Drowning in plastic - Living in a toxic world

Drowning in plastic - Living in a toxic world
Originally uploaded by New Internationalist.

New Internationalist Magazine - Drowning in plastic
www.newint.org/issues/2008/09/01/

Sixty years ago plastic was an exotic development of modern chemistry. Today it is the most widespread human-made substance in the world. More than 250 billion pounds of raw plastic pellets are produced from petroleum feedstock every year. It is everywhere, in places you never imagined: computers and cell phones; packaging; food and drink containers; home furnishings and building materials; cars, trucks, airplanes and boats; children’s toys and beauty products.

Slum dwellers in Latin America and Africa build their shanties from plastic sheets and collect their water in plastic buckets; plastic flip-flops protect the feet of millions of peasants across Asia. Western consumers eat their take-out food with plastic cutlery from plastic foam containers while swigging water from plastic bottles.

Now no part of the planet can escape its toxic impact on human health and the environment.

Subscribe to the print edition here:
www.newint.org/subscriptions/

Or read this archive edition of NI magazine now:

This toxic life
They’re in our homes and our workplace, in the air we breathe and in the food we eat. Wayne Ellwood argues that toxic chemicals are changing the nature of nature.

The Polymer Revolution
A history of plastic.

Message in a bottle
It’s a fashion statement and an environmental nightmare. Zoe Cormier examines one of the most successful marketing ploys ever – bottled water.

Plastic is forever
The facts about plastic

Sea of garbage
The good ship Alguita sails an ocean choked with plastic. Blog by Anna Cummins.

Plastic plants
As oil supplies dwindle, the plastic industry is pinning its hopes on biomass. Not a great idea, reasons Jim Thomas.

Abandon the toxic treadmill!
Things you can do to avoid toxic plastics. PLUS the Action / Campaign directory.

how green is your political party?

how green is your political party?
Originally uploaded by sighmon.

hey guys,

so if you're wondering exactly how green the party that you're voting for on saturday is, check some of the reports below.

On climate change the Australian Conservation Foundation rated the Greens climate change policies at the top with a score of 94/100, ahead of the Democrats on (90/100), Labor (58/100), Family First (34/100) and the Coalition (21/100). See:
tinyurl.com/2skxtm

The Big Switch website compiled by Conservation Councils, Greenpeace and Get Up! meanwhile was topped by the Greens (4.8 out of 5), the Democrats (4.4) and followed by Labor (1.9) , Family First (1.2) with the Liberal and National parties on a disappointing and sceptical 0.8. See:
tinyurl.com/2tg6pn

The Climate Institute meanwhile gives the Greens and Democrats a chart-topping 90 per cent for their policies on climate change with Labor on 60% and Liberal on 30%.
See:
tinyurl.com/3al4m9

hope it's useful!

best, si.

ps_ if you feel like copying and pasting this to your flickr stream, then do so!!! we desperately need a change! :)

so.. the flickr blog eh? sighmon 30th may.. oh yeah..

if you happened to be scrolling past blog.flickr.com on 30th may, you might have noticed that a little unknown boy called sighmon made the blog.

strange to be chosen for a piece that i was so hesitant in putting up. but then again, my grandfather was never backwards in letting his voice be heard when he was alive, so why should it be any different now he's moved on.

so, enjoy him. while we enjoy our day in the sun together.

http://blog.flickr.com/flickrblog/2007/05/peace.html

hugs, si. x

with a little help from my friends_

with a little help from my friends_
Originally uploaded by sighmon.

box of walls_
what happens when a bunch of kids get together with recycled boxes and loads of smiling enthusiasm and creativity.. :)

i set this little group up about a month and a bit ago. we've been drawing every tuesday since then. last night we decided to try painting a wall of boxes.. and what do you know.. it actually kind of worked! yay for us.

s. x

----

made by the ex-a-sketch crew.
an open drawing night at the pub! every tuesday from 6.30pm, exeter, rundle st, adelaide.

location: union street, adelaide city. (just off rundle street opposite exeter)

best.freekin.lipdub.ever

wow, those kids over at vimeo.com are nuts! i love them.
remember that song.. Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger..






Lip Dub - Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger on Vimeo

x

miniature-earth_

miniature-earth_, originally uploaded by sighmon.

in our world.
as it stands.
43 out of 100 people live without basic sanitation.

www.miniature-earth.com/

to watch a stunning animated look at the backwards world we live in today, click the link, choose english, press play, take action.

s. x

sighmon turns 30_

sighmon turns 30_, originally uploaded by sighmon.

sighmon turns 30
exeter, rundle st.
friday 30th march.
6.30pm

it's been a good 30 years. but to be honest, i still feel a bit like a teenager going through puberty. just reaching the end of my selfish childish years. and looking forward to exploring the creative realms of my dreams that await, just one step ahead.

so come and join me for this new beginning for a drink and a chat at the exeter this friday evening.
i'll be there from 6.30pm.

simon. :)