“Plastic is to the Ocean as Cholesterol is to Blood”

Santo Domingo, September 6, 2012

“Plastic is to the ocean as cholesterol is to the blood,” proclaimed environmentalist Doug Woodring, during the workshop “Plastic Vortex: Our Oceans, Plastic and Other Trash.” With these words, the representative of Ocean Recovery Alliance warned of the grave danger that the increase of plastic waste in the oceans signifies for marine life.

The expert conveyed that according to data put forth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 80 percent of trash in the oceans comes from humans. He added that trash affects approximately 700 species, directly or indirectly.

Woodring explained that the plastic that floats on the surface of the water melts overtime due to the affects of sun and salt, causing fish and bird species to confuse the small plastic residue for food. He stressed that in this process, plastic is converted into a magnet for toxins which are poisonous.

The panelist said that confronting this situation requires a population that continues educating itself on the preservation of the oceans, recycling and the conversion of plastic to fuel. In the spirit of environmental conservation, he invited the audience members present to join him for a beach clean-up to take place on September 15.

The workshop took place at the auditorium of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), and included the participation of environmentalists, students and representatives from organizations conducting work related to environmental topics.

Woodring is an environmental entrepreneur, a writer, a competitive athlete, a sports event organizer and a creative innovator on community issues. He is the founder of a newly established non-profit organization, the Ocean Recovery Alliance, which is focused on bringing innovative solutions, technology, collaborations and policy together to impact positive improvements for the health of the ocean.

Collaborators
The realization of DREFF 2012 has been made possible thanks to support and contributions from our collaborators:

Centro Cuesta Nacional (Arrecife), Banco de Reservas (Colibrí), Fundación Vida Azul, Panorama Verde, Odebrecht, Uepa.com, Uepa Radio, PUNTACANA Resort & Club, el Proyecto Nautilius, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the Dominican Republic, Sueños de Colores (Dreams in Color), la Revista Flow (Flow Magazine), el Centro Cultural Perelló (Perelló Cultural Center), the Embassy of Spain in the Dominican Republic, , Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU) (Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University), the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic, Clúster Turístico del Destino Puerto Plata (Tourism Cluster Destination Puerto Plata), la Universidad Católica Nordestana de San Francisco de Macorís (Catholic University Nordestana de San Francisco de Macorís), el Centro Cultural Narciso González (Narciso González Cultural Center), Centro León, CEDAF, Terra and RENAEPA, among others.

Related links:
www.drenvironmentalfilmfestival.org
www.environmentaldictionary.org
www.globoverdedominicano.org
http://www.oceanrecov.org/about/how-it-works.html