Preserve Planet, a local NGO and regional partner of Plastic Pollution Coalition, was in charge of this production.  The Costa Rican artist Francesco Bracci was in charge of the design. The structure is based on a 9 meters high by 14 meters wide metallic interior. To fill it, 6 000 plastic bottles were braided to get a texture that simulates a colosal  plastic wave that is suffocating  the city with its toxic components.

La Ola Plastica is installed in one of the busiest streets in the city. This strategic location makes it highly visible and it will raise awareness about plastic pollution caused specifically by single use and disposable items, such as plastic bottles and plastic bags.

Daniella Russo and Enriqueta Ramirez, our project manager for Central America, with partners from Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, will announce the plastic pollution awareness campaign for Central America.

At the invitation of Plastic Pollution Coalition, the panel will be attended by Eugene-Richard Gasana, Rwandan Ambassador to the UN, and Coalition members Jimena Leiva Roesch, Third Secretary of the Mission of Guatemala to the UN, and Dr. Marcus Eriksen, from 5 Gyres. Also in attendance will be: Dr. Lev Neretin, UNEP; Dr. Suja Lowenthal, mayor of Long Beach, CA; and Tom de Blasis, Design Innovation Director for the Nike Foundation. The panel will be moderated by actress Kyra Sedgwick.

The event will also feature art from New York City artist and Plastic Pollution Coalition public art coordinator Manuel Mansylla.

We hit the road to Ajman, to spend the rest of the day with “The Green Sheikh”, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi. A member of the royal family of the Emirate Ajman, Sheikh Abdul Aziz is dedicated to a lifelong philosophy of being one with nature, being in harmony with all living things, being humble and respectful of our gifts and protective of the environment.  The Sheikh has arranged for us to visit the Municipality of Ajman, where we are presented with an amazing recycling program.  In meetings with officials from the municipality and a tour of the building, we find a strong focus on conservation, and a team of educated, bright and environmentally savvy people. Ajman has placed a ban on plastic bags and is running a campaign to educate the people on reusable. The challenges? Behavior change – getting the public on board with the need. We spend the next hour discussing ways in which we can collaborate, including how to bring young people on board. To this country comprised of mostly young people, this topic is of great interest.

A sparkling addition to our team is Fatima, a brilliant young woman who is working on a degree in environmental science and is knowledgeable on a variety of topics from plastic pollution to affecting behavior change.  I hope Fatima will lead the Plastic Pollution Coalition effort in the UAE.

Next, the Sheikh brings us for lunch and conversation to his home. A passionate supporter of traditional values, and a gracious host, Sheikh Abdul Aziz offers us the best of Arabic food, a lesson on how to eat with our hands and great advice on how to understand the thinking of his people. We discuss  how to collaborate in raising awareness about all aspects of plastic pollution, including special focus on human health.  Little to nothing is known here about the health impacts of toxic chemicals leaching from plastic containers. We discuss ways to share this information with the public, by tailoring the messages to various audiences and by  training local experts.

As we retreat for tea, Medjool dates and more conversation, we outline a plan to educate a group of local advocates on the issues. It is the beginning of a process which will take time but in the end will yield a movement rooted in local presence. This is the only way.

After lunch, the Sheikh takes us to visit the Al Ihsan Charity Center. Founded by his grandfather, and now managed by Sheikh Abdul Aziz and his brother, the charity offers free food, vocational training and medical care to women and children living in poverty. In addition, it is the only clinic for 20 miles. The Executive Manager, Dr. Haki E. Abraheem,  gives us the tour of a sparklingly clean facility, set up entirely on donations – and able to provide a variety of medical care and medication.  He is proud to say that the quality of health care is the same for rich and poor.

Outside the facility is the food shelter, where about 400-600 women and children receive food each day. Many of these women are able and willing to work, and the charity is focused on creating job opportunities that will also also result in some support for the charity itself.

Ideas begin to flow, and soon we find ourselves in the vocational training facility where some of these same women are creating beautiful items made of recycled materials. The craftsmanship is remarkable and of course we begin to  imagine the wonderful crafts that could be produced under the competence guidance of an artist working with plastic.  These crafts could be then sold and raise funds to support the charity and expand its staff, support and purchase new equipment.

The sun begins to set and as the prayer call sounds around us, it is time to  say goodbye – but only for a short while, to organize our plans and to move to the next step. The Sheikh seems to share our reluctance to end this wonderful flow of ideas, but we all know this is just the beginning of a collaboration which will grow and bear fruit.

Thank you Sheikh Abdul Aziz for your support, vision and inspiration. We look forward to working with you towards a plastic-free Ajman and a UAE free of plastic pollution.

Our first meeting is with Ali Soqor Al Suweidi, or as everyone  calls him, “Major Ali”, the President of the Emirates Marine Environmental Group.  EMEG is the first marine environmental group in the UAE, and it provides services and solutions for a variety of projects focusing on a range of marine and terrestrial environmental issues from around the country. EMEG is housed in a building on the Palm Jebel Ali, surrounded by sparkling blue waters and brilliant sky. Major Ali is inspirational and touching with his love for the environment, and his passion for sharing the traditions and history of his country with children.  To date, over 10,000 children have experienced the magic of the animal world in the natural coastline, lagoons and desert dunes in the  Environmental Preserve managed by EMEG. We do not wish to leave, but know we will work together on educating the children on the dangers of plastic pollution and how to participate in conservation.

In Abu Dhabi we spend a terrific hour with the founder of “Green Abu Dhabi” discussing the role of public art and media in raising attention to environmental issues.  With focus on plastic pollution, we explore ideas on how Abu Dhabi could become the stage for of a major public art exhibit targeting awareness about the issues, and inspiring people to take action and protect their precious community and iconic animals.

The conversation continues in our next meeting with Cameron Oliver, the boy who started the campaign to protect camels from plastic pollution. Now a young man, Cameron Oliver immediately warms up to the plan for Plastic Free Campuses, which our advisor  JD Russo explains.  After seeing images of animals with bellies full of plastic pollution, Cameron understands that the camels are only one facet of the drama unfolding around the globe – animals everywhere suffer the same tragic death caused by plastic pollution. Sharing this knowledge and engaging schools and students in Plastic Free Campuses is how each individual becomes personally responsible for the solution. Oliver and JD have a great discussion about engaging young people and are already planning follow on visits to Abu Dhabi and California.

A truly exciting day with so much promise for collaboration on our shared problem: plastic pollution. It is truly inspirational to see how the REFUSE message can help communities around the globe.

Tomorrow we meet with Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali al Nuaimi, or as he is affectionately called here, “The Green Sheikh”. We all look forward to a great discussion on the role of youth in addressing the future, and our personal responsibility in solving the planet’s greatest challenges.

Our hosts, David and Theresa Wernery, founders of PNSF Expedition shared with us their work to raise awareness of the plight of animals in the desert, exposed to plastic pollution.   As David points out, it is difficult to get away from plastic pollution in the desert -” it blows with the wind, penetrating the remote desert, clinging to trees and shrubs, lying covered by a veneer of sand…” Young camels are curious. Attracted to plastic bags,colorful  plastic ropes and other plastic debris polluting the desert floor, they ingest them and their stomachs fill with calcified mass. Before long there is no space for food or drink.  Here’s the contents of the stomach of a young camel.  The plastic cap and blue rope is recognizable, just like in the belly of the Laysan albatross. David and Theresa are launching a world-wide expedition to raise awareness about plastic pollution and we will track and report on their progress.

In a meeting with Sabine Bremme and Tatiana Antonelli Abella from Goumbook.com, we understood how groups here seek and find solutions to the plastic pollution crisis; how they educate children and college students on new behaviors; and how we can work together.  Goumbook.com has created a directory of local products and services, and uses its website to educate and inform the public on why alternatives to plastic are important. We heard about schools that have already installed filtration stations and eliminated plastic bottles, and we are eager to learn more.  We look forward to collaborating on several initiatives, including Plastic Free Campuses.

Perhaps the most interesting find of the day was the existence and popularity of “Atmospheric Water Generation” systems, converting air into water.  These systems are in existence outside of the UAE as well, but here they provide a much needed access to fresh water, one of the most precious resources.  The main source of water here is through extensive use of desalination.   We had a detailed discussion of these systems with Susan Tabler, the founder of “Recycle for a Cause”,  a local campaign encouraging people to collect plastic which then gets converted into beautiful items for everyday use, proceeds to benefits children of the Philippines. Here, encouraging recycling is hugely important as a first step to personal behavior modification.

Our last meeting was with Reema Al Abbas, from the Emirates Diving Association. The inspirational Reema and her organization are entirely dedicated to eradicating plastic pollution.   Through outreach and education, through beach and dive cleanups,  Emirates Diving Association raises awareness of the sources of plastic pollution and advocate source  reduction at the source – by simply using less disposable plastic to start with. For a country who has announced plan to eliminate plastic bags by 2013, this is a very important endeavor. One that Plastic Pollution Coalition will wholeheartedly support. We are excited about all the opportunities the future holds, and look forward to a very fruitful collaboration.

Tomorrow we are on our way to Abu Dhabi, to meet with groups working with the Municipality of Abu Dhabi; with Oliver Cameron, working to protect camels from plastic pollution and for another very exciting meeting waiting for a confirmation. Here’s the BBC video about Oliver’s work. Stay tuned!

Brittany Shoot is thrilled to be the new Plastic Free Times Managing Editor. She’s already hard at work planning a front-end makeover and improved functionality for the site. Brittany is extremely excited to pair her passion for environmental justice and experience as an editor and journalist to make Plastic Free Times the go-to website for issues related to plastic pollution, toxics, and environmental legislation.

Since earning a master’s degree at Emerson College in Boston, Brittany has worked as a freelance writer and journalist with some consulting thrown in for good measure. She primarily covers environmental issues, women’s health, arts and culture, and travel for The Guardian, Salon, USA Today, The Daily, and AlterNet, among others. She’s contributed to several encyclopedia volumes, had her op-eds syndicated by The New York Times, and drafted internal management policies for Greenpeace Nordic. Currently, she’s a contributing writer at xoJane.com.

Brittany recently moved to downtown San Francisco after living in Copenhagen for the past three years. She likes going to the beach in the winter, discovering green spaces in the Financial District, and eating dark chocolate with marzipan. She welcomes your feedback at brittany [at] plasticfreetimes [dot] com

• Launched Plastic Free Times
• Grew the coalition to over 150 institutional members, with a global reach to over 2 million people
• Grew the stellar lineup of Notable Supporters including American actress Bette Midler, Green Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, Teamsters General President James Hoffa, Jr. and many other distinguished leaders and public figures.
• Launched  Plastic Pollution Coalition: Central America
• Launched Plastic Pollution Coalition East Coast, USA
• Launched Plastic Pollution Coalition’s online store
• Launched Plastic Free Campuses project, with its collegiate debut at the University of California – Santa Barbara
• Launched Think Beyond Plastic, a PPC initiative to spur innovation and entrepreneurship for solutions
• Launched the Plastic Pollution Coalition individual membership program, and signed up hundreds of members
• Reached thousands of people with the power of art and the message about plastic pollution
• And so much more! The list just goes on.

All of this was made possible because of YOU.

We approach 2012 with an extended team and many new projects. We are excited about the opportunity the future holds. But most of all, we are excited about working together, continuing to build our friendship and our success, and reaching even higher milestones in our work!

Thank you all for your support, for your friendship and for your dedication to a world free of plastic pollution!

We wish you a 2012 full of promise, hope and great deeds!

Sullie Saves the Seas explores the human extremes of caring and indifference as a small group of dedicated birds battle to preserve the oceans.  When Goffinet McLaren’s new super-hero, Sullie, sees that plastic pollution is destroying his precious Turtle Beach, he calls his friends to action.

Chapter by chapter, Sullie’s clever plot delivers a delightful tale that you will enjoy sharing with your children and friends. The book targets ages 8-12, but kids of all ages will enjoy and learn.  McLaren dedicates this story to all of the sea birds, whales, dolphins, seals, and turtlesthat have lost their lives due to plastic pollution.

This beautiful book is available for purchase on Amazon.com and will make a great gift for the whole family.

The author, Goffinet McLaren is a Plastic Pollution Coalition member.

From all of us, best wishes for a happy holidays season filled with joy and love!  As we prepare for celebrations, let us all remember our commitment to a world free of plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on people, animals and the environment. Lets make a special effort to reduce our plastic footprint and REFUSE disposable plastics. The change begins with us, and to make it a little easier we have some suggestions.

1. Make Your Own Wrapping Paper

Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores is not recyclable and ends up in a landfill. Instead, get creative with non-plastic gift wrapping. Wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children’s artwork.  You can also use a scarf, an attractive dish towel, a bandanna, or some other useful cloth item, and forgo the plastic tape by tying it on with natural twine or string.

2. Make Your Own Holiday Cards

Have fun with the whole family making original cards that your loved ones will never forget. Use recycled paper or old magazines to collage together unique designs.  Dust off that photo editing software and make a web-based card that is personalized and unique.

3. Buy Organic and Local Foods for Your Holiday Feast

Grab your re-usable shopping bags and support local family farmers who grow sustainable meat and produce. It tastes better and you’ll be doing your part for the planet, too. Then serve this delicious and healthy local organic feast on REAL dishes – not only is it good for the health of the planet, but it’s elegant, too.  If you don’t have access to a farmer’s market during the winter, try a bulk food store that has bulk bins and bring your own reusable produce bags.

4. Find Unique Gifts by supporting Local Artisans

These will be one-of-a-kind gifts for sure. Take your time enjoying local arts and crafts galleries and find a gift that really means something to you, and something your loved one isn’t soon to forget.  If there aren’t any near you, shop Etsy, or other craft sites online, and find sellers that use recyclable packaging material.

5. Buy Plastic-free Gifts, Support a Plastic-free World

We are very picky about what we sell in our online store.  All of the products featured are ones that we personally use.  Help inspire your loved ones to REFUSE single-use plastics in their lives by giving them plastic-free gifts from our online store.

Remember: Donations on Behalf of Someone Require No Packaging At All

Give the greenest gift of all this year and donate to Plastic Pollution Coalition.  Every donation helps. It is the perfect way to buy a gift and do a good deed all at the same time. AND it’s tax deductible. (Whereas most sweaters and fruitcakes are not.)

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and plastic-free holiday season and new year!

Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores is not recyclable and ends up in a landfill. Instead, get creative with non-plastic gift wrapping. Wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of a newspaper, or children’s artwork.  You can also use a scarf, an attractive dish towel, a bandanna, or some other useful cloth item, and forgo the plastic tape by tying it on with natural twine or string.

2. Make Your Own Holiday Cards

Have fun with the whole family making original cards that your loved ones will never forget. Use recycled paper or old magazines to collage together unique designs.  Dust off that photo editing software and make a web-based card that is personalized and unique.

3. Buy Organic and Local Foods for Your Holiday Feast

Grab your re-usable shopping bags and support local family farmers who grow sustainable meat and produce. It tastes better and you’ll be doing your part for the planet, too. Then serve this delicious and healthy local organic feast on REAL dishes – not only is it good for the health of the planet, but it’s elegant, too.  If you don’t have access to a farmer’s market during the winter, try a bulk food store that has bulk bins and bring your own reusable produce bags.

4. Find Unique Gifts by supporting Local Artisans

These will be one-of-a-kind gifts for sure. Take your time enjoying local arts and crafts galleries and find a gift that really means something to you, and something your loved one isn’t soon to forget.  If there aren’t any near you, shop Etsy, or other craft sites online, and find sellers that use recyclable packaging material.

5. Buy Plastic-free Gifts, Support a Plastic-free World

We are very picky about what we sell in our online store.  All of the products featured are ones that we personally use.  Help inspire your loved ones to REFUSE single-use plastics in their lives by giving them plastic-free gifts from our online store.

Remember: Donations on Behalf of Someone Require No Packaging At All

Give the greenest gift of all this year and donate to Plastic Pollution Coalition.  Every donation helps. It is the perfect way to buy a gift and do a good deed all at the same time. AND it’s tax deductible. (Whereas most sweaters and fruitcakes are not.)

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and plastic-free holiday season and new year!