Joe discusses the condition of our oceans and what is being done to clean them up.  Plastics are making their way into our ecosystem and we legitimately have a severe problem on our hands.  Beck, our STEMPunX intern, shares her views as a teenager concerned about her future and what will be left of the planet by the time she has a family.

Many links in the show notes to a LOT of information about plastics, alternatives, how the cycle starts and what we can do to make a change.  Our planet needs us.

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Coddiwomple Creative- Dazzling the senses with an artisans eye to create fun, and sometimes functional items with a bit of whimsy.  (Custom crafted laser cut Christmas Ornaments now available!)

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On a local environmental note, check out the Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute co-founded by our resident scientist Bill Weiler. Their mission is to provide educational opportunities, with an emphasis on stewardship and a sense of wonder in the natural systems of the Columbia River Gorge. They are at  www.gorgeecology.org/

STEMPunX is hosted and produced by Joe Garoutte.

This episode was also produced by E. Michael Friend and John Hardham

Editing by Joe and Michael.

Music is courtesy of the Free Music Archive  http://freemusicarchive.org 

Show notes

Organic beeswax food storage wraps made in Hood River, Oregon with local beeswax.

Roots Wrap

Link: Boyan Slat

https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/remember-kid-who-invented-way-clean-ocean-plastic-hes-back-and-its-happening

What are microplastics?

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html

Learn about microfibers from doing your laundry. 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/pick-your-wardrobe-carefully-lives-clams-and-mussels-may-depend-it-180960761/

Ocean Cleanup Project

https://www.theoceancleanup.com

CNET video of Ocean Cleanup launch and more.

http://youtu.be/nYC4Q-0wcAc

How does trash get into the ocean?

http://www.gorillabins.ca/blog/how-does-garbage-end-up-in-the-ocean/

This is how your plastic bag ends up in the ocean...

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/plastic-ocean-garbage_n_5191294.html

How on earth does all the plastic get into the oceans?

https://wastelandrebel.com/en/how-on-earth-does-all-the-plastic-get-into-the-oceans/

Where does marine debris come from?

https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/trashtalk_wheredoesmarinedebriscomefrom/

Newplasticseconomy.org

https://newplasticseconomy.org

This larvae can eat plastic!  Well, some types anyway...

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/wax-worms-eat-plastic-polyethylene-trash-pollution-cleanup/

And what can we do locally and personally:

Zero waste solutions

https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/101-easy-eco-friendly-zero-waste-tips

https://www.eartheclipse.com/pollution/amazing-ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html

Columbia Gorge Ecology Institute

www.gorgeecology.org/