Featured Image Credit: Video Screenshot
By Kira Krall
The efforts in the fight against single-use plastics began with plastic bags and have now grown to include straws. According to the National Parks Service, Americans use (and throw away) 500 million straws every single day. These extremely lightweight oil products are picked up by the wind and blown into nearby waterways and eventually, into our oceans. The video, taken by Harriet Spark shows us how this type of marine debris infiltrates life under the waves.
This graphic video of someone removing a full-size straw from a sea turtle’s nose has been viewed almost 17 million times. It’s often referred to as a catalyst for a straw-free lifestyle, and we couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, that turtle is not alone when it comes to the plastic invasion.
Most animals can’t digest the processed chemicals found in most of our trash. Once they eat it, it’s with them for good, leaching chemicals into their bodies. These bits of plastic can also cause the animal to feel full and eventually starve.