"Cinephiles Gather for International Debate on Plastic Pollution in Film Festival"
In the heart of California, the Santa Monica community gathered for an enlightening event focused on plastic pollution in the ocean. The "Salty Cinema" event, organised by alumni of UC San Diego's Scripps Oceanography's Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MAS MBC) programme, proved to be a thought-provoking forum for timely environmental discussions.
The evening began with a screening of "A Plastic Ocean," a condensed version of the documentary, followed by short films from Scripps PhD candidate Cliff Kapono and alumnus Ben Meissner, MAS '17. The event was hosted by Stuart Sandin, director of the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps.
Assemblymember Richard Bloom of Santa Monica attended the event, sharing his personal interest in plastics, which was first piqued with a financial incentive when his mother allowed him to "keep the change" from recycling plastic bottles. Imperial Beach Councilmember Mark West also attended, recalling his start in recycling plastics due to polluted surf sessions and beach cleanups.
The event concluded with a Q&A session featuring an expert panel of researchers, policymakers, and advocacy professionals. Scripps researcher Rachel Labbe-Bellas emphasised the responsibility of the United States and large corporations in limiting global plastic pollution. Biological oceanographer Jennifer Brandon recommended a conscious consumer approach to reducing plastic usage.
Roger Kube of Surfrider San Diego family encouraged audience members to follow Assembly Bill 319, which aims to prohibit retailers from selling beverages in uncapped bottles by 2020. The co-founders of Salty Cinema – Shayna Brody, Brant Chlebowski, Ben Meissner, Lark Starkey, and Laura Walsh – each bring a unique set of skills to the group.
Photos from the Salty Cinema event are available on the Salty Cinema event page. To stay updated on Salty Cinema and their future events, follow them on their Facebook page and Instagram account @salty_cinema. The group plans to host a larger event in the spring at Scripps Oceanography, focusing on offshore oil drilling.
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