We all know that our world is swimming in plastic. And when you think about the amount of it that now clutters the ocean, that statement isn’t just figurative anymore. Every year, 8-12 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean—a number that feels like it’s beyond the capacities of our minds to actually comprehend. But the problem of ocean pollution is more visible now than ever, and it’s gaining increasing attention. Videos of sea turtles choking on six pack rings pop up on Instagram on a daily basis and reminders of straw bans greet us with every latte order.
We’re so entrenched in throw-away culture that we’re even beginning to think of highly-priced products as dispensable (read: AirPods). Wherever you look, you’ll see traces of the plastic crisis. And though there are more and more groups taking steps to address it, there’s still a lot of work to do. Only three states—California, Hawaii, and now New York—have banned disposable bags. The flow of plastic into our waters remains more of a flood than a trickle.
How can we help tackle the plastic crisis? How can we hold accountable those massive corporations like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestlé, that are producing a big chunk of all our plastic waste? How can we repair our relationship with our oceans?
To learn of ways you can contribute to the solution, join us for Cassia Patel’s talk on Saturday, July 13th. Patel, the Program Manager at Oceanic Global, is committed to developing industry-specific solutions as well as encouraging individual action through education, art, music, and technology. She will kick off of our interactive community event, Zero Waste, which aims to cut down personal waste and invest in sustainability.
Advance tickets are available here for $15 or at the door for $20. Tickets include access to all talks, panels, demos, hands-on workshops, music performances, a clothing swap, a zero-waste marketplace, and a zero wasted sober dance party--plus a free 1-year digital subscription to BUST for you or a friend.
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Jay Graham is a freelance writer from Seattle. Their work explores politics and pop culture with a focus on gender, queerness, music, and horror.
