Wednesdays for the Planet | A Plastic Ocean

World Wildlife Day

For the month of February, we will be showcasing nature documentaries leading up to World Wildlife Day on 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

The Earth is home to countless species of fauna and flora – too many to even attempt counting. This rich diversity, and the billions of years during which its myriad elements have interacted, are precisely what has made our planet inhabitable for all living creatures, including humans. Historically, we have depended on the constant interplay and interlinkages between all elements of the biosphere for all our needs: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the energy we use, and the materials we need for all purposes. However, unsustainable human activities and overexploitation of the species and natural resources that make up the habitats and ecosystems of all wildlife are imperiling the world’s biodiversity. Nearly a quarter of all species are presently at risk of going extinct in the coming decades, and their demise would only speed up the disappearance of countless others, putting us in danger as well.

On World Wildlife Day, we celebrate the special place of wild plants and animals in their many varied and beautiful forms as a component of the world’s biological diversity. We will work to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits of wildlife to people, particularly to those communities who live in closest proximity to it, and we will discuss the threats they are facing and the urgent need for governments, civil society, private sector actors and individuals to add their voices and take actions to help conserve wildlife and ensure its continued use is sustainable.

Documentary

A Plastic Ocean

A Plastic Ocean is an award-winning feature-length documentary brought to you by a group of dedicated scientists, film-makers, social entrepreneurs, scholars, environmentalists and journalists, that explores the fragile state of our oceans and uncovers alarming truths about the consequences of our disposable lifestyle.

The film documents the global effects of plastic pollution and highlights workable technologies and innovative solutions that everyone – from governments to individuals – can do, to create a cleaner and greener ocean.

One of the most important films of our time.

– Sir David Attenborough

Online Screening

Watch the trailer; the full documentary is available on YouTube, Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Experts

Jo Ruxton joined the BBC Natural History Unit in 1997 after working for WWF in Hong Kong for 7 years, and was part of the celebrated The Blue Planet team. She continued to work at the BBC for 12 years and was involved in numerous underwater filming projects around the world, from Antarctica to the pristine reefs of the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean. After leaving the BBC, Jo decided to produce the documentary feature film, “A Plastic Ocean” after initially hearing about the plastic problem in 2009 and began raising the funds to start the filming. She co-founded the Plastic Oceans Foundation as a UK Charity – now Ocean Generation – to continue the legacy the film through education and conservation programmes. as well as giving presentations around the world to students of all ages, members of the public, businesses and corporations.

She is now fundraising for her new film that will provide and uplifting story of our connection with the ocean and why we are the generation that must protect it now, for future generations.

Paul Rose helps scientists unlock and communicate global mysteries in the most remote and challenging regions of the planet. He is an experienced television presenter, radio broadcaster, former Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society, and Chair of the Expeditions and Fieldwork Division.  Paul is currently Expedition Leader for the National Geographic Pristine Seas Expeditions and actively collaborates with the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) on plastic issues.

He was the Base Commander of Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, for the British Antarctic Survey for 10 years and was awarded HM The Queen’s Polar Medal. For his work with NASA and the Mars Lander project on Mt Erebus, Antarctica, he received the US Polar Medal. On his 2012 Greenland expedition, Paul led the first expedition to successfully traverse a new 275km icecap route of Knud Rasmussen Land and repeated his first ascent of the north face of Gunnsbjørnfjeld, the highest mountain in the Arctic.

Paul’s radio broadcasting work includes BBC National and Local Radio, BBC World Service, Dermot O’Leary, Steve Wright, Midweek, You and Yours, Simon Mayo, Rock FM, World Radio Switzerland and US National Radio.

Hel co-authored the BBC book, Oceans, and wrote the Humboldt and Magellan chapters for the book Great Explorers published by Thames and Hudson in 2010. His commissioned magazine articles include the Sunday Times Eureka magazine and a monthly column for Sport Diver magazine.

He is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Cumbria and was a member of the 2010 Rolex Awards jury. In addition, the Royal Geographical Society has awarded Paul the Founder’s Medal and the Ness Award.

A mountain has been named after him in Antarctica.

Virtual Discussion

Plastic and Wildlife in the Oceans

The Ocean Generation, previously Plastic Oceans Foundation and founded by the producer of A Plastic Ocean Jo Ruxton, continues the work on the plastic problem as well as to focus on new ocean issues, in line with the UN Decade of Ocean Science.

More than 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year and 80% of that comes from you and me – from what we throw away. This causes great harm to marine ecosystems and we depend on the ocean for our survival.

According to the International Union on Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the most visible and disturbing impacts of marine plastics are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fishes and turtles, mistake plastic waste for prey, and most die of starvation as their stomachs are filled with plastic debris. They also suffer from lacerations, infections, reduced ability to swim, and internal injuries. Floating plastics also contribute to the spread of invasive marine organisms and bacteria, which disrupt ecosystems.

Ghost Gear

Links

• Basel Convention’s Plastic Waste Amendments Become Mandatory for 186 States | BRS
• Plastic Debris in the Ocean | IUCN
• Primary Microplastics in the Ocean | IUCN
• No Plastic in Nature: A Practical Guide for Business Engagement | WWF
• Update – Plastics and the Environment | Geneva Environment Network

More Documentaries for #WorldWildlifeDay