TEENS TACKLE THE PLASTICS PROBLEM:
Youth challenge Alaskans to rethink consumption during Week without Plastics
"Each bag we save makes a difference. We can bring our own bags and take this into our own hands."
— Aviva Hirsch, Homer |
April 20-27, 2008. Reduce, reuse, and recycle: these three words have historically guided Americans in their efforts to minimize waste. Today, as global warming threatens our way of life, landfill space becomes decreasingly available, and consumption reaches an all-time high, AYEA members are adding a fourth "R" to the mix: rethink.
AYEA teens launched the Re3: Rethink Plastics! project to inform individuals about the impacts of plastics on our health and environment, and to educate consumers about alternatives to disposable plastics. Their efforts culminated with the youth-created Week Without Plastics April 20-27. Below are highlights of the various actions AYEA teens took to tackle plastics! You can check out the letters to the editor, opinion pieces, and other media generated during this campaign »HERE«.
- In Anchorage, Mark Begich signed a Week without Plastics proclamation and students distributed 100% organic cotton shopping bags at The Natural Pantry;
- In Saint Michael village, AYEA graduate Charlee Lockwood convinced store manager Matt Jackson to stop ordering plastic bags and Styrofoam; he is committed to giving his customers reusable bags;
- Homer AYEA member Aviva Hirsch published "Bring Your Own Bag" letter to the editor in the Homer Tribune and Homer News;
- Fairbanks AYEA member Katie McCaffrey published "No Plastics Week" letter to the editor in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner;
- In Sitka, teens sold reusable bags at a number of stores and Wells Fargo bank, and interviewed with the local radio station about plastics impacts. Sitka teens also got a few letters to the editor printed in the Daily Sitka Sentinel;
- Yakutat teens collected signatures supporting state legislation to create a "user fee" on disposable plastic shopping bags. They held a community drawing to give away re-usable bags;
- The "AK" radio program on Alaska Public Radio Network broadcast an Earth Day special, focusing on plastics and AYEA's campaign;
AYEA member Zoe Fuller published "Rethinking Plastics" opinion piece in the Mat-Su Frontiersman and in the Juneau Empire;
- Senator Lisa Murkowski promoted Week without Plastics on the Senate floor as a core service project during her annual speech on Global Youth Service (April 25-27).
What can YOU Do?
AYEA teens have created a Week without Plastics Tool Kit that can be used by youth, school or community groups, or anyone else wanting to tackle plastic, any time of year.
"Reducing our plastic waste will help Alaska’s wildlife, clean up the environment, and save money."
— Zoe Fuller, Palmer |
"Our village has a poor technique of dumping garbage. There are a lot of plastic bags blown from the dump. We need to make others aware of plastics’ harmful effects on our environment."
— Charlee Lockwood, Saint Michael |
"It's not about paper versus plastic, it's about sustainable versus disposable."
— Aviva Hirsch, Homer |
Special thanks to
ALASKA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
and E.D. Nick Hardigg for finding funding to support
the purchase of 100% organic cotton bags for
Week Without Plastics!
Reusable bags were purchased from
econscious: wearables with value(s)
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