"People already eat about a week's worth of plastic cards, and by 2100 they'll eat about 80."

This is a story from the Jeju Future Forum held recently on the topic of 'Marine Waste and Plastics.' As plastics that people use flow into the oceans, many marine organisms consume plastics, which eventually reach humans in the food chain.

In the past, to be honest, I had no inspiration. But these days are different. It comes with a big shock. Some have seen and heard from veterinarians in the marine life sector.

In April last year, the World Natural Fund (WWF), the National Marine Biological Resources Museum, the National Ecological Center, and the Whale Research Center joined together to launch the Sea Turtle Conservation Project. At the beginning of the project, the researchers autopsied two red and two blue sea turtles, which had no unusual appearance but found large amounts of marine debris, such as candy shells, styrofoam, and vinyl. This foreign intake was believed to be the cause of turtle death.

Lee Young-ran, a veterinarian who participated in the autopsy at the time, emphasized that "sea turtles are the top predators like humans as an indicator of a healthy ocean." (For reference, both red and blue sea turtles are endangered species designated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.)

This was also introduced in Part 2 of the EBS Docuprime Anthropocene trilogy, which was broadcast this summer. At the time, the PD said, "I was worried about how many times I had to shoot the anatomical scenes to make the sea turtle come out of the boat. I have given a later review.

Again, it is difficult to think apart from the health of people, animals, and the environment. The concept of "one-health" (one health), in which humans and animals as well as the health of the environment are linked together, becomes even more important. The reality that plastic thrown away by humans harms the health of the environment (sea) and animals (marine life) and then threatens human health again shows the concept of 'one health'.

As I worked in the animal field, I became more interested in environmental issues and started to sponsor environmental groups. I don't do great work. I started to carry a tumbler to reduce the use of disposable cups. And last year I listened to a lecture and started a new one, which is saying, "Straw is fine!"

It was a lecture by the Korea Zoo Aquarium Association, which was held under the theme of 'conservation of species'. The Hong Kong Ocean Park Conservation Foundation introduced 'Hong Kong's No Straw Campaign'. While producing and distributing campaign videos, the company is promoting the `` No Plastics '' campaign with local restaurants.The number of participating restaurants has increased from 100 in 2017 to 1,231 in November 2018. The campaign video of the little boy laughing and saying "No Straw, Thanks" was impressive.

Korea is a country that eats a lot of seafood so that per capita consumption of seafood is the world's number one. The greater the plastic ocean pollution, the greater the damage we will suffer. Aside from marine pollution and compassion for sea turtles, why not shout "Straw is okay!" For our health.

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