Do you know where the world’s largest trash dump is located? You might be a little shocked to find out that it’s actually in the Pacific Ocean! That’s right – our trash is being dumped right into the ocean and has accumulated to twice the size of Texas. There are two “garbage patches”. One is off the coast of Japan and the other is between California and Hawaii. The air currents in these two dumps make the water flow in a circular pattern, catching all sorts of trash, most of which is plastic. Since the pressure is too strong and flows in circles, most of the trash gets trapped in the currents. However, sometimes the currents shift, causing masses of the huge dump to actually wash up on the shores of some Hawaiian islands. Not only is it unpleasant to humans, but this ocean pollution is also killing marine animals that ingest or get tangled in the trash. If we don’t do something soon, our entire Pacific Ocean is going to become a dump. If we all stepped up and created a cleanup of the Pacific Garbage Patch, we could make a difference in the lives of its marine life. The recycling of the plastic that is out there might be enough to pay for the cleanup.

What do you think should be done to eliminate the Pacific Garbage Patch?

When the judges were trying to choose a winner of the Duckey Eco-Essay Contest, Calvin the Catfish was clearly a front-runner. We loved that he didn’t let his blindness hold him back, but instead pushed him to do great things. But there was one small concern that arose: catfish are fresh water fish. How would we be able to incorporate him into our team of saltwater dwellers? It didn’t take long for the judges to decide that this stumbling block didn’t matter. That is what’s so great about Calvin and this story: we all come from different walks of life. And that’s okay. Our backgrounds are a reflection of who we are and that’s what makes us all unique. Despite where we come from, we all have the ability to come together to make positive changes in the world around us. I’m excited to have Calvin on board and look forward to seeing the new adventures that await him and the team!

We received over 200 entries for the Duckey Eco-Essay Contest and are excited to announce the winner. Congratulations to Phillip Pinarksi, a sixth grader at St. Ann School in Bartlett, Tennessee. His character, a blind catfish named Calvin, will be featured as one of the new Ocean Protectors in the next book. The judges were blown away by Phillip’s creativity and sensitivity of the character he created. Calvin’s willpower and strength despite his disability fits right in with the team’s motto: Believe it. Achieve it!

Also, a big congratulation goes out to the honorable mentions and finalists:

Finalists –
Shayla Gaffney: Caylie Crab; St. Ann School, Bartlett, TN
Robert Lawson: Shortfin Mako; St. Ann School, Bartlett, TN
Katrina Ung and Melissa Ball: Kamele Kame & Conan; Jaffrey Rindge Middle School, Jaffrey, NH
Nick Owens: Oarfish; St. Ann School, Bartlett, TN
Robert Harris: Terrance the Sea Turtle; St. Ann School, Bartlett, TN

Honorable Mentions -
Andres Salas:  Driag Koah (sea dragon); St. Ann School, Bartlett, TN

Special Youth Award –
Stephanie Yoshida, age 6: Crab; Hokolani Elementary School, Honolulu, HI

Click here to read the winning entries.

We all have seen and heard the news: the economy is in bad shape. While it does show signs of looking up, money is still tight. Unfortunately, kids have begun to feel the pinch of the economy. It’s no longer feasible to go out to eat as often or to see a movie every weekend. It can be stressful! Here are some tips to keep in mind when talking to kids about the economy:

1. Don’t be too dramatic. Avoid telling them that you don’t have enough money to pay the mortgage or the car payment. These types of statements will only cause anxiety.
2. But be honest. If you lost your job, tell them. If you are staying home everyday, worried about finding a new job, they are going to feel that stress. Be honest about the situation.
3. Emphasize the positives. Make sure that your children know they will always have a plate of food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in. It’s easy to dwell on the negatives, but make sure you stay optimistic. At the end of the day, you’re still the one person that they look up to the most.
4. Listen! Sometimes it may seem like our kids’ problems pale in comparison to our financial issues, but we need to take time out to listen to them. Even if they don’t have a plasma screen or the latest gaming system, knowing that they have parents to come home to who will listen to and support them is the most important thing.

As if we don’t have enough motivation to conserve and protect our seas, here is yet another reason. Scientists say that tourism and the construction of numerous chemical plants have caused a water shortage in the Dead Sea. It has shrunk a third of its size in just a half a century and it is estimated that the body of water will lose another third by the year 2100. This massive water shortage is creating dangerous sinkholes along the coastline where the water used to sit. “The holes form when a subterranean salt layer that once bordered the sea is dissolved by underground fresh water that follows the receding Dead Sea waters,” explains this article. These sinkholes are so dangerous that they have trapped and killed several unsuspecting tourists. While officials have tried to rope off these areas, it is impossible to get them all. And with no clear plan to fix this problem, it looks like the Dead Sea will keep dwindling and the sinkholes will keep growing. Sadly, these types of things are preventable and yet they are still happening all over the world.

Our kids and our environment are paying a heavy price because of our arrogance. When do we step back and realize that thinking only about the present is not in our best interest? I was told a long time ago: A decision made in haste – you will have to look back on. But a decision made with thought is a decision that stands the test of time. Take a look around and it’s easy to see that we have been so busy trying to maintain the here-and-now that we have forgotten to look ahead. Only recently has everyone jumped on the “green” bandwagon. If everyone had had this eco-friendly attitude even 50 years ago and passed it on to their children and grandchildren, can you imagine what our earth would be like today? No acid rain. No global warming. No endangered species. I know it’s never going to be a perfect world, but it’s never too late to start thinking about your and your child’s future. Even if you just reuse that water bottle everyday or use energy efficient appliances, small efforts contribute to greater results – and are better than no effort at all. If we can leave the earth a better place than we found it, what better legacy could we give to our children than a healthy planet?

My grandmother used to tell me that the best thing that you can do when you are faced with a problem is to just sit down, grab yourself a Coke, and do some thinking. Action is always better than reaction. Too many of the world’s problems are caused by rushing into something before we give ourselves time to think. The things we do today will affect our future – but most importantly the future of our children. If we taught our children at an early age to think things through before reacting, maybe we would not be facing some of the problems we are faced with today. Our kids can do a lot of things, but unfortunately we tend to leave them out. Let’s step in and start discussions with them about the world. Let’s teach them how to be better people and how they can get involved with important issues. And in these particularly hard times, why don’t we make the time to sit down with them, grab a Coke, and do some serious thinking.

Despite the warning label on batteries, household cleaners, and other various items, many people still throw things out that they aren’t supposed to. These items then end up in the landfills, their toxins seeping into our drinking water and evaporating into the air. Not good! So instead of throwing out these things, why not find a recycling center near you? Earth911.com is a great resource for finding places to dispose of these items. It allows you to type in what you would like to recycle and finds the nearest recycling center for that specific item. I was surprised to find that there were so many of these places that would recycle my old stuff! Here is a small list of things that you should find a special recycling center for:

• Batteries
• Light Bulbs
• Household Cleaners
• Medicine
• Gasoline
• Paint and paint thinners

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Duckey Eco-Essay Contest. We received so many wonderful entries and were blown away by the creativity! From polar bears to krill to clownfish. From super digging to laser beams to telekinesis. There were so many interesting characters and inventive superpowers! Your thoughts on why it’s important to save the world’s oceans and environments were amazing to read. I’m glad so many of you recognize that the world needs our help! We will be announcing the winner and finalists within the next week so stay tuned!

It’s that time of year again. School’s out and already the kids are complaining that they are bored. Instead of parking them in front of their TV or video games, how about planning environmental activities that are so fun that they won’t even realize they’re educational. Here are a few ideas that will get you and the kids out of the house and active in the environment:

• Plant a garden. It doesn’t have to be huge, but a small plot of land that they plow and plant with vegetables of their choice will give them a sense of entitlement and responsibility.
• Adopt a park. If the kids have a certain park that they love going to, have them “adopt” it and take care of it. Help them to pick up litter here so that their park can stay beautiful and clean.
• Recycle. Teach them what items can be recycled and the benefits of recycling. Label separate waste bins to sort out different recyclable items like paper, glass, and plastic. Challenge them to fill their bins by the end of the week and let them keep the change that they get when they take it to the recycling center!
• Have a yard sale. Instead of throwing away old stuff that will just clog our landfills, have a yard sale (or better yet, donate these things to a local church or thrift shop). Have your kids choose the toys and clothes that they don’t use anymore and let them be your helper during the sale. They will be amazed at how much of their “old” stuff can be repurposed by other people.

Stay tuned for more summer environmental activities and ideas that you can do with your kids this summer!