Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
April is Earth Month, and many people around the world this year are focused on plastic pollution. With the fourth of five sessions of UN Plastics Treaty negotiations taking place in Ottawa, Canada, beginning on April 23, 2024, it is critical that key decision makers understand the urgent need to end plastic pollution at the source. It is now evident that plastic is toxic and is poisoning all people. Plastic pollutes throughout its existence, or “life cycle”— which begins with fossil fuel extraction and refining — and people living on the front lines of extraction, production, transportation, and disposal sites are especially harmed.
No matter who you are or where you live, your health is affected by plastics. Microplastics and plastic chemicals are now in all of our bodies, and people living in frontline communities face greatly elevated risks of autoimmune disorders, cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, and other serious illnesses. This is unacceptable, and threats to our health will only grow more dire without urgent action to end fossil fuel and plastic production.
During our April 17 webinar, we discussed the impacts of plastics on human health and implications for the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations. Our panelists included: Aidan Charron, Director of End Plastic Initiatives at EARTHDAY.ORG; Dr. Jamala Djinn, Policy Advisor at Break Free From Plastic; and Ruth Stringer, Science and Policy Coordinator at Healthcare Without Harm. The conversation was moderated by Renee Sharp, Director of Plastics and Petrochemical Advocacy for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This webinar is being organized in collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG, whose theme this year for Earth Day on April 22, 2024 is Planet vs. Plastic.
April is Earth Month, and many people around the world this year are focused on plastic pollution. With the fourth of five sessions of UN Plastics Treaty negotiations taking place in Ottawa, Canada, beginning on April 23, 2024, it is critical that key decision makers understand the urgent need to end plastic pollution at the source. It is now evident that plastic is toxic and is poisoning all people. Plastic pollutes throughout its existence, or “life cycle”— which begins with fossil fuel extraction and refining — and people living on the front lines of extraction, production, transportation, and disposal sites are especially harmed.
No matter who you are or where you live, your health is affected by plastics. Microplastics and plastic chemicals are now in all of our bodies, and people living in frontline communities face greatly elevated risks of autoimmune disorders, cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, and other serious illnesses. This is unacceptable, and threats to our health will only grow more dire without urgent action to end fossil fuel and plastic production.
During our April 17 webinar, we discussed the impacts of plastics on human health and implications for the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations. Our panelists included: Aidan Charron, Director of End Plastic Initiatives at EARTHDAY.ORG; Dr. Jamala Djinn, Policy Advisor at Break Free From Plastic; and Ruth Stringer, Science and Policy Coordinator at Healthcare Without Harm. The conversation was moderated by Renee Sharp, Director of Plastics and Petrochemical Advocacy for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This webinar is being organized in collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG, whose theme this year for Earth Day on April 22, 2024 is Planet vs. Plastic.
![Carta de amor al plástico (Love Letter to Plastic) [Spanish]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qt-C1b79jZU/mqdefault.jpg "Carta de amor al plástico (Love Letter to Plastic) [Spanish]
Carta de amor al plástico
It’s time to re-examine our toxic relationship with plastic. It may be heartbreaking, but this Valentine’s Day, make a pledge to refuse single-use plastic, for the planet and yourself.
Single-use plastics are items designed to be used only once and then discarded. 40 percent of plastics are created for single-use purposes, yet producing these items consume a significant amount of energy, water, and natural resources to be used for just a few minutes.
The majority of plastic is not recyclable and ends up polluting our oceans, killing wildlife, and harming our ecosystems. Plastics contain endocrine disruptors that are known to be harmful to human health. Plastic production and lack of plastic waste management disproportionately harms BIPOC communities.
This is a toxic relationship that we must end. We deserve better and so does the planet. Take the pledge and refuse single-use plastic! Visit www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org to make your pledge.
Written By: Nicolo Bianchino
Design & Animation: Nicolo Bianchino, Rasmus Bak, Andreas Bjørn Hansen
Music & Sound Design: Ambrose Yu
Narration: Yareli Arizmendi
#Valentines #ValentinesDay #PlasticPollutes #BreakFreeFromPlastic #ThereIsNoPlanetB #ClimateActionNow #SaveThePlanet #ZeroWasteLife #ClimateAction #Pollution #PlasticPollution #Plastics #Plastic #FossilFuels #PetroChemical #Environment #NoPlanetB")
