Thursday, October 05, 2006

MORE THAN SEVEN TEARS FOR SEA CREATURES

Dear Readers,
Last week I spent a few days in Monterey, California. I saw whales and dolphins and loads of sea lions. Their voices make me smile and their grace is incredible! I love them all and they reminded of the time I spent at a Marine Mammal Rescue Center while researching SEVEN TEARS INTO THE SEA. (http://terrifarley.com/authoring_change.shtml)
One injured sea lion made a life-long impact on me.
This coffee-colored male -- a top of the line sea predator -- had been brought to the verge of death by a plastic six-pack holder for drinks.
Let me show you how it happened.
Try this: make all four of your fingers touch, side-by-side. Then, bring the pad of your thumb up to touch the pad of your index finger. That's something like a sea lion's nose and mouth. Next, slip the points of your fingers through one opening in a plastic drink holder. Now, try to pull your thumb apart, like a jaw, wide enough to swallow a fish.
Not easy, is it? Try harder and it hurts. Struggle even more and the plastic cuts you.
The male sea lion I saw had starved. His nose was cut to the bone and infected. Bloody slashes covered his sides because he could only protect himself by swimming away, but he'd lost his speed to starvation and sickness.
In sea water, plastic six-pack holders last 400 years. They have a long time to find a victim!
So, EVERY time I see a plastic six-pack holder, I snip or pull apart (careful, it can cut your skin, too) the rings. I do this at home, at friends' parties or picnics, in rubbish I see while I'm out walking. Always.
Of course I recycle plastic, too, but no drink ring that comes into my sight is going to muzzle and kill.
Join me, okay?
Terri

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Posted by Terri Farley @ 8:39 AM

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