Month: April 2020

How to Celebrate 50 Years of Earth Day at Home

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 A very special holiday is coming up VERY soon and we’re so excited to spend it with our #OceanOlympians. Not only will it be Earth Day, but it will be its 50th anniversary… meaning we have to go big or go home. 

Earth Day History

As we prepare to mark 50 years of Earth Day in 2020, let’s take a look at what it is and its history.

Earth Day is observed around the world on April 22. The first Earth Day was celebrated April 22, 1970, and is considered the “birth of the modern environmental movement.”

Before 1970, the health of the environment was not a typical concern, despite several different industries pumping chemicals and smoke into the air. 

After the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif., Gaylord Nelson, a U.S. senator for Wisconsin, organized a nationwide demonstration against the pollution and the deterioration of the environment with the help of Denis Hayes, an environmental advocate who coordinated the protest. 

The protest took place on April 22, 1970. Approximately twenty million Americans joined the demonstration in support of a healthier and more sustainable treatment of the environment. This approach placed pressure on politicians to act on environmental legislation, which resulted in Earth Day, a national commemoration for this demonstration.

Earth Day Plans

Given the fact we’re currently in the middle of a pandemic, Earth Day activities have been modified. Here are ways to show your love for the Earth:

Indulge in nature webinar series/podcasts/videos

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension is offering an “Earth Day at Home” webinar series. The webinars will air Mondays from April 20 (TODAY) to June 29, and focus on steps to protect the environment, including how to make homes sustainable, environmentally friendly lawn care, and composting to reduce plastic waste.

Wildlands Conservancy has produced a series of wildlife-focused educational pieces on red-tailed hawks, wood turtles and other animals. They also offer a bingo game that grows nature awareness.

In addition to those fun activities, South Jersey Watersavers is holding a virtual rain garden workshop at 6 p.m. on Wednesday for you to learn more about rain gardens and how you can build one at home.

Make Art

Get creative and make some fun Earth inspired art. One of our personal favorites is creating your own Earth. This activity has different variations, the most popular is using shaving cream and food coloring. 

For this project, you will need:

  1. Shaving cream
  2. Paper plates
  3. Green and blue liquid gel food coloring
  4. Baking sheet
  5. Craft sticks
  6. Paper Towels 

How to make your very own Earth:

  1. Fill up two cereal sized bowls with shaving cream. Lightly mix blue food coloring in one and green in the other.
  2. Mix together the colored shaving cream. 
  3. Press a paper plate into the shaving cream and make sure the front is completely coated.
  4. Use a craft stick to scrape off the shaving cream and wipe off the excess shaving cream with a paper towel.
  5. Let dry and display!

Photo: The Simple Parent Blog

For more ideas on how to spend the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, visit this page.

 

Written by Kailyn Hayes, Edited by Sofia Avila

Quarantine: The Life of a Captive Orca

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Our Self-Quarantine/ Social Distancing is NOTHING Compared to the Way Captive Orcas Live

Written by Emily Ram, Edited by Victoria Licona

Whale, welcome back Ocean Olympians!  Continuing off of our blog post, Save the Whales, from earlier this week, today we’re drawing your attention to orcas in captivity.  If you think your going stir crazy in the limited space your house offers during self-quarantine, being a captive whale is basically the same thing but 300x worse.  Lets keep plastic out of our oceans, and keep orcas in them.

10 Reasons Why Whales and Dolphins Do NOT Belong in Tanks - One ...

How would you feel if you lived in a small space, forced to entertain? There are so many things wrong with whale captivity.  At the end of 2019, it was recorded that there are “59 orcas in captivity at sea parks and aquariums throughout the world.”  Of the 59 orcas living captive lives, a third are captive in the U.S.  Seaworld enslaves all but one of the U.S.’s third of the world’s captive whales.  The one whale not living at a U.S. Seaworld is Lolita; She lives a sad, isolated, depressing life in a tiny pool at the Miami Seaquarium. Here are some reasons the ocean is the only place orcas should be living in:

  1. Orcas swim about 40 miles daily in the wild and it is not just because they can, but because they need to, to forage for their varied diets and to exercise.
    • HOW ARE CAPTIVE WHALES SUPPOSED TO SWIM 40 MILES+ A DAY IN CAPTIVITY IF THEY ARE LIVING IN TAKES THEY CAN BARELY EVEN OR CAN’T EVEN TURN THEIR BODIES IN?!
  2. Several times a day, every day, orcas dive 100 to 500 feet.
  3. 70% of captive whales have some sort of damage to their teeth and a quarter of the U.S’s captive whales have severe damage to their teeth.
  4. Orcas aren’t dumb; They have the second largest brain of any animal on the planet.
  5.  Orcas have familial structures similar to the ones we humans have.
    • Orcas in the wild live in pods and research has shown that they share a sophisticated, unique culture that is passed down through generations.
  6. Just like humans speak different languages, so do whales.
    • In captivity, whales are brought in from different pods.  Pods do not speak the same languages so these captive whales are forced to live a life without the ability to understand their surrounding peers.

3 Things Orcas at SeaWorld Never Get to Experience - One Green ...

It’s heartbreaking to continue to discuss the issues that captive whales face but IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE AWARE.  We focused on some lighter realities for whales in captivity in the short list above but highly recommend watching the following films to learn more:

    • Blackfish (Netflix or Amazon Prime)

    • Lolita: Slave to Entertainment (Amazon Prime)

    • The Whale (Amazon Prime or iTunes)

 

Save the Whales

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Written by Sofia Avila, Edited by Skylar Griffin 

 

Whale basics:

You’ve probably heard of blue whales, sperm whales, orcas etc, but did you know that whales are divided into two distinct categories. These categories are toothed and untoothed whales. Toothed whales are hunters, able to consume squid, seals and fish. Untoothed whales, also called baleen whales, strain their food through fringed plates that are useful for eating smaller food, such as krill. With the exception of orcas, whales are also very social creatures that travel in family units, and have the ability to self recognize, which is a sign of high intelligence. All in all, whales are extremely interesting animals that are loving and sweet tempered. If this is the case, why are there organizations calling for their protection?

https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/whales-us

 

Are whales threatened?

According to Save the Whales, an organization aimed at protecting oceans and all their inhabitants, whales face dangers that were outlawed years ago. Whaling, a practice where whales are hunted for their blubber, oil and meat, was banned in 1986 by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) when several species came close to becoming extinct. However, countries like Iceland, Norway and Japan are notorious for continuing their whaling practices, directly violating the IWC law. According to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, approximately 1,500 whales are killed each year at Japan, Iceland and Norway’s hands alone. In addition to being hunted, whales face threats of habitat loss due to ocean pollution, loss of food sources, climate change, plastic ingestion and net entanglement. Whaling is not the only threat these creatures deal with. 

 

Why are whales important to the oceans?

Whales are an essential part of the ocean ecosystem. One of their main jobs in the ocean is to regulate the food chain, which keeps certain creatures from overpopulating the ocean. For example, a blue whale can consume about 40 million krill each DAY, which just goes to show that without whales, there would be a disruption to the ocean’s food chain. Another reason why whales are important to the oceans is through something a little weirder…their poop actually helps pull carbon dioxide from the environment. By defecating, whales bring essential nutrients to the surface of the water, where phytoplankton grow, and phytoplankton form the foundation of the marine food chain. Phytoplankton also breathe in carbon dioxide from the outside atmosphere to help them grow their body structures, and when they are consumed, they take this carbon dioxide with them, ultimately eliminating it from the environment. It seems incredibly strange that whale poop ultimately helps save the environment, but several studies have been conducted that prove how beneficial it is. 

https://www.livelimitless.net/when-whales-humans-unite/

Whales are such an essential part of the ocean’s ecosystem, as well as to our everyday environment. They are tender hearted creatures, and there are several ways to help protect them. If you are interested, here is a list of 40 different ways you can help save whales, with some fun ones being adopting a whale, and some other ones you can start at home, like reducing consumption of single use plastics and plastic bags. The fate of these creatures lie in your hands!

Coral Reefs: What We Can do to Protect Them

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Coral Reefs: What We Can do to Protect Them

Written by Sofia Avila, Edited by Emily Ram

https://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=26806

How do coral reefs benefit us?

Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems that are not only beautiful, but extremely important to marine life. Not only do they serve as homes for marine animals, they are actually beneficial for human life as well. Coral reefs serve as barriers and buffers to coastlines and shores, protecting them against large waves, floods, and storms. Without the reefs, coastal communities can experience devastating damages to their property. However, coral reefs are being devastated every day by water pollution.  Water pollution allows for damaging algae to grow on the coral, as well as making it more susceptible to disease. Preventing water pollution comes back to the same basic principle: be aware of what you dispose of, how you dispose of it and be mindful of your plastic consumption habits.

 

Coral Reefs vs Sunscreen

Something that harms coral reefs that isn’t as publicized may come as a surprise to you. Have you ever thought of yourself directly impacting coral reef health just by swimming in the ocean? According to the Coral Reef Alliance, sunscreen has a direct link to decaying coral health. Most sunscreens have a chemical called oxybenzone, which is used to protect skin from the Sun’s UV rays. While it might benefit us, it doesn’t necessarily do the same for these coral reefs. This chemical has a direct link to bleaching coral, causing coral deformities, damaging coral DNA which affects reproduction, and disrupts natural coral hormonal processes. Some alternatives to popular yet damaging sunscreen are listed by Travel and Leisure. One that I’ve tried personally is Kokua Sun Care, which is a natural, zinc based cream that doesn’t harm marine life!  

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html

 

What can you do to protect coral reefs?

The EPA lists several ways you can help save coral reefs, and many of them start at home. First, when you’re on vacation and visiting these magical reefs, be mindful of your snorkeling and diving habits. Do not touch the reefs, and avoid anchoring boats to them, seeing as they are delicate and this can kill them. At home, there are plenty of ways you can help the reefs. One is by minimizing the use of fertilizers. Some of the nutrients found in these fertilizers, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are harmful pollutants and can destroy coral when introduced into the ocean. Another way to help is to reduce stormwater runoff. Using rain barrels to collect rainwater not only helps prevent flooding and diverting water to storm drains, but it is a resourceful way to water gardens and indoor plants.  Finally, a last method is spreading the word. People are aware that ocean pollution affects all kinds of marine life, but coral reefs are rarely mentioned. These reefs, while they don’t make up a big portion of ocean life, are extremely important ecosystems that are home to sea sponges, crustaceans like crabs and shrimp, and starfish, just to name a few.

Do your duty as a human living on this beautiful planet and help out as much as you can!

 

Fast Fashion’s Contribution to Ocean Pollution

khayes

Written by: Kailyn

Edited by: Victoria

Rows of jackets at Zara’s headquarters in Arteixo, Spain, October 2018. Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion is when clothing designs are moved quickly from the catwalk to stores in order to meet new trends, according to Investopedia. It allows the everyday consumer to purchase trendy clothing at an affordable price.

Major clothing brands are trying to keep up with the high demand for clothes, so they are constantly producing pieces that are oftentimes made with cheap material, hence why fast fashion is sometimes called disposable fashion.

While there are a few benefits to fast fashion, the negative aspects stand out more such as pollution, poor workmanship, and poor working conditions in developing countries. Today we’ll think about ocean pollution.

How does it impact our ocean?

Microfibers are commonly found in fast fashion. These are tiny bits of plastic less than five millimeters in length and as we’ve discussed on this blog, plastic + the ocean = big trouble. These plastics are found in fabrics such as polyester and acrylic. The fashion industry contributes about 20 percent of wastewater and 10 percent of carbon emissions globally, according to the UN.

A 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated that 35% of all microplastics in the ocean came from synthetic textiles like polyester. So many items are made from polyester which is shaping up to be a significant problem. The fashion industry is also the second-largest consumer of water worldwide, according to the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

“Well, it can be quite surprising to know that a majority of the clothes that we wear and that we buy are made out of plastic,” said researcher Imogen Napper at the University of Plymouth to CTV News.

Vancouver-based marine conservation organization Ocean Wise released a report in October 2019 that estimated U.S. and Canadian households released more than 870 tons of plastic microfibers into the ocean annually from laundry alone. Let that sink in.  870 tons is equivalent to the weight of ten blue whales.

A blue rectangular piece of microplastic is visible on a researcher’s finger on Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in Tacoma, Wash. New research suggests North Americans eat, drink and inhale tens of thousands of tiny plastic particles every year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Ted S. Warren

Research has found that microfibers have been adding to overall microplastics pollution and accumulating in the food chain.

“With the microplastics, with the smaller pieces, we know from laboratory studies that there’s the potential for those small pieces to cause harm,” said marine biologist Richard Thompson.

The same concerns are echoed in Ocean Wise’s report, which highlights that microplastics and microfibers are mistaken for food by marine life and can work their way up the food chain. This means that we could potentially be consuming plastic as well which can cause health issues for us.

10+ Things To Do While Self-Quarantining

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10+ Things To Do While Self-Quarantining

Written by Emily Ram, Edited by Victoria Licona

Welcome back Ocean Olympians! We hope y’all are staying safe and healthy during this global health crisis.  While we are aware that our mission is not to raise awareness about COVID-19, we want to make sure that all of our Ocean Olympians are doing their part in preventing the spread of this deadly disease. We really encourage all of you lovely people to do the following:

  • Stay home
  • Practice Social Distancing
  • Get adequate sleep and eat well-balanced meals
  • Wash hands often with water and soap (20 seconds or longer)
  • Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry your hands
  • Cover your mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands or after touching surfaces
  • Clean and disinfect “High-Touch” surfaces often
  • Call before visiting your doctor
  • Practice good hygiene habits

We completely understand that staying at home and social distancing may sound so unbelievably boring to you, but it is so crucial in slowing down COVID-19’s spread. Here are some fun, ocean-friendly ways that you can spend your free time during quarantine:

1. Start doing yoga

8 Great Beginner Yoga Poses - Namaste

2. Follow along with an online workout video

  • Our team really enjoys: https://www.youtube.com/user/joannasohofficial

3. Cook or bake something new

  • There are so many great recipes out there! Don’t be afraid to try something new!

4. Learn how to sew

  • If you do learn how, then you can start making fabric masks to donate to local hospitals in need during this outbreak.

5. Upcycle your clothes (EX. tie die old shirts, cut old jeans into shorts)

  • There is so much you can do with a piece of fabric! Make something new from your old!

6. Learn how to juggle

  • Start with two tennis balls and see how many you can add in!

7. Learn a TikTok dance (no matter what age you are, this can actually be kinda fun)

  • Renegade’s is a great first dance to learn. Here’s a tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MvjnpK3Jrw

8. Learn a trick (EX. handstands, back-bends, aerials)

Pin by Emma Lassen on life | Yoga handstand, Yoga benefits, Yoga ...

9. Blow bubbles

  • This may sound childish but boy, it can be entertaining for a bit.

10. Hula-hoop

  • Not only can this be fun, but it can also help you to burn calories and get a smaller waist!

11. Jump-rope

  • This can be fun AND help you lose weight!

12. Chalk your sidewalk

  • Another thing that sounds childish, but once you start, HEY, you might have fun!

13. Sketch/Paint something

  • Here’s some inspiration to get you going: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUSToY5Celk

14. If its sunny, lay in the sun

  • Just because you’re distancing from others doesn’t mean you can’t lay out! Hey, you can even take a nap outside instead of in your bed.

15. Ride a bike (or learn how to…)

  • Here is a link in case you don’t know how to ride (no shame if you can’t, one of our team members is just learning now): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqmzwVrkTU4

16. Learn how to sing or dance

  • Because lets face it, who doesn’t want to be an amazing dancer or singer?

17. Do a group Facetime or Zoom call with friends

  • You can still socialize when social distancing…Just it has to be from a distance!

18. Start watching a new series

  • All American, Tiger King, On My Block, Jane the Virgin, and Narcos are some of the many series our team loves!

19. Learn how to code

  • This article can help you get going towards your coding goal: https://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-teach-yourself-to-code-1684250889

20. Have a themed dinner with your family (ex. zoo theme could have everyone come dressed in animal print and you could eat monkey bread for dessert)

 

 

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