Gather
background information. Set up a research team to check in
newspapers and magazines for articles about trash on beaches.
Make a scrapbook of clippings related to wildlife injuries and
litter. The library can help find old newspaper articles about
trash on the beach.
Make a Sea Creature
Protest Poster. Collect some bits of plastic, fishing gear,
and other rubbish. Paste up a poster with cartoon sea creatures
talking about trash on top of all their other problems.
Do a Preliminary
Survey of some local beach and identify natural objects versus
man-made litter. How can you tell the difference between a natural
and a man made object? What are hazardous objects that might be
found on a beach and what should you do if you see some? (large
drums or buckets containing an unknown substance, glass and sharp
objects, medical wastes, syringes, oil).
Get Organised
to involve your community in protecting your beach.
Conduct a Scientific Survey
of a local beach or shoreline to determine what kinds of trash
are washing up. Fill out a survey sheet from Island Care. Take
photographs of the material collected and of any wildlife found
that has been harmed.
Contribute your
Findings to International Research Combine all the survey
sheets onto one sheet with the total counts of debris for the
whole beach. Prepare pie charts showing the relative abundance
of the different kinds of trash found. Send the summary information
to Island Care by Email or Fax.
Be a Litter Detective.
Discuss where the items might have come from. Can you think
of ways to track down the origin of the trash?
Plan for Change.
What specific actions must people take to stop each kind of
trash you found from entering the water cycle?
Begin Community
Action. First, brainstorm ways to convince those people responsible
for allowing the trash to pollute the sea to change their ways.
Remember to keep all interested parties informed of your survey
and its results and you may be surprised to find lots of people
are ready to help with media coverage and with action.
