My first free dive experience with the Fjord Clean Up Group has really stuck with me and here’s why:
The pollution is everywhere! Through my research, I have read the term “plastic soup” for a few years, but this was my first time actually experiencing it, swimming through it, and seeing it. It was a reality check for sure. I tried to collect what I could but honestly it felt impossible, the natural and plastic worlds were fused together.
I had been emailing with my friend and fellow plastic pollution fighter Erica Cirino (author of Thicker Than Water) so I shared my experience with her. She emailed back mentioning how sobering it is to see the term “plastic soup” come to life. She also ended the email with a bit of encouragement that I want to share:
“Our world is changing so rapidly. That’s why we gotta keep documenting it!”
I couldn’t agree more with her, but would like to add on to the sentiment: we need to share it as well. This means sharing the responsibility of cleaning up our oceans and lands. This means sharing what we are finding. And this means sharing our skills and ideas for a sustainable future.