Photo courtesy of The Story of Plastic.
In 2020, we co-sponsored a screening of The Story of Plastic with Climate Smart Missoula, Home ReSource, and Ecology Project International.
With plastics production on the rise, increasing climate impacts and worsening pollution, you are right worry. Whether or not you’ve seen The Story of Plastic, you may be ready to get involved in the fight to end plastics production.
National and Global Campaigns
Visit The Story of Plastic website to find an active campaign near to your heart.
Check out Break Free From Plastic and their list of ways to make a difference and active campaigns that you can also join, including:
Brand Audit to see who is responsible for the plastic waste in your community
If you’re on social media, post or tweet about the issues from the film using the hashtags #StoryOfPlastic and #BreakFreeFromPlastic. Call out the companies and officials who need to be part of the solution. Follow the heroes and organizations featured in the film and amplify their voices.
Missoula and Montana
In Missoula, get involved with the Zero by Fifty initiative or champion your own campaign for reductions in other ways at the city and state level. Read Missoula’s Zero by Fifty plan.
Talk about the plastics crisis and connect it to the climate crisis. Share how both are linked to the fossil fuel industry and why advocating for regulations is necessary to ensure companies take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products.
Ask City Council to move forward with the single-use plastics reduction ordinance.
Read Microplastics in Montana: Research & Policy Recommendations: 2019 Environment Montana study found microplastics in 66% of MT waterways sampled.
Ending the Injustice Crisis
Ending plastic pollution, environmental degradation, and the climate crisis means changing behavior, changing policy, and ending systemic business practices that rely on the perpetuation of socio-economic injustice, poverty, and racism.
You've likely been encouraged to donate to the myriad efforts around the Country committed to addressing racial injustice, and working for systemic change. Thank you for your generosity. In Missoula and Montana, consider:
Empower MT and YWCA Missoula, specifically donating to support their joint position of Racial Justice Engagement Specialist
FURTHER READING
How to Win the Fight Against Plastic (The Revelator)
The Silent Looters: Big Oil's silence on racism during a nationwide civil rights crisis speaks volumes about who they serve. (Heated)
Watch the recent PBS/NPR documentary Plastic Wars
Plastics & Climate: The Hidden Costs (Center for International Environmental Law)
Convention on Plastics Pollution: Toward a New Global Agreement to Address Plastics Pollution (Center for International Environmental Law)
Black Environmental activists talk about climate and anti-racism (NYT)
I'm a black climate activist. Racism derails our efforts to save the planet. (Washington Post)