Perfect moments but for how long?


Occasionally  I have stood on the pier in the morning, waiting for the sunrise and have been disappointed when a cloud has blocked the sun just at the vital moment.One morning earlier in the week didn't look very promising, so we just took Tavi down to the beach instead, and were amazed by the colours, luckily I had the camera in my pocket to capture it.

















 I wish that this scenery will continue to be a backdrop to these special moments but I am only too aware having being involved in beach cleans over the last twenty years that the tide of plastic in the sea is only increasing......


I took this photo during the bad storms of 2014 and it goes to show that although huge amounts of plastics are not currently landing on the beach they are filling the seas, affecting marine life. It is not only the plastic that we can see, but the sea is also littered with microscopic fragments of manmade products.

Plastic has become so much a huge part of our modern lives that it is easy to ignore and not question if it is really necessary. Do you remember a time when multiple toilet rolls were covered in paper rather than plastic, fizzy drinks and milk came in glass bottles and fish and chips were wrapped in newspaper? Forty percent of the plastics we use is for single use items such as packaging, which have a short shelf-life but are likely to remain in the environment for centuries to come.

It is good to see that this issue seems to have recently come to the top of everyone's agenda and a week doesn't seem to go by when this isn't featured in newspapers, tv or social media. Did you see those pictures recently from  Blue Planet? I think it is up to all of us to evaluate what we buy and seek out non-plastic alternatives. After all, the levy that was introduced on plastic bags in the UK has reduced usage by 85%, wouldn't it be wonderful if a deposit scheme on plastic bottles and other measures to reduce single use plastics could have a similar effect?




If you are interested in this, these links may be helpful:-



Sarah x

Comments

  1. I so agree. Watching Blue Planet I was horrified and shamed. We buy thing thoughtlessly and then just throw plastic away. We do recycle some plastics but in our island not all plastics are recyclable. I remember taking tizer bottles back to the shop and getting a couple of pence. It is up to the public to stop buying heavily packaged items. Something I need to do. Stunning sunrise photos :). B x

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    1. Glad you agree, did you see the Nurdle map showing Jersey? Have you seen any of your beaches? Sarah x

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    2. I haven’t. Will have to look. Our huge tidal range helps to keep our beaches clean but it only sends the rubbish elsewhere sadly.

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  2. Thank you so much for the links. It is my mission for the next year (and beyond) to really reduce the amount of plastic I use. We have a weekly beach clean here and the volunteers always collect so much waste it's shocking.

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    1. It will be my mission too. I have already compiled a list of what plastic free alternatives can be bought locally. Sarah x

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  3. In our country we are on the right track with recycling plastic, tins, glass, paper and so on at the moment. Almost no plastic bags are used anymore for shopping, we have to take our own bag. But... it will be a long way to a get a cleaner world.
    By the way I love your sunrises, but I think you know already about my fondness for early mornings and Tavy.....is only interested in the tennisball.
    Regards, Jannekle

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    1. We too have lots of recycling here too. Tavi will sometimes deliberately drops the ball into the sea and gets the ball all wet! Sarah x

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  4. A really great post, I am dead set against plastic, especially single use stuff. The needless packaging drives me insane. I saw a package of peeled satsuma segments from a supermarket the other day (photo on Twitter)! Grrrgh. Plus all the rubbishy toys that will be thrown away within months. I've been enjoying eco-boost.co's recent posts - one about no-waste Christmas wrapping and one about zero-waste gift ideas. I am always banging on about it at home. The children are banned from buying plastic rubbish from China with their pocket money! Anyway, a great post, exquisite sunrise photos, and lovely to see sweet little Tavi. There's a spot in North Wales that I love, and I always thought if I lived there I would pick up plastic on a huge nearby beach every day on a dog walk. I'd never run out! It's the most enormous expanse of sand, but so littered with plastic, it breaks my heart. I'm glad you said your bit, and I completely agree. CJ xx

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  5. I so agree, Sarah. We try to use plastic as little as possible, though it is difficult to buy some items without it.

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  6. Plastic is a scourge! On the shores of the Pacific Ocean where I live, it's the same thing - littering the beaches, clogging the digestive systems of marine life, and more. I agree with everything you've said.

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  7. I avoid plastic at all costs, or at least as much as I can. It hurts, it truly hurts to see our lovely mother oceans bombarded with this artificial waste.

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  8. I get so frustrated and angry at our grocery store: the majority of people (yes, the majority) use the plastic bags. It is just awful. The store says no, they won't change their policy because customers like the plastic! Part of our state even voted down a referendum to require stores to charge for plastic!!!!! Unbelievable, no? And don't get me started on those plastic water bottles.... Thank you for helping to get people to think more about this......

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  9. Your photos are lovely except the littered ocean photo hurts my heart. I've never seen anything quite like that in person. I too have made steps to reduce plastics in my life. Thank you for reminding folks of this issue and sharing those links. Thanks - kim

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  10. David Attentborough is doing his best to draw attention to the problems in our oceans, especially the plastics, and also the noise pollution beneath the waves. It is a worldwide problem and I hope that Blue Planet II is seen all around the world.

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    1. Yes it needs to be seen up those in power and those who are supplying these single use items. Sarah x

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  11. What beautiful skies. The whole plastic thing is so depressing but this year I've been amazed at how much we're hearing about it. I know there's a long, long way to go, but I think it's really positive how the word is getting out and more and more people are realising the scale of the problem. It's a start, hopefully the momentum will last and the population can make changes in daily life that will start to have an impact on the plastic problem.

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    1. I'm sure Blue Planet is helping highlight the issue, let's hope the momentum continues! Sarah x

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  12. Very good title for your post! Your photos are stunning, especially the first one.... But what a shock ( reality check) to see the last photo.... So much human waste! In Canberra we no longer have plastic shopping bags in supermarkets, but there is still a long way to go...as a new grandmother I dispair at the thick plastic around toys. Thanks for highlighting this problem ... a photo speaks a thousand words.

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  13. Beautiful photographs, and you are lucky to live in such a picturesque county.

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  14. Beautiful pictures, they show that we should not go out without a camera.
    The small plastic beads in toothpaste and cosmetics are a real problem, we could be consuming them via sea food. It was heartening to recently hear the Environment Secretary committing the Government to be more pro active with this problem.

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  15. Good morning Sarah, amazing pictures from the sunrise! Oh yes, the plastic we use is a big problem. I do not need plastic for my chips, but I get it.

    Sigrun

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  16. Beautiful pictures of the Jurassic Coast which give your plastic ocean picture even more impact.
    It's good that the plastic problem has come so much to the fore recently and individual lifestyle decisions can have a big effect. We cant do it all ourselves though and the government needs to be on board as well. The UK government is beginning to talk the talk but it must also walk the walk.

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  17. It is so disheartening isn’t it? I have never seen so much litter on our sea coast as yours. We are very aware of the problem and have always tried to live without using or purchasing items made with or in plastic. It began when my children were babies and using cloth diapers instead of disposable. We use mason jars for most storage including refrigerated items. We place our fresh veggies in cotton breathable mesh bags. There is always so much more we can do and so we keep trying to make changes. We try to be mindful of how we are living. Lovely sunrise on your shore.

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  18. Gorgeous sun rise. Tavi is so cute. Looks like he really enjoys the water. I am so happy that you enjoyed my photos. I have one more sunflower that is blooming. I will be sorry to see them go. But, I hope next year to grow more of them. Have a lovely day.

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  19. The nurdles horrify me. A ship off Duban lost a load, and now nurdles are washing up on our beaches.
    Trying to reduce our use of plastic and we have a few zero waste (no consumer end packaging) options I need to follow up.

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  20. I agree wholeheartedly with you and thank you for the links.

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  21. Beautiful photos, except for the last one!
    Thanks for the links.

    All the best Jan

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