I International Seminar - "Plastic-free oceans" Elizabeth Grimberg, Renato Prado, Clauber Leite

Abstract

Approximately 300 million tons/year of plastics are currently generated on our planet, 1/3 of which comes from packaging. Of this total, 8 million tons/year of plastics end up reaching the sea. The growing presence of plastics in the oceans causes the death of fish and marine animals, contamination, navigation difficulties and environmental impacts. These factors also reflect on regional development, food and economic aspects.

The Global GAIA alliance, in partnership with numerous institutions on different continents, launched the Plastic Free Movement (BFFP) on September 12, 2016. The Pólis Institute, as a representative of Latin America in the Global Committee of Leaders of the GAIA International Network - Global Alliance Incinerator Alternatives, co-promoter of the Zero Waste Alliance, is committed to boosting this process

Within this context, in 2018, in partnership with the Unisanta Bioscience Magazine, this first special edition was held associated with the 1st International Symposium "Plastic-Free Oceans" with reports on Environmental Education Activities and Projects, which report on the main activities developed on this topic.

With great satisfaction we reached this edition with a significant number of articles from different organizations and institutes, demonstrating the diversity of actions developed by their teams within society.

The actions of these organizations are still little known and little understood regarding their importance and function. The main work that each one develops is of little visibility to the lay public, however, many of them also perform the function of combating the lack of environmental knowledge in our society through courses, lectures, exhibitions, among others.

These projects, in addition to the community outside the institutions, involve students from different levels of education collaborating to improve their training and social activities. The result of this dedication is presented below.

We hope that this special issue can inspire and motivate other organizations and their associates to initiate scientific dissemination activities, strengthening their actions towards society, and most importantly, collaborating with the democratization of scientific knowledge about this serious problem of plastics in the oceans.

Enjoy everyone!

Elizabeth Grimberg, Renato Prado and Clauber Leite

Coordination Committee of the Plastic-Free Oceans Great Action Project. Guest editors of the Special Edition of the Unisanta Bioscience Journal Vol 7 nº6 (2018)