There is a section of the Pacific Ocean twice the size of the continental United States called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Within it, 100 million tons of plastic swirl in a vortex of currents. There is so much plastic in the water that it outnumbers zooplankton by six to one!

This plastic ends up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals. In fact, one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die globally each year due to ingestion of or entanglement in plastics.

Plastic is forever, with virtually every piece of petroleum based plastic ever made still in existence. That’s why it’s so critical to our oceans and beaches that we dramatically reduce our use of plastics, especially single-use plastics, starting today.

You can make a difference for our world’s oceans, waves and beaches — pledge to rise above plastics today.

For more information, visit: http://riseaboveplastics.org

Photo Credit: Rich German, Project O

Mylar, latex and plastic balloons along with their strings or confetti pose a threat to our environment, our oceans, open space, wildlife and human health. A common sense ordinance advocating for the elimination and prohibition of retail sales, uses and release of all lighter-than-air balloons is slated for Laguna Beach City Council decision in December 2022.

Environmental and non-profit leaders including Surfrider Foundation and the South OC Chapter join with local healthy ocean-dependent businesses including sportfishing, whale and dolphin watching, and hotels and tourism entities to support this initiative.