Plastic People: The Hidden Crisis Of Microplastics
by Bob Montgomery
Anyone concerned about the impact of plastic in our lives is invited to a showing of a ninety minute film this Tuesday night at the Bayfield Town Hall.
The environmental group Blue Bayfield is hosting the showing. The film has been shown at film festivals in Europe and North America and is being recorded in multiple languages. In the spring, it was the feature film shown to delegates at the UN conference on plastics held in Ottawa.
Blue Bayfield and Eco-Exeter, the student environmental group at South Huron District High School, have for many years promoted the reduction of single use plastics. Blue Bayfield is recognized nationally and internationally for its achievements. Eco Exeter likewise has received accolades for its work on plastic reduction. Both communities take part in the film.
The film maintains we consume the equivalent of one credit card of plastic every week. It is in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we consume. This is not just fear mongering by environmentalists—it is the product of peer-reviewed research conducted by teams of scientist around the world.
Multiple studies have made us aware of plastic in the ocean. It is estimated that 8 billion kilos, that’s the weight of nearly 90 aircraft carriers, on average, enters the ocean each year, from land and the fishing and shipping industry. The accumulation of plastics in the ocean began in the 50’s.
Studies done on the Great Lakes have demonstrated that the Great Lakes contain twice the number of plastic pieces per square kilometre of that found in the oceans and that more plastic is being added every year.
The film will be shown Tuesday night, October 8th at seven o'clock. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the Village Bookshop or contact Ray Letheran at letherenray@gmail.com or Renee at sandelowskyr@gmail.com. Any profits will be donated to the Bayfield Food Bank.
