something to remedy global warming and how you feel about the ongoing neglect and abuse to our only home planet earth and the animals affected by the abuse. What can YOU and every day people do to help the planet heal and all the animals thrive to avoid extinction. Every action counts!!
WHAT CAN YOU WRITE ABOUT?????
(If you feel strongly about something not on the list and is hurting GLOBAL warming, earth, humans and/or animals, write about it)
-ALASKA CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS AND POLAR BEARS SUFFERING OR DYING AS A RESULT.
-DEFORESTATION DUE TO PALM OIL AND THE EFFECTS ON ORANGUTANS
-DEFORESTATION
-ANIMALS IN DANGER OF BECOMING EXTINCT
-EXTINCTION
-ANIMAL FARMING = GREEN HOUSE GAS
-RECYCLING
-GLOBAL WARMING
-CLIMATE CHANGE
-AMAZON BURNING
-SAVE THE SEA TURTLES FROM SEA TRASH, FISHING NETS AND STRAWS
-SEA POLLUTION
-POLLUTION
****LOOK BELOW FOR IDEAS*****
ALASKA CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS
The number of polar bears in eastern Alaska and western Canada has declined by 40 per cent, according to a study that raises questions about the impact of global warming on the creature.
THE AMAZON FIRES
THE AMAZON FIRES THREATENS 265 ENDANGERED SPECIES EXPERTS WARN!
THE AMAZON FIRES THREATENS 265 ENDANGERED SPECIES EXPERTS WARN!
PALM OIL
Will Unilever use its position as head of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil, an association of 250 palm oil companies from the United States, Europe and Asia
Basic Orangutan Facts
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Primates
- Super family: Hominoidea
- Family: Pongidae
- Genus: Pongo
- Species: abelii (Sumatran), pygmaeus (Bornean), tapanuliensis (Tapanuli)
- Length: males - about 40 inches from top of head to rump; females - about 30 inches
- Weight: males - 110 to 300 pounds; females - 66 to 110 pounds
- Life Span: 60 years or more
- Gestation: about 8.5 months
- Number of Young at Birth: usually 1, very rarely 2 (in captivity)
- Size at Birth: 3.3 to 4.5 pounds
- Interbirth Interval: 8-9 years (in the wild)
- Age of Maturity: males - about 15 years; females - about 12 (in captivity)
- Conservation Status: Pongo pygmaeus (Bornean) is endangered; Pongo abelii (Sumatran) is critically endangered
KOALA BEARS
More than 350 koalas were burnt to death as they tried to escape the wrath of bushfires ravaging the NSW coast.
At least 350 koalas living at Lake Innes Nature Reserve were wiped out over the weekend, according to Reuters. It's believed this number accounts for half of the koalas living on the reserve -- there were roughly 600 alive before the fires took hold.
Animal carers from the nearby Port Macquarie Koala Hospital searched the reserve for surviving koalas, almost all of which sustained burns or other injuries as the fire passed through.
CLIMATE CHANGE
THREATENED SPECIES & EXTINCTION IS FOREVER
RECLYCLING
Importance of RecyclingRecycling is important in today’s world if we want to leave this planet for our future generations. It is good for the environment, since we are making new products from the old products which are of no use to us. Recycling begins at home. If you are not throwing away any of your old product and instead utilizing it for something new then you are actually recycling. When you think of recycling you should really think about the whole idea; reduce, reuse and recycle. We’ve been careless up to this point with the way we’ve treated the Earth and it’s time to change; not just the way we do things but the way we think.
Benefits of Recycling
- Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators
- Conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals
- Increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of materials
- Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials
- Saves energy
- Supports American manufacturing and conserves valuable resources
- Helps create jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States
We should recycle because:
- To Make Environment Clean
- Conservation of Materials
- To Save Energy
- Reduce Garbage in Landfills
It is believed that (the U.S.) cut approximately 40 million newspapers each day, leading to the equivalent of about half a million trees ending in landfills every week. We’ve been careless up to this point with the way we’ve treated the Earth and it’s time to change; not just the way we do things but the way we think. Paper, plastic, glass, aluminum cans are examples of some products that are recycled in large quantities.
When you think of recycling you should really think about the whole idea; reduce, reuse and recycle. Think about it; if you don’t need it, don’t get it. If you have to get it, get something that can be used again and if you get something that needs to be recycled by the professionals, put it in the recycle bin. Conservation is an important part of recycling issue. When you produce less garbage it helps in reducing the landfills and also helps in giving the land back to the nature.
Recycling serve 2 purpose: First, it avoid landfills and helps in reducing air and water pollution and secondly, valuable material like aluminum cans and plastic and glass are reused in other forms and not wasted. Be mindful of what you do, pay attention to the items you buy and always check yourself to see if you really need it or if it comes in a package with less waste. We can all do our part and we will make a huge difference.
What We People Can Do?
1. Throw away all the garbage in your house that is of no use to you or you think you can’t utilize it in some other way. If you don’t have these boxes, you can easily purchase a suitable container for each recyclable product (e.g. paper, plastic, and glass), and then take these down to your local recycling center.
2. Try to avoid the use of plastic bag and plastic paper as much as possible. They not only pollute the environment but also helps in filling landfills. Also, when you shop try to look out for the products that have least packaging. Every millions of dollars are spent only in packaging of these products which ultimately go to the garbage sites.
1. Throw away all the garbage in your house that is of no use to you or you think you can’t utilize it in some other way. If you don’t have these boxes, you can easily purchase a suitable container for each recyclable product (e.g. paper, plastic, and glass), and then take these down to your local recycling center.
2. Try to avoid the use of plastic bag and plastic paper as much as possible. They not only pollute the environment but also helps in filling landfills. Also, when you shop try to look out for the products that have least packaging. Every millions of dollars are spent only in packaging of these products which ultimately go to the garbage sites.
SAVE THE SEA TURTLES
Every year more than 50,000 sea turtles are killed by shrimp trawling nets in the Southeastern waters of the United States as non-targeted catch. Together, we can help protect these sea turtles.
Help Protect Sea Turtles!Six of seven species of sea turtles around the world are endangered or threatened but there are many ways that anyone can help! Here are a few ways you can support conservation of wild sea turtles around the world:
1. Don’t buy souvenirs or other items made from critically endangered hawksbill shell. See our How To Identify & Avoid Hawksbill Turtleshell guide to learn how to recognize turtleshell and other similar looking materials. When traveling, ask vendors what souvenirs are made of and when in doubt, don’t purchase items in question.
2. Reduce your carbon footprint! Climate change affects the health of coral reefs which are vital to the hawksbills survival. A warming planet also skews sex ratios in baby turtles, changes the abundance and distribution of prey, increases erosion of nesting beaches, and more. Learn some simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint here.
3. Choose responsibly caught seafood. Sea turtles are vulnerable to commercial fishing methods like trawling, longlines, and drift gillnets, becoming unwanted catch (also known as "bycatch") that is discarded like trash. To help make turtle friendly seafood choices check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch which is also available as a handy app for your phone!
4. Just say NO to plastics! Sea turtles and other ocean life mistake plastic as food and ingest it. An estimated that more than 100 million marine animals die each year as a result of eating or getting entangled in plastic. Avoid using disposable plastic bags, bottles, and "skip the straw." Check out some easy ways to reduce your use of plastics here.
5. Leave No Trace. This means practicing good housekeeping when visiting a beach where turtles nest. Remove your trash (and trash left by others) and any obstacles that may become hazards for nesting sea turtles and hatchlings like beach furniture, holes, and sandcastles. Turtles need clean and clear beaches (and oceans!) to increase their chances of survival.
CHECK OUT OUR DIVERS FOR TURTLES PROGRAM FOR MORE TIPS!
6. Join a sea turtle conservation tour! Witnessing a sea turtle nesting or baby turtles erupting from a nest is pure magic. Proceeds from our trips directly benefit local sea turtle conservation efforts and nearby communities.
7. Turtles dig the dark! Sea turtles need dark beaches for nesting and for navigating their way to the ocean. Light from beachfront development can deter females from coming ashore to nest as well as lead newly born hatchling away from the water and towards danger. Learn more about sea turtle beach etiquette here.
8. Hang onto those balloons! Helium balloons can travel long distances, get caught in electric lines, and hurt animals like birds and sea turtles, which similarly to plastic bags can be mistaken for jellyfish. Learn more about reducing pollution from balloons from the folks at Balloons Blow.
9. Donate to a worthy cause. Billion Baby Turtles is a great way to help on the ground sea turtle conservation efforts in Latin America. For every $1 donated we can save 10 sea turtle hatchlings and we have saved more than a million so far! Learn more and donate to save baby turtles here. Another option is to set up a Facebook Fundraiser.
10. Choose sunscreen carefully. Chemicals in some types of sunscreen can damage coral reefs and pollute turtle habitat. Avoid any sunscreen with "oxybenzone" and look for brands labeled as "Reef Friendly" and avoid sprays that can pollute the sand where turtles nest. Check out this article in Vogue about the best ways to avoid sunburn.
Photos: Help Save Sea Turtles with These Five Simple StepsBY BRIANNA ELLIOTT
JUNE 16, 2014
Of the seven sea turtle species in the world, six nest in the United States, and all of them are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act — harmed by bycatch, marine debris, boat strikes, pollution, and many more threats. Take a look at a few simple yet important steps that you can take during your beach days to protect sea turtles.
1. Minimize beach lighting. The moon’s natural lighting guides sea turtle hatchlings and nesting females, so walking on the beach at night with flashlights or leaving on beach house lighting can disorient turtles. Turn off your exterior lighting, keep blinds shut, and place red cellophane on flashlights when walking on the beach at night.
A Loggerhead sea turtle heads back to the ocean after nesting on Bald Head Island, North Carolina in 2009. (Photo: Oceana / Jeff Janowski)
2. Avoid beach fires during the nesting season. The light and heat from beach fires can disorient sea turtles, causing them to crawl towards the fire. It’s also important to remove recreational equipment from the beach at night, since sea turtles can get stuck in the equipment.
A Leatherback sea turtle enters the ocean for the first time after hatching from its nest in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Photo: Oceana / Tim Calver)
3. Keep beaches and waterways free of trash! Plastic bags are a particular threat, since sea turtles can mistake them for jellyfish — one of their main prey sources — causing them to starve or die. Additionally, since turtles can choke or become entangled in fishing gear like nets and hooks, as pictured below.
A sea turtle with a fishing hook in its esophagus, rescued by the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Island, North Carolina. (Photo: Oceana / Cory Wilson)
4. Don’t disturb nesting females. Sea turtles can get easily spooked when they’re starting the nesting process, sometimes causing them to “false crawl” and return to sea without nesting.
A Leatherback sea turtle laying her nest in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Photo: Oceana / Tim Calver)
5. Stay alert when boating. Boat and propeller strikes can seriously injure or kill sea turtles, so to avoid these incidents, slow down when you spot a turtle, stay in channels, and avoid boating over their habitat like sea grass beds.
A Loggerhead sea turtle swimming in the Rivera Maya in Mexico. (Photo: Oceana / Tim Calver)
Oceana works to protect sea turtles around the planet, campaigning to protect their habitat, reduce sea turtle bycatch from industrial fisheries, and combat poaching. Learn more about our efforts here.
JUNE 16, 2014
Of the seven sea turtle species in the world, six nest in the United States, and all of them are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act — harmed by bycatch, marine debris, boat strikes, pollution, and many more threats. Take a look at a few simple yet important steps that you can take during your beach days to protect sea turtles.
1. Minimize beach lighting. The moon’s natural lighting guides sea turtle hatchlings and nesting females, so walking on the beach at night with flashlights or leaving on beach house lighting can disorient turtles. Turn off your exterior lighting, keep blinds shut, and place red cellophane on flashlights when walking on the beach at night.
A Loggerhead sea turtle heads back to the ocean after nesting on Bald Head Island, North Carolina in 2009. (Photo: Oceana / Jeff Janowski)
2. Avoid beach fires during the nesting season. The light and heat from beach fires can disorient sea turtles, causing them to crawl towards the fire. It’s also important to remove recreational equipment from the beach at night, since sea turtles can get stuck in the equipment.
A Leatherback sea turtle enters the ocean for the first time after hatching from its nest in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Photo: Oceana / Tim Calver)
3. Keep beaches and waterways free of trash! Plastic bags are a particular threat, since sea turtles can mistake them for jellyfish — one of their main prey sources — causing them to starve or die. Additionally, since turtles can choke or become entangled in fishing gear like nets and hooks, as pictured below.
A sea turtle with a fishing hook in its esophagus, rescued by the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital in Topsail Island, North Carolina. (Photo: Oceana / Cory Wilson)
4. Don’t disturb nesting females. Sea turtles can get easily spooked when they’re starting the nesting process, sometimes causing them to “false crawl” and return to sea without nesting.
A Leatherback sea turtle laying her nest in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Photo: Oceana / Tim Calver)
5. Stay alert when boating. Boat and propeller strikes can seriously injure or kill sea turtles, so to avoid these incidents, slow down when you spot a turtle, stay in channels, and avoid boating over their habitat like sea grass beds.
A Loggerhead sea turtle swimming in the Rivera Maya in Mexico. (Photo: Oceana / Tim Calver)
Oceana works to protect sea turtles around the planet, campaigning to protect their habitat, reduce sea turtle bycatch from industrial fisheries, and combat poaching. Learn more about our efforts here.
POLLUTION
Overview
Daily, two million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste product are emitted into local water sources.1 Human waste product is the leading water pollutant — 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities.2 Twelve percent of the global population practices open defecation.3 The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme estimates that the widespread safe storage and proper water treatment could eliminate over 120 million disability adjusted life years — avoiding $11.4 billion in health expenses being generated as a result of water-related issues today.4 Only 44 percent of wastewater — industrial, agricultural and human — is treated and reused, the remaining 56 percent is released as wastewater or agricultural drainage. Globally, 20 percent of the water released is untreated.5 Lower-middle income nations utilize just 28 percent of their wastewater. In developing, low income nations only 8 percent of wastewater is reused.6 In terms of air pollution, greenhouse gases, hazardous chemicals, smoke, industrial pollution, pollen and exhaust can form layers of smog — particularly over cities and metropolitan regions — all of which can raise a number of health and environmental issues. In 2016, 197 nations agreed to reduce their usage of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), emissions produced by machinery like refrigerators and air conditioners, under the Kigali Agreement. This amendment to the Montreal Protocol is projected to prevent 80 billion metric tons of emissions over the next 30 years.7 HFCs, though they account for a small percentage of all greenhouse gas emissions, are some of the most harmful and are significant contributors to climate change.8 In 2016, the world produced over 2 billion tons of solid waste.9 Research shows that some developing cities spend 20 to 50 percent of their annual operating budget on solid waste disposal, though many of these cities still struggle to process waste safely and avoid water and soil contamination.10 The majority of such waste is transferred to landfills, yet just half is comprised of organic substances such as food.11 Landfills are monitored waste facilities with numerous “cells” designed to hold and contain waste for decades. Each cell is lined with a protective sheet that prevents waste and contaminants from entering the local water supply. Active landfills are monitored, and after closing can continue to be monitored for an additional 30 years. Methane gas and leachate — the liquid waste produced during decomposition — are piped and drained out of the cells to be control burned and treated, respectively.12
Daily, two million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste product are emitted into local water sources.1 Human waste product is the leading water pollutant — 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities.2 Twelve percent of the global population practices open defecation.3 The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme estimates that the widespread safe storage and proper water treatment could eliminate over 120 million disability adjusted life years — avoiding $11.4 billion in health expenses being generated as a result of water-related issues today.4 Only 44 percent of wastewater — industrial, agricultural and human — is treated and reused, the remaining 56 percent is released as wastewater or agricultural drainage. Globally, 20 percent of the water released is untreated.5 Lower-middle income nations utilize just 28 percent of their wastewater. In developing, low income nations only 8 percent of wastewater is reused.6 In terms of air pollution, greenhouse gases, hazardous chemicals, smoke, industrial pollution, pollen and exhaust can form layers of smog — particularly over cities and metropolitan regions — all of which can raise a number of health and environmental issues. In 2016, 197 nations agreed to reduce their usage of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), emissions produced by machinery like refrigerators and air conditioners, under the Kigali Agreement. This amendment to the Montreal Protocol is projected to prevent 80 billion metric tons of emissions over the next 30 years.7 HFCs, though they account for a small percentage of all greenhouse gas emissions, are some of the most harmful and are significant contributors to climate change.8 In 2016, the world produced over 2 billion tons of solid waste.9 Research shows that some developing cities spend 20 to 50 percent of their annual operating budget on solid waste disposal, though many of these cities still struggle to process waste safely and avoid water and soil contamination.10 The majority of such waste is transferred to landfills, yet just half is comprised of organic substances such as food.11 Landfills are monitored waste facilities with numerous “cells” designed to hold and contain waste for decades. Each cell is lined with a protective sheet that prevents waste and contaminants from entering the local water supply. Active landfills are monitored, and after closing can continue to be monitored for an additional 30 years. Methane gas and leachate — the liquid waste produced during decomposition — are piped and drained out of the cells to be control burned and treated, respectively.12
Why smog standards are important for our healthNearly 40 percent of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of smog pollution.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is failing to protect Americans from deadly smog pollution. We're fighting back, and there are several ways you can help.
What is smog?
Across many major cities, a hazy brown soup of pollution hangs over the skyline, especially in the warmer months. This is smog, known more specifically as ground-level ozone.
Smog is formed when industrial emissions from power plants, factories, cars, and other sources react with heat and sunlight in the atmosphere.
Why is it harmful?
When inhaled, smog irritates our airways, increasing our risk of serious heart and lung diseases. These health risks are why many cities monitor smog levels. On a high ozone-alert day, for example, your eyes and throat may burn, and you may cough and wheeze.
Reducing smog will protect all Americans – especially our kids, older adults and people active outdoors.
Take action to help reduce smog in our communitiesHow can you help fix it?Every five years, the EPA reviews air quality standards in light of any new medical evidence, and makes updates, if appropriate. A 2015 review lowered the nation's air quality standard for smog pollution from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb.
The science on ozone's health effects is rock solid.
Elena Craft, Senior Health ScientistEDF fought to get the standards implemented by the Trump administration. The EPA is reviewing the standards now and there is strong evidence that we need a more stringent standard to protect public health – but we need your help.
Join EDF and our allies to ensure that the EPA takes action to protect Americans from smog pollution.
RIVER POLLUTION
THE FIVE MOST COMMON THINGS FOUND AT RIVER CLEANUPSWhat’s weighing down your river?
Lowell George | January 26, 2018This is a guest blog by our January 2018 National River Cleanup intern, Chelsea Alley.
There is a wide variety of trash found at river cleanups; from shopping carts to sofas, bottles to baby dolls. National River Cleanup® volunteers work to make these waterways trash-free – removing unique and common items alike. In no particular order, below are the five most common trash items found at river cleanups:
1. CIGARETTE BUTTS
Cigarette butts weigh one gram or less, but they account for 30% of all litter in the United States. They are the single worst offender in spite of their small size (food packaging makes up a larger percentage of litter but includes more than just one item, like straws, takeout containers, snack wrappers, etc.). This means that more than one trillion cigarettes are discarded each year, weighing over two billion pounds… or the equivalent of 42 Titanic’s stacked together!
2. PLASTIC BOTTLES AND BOTTLE CAPS
More than 22 billion plastic water bottles are thrown away yearly, meaning only about one in every six water bottles purchased in the United States ends up being recycled. An average water bottle weighs about 12.7 grams, so the amount of water bottles wasted each year weighs over half a billion pounds. That’s almost as heavy as the Empire State Building! Plastic bottles and bottle caps aren’t biodegradable, but they do photodegrade. That means that this plastic breaks down into small parts in the sun, and releases chemicals into the environment as they disintegrate. The worst part? They continue breaking down for 500 – 1,000 years!
3. FOOD PACKAGING
Food packaging is the largest category of waste on this list, as it includes household packaging (i.e. milk jugs, juice boxes, and snack packaging) as well as fast food packaging (i.e. paper, Styrofoam, paperboard wrappings, coffee cups, and drink cups). Almost half of litter in the U.S. is food packaging. While some of these items could be recycled, most are not, and often these are found weighing down shorelines and waterways. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that fast food chains and consumer brand manufacturers relying on single-use packaging waste over $11 billion a year, enough to fund ¼ of the U.S. Energy and Environment budget.
4. PLASTIC BAGS
Plastic bags are so common in the United States that over 100 billion bags are used each year. Over three times more bags end up as litter in our forests and waterways than are recycled annually. Plastic bags only weigh about eight grams each, but enough are littered annually to weigh as much as 176 adult blue whales! Plastic bags take almost as long to degrade as plastic bottles, leach chemicals into the environment, and inhibit natural water flows.
5. ALUMINUM CANS
Almost 100 billion aluminum cans are used in the U.S. annually, and only about half of these cans are recycled. The rest go to landfills or into the environment. Beverage containers account for 50% of roadside litter (though this statistic includes plastic containers), and much of that is washed into our waterways. Every aluminum can weighs about 14.9 grams, which means that even if only 1% of the aluminum cans used each year were littered, there would be enough waste to equal the weight of 2,500 African bush elephants, and enough cans to circle the equator almost two and a half times.
BONUS: WHAT WILL STAY IN YOUR RIVER THE LONGEST?
MICROPLASTICS Microplastics can come from larger plastic items when they break down, or in the form of products like microbeads. Most microplastics float into the ocean, but a lot will sink to the bottoms of riverbeds and mix in with the sediment there. This effects oxygen levels in the water as well as harms animals that depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods. Because plastic takes so long to break down, microplastics are so small, and these items are located along the bottom of rivers, they can stay in the rivers for potentially up to 1,000 years.
These numbers are certainly overwhelming, but they don’t need to stay that way!
There are many things you can do on your own or with your community to reduce the amount of waste in rivers:
- Organize a cleanup with National River Cleanup®, or sign up for an existing cleanup near you.
- Learn more about recycling with our National River Cleanup® recycling guide.
- Take our River Cleanup Pledge to pick up trash and help us fill our virtual landfill.
- And more!
ANIMAL FARMING and
GREEN HOUSE GAS
GREEN HOUSE GAS
The 'greenhouse effect' is the warming of climate that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Certain gases in the atmosphere resemble glass in a greenhouse, allowing sunlight to pass into the 'greenhouse,' but blocking Earth's heat from escaping into space.