The Good News Movement

Top Menu

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Good News
  • Be Inspired
  • Submit Your Good News
  • About Us

The Good News Movement

The Good News Movement

  • Home
  • Good News
  • Be Inspired
  • Submit Your Good News
  • About Us
Good News
Home›Good News›World First Ocean Study Reveals True Extent of Plastic Pollution – We All Can Make Change  

World First Ocean Study Reveals True Extent of Plastic Pollution – We All Can Make Change  

By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
June 13, 2019
0

A world-class female sailor is helping “turn the tide” on plastic, promoting a ground-breaking study designed to track pollution in oceans across the globe.

With numerous racing titles and thousands of sailing hours under her belt, Liz Wardley has visited some of the most remote waters on earth.

The 39-year-old was shocked at the discovery of microplastics in these isolated locations during the Volvo Ocean Race in 2017-2018 onboard the yacht aptly named Turn the Tide on Plastic.

Ms Wardley took part in the study to highlight the massive issue of plastic pollution in the ocean – and then encourage everyone to take responsibility for dealing with the problem.

The pollution was detected by a plastics analyser onboard Ms Wardley’s vessel, itself sponsored by the UN Environment’s Clean Seas initiative.

“The scary part is we found microplastics in the Southern Ocean – it’s the first time anyone has been down there with one of these machines so that was pretty ground-breaking,” said Ms Wardley.

“We sailed in some very very remote places; a lot of the shipping routes do not go there. We were literally changing filters every 48 hours to trap microplastics,” she said.

The tiny analyser machine worked by sucking in water to trap the microplastics and provided raw data scientists could then use as reference information.

“We had to try and not contact any other plastic or touch it with our hands so as not to corrupt the data for the scientists,” said Ms Wardley.

The Volvo Ocean Race saw seven teams race 45,000 nautical miles around the world over eight months in a gruelling competition that aimed to raise awareness of sustainability issues.

“It was a very sad note for the race when only two filters from around the whole world race did not contain plastic – one was in the deep south of Australia and the other up near Ireland,” said Ms Wardley.

“To put it in perspective one of the data collections was at Point Nemo (the most remote location on earth) and at that point we were closer to the space station than we were to any humanity on earth – so for there to be plastic there, that was devastating,” she said.

“What’s also devastating is when you’re sailing in pristine waters and you see plastic floating past the boat.”

Ms Wardley, who has become an acknowledged expert on the Volvo Ocean 65 mono hull race yacht and skippered her own yacht in the Sydney to Hobart at age 19, wants to spread her sustainability message through her sport.

“My message would be to reduce, reuse, recycle, or simply refuse,” said Ms Wardley.

“After a 30-minute walk along the beach in NSW recently the first thing I found was a plastic bag, so then I had something to put the plastic in that I found. If we do a little bit it will help,” she said.

“I want everyone who goes to the beach to not litter, but also actively collect rubbish, especially plastics and dispose of them.”

“Imagine if everyone on the planet had that idea – I believe the problem could be fixed quickly.”

“It’s not good enough to only blame governments or big business. We all have a role to play.”

“It doesn’t take much time to make a massive impact on the environment.”

Liz has competed in three Volvo Ocean Races; the next race is in 2021.

For more information visit:

https://www.cleanseas.org/impact/want-turn-tide-plastic-sport-volvo-ocean-race-shows-how

 


by Alyshia Gates

 

Previous Article

From bedtime lullabies to recording an album ...

Next Article

How Becoming a Mum Saved My Business

Related articles More from author

  • Good News

    Teenager Walks Out Of Hospital After Being Paralyzed In Tornado

    June 10, 2022
    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
  • Good News

    How Gardens Can Help Children Develop their Senses

    October 12, 2018
    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
  • Good News

    Festival celebrates and supports frontline workers

    October 27, 2020
    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
  • Good NewsPeople

    Man Who Saved Stranger From Train Tracks Surprised With Car

    June 28, 2022
    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
  • Rochelle Courtenay
    Good News

    How the ‘Crazy Pad Lady’ is Making a Big Difference for Women Doing it Tough

    June 26, 2018
    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
  • Good News

    Lifeguards’ Quick Thinking Sees Drone Past Biggest Test

    May 22, 2018
    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • People

    Perth Family’s Dream Home Rises From The Ashes

  • Good News

    From Outcasts to Rockstars… When Did Psychics Become So Cool?

  • Good News

    Dance Community Rallies Around Young Bunbury Family

Follow us

Join us

logo

We need to be informed and the world needs to be kept accountable.

But in an era of digital disruption and falling news audiences, the media must take a different view on what news is, and how stories are constructed.

Negative emotions have served us well during an age of flight or fight. But it’s the positive emotions that drive society forward – and that is the era we are currently stepping into.

Media has the power to move society and send a positive ripple out into the world.

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Man Who Saved Stranger From Train Tracks Surprised With Car

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    June 28, 2022
  • 83-year-old Becomes Oldest Person To Sail Solo Across The Pacific

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    June 28, 2022
  • WA Court Approves Young Boy’s Request To Adopt Teddies

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    June 10, 2022
  • Teenager Walks Out Of Hospital After Being Paralyzed In Tornado

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    June 10, 2022
  • Man Who Saved Stranger From Train Tracks Surprised With Car

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    June 28, 2022
  • A Woman’s Magical First Breath During Lung Transplant

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    May 16, 2018
  • Aussie Surfers Slash Ocean Pollution With ‘Seabin’

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    May 16, 2018
  • Break through for coeliac disease

    By thegoodnewsmovementadmin
    May 16, 2018

Follow us

  • Home
  • Join the Movement
  • About Us