The Ocean and Plastic Waste
To commemorate World Water Day, celebrated annually on 22 March, UPF Slovakia organized an informative evening about a growing threat to the maritime ecosystem: plastic waste.
Currently 150 million tonnes of this waste float in our oceans, but sustainable solutions are still pending.
Our guest speaker Radovan Dobrovodský stunned the audience with his use of videos and graphics to demonstrate the huge impact and dangers microplastics pose to ecosystems, human health and our climate.
On a hopeful note, Dobrovodský who is a member of the ALLATRA Climate Change and Technologies, introduced new technologies for safe recycling which can help restore the balance of the oceans.
The program was enriched by passages from the autobiography of S.M. Moon expressing his passionate love for the ocean, read by Dorota Šimeková.
Barbara Grabner presented pictures illustrating the impact of plastic waste on maritime life and commented: “Many animals mistake plastic for food; for example, turtles view plastic gloves as jellyfish. Slovakia must also bear responsibility since rivers are the main source of plastic waste in the oceans’. All plastics take a long time to decompose - from 20 years for a plastic bag, 200 year for a can and up to 450 years for a bottle.
“We learned a lot about the function of the oceans, the consequences of plastic pollution that prevent them from fulfilling their true role, and forthcoming solutions.,” concluded Miloš Klas, the UPF Slovakia President, who moderated the event.
The presentation gave the audience of thirty-two much to consider and conversation continued over drinks and homemade specialties.
We are grateful for the investment of our partners from MSH ALLATRA and the Creative Society which contributed to the success of the evening. They in turn praised UPF for the “outstanding organization of this important event”.
Link: Anthropogenic Factor in the Ocean’s Demise https://youtu.be/6_IbiEu6vQ0