Seattle Aquarium Teens

In the past seven days I have explored ways to rebalance my plastic consumption, my family has been using reusable bags for groceries, and the waste bins in my house continue to be lined with disposable materials.

I joined this challenge because it’s a good way to set goals about plastic use and actually keep track of them. I chose the actions I did because I think they would actually make a difference if I keep doing them after the month ends.

Plastic accumulates in the ecosystem through bioaccumulation. This poses a threat to all species in the food chain, especially top predators as they involuntarily consume the highest amounts of accumulated microplastics. In the salish sea ecosystem, I think the orcas as well as humans that eat salmon and trout are at most risk of ingesting...

I don't like this at all. I will continue to say no to 'flushable" wipes and will tell those that I know that use them that they are dangerous to our waterways and that if we don't stop using them, we will have microplastics in everything we consume!

Picking up trash is becoming something of a habit now :) Especially in places like my school campus where there are plenty of garbage bins around, it is very easy to throw away plastic wrappers and masks that I find lying around. A quick tip would be to locate your nearest garbage bin before you start picking up anything!

What concerns me most about how we are affecting the planet is that the systems we have in place (namely capitalism) are inherently exploitative of people and the planet. Capitalism is driven by a need for profit and accumulation which take priority over the climate. This is what concerns me most because it is such a fundamental part of our...