Purpose of Plastic Continents

So now...

You should all know now, that Plastic Continents is about spreading awareness on the accumulation of plastics in our oceans AND deserts. The con of this name is the illusion it can portray to some.

What I mean by this, is that when you hear Plastic Continents, for the first time, you might picture an island the size of a small continent or island made out of plastic; where you can go navigate into the middle of the ocean and be able to find by "seeing" it. 

That's the problem. In reality, this "man-made continent", some have named it, is actually an accumulation of tiny broken down particles, mostly miniscule, no larger than the size of confetti, congregated together in a form of a large gooey patch on the surface of our ocean. Here is a picture I borrowed from http://oceanmotion.org/html/impact/garbagepatch.htm  

"Plastics, like diamonds are forever"

-http://www.takepart.com/oceans/plastic-pollution

Plastic is not biodegradable. Biodegradable means a substance or object able to decompose or break down by bacteria, or by other living organism. 
Let's take a look at a life-cycle of a plastic bag when we get a hold of it: 
1) we leave a grocery story after shopping with our groceries in plastic bags. 
2) after unloading our bags we either a) keep the bags to then recycle them or b) throw them away
3) many of us plastic users reuse them (as a way of recycling them), in this scenario, we reuse the plastic bags to go picnicking at the park. 
4) while at the park, we have fun, take the food out of the bags, eat and go along with our day.
5) during this time, without noticing or being aware, wind picks up and a couple of bags you had the food stored in before get away along with the natural movement of air.
6) after being blown in the current along roads, against trees, rocks, and other obstacles a plastic bag may encounter, the bag is no longer one but 100+ pieces of small parts of its original form. 
7) this makes it so much easier for it to travel and land in a place it can no longer be blown away: our Ocean.
8) these are still pieces we can see, and if you visit our near beaches, witness along the side of our shores and sandbanks. 
9) with the current and tides, the pieces are then transported towards the middle of the ocean farther away from the coasts
10) the sun, wind, and currents then break these visible pieces into confetti-like bits and even smaller ones. 
11) once it reaches this status, fish and other sea creatures who feel on the surface of our ocean (also known as the photic zone) mistake these tiny fragments of plastic for food and consume it. 
12) we eat those fish, and instead of consuming all proteins and nutrients, we also digest plastic particles. 

Now this may sound terribly scary and there is nothing more we can do. 
WRONG. 
The point of this is to realize that that piece of plastic bag originally cames from OUR hands. 
We are all part of this problem, thus making us ALL part of the solution!
By becoming conscious of the issue, we can make positive and helping change in our use of plastics.
One easy way is by using less than we truly need.

Since I found out about this four years ago, I have brought my own bags to the grocery store. I'm the one on campus with a roll-on back pack that fits all of her food in it so I don't have to worry about bringing home 15 unnecessary plastic bags, and not know how or where to dispose them afterwards; and IF I do need bags I try and remember to ask for paper. 

You will soon notice I will repeat myself multiple times, but its only because I cannot emphasize how important this is: This global phenomenon is one that can only begin to resolve on a individual and community level.