December 23, 2014

Reef Check Sheds Light on Ocean Plastic Pollution at Plastic Paradise Screening

On October 27th, Reef Check Foundation and Team Marine hosted a free screening of the award-winning film Plastic Paradise at Santa Monica High School with over 200 guests in attendance. The independent documentary film by Angela Sun solves the global mystery of the question: if plastic never leaves our planet, where does it go? Angela travels to Midway Atoll, halfway between Asia and America, to see the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Plastic Paradise sheds light on the insidious effects of our rabid plastic consumption with the help of scientists, researchers, influencers, and volunteers.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion with some of the leading researchers on ocean plastic. Panelists included: Angela Sun – the director and producer of Plastic Paradise, Gregor Hodgson – the Founder and Executive Director of Reef Check Foundation, Captain Charles Moore – the Founder of Algalita Marine Research Foundation and discover of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Graham Hamilton – the Chair of the West LA/Malibu Chapter of Surfrider Foundation, Kimberly Fuentes of Team Marine – Santa Monica High School’s environmental and advocacy group, and Marcus Eriksen from 5 Gyres – an advocacy group seeking to end plastic pollution. The panelists fielded audience questions on the film, plastic issues and legislation.

Thank you to Benjamin Kay, Team Marine and Carey Upton for their help in organizing and publicizing the screening, and to all the panelists for their participation. Special thanks to Angela Sun, a former Reef Check Thailand intern, for creating a magnificent film!