Canada's plastic solution
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- Published on Wednesday, 31 October 2018 04:12
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In just two weeks, Canada could pass the motion that would kick-start real action on plastic pollution. This week, MP Gord Johns started the debate in the House of Commons to pass M-151, the motion that provides a comprehensive framework for a national strategy to address Canada's plastic debris.
Almost 120,000 SumOfUs members like you signed the petition calling on Canada to pass M-151. In the next couple of weeks, we're going to step up our campaign to make sure the House votes in favour of M-151.
Will you help us get to 150,000 signatures supporting Canada's plastic solution?
The motion would not be voted on in the House without you. I was overwhelmed by the support I received when I personally delivered a hundred thousand of your names to the Environment Minister in Ottawa and it was featured on national TV and radio.
Now we need to make the... final push to make sure that any legislation on plastics follows this motion's recommendations and goes straight to the source: targeting single-use plastics from corporations such as Nestlé and McDonalds.
With your support -- we will win this. Just last week, the EU voted to ban throwaway plastics in Europe by 2021. And close to 300,000 SumOfUs members like you signed the petition calling for the historic vote and were instrumental to this win in Europe.
Thanks for all that you do,
Amelia, Angus and the team at SumOfUs
More information:
European parliament backs single-use plastics ban, CNN, 25 October 2018
Pressure mounts on Canada to devise solution to stop plastic pollution, Global TV, 5 June 2018
Canada has just introduced a new bill that would take on plastics pollution from corporations like McDonalds and Nestlé in a huge way.
Tell Canadian politicians to vote yes for Motion M-151.
This is a copy of the original email we sent out:
Canadians toss out a massive amount of plastic every year, including almost 3 billion plastic bags. Much of this plastic ends up in the ocean where it causes serious harm to marine animals: straws stuck up sea turtles nostrils, plastic debris starving seabirds and tiny microplastics entering the food chain.
Corporations, like McDonald’s and Nestlé, are major contributors to single-use plastic pollution but have yet to heed the call to stop using plastics. As Canada moves to position itself as a global leader in combating the plastic waste crisis, it needs a strong policy to ensure that plastic pollution is stopped at the source, including targeting the wasteful practices of these corporations.
The good news is that a new motion M-151, was recently introduced to combat the plastic crisis. This progressive motion recommends legislation that would tackle plastic pollution at its source, especially targeting single-use plastics, and provide much-needed funding for shoreline and ocean clean-up. A massive wave of support for this bill now could create the policy we need to protect our oceans.
Tell Canadian politicians to tackle the plastics crisis by supporting Motion M-151.
The important Motion M-151, introduced by Courtney-Alberni NDP MP Gord Johns, recommends a national strategy to reduce plastic products entering the oceans such as bags, bottles, and straws, to clean up shores and to educate the public about plastic pollution. This strategy would force corporations that have relied on cheap, disposable plastics to clean up their act and would be a huge step forward in protecting marine animals that are devastated at the hands of plastic pollution.
Every year plastic kills one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals such as sea turtles, whale, dolphins, and seals. These senseless deaths could be prevented by reducing single-use plastics and microplastics. These creatures can’t wait any longer for action. That’s why we need to support this progressive motion now.
Thousands of people are now supporting M-151 and collecting online and hard copy signatures. The work of organizations such as The Ocean Legacy Foundation, Surfrider Pacific Rim and Clayquot Cleanup have gotten Motion 151 raised in the House of Commons and the pressure is on. We need your support now more then ever to work with their efforts and push the Trudeau government in concrete action before the next G7 meeting where Canada will be leading the pledge to fight plastic pollution.
Call on Canada to tackle the plastics crisis and support Motion M-151.
SumOfUs has been working to combat oceans plastics. Over 385,000 caring members like you signed a petition calling on McDonald’s to ban the use of straws and, because of your support, we are on our way to McDonald’s AGM to table a motion to ban plastics straws. We know that when we take on major issues, like oceans plastics, we win.
Thanks for all that you do,
Amelia, Angus and the team at SumOfUs
More information:
Feds Launch Public Survey About Reducing Plastic Waste On Earth Day, Huffington Post, 22 April 2018.
Can Canada reinvent the plastic economy, Margaret Atwood and Calvin Sandborn on Globe and Mail, 2 May 2018.
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