- Writer: Anna Lena Lux The device that could save us all - meet Jenny Nicknamed Jenny, this plastic catching device, created by the NGO Ocean Cleanup, removed 9,000 kg of plastic from the Pacific Garbage patch near Hawaii. Over the summer, Ocean Cleanup, tested their newest prototype and published promising results that Jenny is able to collect different types of plastic waste from the ocean and even Boyan Slat, the founder of Ocean Cleanup at mere 27 years of age, excitedly announced his organizations' success on Twitter.
Recent studies show that 30 times more of the oceans plastic is found at the bottom of the ocean. Naturally the jenny device does not prevent more plastic from entering the oceans and about 11 million tons are dumped into the ocean per year (Bendix, 2021). Sources: Bendix, A. (2021, October 15). A half-mile installation just took 20,000 pounds of plastic out of the Pacific - proof that ocean garbage can be cleaned. Business Insider. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.businessinsider.com/ocean-cleanup-device-removed-plastic-pacific-garbage-patch-2021-10. Koop, F. (2021, October 19). This device just cleaned up 9,000 kilograms of trash out of the Ocean. ZME Science. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.zmescience.com/science/this-device-just-cleaned-up-9000-kilograms-of-trash-out-of-the-ocean/. Wadden Sea: Home of the TidesThe Wadden Sea is an intertidal region located along the coast connecting the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Shaped largely by the tides and sediment deposit, it is a mudflats and sand environment that is largely the size of Kosovo. The flat and coastal wetland is formed by the interactions between the biological factors in the tidal channels, sandy shores and seagrass meadows and the dunes that make up the characteristic landscape of this environment. It is the largest unbroken area of its kind and is home to many importing groups of migratory birds and 100 different species of worms and more than 10,000 species of animals and plants. The salt marshes provide support for migratory birds and up to 6 million birds pass through this area each year, which connects the Waddensea to the rest of the global diversity as the birds that nest, and feed in these waters are essential to the worldwide biodiversity of the oceans. The most memorable inhabitants of this coastline that visitors remember are the grey seals, also known as true seals or earless seals, which have become the region's icons and a popular tourist attraction. The key threats that this environment faces are the development of harbours along the coast and the fishing activities that cause maritime traffic together with tourism developments and impacts from climate change. NGOs working on protecting the natural coastal environment and declaring natural zones are trying to preserve this unique environment. If you ever find yourselves around the northern part of Germany, the Netherlands or the west coast of Denmark, be sure to give this ocean environment a visit! Sources:
Images: Anna Lena Lux Sources for facts: Centre, U. N. E. S. C. O. W. H. (2009). Wadden Sea. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1314. Germany, R. I. (2021). The Wadden Sea – a place of natural and cultural extremes. The Wadden Sea – a place of natural and cultural extremes - Research in Germany. Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/infoservice/newsletter/newsletter-2021/june-2021/the-wadden-sea-a-place-of-natural-and-cultural-extremes_livingingermany_.html.
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- Writer: Martina Ferri As we all already know, plastic pollution in the ocean is a threat to humanity and marine life, especially with Thailand being one of the worst marine polluters. According to the Thailand Development Research Institute Thailand is the 10th biggest dumper of plastic waste in the sea. This doesn’t come as a surprise to many of us living here, as we can see plastic being used all around us. Keeping in mind that plastic takes from 20 to 500 years to decompose (Thailand Development Research Institute), does it seem worth it to use so much on a daily basis? Leading Thailand's plastic waste in the sea are bags (13%), straws (10%) and food containers (8%) (Bangkok Post Public Company Limited). Especially now during covid, plastic waste has drastically increased, due to everyone staying at home. There are three main reasons why there is so much plastic waste pollution, and why the issue has been bypassed for so long. First, disparity. As a result of this poorer communities are left behind, without the resources necessary to manage their waste. Second, a lack of waste-management infrastructures such as bins and trucks for waste collection. Lastly, institutional disregard for waste management, leading to a communal by the community, of discarding waste in the ocean (Thailand Development Research Institute). However, there are people in Thailand trying their best to help. Paradorn Chulajata is the managing director of Prepack Thailand Co. He was born and raised in Bangkok and has a growing passion for the ocean. He and his family are all passionate about the ocean and regularly go scuba diving. He is part of the founding team that established the first Public-Private Partnership in plastic and waste management in Thailand on June 5, 2018. They have since expanded, and now have partnerships with 42 organizations. The organization consists of improving infrastructure, law & regulation, promotion & education, innovation, and database creation. With the organization following the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) he stated “Most of the technical innovations, so far, have been in finding the products and markets for the plastic wastes. This includes using plastic waste for road and wood-plastic composite and upcycling for textiles. In my opinion, technical innovation is essential. However, the process of getting the private sector, government, and NGOs to understand and work together to solve the problem is also interesting and necessary.” (“Meet Our Innovator Protecting Our Oceans in Thailand: Paradorn Chulajata”). A more contemporary example of this is the recycling of fishnets to create Covid protection gear. A new community-based project is paying small-scale fishermen 10 baht (32 cents) per kilogram of discarded nets, or about every one or two, to recycle them into items from push sticks to face shields and disinfectant bottles. Throughout the pandemic, Qualy has shredded 700 kg of nets to make face shields, and alcohol spray bottles as well as push sticks for elevator buttons and ATM machines to avoid contact (Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Juarawee Kittisilpa). This shows how just taking small steps to reduce plastic use, or recycle, can not only lead to helping the environment but was a help to a small community during the tough times of covid. Sources:
Thailand Development Research Institute. “Disparity Worsens Ocean Pollution.” Thailand Business News, 8 July 2021, www.thailand-business-news.com/environment/84499-disparity-worsens-ocean-pollution.html. Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. “Bangkok Post.” Https://Www.bangkokpost.com, 2019, www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/1704904/drowning-in-a-sea-of-plastic. “Meet Our Innovator Protecting Our Oceans in Thailand: Paradorn Chulajata.” World Bank, www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2020/06/05/meet-our-innovator-protecting-our-oceans-in-thailand-paradorn-chulajata. Patpicha Tanakasempipat, and Juarawee Kittisilpa. “Thailand Is Recycling Its Ocean Plastic to Fight COVID-19.” World Economic Forum, 7 July 2020, www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/07/thailand-coronavirus-covid19-recyling-innovation-supplies-ocean/. - Writer: Tilly Handforth What is OMG?OMG, which stands for Ocean Marine Guardians, is a service group in NIST International School located in Bangkok with students ranging from year 7 until year 13 with contributions of several elementary classes. Together, as a service group, they aim to preserve the oceans wherever they possibly can. At the service group fair I interviewed a member of OMG and asked her a few questions about the service group goal, personal goals and main topics brought up throughout the fair. She says the main goal for this service group is, “To help save and conserve the ocean ecosystems as much as we can.” Her personal goal is to apply her leadership skills and organize OMG to create an impact and save the oceans. The main topics she brought up to interested people was how OMG is a project based service group, such as organizing, reef cleanup, coral restoration and mangrove planting trips. Koh Mun Nai trip
The hungry students got back on the boat and had lunch, while everyone was eating, the Fish EMP lecture was presented, and then the accompanying dive after. In the afternoon everyone went onto the island and set up their tents (provided by ATMEC). Everyone had free time until dinner, after the students took the exam for the EMP, Invertebrates and Fish.
After the beach clean up the students went to the concrete mixing station and got introduced to the Artificial Substrates that ATMEC makes to add to the reef conservation project. Students made concrete structures that would dry over the course of the week. Everyone got cleaned up and packed their luggage. The boat brought the group back to the mainland, ensuring enough time for everyone to get back into Bangkok, taking into account all the variables.
from Rahul Mehrotra |
AuthorThe OMG Newsletter is run by the members of the service group. Topics are taken from the whole world by our researchers and formed into concise articles of our own. We invite experts to bring facts into our educational newsletter, and special contributions of students to showcase their ocean themed comic strip, so that it can be enjoyed by various age groups. Archives
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