DiscussMormonism.com

So folks, I just got done watching yet another story of sea life destroyed by dumping plastic into the ocean. In this case, Thailand. Here it is.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/0 ... /23449721/

Although the video doesn't say so, it's my understanding that when marine life ingests plastic bags they starve to death over time. That doesn't count the instances of marine creatures being snared by 6-pack rings and such.

I'll admit that I buy the occasional plastic bottle of water on the run when I've left home without my own. I have a collection of reusable grocery bags right in the car and I'll admit that I don't use them regularly. Instead, I take home bundles of plastic Walmart bags each time. How lazy am I? I have two Walmart bags full of Walmart bags hanging in the pantry right now thinking I could use them for packing material.

I'm getting sick of reading plastic horror stories. I grew up near the ocean and I value it too much to contribute to the mess that humans are making of it.

I'm committing to reusable grocery bags as a habit in my life, instead of an afterthought. And laying off plastic water bottles except for our food storage that we keep because blizzard + electrical outage= no water around here. I've abandoned plastic "silverware" except for the few bits I have left that I reuse for art.

Who else is willing to committ and what will your committment look like? Would you support a global ban on single use plastic? Your reasons?

Jersey Girl wrote:Who else is willing to committ and what will your committment look like? Would you support a global ban on single use plastic? Your reasons?

Thanks for the post, Jersey Girl, I think it is great that you are doubling down on your efforts. my wife and I have been trying to do our part. Some of things that we do:

• Recycle! If you need help finding local recycling options there are resources available.
• No plastic utensils. I bought each of us a set for travel/work so that we can avoid them while on the go too
• No plastic straws. My wife loves straws so this was a big one, I got her a set of reusable ones
• I still like to use plastic boxes for my meal options on the go, I figure if I'm using them over and over again they are less problematic
• Eschewing the plastic shopping bags is a great step but we also try our best not to buy any grocery goods in individual plastic containers; example
• Similar to the above idea, in our area there is a bulk food store that lets you bring your own containers and they charge by weight. We just utilize big mason jars or airtight containers for the items we can
• It is harder to commit to but I haven't bought a plastic water bottle in quite some time. I carry a Nalgene with me that I fill up constantly instead
• A lot of restaurants/cafes will let you carry in your own cup, we do this as much as possible to just reduce waste in general

Those are just the ones that came to mind pretty easily. We aren't perfect but every little bit helps I think. If you're looking for some inspiration there are tons of bloggers documenting their journeys of plastic free living and here is a pretty recent article from TreeHugger that can point you to some ideas.

I wish I could show you one of the projects we worked on for Earth Day that started with a broken easel frame, but I don't know how to post my own pics here. We presented alongside adult projects and it was awesome!

I'll try to locate a pic on this (that doesn't have faces/identifying environmental features) and maybe Quasi can post it for me at some point here. I have thousands upon thousands of pics to wade through, but I think I can locate it and I'd really like to show it.

I thought it was pretty darn cool because once I acquired the broken easel frame, we saved and scrounged for weeks to do it. Emergent curriculum, people!

What kind of art incorporates plastic forks??

Dr. Shades wrote:What kind of art incorporates plastic forks??

Somebody show Jersey Girl how to post pics. I'll bet fork art is cool.

Jersey Girl wrote:Who else is willing to committ and what will your committment look like? Would you support a global ban on single use plastic? Your reasons?

+100

I've become religious about it (sorry missionaries). For a civilized society that can put landers on Mars, this is a no brainer. If the seas die, we die.

Disposable plastics are made from petroleum products. It's time we gave up using fossil fuels altogether. They are going to run out soon, anyway. Biodegradable bags and straws are currently available. If we are going to throw them away, what does it matter if they disintegrate in a few month's? Better yet, toss them in the compost pile.

Dr. Shades wrote:What kind of art incorporates plastic forks??

Well, I was thinking in terms of plastic "silverware". I'm not talking about "crafty" stuff with giggly eyes--in my view that's not an art experience and I've never engaged it with children or adults because it's crap.

Plastic spoons: Stirring paint and filling containers. Applying paint--dropping it, smearing it, flinging it.

Plastic knives: Cutting/stabbing/trimming sculpting dough and clay. Applying paint--smearing it, dragging it.

Plastic forks: Don't usually use those, but "drag" painting. Same thing I'd offer using a collection of old plastic hair combs, hair rollers, and "claws".

I have a pretty deep collection of art tools. Wooden rollers (massage rollers), fly swatters, brushes, potato mashers, mini cars, tires off a Tonka truck, plastic water bottles*, eye droppers, spray bottles, all sorts of things. Children love these little things I call "boingers". Maybe I can find a google pic of those.

Seriously, come over and play in my yard some time. I'm about to pick up a large piece of plexiglass to use as an outdoor easel!

*Take your plastic water bottle or 2 liter bottle, turn it upside down and look at the bottom. It's simply asking to be used for a transfer print.

There's a poster here who has seen pics of what I do in my yard. Think they'd testify to the above.

I'll try to post a pic of a boinger. It's actually called a French whisk. Boingers is more fun!

Didn't work. Here's a link to a boinger. There are different kinds but they all work the same.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fox-Run-7-Fr ... 3=&veh=sem

Quasimodo wrote:

Jersey Girl wrote:Who else is willing to committ and what will your committment look like? Would you support a global ban on single use plastic? Your reasons?

+100

I've become religious about it (sorry missionaries). For a civilized society that can put landers on Mars, this is a no brainer. If the seas die, we die.

Disposable plastics are made from petroleum products. It's time we gave up using fossil fuels altogether. They are going to run out soon, anyway. Biodegradable bags and straws are currently available. If we are going to throw them away, what does it matter if they disintegrate in a few month's? Better yet, toss them in the compost pile.

Quasi! The video report that I watched was just one too many. I'm tired of seeing the fruits of our life destroying practices. We are lazy as a people in this country.

Those reusable grocery bags are right in the back of my car and do I take them out every time? Nope. Because I'm lazy, but no more!

ETA: Just remembered I posted a pic on Facebook. Will try to locate!