| | | |  | Like most major holidays in the US, the 4th of July tends to generate a lot of extra and unnecessary trash, much of which is left on beaches, in city parks, and even our national parks. We can all do our part to reduce the amount of waste generated this holiday weekend in order to help our planet. Below are some of our favorite tips for a zero-waste 4th of July: - Reusable Dishware: the easiest thing you can do is to opt out of flimsy plastic plates, bowls, silverware, and cups. Plastic, styrofoam, and paper plates cannot be recycled or composted, and choosing reusables is better for your health, the planet, and your wallet!
- Practice Leave No Trace: whether you're heading into the backcountry or your neighborhood park, be sure to pack out everything you packed in. You can go a step further by picking up other garbage you see too!
- Reusable Decorations: investing in decorations that you can use year after year saves money and precious resources. You can also make your own, including red, white, and blue painted mason jars, painted wood flags, American flag pillows, fabric banners, and flag-themed wreathes.
- DIY Desserts: popsicles are a 4th of July staple, and they're easy to make at home! No more plastic wrappers, and you can opt for healthier recipes than what you'd likely find in the store. Click here or here for recipe inspiration.
- Opt for City Fireworks: many of the roadside fireworks you can buy in states across the US emit dangerous levels of lead, copper, and other toxins. They often come wrapped in plastic, and once shot off, the fireworks themselves usually become trash. Consider heading down to your town or city's local fireworks show instead of lighting them off at home.
- Volunteer at a cleanup (or organize your own!): Party-goers may leave behind a lot of trash, but you can help prevent it from staying in the environment. Join a clean up near you or organize your own with your friends and family!
| | | |  | It goes without saying that 2020 was a year unlike any other. Global priorities shifted dramatically in light of the pandemic, and the whole world found itself having to adjust to a new world. We are so grateful to our volunteers, chapter leads, supporters, donors, partners, and everyone else who was able to stick with us over the past year. With your support, we continued to engage individuals and communities across the country and worked to defend our ocean, waterways, and climate. During these tumultuous times, it is our great hope that a new world is in the making, one that is more just, equitable, sustainable, and protective of the web of life that supports us all. | | | | | | | |  | We hope you can celebrate 10 years of protecting the ocean with us at our 3rd Annual Masquerade Mermaid Ball this fall! Details and tickets to follow. If you'd like to donate an item for our online auction or become an event sponsor, simply reply to this email. | | | | | | | | Do you love the ocean and want to make a difference? We are looking for an Events & Marketing Intern to assist with our third annual Masquerade Mermaid Ball in Boulder, Colorado this September. Learn more and apply here. | | | | | | Are you interested in honing your ocean advocacy skills? Make a splash advocating for ocean conservation through Healthy Ocean Coalition's (HOC) Ocean Advocacy Training! The Healthy Ocean Advocacy Trainings are engaging events that build partnerships, expertise, and are designed to ensure you walk away with the necessary tools to be an advocacy pro. Even if you are already an advocate in your everyday work, this training will help you build on your skills to educate your members of Congress and federal agency staff with confidence on ocean and climate policies. Learn more and register here. | | | | | | Chapter Highlight: Washington, DC | | | | | | Our Washington, DC chapter represented the Inland Ocean Coalition at the 2021 Ocean Awards Gala hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF). Chapter leads Lucy and Becca met wonderful organizations like Protected Seas and the National Aquarium of Baltimore and learned more about the International Coastal Cleanup. Becca and Lucy emphasized the importance of how we can make a difference even inland and shared their chapter's goals of tackling plastic pollution and improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. | | | | The DC chapter also joined Surfrider DC, Alice Ferguson Foundation, Society for Conservation Biology D.C., and the National Park Service for a cleanup of Theodore Roosevelt Island back in May. They are planning beach cleanups with Corona and Oceanic Global for July 31st in Ocean City and August 1 in Baltimore. Stay tuned! | | | | | | Rising Tide Podcast: Jeremy Jackson's Blue Worldview | | Jeremy Jackson, one of the world’s leading ocean ecologists, paleobiologists and conservationists talks to us about his hopes and concerns about the state of the ocean, the land and human civilization. He also tells us about his work over time, rapid climate change, coral reef migration and the kind of science needed to turn the tide. Listen here! | | | | | | | | | | Inland Ocean Coalition
Boulder, Colorado
The Inland Ocean Coalition is a project of The Ocean Foundation, a 501(c)(3) | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
