On Wednesday afternoon, the sustainability class assembled around a large conference table at the office of Waterkeeper Alliance in the financial district of Manhattan. Incredible views of the Brooklyn bridge and East River providing a perfect backdrop to be discussing the importance of water. The class was fortunate enough to be meeting with executive director Marc Yaggi. Beginning the conversation by individually introducing ourselves and what we know and love about water. With almost a quarter of our class being international students, experiences varied, however we all have one common factor. The universal need for clean water.
Waterkeeper Alliance is a global non-profit association that advocates for clean and safe water for drinking, swimming and catching fish. Marc opened the talk by directing our gaze out the large window to the East River, which in the 1800’s had a rich biodiversity and was home to millions of oysters below the surface. New York City was given the title of ‘Oyster Capital of the World’, as the city ate an average of 1 million oysters per day. Gradually overharvesting, pollution and a lack of control measures lead to the progressive decline in the oyster population and in the 1920’s the NY department of health banned New York oysters for consumption.
As conditions in the East and Hudson river declined, so did the commercial fisheries industry, with the rivers considered dead in the 1960s. No one would dare to go near the dead Hudson River until local fisherman decided it was time to speak up. Infuriated by large corporations dumping their waste into the rivers, local fisherman got together to find a solution. In 1966, Robert Boyle was able to become a voice and a solution for locals questioning how to deal with these big businesses that were harming the rivers. The fisherman took legal action to enforce the rivers and harbours act and stop pollution after discovering the actions of these corporations was illegal. The 1899 rivers and harbors act was enforced to always protect the waterways from big corporations or harm from pollution. Soon polluting could not be done in any place where commerce took place. Boyle was able to change the views of many outraged locals and turn them into peaceful and strong responses to these big businesses. The Waterkeeper Alliance was formed as a voice for the waterway, using boats to patrol the rivers, ensuring pollution wasn’t being disposed of illicitly.
Water is vital to life and our planet, yet I was astounded when Marc relayed that “40% of waterways in the US are not safe for swimming or drinking and half of the worlds hospital beds are filled due to water related illnesses.” Our own human impact is poisoning our waterways and food chain. Even finding out that more people die from water issues compared to violence issues. All of a sudden, water has become an issue for health too now. It is a quality issue as much as it is quantity. After the invention of plastic in the early 1900s and its rise in popularity during the 60s it is now used in almost every aspect of our lives. From water bottles to straws, these are items consumers are uneducated on. Plastic is now used excessively without much thought to the future. Without strategies put into place for the long term use and end of life of plastics it has become an issue drowning our oceans. With 8 million tonnes of plastic discarded into the ocean last year alone. This is staggering.
Waterkeeper alliance today is a global association with 341 waterkeepers worldwide, fighting for clean water. Goals to increase consumer education on plastic use and banning plastic in some cases would help reduce demand for plastic. To add, the alliance has initiatives to reduce ocean plastic. Plastic is retrieved from the oceans in a partnership with Bionic, a raw materials company that turns plastic into polymers for new uses. Bionic has a goal to reduce as much plastic pollution in oceans and create them into yarns or other materials. Through the building of recycling facilities and infrastructure in consistence with the ocean clean ups, providing employee engagement and structure in communities.
Waterkeeper alliance today is a global association with 341 waterkeepers worldwide, fighting for clean water. Goals to increase consumer education on plastic use and banning plastic in some cases would help reduce demand for plastic. To add, the alliance has initiatives to reduce ocean plastic. Plastic is retrieved from the oceans in a partnership with Bionic, a raw materials company that turns plastic into polymers for new uses. Bionic has a goal to reduce as much plastic pollution in oceans and create them into yarns or other materials. Through the building of recycling facilities and infrastructure in consistence with the ocean clean ups, providing employee engagement and structure in communities.
Coming together as one, with the belief to protect the beauty of oceans, helping it is suddenly easy for the Waterkeeper alliance community. Furthermore, Waterkeeper alliance has collaborated with many brands such as Patagonia (and G-Star Raw) successfully using Bionic yarns. Sustainable fashion is growing and the Waterkeeper alliance is using it with their clothing to give back to communities. The Waterkeeper alliance simply wants a healthy planet with healthy oceans, what everyone on this planet should desire.
View of the East River from the conference room at Waterkeeper Alliance. 9/26/18
What a wonderful and detail-packed post of our amazing visit with Marc Yaggi at Waterkeeper Aliiance, Yazil and Kirraly! The photo of the view from their conference room makes me smile as I recall that magnificent view! Excellent post!
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