Going Green - Learning About Plastic with Salty Joe

 In "Salty Joe and the Sea Mysteries", the wise old pirate, Salty Joe, teaches his mini pirates many life skills and helps to save some endangered sea creatures. Moms can join in and help your little ones to learn! Woven into a story of adventure and mystery, the book explores the dangers of pollutants, such as plastic.  The book will help to inspire parents and children to reduce plastic usage and to become more eco aware.

Plastic tossed carelessly into the ocean can pose great harm to marine life.

 

Let's explore three key facts to teach children about the harm from plastic. And some solutions to reduce this harm. We can work as a team to reduce the harm to our planet.

Two Important Facts About Plastic Pollution for Kids

- Let's take a peek at how plastic can cause great harm:

1. Plastic Never Goes Away! 

Plastic takes between 400 - 1,000 years to break down naturally. So every plastic bottle ever madeis still somewhere on Earth! It just breaks into tiny pieces called microplastics that pollute our oceans forever. And microplastics are dangerous for the health of animals, birds and even humans! Did you know microplastics can enter a human being's bloodstream and harm human beings, causing illness. And ocean creatures can also become ill and may eventually die if they ingest plastics. 

 

In Chapter 5 of "Salty Joe and the Sea Mysteries", Minihook, a mini pirate, wrestles a blue plastic ring encircling the poor dolphin's snout. This is the kind of blue plastic ring used to secure a lid on a plastic water bottle. Someone  tossed a plastic bottle into the sea, it trapped the poor dolphin! Due to the ring, the dolphin won't be able to eat properly, and it can also play havoc with the marine creature's balance.

 

So parents and kids, take care with plastic items or you may harm the ocean's creatures. Luckily, Minihook the mini pirate, came to the dolphin's rescue!

 

2. Animals Think Plastic is Food 

Sea turtles can mistake  plastic bags floating in the sea for jellyfish.  And jellyfish are the sea turtles' favourite snack! Imagine if someone you know throws a plastic bag into the ocean. And then some sea turtles swam to the bag and nibbled away at the plastic. It will make this poor turtles very sick. When animals munch pieces of plastic, it fills up their delicate tummies so they can't eat their proper food. It has been discovered that around 52% of turtles in the world die from eating toxic plastic. In chapter 17 of 'Salty Joe and the Sea Mysteries', Poopydeck, another mini pirate, rescues a juvenile turtle from other harm - a discarded fishing line which is as lethal as plastic. Fishing lines bobbing about in the sea are just as harmful to turtles as plastic!

 

 Like turtles, sea birds can also suffer harm from discarded plastic. Marine birds can mistake plastic bottle caps for tasty fish eggs. When sea birds eat plastic, it fills up their stomachs so they can't eat real food and they may even starve to death.

 

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Like Salty Joe's mini pirates, here are some heroic actions YOU can take!

 

1. Just say "no" to Single-Use Plastics 

Just say "no" to plastic straws, plastic cutlery and plastic bags. Be like Minihook, the eco-aware mini pirates who gently removes the plastic ring from the  dolphin's snout.  Having seen the dolphin struggling first-hand, Minihook makes sure that he will never use plastic items again! 

 

Try to replace plastic by using paper straws, stainless steel knives and forks, and recyclable bags for carrying items you need.

Wave good bye to horrible plastic…take your very own step towards protecting the ocean and its marine life and help to save our precious planet. Kids and parents can have fun, playing their part together!

 

2. Bring Your Own Water Bottle 

Choose re-usable water bottles instead of buying plastic ones. It's good to know that one re-usable bottle can replace hundreds of plastic bottles in a year! To prevent turtles, dolphins, marine birds and other ocean creatures mistaking floating plastic items within the ocean for food, try and do your bit! By using an eco-friendly water bottle, instead of dozens of plastic bottles which don't break down for ages, you can play a part in enjoying life on a planet which you've helped to save!  Every little measure, taken by each family, will join together to make one big impact. Let's start now!

 

Why Not Take the 'Reduce Plastic' Pledge? Write in and let us know what measures you are taking as a result of our feature!

 

We have one sparkling copy of "Salty Joe and the Sea Mysteries" to give away for one Lucky Reader!

Just let us know how you plan to cut back on using plastic in your family!

 

In the meantime, for families eager to dive into Salty Joe's world right now, the book is available through "Amazon Prime".

 

Do look out for further environmental facts and tips very soon!