After weeks touring around Scotland our scientifc ship tour with the Beluga II comes to an end. These recent images taken when we visited the Shiant Isles in Scotland illustrate the breathtaking beauty and biodiversity that needs protecting from ocean plastics.
Pop quiz. Who do you think said this at conference on wind energy I went to recently?
“We believe that offshore wind… will be the energy backbone for northern Europe.”
If you’re guessing it was the CEO from one of the big wind energy companies then I’m afraid you’re wrong. Or how about a government minister from a country that’s heavily investing in wind power? Wrong again!
It was actually an executive from Shell. Sounds difficult to believe, right? But trust me. It’s 100% true. And it’s yet more proof that renewable energy is big business.
Our beach clean began with a 2 hour drive up the most amazing coastline from Fionnphort to Ulva on the Isle of Mull (having stopped by Beluga II in Tobermory) to meet up with 3 very small local primary schools.
Cath and Janey from Marine Conservation Society arrived just after us, having had the same problems finding this quite beautiful and remote beach, only to find the school kids hard at work - getting stuck in to clearing up the seriously large amount of plastic waste.
Oh the irony. As part of a millennial-focused marketing strategy to associate Coca-Cola with beach holiday fun and sunkissed selfies, Coke last month launched its summer campaign. This year’s gimmick? Coke bottles labelled with exotic beach destinations and a competition to win glamorous holidays every day.
Why ironic? Because it's these very plastic bottles that are polluting the beaches and rivers of many of these holiday hotspots.
Despite ongoing national crises such as the Grenfell fire — and the fact that Brexit talks are due to begin this week — Theresa May is yet to form a strong and stable government. Lacking the necessary number of Conservative MPs, she will continue talks with Northern Irish party the DUP this week.
Posted by Emily Buchanan — 16 June 2017 at 4:44pm
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Sea sponges. They’re not exactly the cuddliest of creatures. They don’t have eyes, limbs, ears, a mouth or even a brain. They can’t move and some of them look a bit like Wotsits.
This week hasn’t been a normal “day at the office”. I’ve spent the last few days on board the Beluga II, the Greenpeace boat currently sailing around the Scottish coast to document and investigate the impact of ocean plastic pollution on Scotland’s internationally significant wildlife.