single-use plastics

I Surf I Vote IG

Join Me for I Surf, I Vote

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This past week, I went before the Santa Monica City Council to speak out against single-use plastic and to encourage the Council to adopt amendments that would ban all non-marine degradable single-use plastics within the city. 

Angela Sun Speaking on Bio Plastics to the City Council of Santa Monica

It’s important that we understand and dive into the issues surrounding single-use plastics because there is a lot of green washing going on. While utensils that are made from corn, starch, or other plant-based materials may seem like viable eco-friendly alternatives, they actually have to be heated up at high temperatures at a commercial composting facility to be composted. Many municipalities don’t have those resources.

Bio-plastics say they’re “compostable” but in reality, they aren’t actually composted because there are no systems set up in southern California and many other areas.

After speaking before the Santa Monica City Council, alongside 30+ Surfrider LA volunteers, they unanimously passed the amended ordinance. Kudos to the staff, Surfrider, and so many activated community members on this momentous victory! I commend the City of Santa Monica for moving this amendment forward!

When we speak up together and use our voices, we can make a change!

That’s why I’m excited to partner up with Blue Uprising this week for their next “I Surf. I Vote” event. This event allows nonprofits, campaigns, businesses, and political organizations to come together in a non-partisan manner with one goal: to galvanize the surfing community’s voice for the ocean.

Join me at Santa Monica Beach at Tower 20 this Sunday, August 19, at 6:30 pm and let’s speak up together!

I Surf, I Vote Event - Angela Sun

I’ve traveled the world and have spoken to a diverse array of audiences about single-use plastics and I often get asked about what we as consumers can personally do about this issue. It all starts with education and awareness, lead by example by bringing your own and refusing single-use plastic. This issue may seem insurmountable but when you start locally, tangible change is possible. When you use your voice and vote on the local level, you really are making a difference. 

Join me this Sunday at “I Surf, I Vote” as I share my perspective on the importance of voting in local elections, based on my experiences as an advocate for environmental causes.

We will assemble a minimum of nineteen surfboards to spell out “VOTE” in the sand and use a drone to capture an iconic image. You can also join in as they will be asking participants to record their “I Surf, I Vote” videos on site.

Here is the timeline for the “I Surf, I Vote”:

  • 6:30 Introductions and Welcome
  • 6:45 Event Speaker Angela Sun
  • 7:00 Set up surfboards laying down, 19 boards min.
  • 7:15 Begin Video of “I Surf, I Vote”
  • 7:30 Conclude event 5 min beach Cleanup! Prizes for most rubbish picked up. Possible jump in Mother Ocean .

If you love the ocean, love to surf, or simply want to speak out against single-use plastic, we want you to join us on Sunday! Bring your surfboard, bring a friend, and help us rise up against single-use plastics!

I Surf, I Vote Event - Angela Sun with Blue Uprising

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Happy Earth Day! 5 simple ways to reduce your single-use plastic consumption E! online feature!

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My 5 super easy ways to reduce using single-use plastic for E! online!

read the full article here: http://www.eonline.com/news/535845/angela-sun-shares-5-super-easy-ways-to-stop-using-so-much-plastic

In honor of green week, we asked Angela Sun, Director of Plastic Paradise and host of Yahoo! Sports Minute, to share her top five tips on how we could recycle better, use less plastic, and cut down our overall carbon footprint. Here’s what she suggested:

1. Ditch the Drink Accessories: “Sad fact: More than 500 million disposable plastic straws are used in the United States every day and would fill more than 127 school buses daily, or more than 46,400 school bus loads per year,” says Sun. “With most ending up on beaches, stop yourself from reaching for a straw next time you’re eating out at a restaurant or even when drinking a healthy green smoothie.”

2. Mug Investment: “How many times have you been in a coffee shop and taken a look around and almost EVERYONE has their drink in a disposable cup? They even sell reusable ones that look like disposable ones because we are conditioned to the convenience of having that shape in our hands. If you can’t bring your own mug, when you order, ask for it without the lid. If they say its a safety concern ask for a regular size in a larger cup so it won’t spill. Whatever you do, don’t take the lid! Plus, economically you get a discount usually when you bring your own.”

3. B.Y.O.C: “Be bold and bring your own cup to a party. You know you will enjoy libations, so why not do it in style. I guarantee it will be a conversation starter at a party when you ditch the red cup and bring your own reusable one! #partywithyourpint”

4. Be a Bag Lady: “Its not just at the grocery store, what about every time you go to the pharmacy or mall? Just say no or bring your own reuseable tote bag. Over 70 communities in the U.S. have already banned/taxed single use plastic bags. Just look at the smoking bans in restaurants, its just a little shift in thinking.

And finally?

5. Challenge Yourself: “Take our two week pledge to say no to single use plastic. The sports host reveals two weeks is a great start to shift towards impactful and feasible change, and encourages everyone to visit Plastic Paradise Movie for more details on how to join the plastic paradise pledge to decrease the use of single plastic.”

Sun adds: “Bottom line is we survived 50 years ago before the age of convenient disposable plastics, and after finding plastic in the remote ends of the earth where it shouldn’t be, in the bellies of the wildest animals, when will we listen to the canary in the coal mine?”

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