The Uncertain Fate of Canada's Single-Use Plastic Ban
Release Date: 11/27/2023
It Takes a Village to Protect the Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
It takes a village to protect the ocean even though ocean conservation can sometimes feel lonely. Leaning on your community can help to inspire you to take more action for the sea. In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Luan emphasizes the vital role of community in ocean conservation efforts. He discusses how protecting the ocean can feel overwhelming for individuals, especially when faced with complex issues like climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution. However, community involvement can transform this daunting task into a collective effort,...
info_outline
Sea Turtle Conservation in Florida is Hard
How To Protect The Ocean
Sea Turtle Conservation in Florida is hard and it's about to get harder with the onset of increased intensity of hurricanes and increased sea level rise. Sea Turtle Conservation has been successful over the past few decades with protection policies being implemented along Florida coastlines. Still, hurricane events and increased sea level rise can wipe out nests in one storm killing hundreds of thousands of sea turtles. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lord discusses the challenges facing sea turtle conservation in Florida, particularly in light of climate...
info_outline
Where Do Whales Live? The Federal Government Wants To Map Where They Go
How To Protect The Ocean
Where do whales live? Where do they go? These are just some of the questions the US federal government would like to answer by introducing a bill (H.R. 10292) called the Whale CHARTS Act. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lauren discusses the recently introduced Whale Conservation Habitat Analysis Research and Technical Strategies Act, also known as the Whale Charts Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to enhance the protection of baleen and sperm whales by improving our understanding of their feeding areas, calving grounds, and migration routes. Key points...
info_outline
Climate Change Actions Using Sargassum and Black Fly Larvae
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Dr. Annalisa Bracco, a professor at Georgia Tech specializing in ocean and climate dynamics. The discussion centers around innovative climate solutions, moving away from the typical focus on the negative impacts of climate change. Key Climate Solutions Discussed: Sargassum Management: Problem: Since 2011, there have been significant blooms of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic, impacting beaches in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These blooms require costly cleanup efforts, amounting to approximately...
info_outline
Half of Murres seabird population dies after this happened
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Luan discusses the significant decline in the population of common murres, a seabird species in Alaska, which has seen about half of its population die off—approximately 4 million individuals—since the marine heat wave known as "the blob" occurred from 2014 to 2016. The primary reason for this drastic decline is linked to the effects of the heat wave on the marine food web rather than direct thermal stress on the birds themselves. The heat wave caused shifts in the availability of food sources, leading to starvation among...
info_outline
Mind Your Plastic Pollution: A Conversation On Changing Behaviors
How To Protect The Ocean
Mind your plastic pollution is a conversation that we all need to have because we all partake in using single-use plastic as the system is set up that way. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin engages in a conversation with Natasha Tucker, the Executive Director of Mind Your Plastic, a Canadian charity focused on eliminating plastic pollution. The discussion centers around the pervasive issue of plastic in our environment, emphasizing the need for behavioral change among individuals and businesses to reduce our dependence on plastics. Key points from...
info_outline
Plastic Pollution Clean Up Through Absorption
How To Protect The Ocean
Plastic pollution clean up through absorption is now a possibility by using a combination of cotton and chittin to take microplastics out of the ocean...but can this work at scale? In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lo discusses the pressing issue of microplastics in the ocean and introduces a promising new method for their absorption using a combination of cotton and chitin. The mechanism involves creating a sponge-like substance called CT cell biomass, which combines cellulose from cotton and chitin from squid. This innovative material is designed to...
info_outline
Climate Action When Governments Won't Help
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the pressing issue of climate change and the challenges posed by government inaction. With the recent political shifts in North America, particularly the incoming administration in the United States, there are concerns about the rollback of environmental regulations and policies that protect the ocean and climate. Key points include: Government Inaction: The episode highlights the potential consequences of a new U.S. administration that may prioritize economic interests over environmental protection,...
info_outline
Orcas Playing with Their Food: Wearing Salmon on Their Head
How To Protect The Ocean
Orcas playing with their food is not a new behavior; however, wearing salmon on their heads is not usual. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses a fascinating phenomenon involving orcas wearing salmon as hats. A recent photograph captured an orca in Puget Sound sporting a salmon on its head, reminiscent of similar behaviors observed in the 1980s when orcas from the southern resident population also donned salmon hats. Lewin explores the potential reasons behind this behavior, suggesting it could be a playful act, a celebration of a successful...
info_outline
Leave the seashells on the Seashore
How To Protect The Ocean
Seashells on the seashore are being taken in large quantities and it's increasing erosion along beaches. A new study reveals the tourism industry is taking too many seashells along coastlines in Costa Rica. In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the environmental impact of taking seashells from coastal areas, particularly in Costa Rica. He highlights a growing crisis where the removal of seashells, driven by tourism, destabilizes beaches, accelerates erosion, and harms marine ecosystems. Seashells are essential for various marine species,...
info_outlineIn this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the Canadian government's ban on single-use plastics. He explains that the ban includes items such as straws, grocery bags, and takeout containers. However, he highlights a recent court ruling that may jeopardize the ban. The ruling states that these items should not be classified as toxic, potentially undermining the ban's effectiveness. Lewin delves into the importance of this classification and how it could impact the future of the plastic ban.
Tune in to learn more about the government's efforts to protect the ocean and how listeners can take action.
Link to article: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/federal-court-quashes-cabinet-order-underlying-single-use-plastics-ban-1.6648375
Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc
In this episode, the discussion revolves around the harmful effects of plastic pollution on both the environment and human health. The host emphasizes the pervasive presence of plastic in our daily lives, including in our food, salt, and air. Of particular concern are microplastics, tiny particles of plastic that can be found in various types of food. The urgent need to halt the production and distribution of plastic is underscored as a crucial step in addressing this issue.
Plastic pollution is described as a universal problem that affects everyone, regardless of gender, race, culture, religion, or age. While the immediate effects may not be apparent, the long-term consequences can be detrimental to our well-being. The episode stresses the importance of taking action to combat plastic pollution and highlights Canada's efforts in implementing a ban on single-use plastic items such as straws, grocery bags, and takeout containers.
However, this ban in Canada faces potential challenges due to a recent court ruling that dismissed the classification of plastic as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. This setback is seen as a significant obstacle in the fight against plastic pollution. The episode raises questions about how the government will respond to these challenges and emphasizes the ongoing need for collective efforts to address plastic pollution and safeguard both the environment and human health.
The episode also mentions that the Canadian government is aware of the plastic pollution crisis and is actively considering taking action. The host states that the government is carefully reviewing a federal court judgment and strongly considering an appeal. Additionally, they highlight the government's commitment to collaborating with provinces, territories, civil society, and industry to tackle plastic waste and pollution. The host emphasizes the urgency for the government to overcome the challenges posed by plastic pollution and take decisive action. It is evident that the Canadian government is cognizant of the issue and actively working towards finding solutions to address the plastic pollution crisis.
Oceana Canada is mentioned as an organization calling on industry leaders and governments across the country to join forces in ending plastic pollution at its source. The podcast transcript highlights Oceana Canada's plea for action and support from industry leaders and governments in their fight against plastic pollution. The host encourages listeners to visit Oceana Canada's page to learn more about their plastic campaign. Furthermore, the host expresses their intention to invite a representative from Oceana Canada to discuss the setback in detail on the podcast. The overall message conveyed is that Oceana Canada is actively engaged in efforts to end plastic pollution and seeks support from industry leaders and governments to achieve this crucial goal.