Small Way to Help Create a Large Awareness: Collecting Serious Sand

This invitation to make a contribution to the study and communication of plastic pollution comes from Daniella Russo of Sea Studios Foundation, who forwarded it to me as part of our work with the Strategic Council on Plastic Pollution.  Sea Studios Foundation is the organization behind the Clinton Global Initiative, Strange Days on Planet Earth, 2020:

Strange Days on Planet Earth, 2020 Imagine Earth in the year 2020… the world has embarked on a winning path to slow climate change; clean energy use is exploding around the globe; all people have access to clean and fresh water; we are feeding ourselves without compromising the land and sea; life-sustaining eco-systems are being valued and protected…. and for the first time in years, parents are starting to believe their children will inherit a better, safer world. Imagine a healthy planet with healthy humans living on it…Strange Days on Planet Earth 2020 is inspired by this vision. It is born out of our passionate belief that to achieve this vision we need more than enlightened political and business leaders; we need an active, globally-minded public with the mindset to support sustained involvement and leadership.

Here’s the invitation.  All it requires is taking a little personal initiative while you’re on the beach:

Hello All Sand Collectors and others interested in Plastic Toxicity in our Seas!

Just back from Midway where I was overwhelmed by the death by plastic of hundreds of Albatross. I opened a film cannister I had filled with beach sand on Sand Island within the Atoll. To my surprise, the beautiful white sand was laced with red, blue, and lavender flecks — tiny bits of toxic plastic working their way into the micro-world. This was new to me and after having learned how plastics absorb pcbs and other toxins, I thought about a new project called Serious Sand.

Please collect a small container of sand from a convergence beach zone near you or where you vacation this summer. You will know a convergence zone along a beach — it is where two drift cells collide, usually creating our most favorite beach areas known as Points, spits, or hooks.

Just like the convergence zones in the open ocean, these beach sites collect debris, acting to concentrate macro and micro pieces of plastic. They are some of our more famous beaches and often have lighthouses or a bunch of fishermen tossing their favorite lure.

Scoop in the upper intertidal just at the edge of the high water line. Check the sand yourself, but please send samples to me at:

Ron Hirschi

Project Serious Sand/SOAR

PO Box 899

Hadlock, Washington 98339

(Include that you’re sending from NextNow)

Aloha nui loa to one and all and have a wonderful summer!