Plastic Fantastic?
If one purpose of art is to make people think, Fran Crowe certainly did just that. The Suffolk based artist’s actions took place on the seashore. She resolved to ‘save’ one square mile of ocean by collecting 46,000 pieces of litter whilst walking on the beaches near her home.
Plastic Fantastic is an exhibition that Fran created for RISC. It was also designed to be suitable for many other locations (such as schools and libraries) to inform people about the use of plastics and its impact on the environment.
On the evening of 16th January 2007, she gave a talk about about her work and her research into plastic waste and its impact on the world’s oceans. We invited local retailers and the public to the talk and used it as an opportunity to discuss whether reading could take the plunge and go plastic bag free.
More information about her work can be found at: fly in the face
Plastic projects:
- Exhibition:Fran made a series of exhibition panels on her research and work. If you would like to borrow these panels please contact: Shehnoor@risc.org.uk
- Alternative plastic bag competition: we also have an exciting make your own bag project for you to do at home, in your youth club or class room. Download here
- Huang Xu: A resourse on the work of contemporary chinese artist Huang Xu, examining waste and consumption as well as an introduction to modern day china. Find the pack here
- About four-fifths of marine litter comes from land, swept by wind or washed by rain off highways and city streets, down streams and rivers, and out to sea. Nearly 90% of this floating waste is plastic.
- In June 2006, a United Nations Environmental Program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.
- The report "Plastic Debris in the World's Oceans", by international environmental group Greenpeace, said at least 267 marine species are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of debris. An estimated 1 million seabirds choke or get tangled in plastic nets, or other rubbish every year.
- Because there are so many different types, plastic is very difficult (and expensive) to recycle. In fact, unless burned (which can be very dangerous as this releases toxic fumes) plastic never really disappears from our planet.
- On average a person uses a plastic bag for 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment between 500 to 1000 years. The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet, or one million bags being used per minute.
- In Britain, approximately 13 billion plastic bags are given out to shoppers every year and at least 200 million end up as litter on our beaches, streets and parks.
- Many marine animals mistake plastic bags for food, with painful and often fatal consequences. After an animal is killed by plastic bags, its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environment where it can kill again.
- Many countries have banned plastic bags or imposed taxes to reduce their use. Some towns in the UK have gone Plastic Bag Free.
What can YOU do about plastic pollution?
Our suggestions are:
1. Reduce your use of plastic products. Be conscious of all that you buy and try to avoid disposable products and anything with excessive packaging.
2. Help clean it up: taking part in local stream, river, wetland and beach clean-ups – or start your own.
3. Refuse plastic carrier bags wherever possible, carrying an alternative with you. Re-use the bags that you have.
4. Refuse items using plastic for disposable uses, such as packaging, take away food and drinks.
5. Dispose of your plastic waste properly – recycling, re-using or re-homing items wherever possible.
6. Do not support balloon releases and never let go of a balloon outdoors.
7. Support organizations like Marine Conservation Society and Greenpeace who are campaigning for better protection of our ocean and wildlife.
8. Be pro-active: if this issue concerns you, tell other people about the facts.
We can all make a difference.
Remember: ‘No-one made a greater mistake than who did nothing because he could do so little.’ (Edmund Burke)
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