Plastic. Plastic is something that we all use many times a day, often without realizing. Plastic is convenient, simple, and often the only option. Plastic is everywhere, from grocery stores to take-out containers to beauty products to water bottles. Plastic is polluting waterways, landfills, and eventually breaking down into microplastics. These microplastics can be found within our food, air and water and can even cause damage to our bodies.
There is hope! Fifth graders from Public School 15, Red Hook, Brooklyn, took the issue of plastic pollution in their own hands. Come join us at the Figge Art Museum Auditorium on April 24th at 2pm to see the Viewing Of Microplastic Madness to learn more about the students’ mission to reduce plastic consumption. These young students will tackle the root causes of plastic pollution. As citizen scientists and community advocates, they will take on the roles that citizens and communities have been calling for. They will collect data from the local area, conduct outreach in the community, and calculate plastic consumption at their schools. The data will then be used to inform policy through testimony and rallies at City Hall. They also work with their school on reducing single-use plastic in their cafeteria. This film shows that it doesn’t matter how old you may be, it’s never too late for you to make positive changes in your community and life. Small changes can make a big difference.
Locally, students are also making an impression. In the auditorium lobby, teachers from local schools will talk about the environmental initiatives they have implemented in their classrooms before the film is shown. You can speak with these teachers early to learn more about their work in schools and the community. Greg Swanson (retired Utilities General manager for the City of Moline) will host the talk back. Greg is a strong advocate for public outreach to promote knowledge and appreciation about water and the many water-related issues in our world today.
This is the perfect event for finishing off your Earth Day weekend. Join us Sunday, April 24th at 2pm at the Figge Art Museum Auditorium for Microplastic Madness, our final film in the 2022 QC Environmental Film Series. Students are free and adults are $5. You can purchase tickets online at riveraction.org/filmseries or buy tickets at the door. The Singh Family Foundation sponsors the QC Environmental Film Series. River Action, Nahant Marsh, The Sierra Club and The Singh Family Foundation sponsor the event. We hope to see all of you Sunday, the 24th, at 2pm.