Let’s talk Plastic Pollution! Come down to the Port Phillip Ecocentre this Thursday May 2nd to the ‘Bag It’ Film night & discussion with the Special Guest Speaker: Tim Silverwood, spokesperson & campaigner for keeping plastic out of our oceans. You have to book so do it early to make sure you can get in.
It will be a great opportunity to network and get involved with other groups in Melbourne who are concerned and doing something about plastic pollution in the bay: Baykeepers, Beach Patrol, Transition Port Phillip; and from out of town, Tim from Take 3 and Silke from Two Hand Projects.
But that’s not all! The very exciting news is that these organizations are coming together with the help of scientists and ocean lovers to produce a short documentary on plastic pollution in Port Phillip Bay! I am fortunate to take part on this project as well as my husband, Manuel Mejia, who is one of the filmmakers involved alongside Michael Lutman! You may watch online (for free) Michael’s amazing documentary Plasticized where he tells the story of the voyage on board the 5 Gyres Institute expedition from Brazil to South Africa analyzing the amounts of plastics in the south Atlantic Gyre.
This past weekend we started filming. We visited 6 different sites around Melbourne shooting footage of plastics in the waterways that lead into the bay as well the plastic litter on some of the local beaches.
Taken at Elwood, Brighton and West Beach:
The Yarra River near the West Gate bridge
Merri Creek
Maribyrnong River
I also want to share pictures from a workshop I recently facilitated with 70 young university graduates who are working for a large mining company. It was shocking to hear how little they knew about plastic pollution. It just goes to show how important it is to keep spreading the message in many different ways!  I gave them the materials (single use plastics) and asked them to explore and create a visual message about the issue of plastic pollution.
I was very happy with the result of their Sand & Plastic litter Art sculptures! I invite you to get creative and spread the message: Let’s keep Plastics Out of Our Oceans!