MARTY MELLWAY PHOTOGRAPHY
“The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth.”
— Chief Seattle
There are so many environmental issues that I am concerned about, I don't think I will have space here to touch on them all. I would like to share some information for anyone who doesn't know about these issues as well as some links to learn more.
We have to come together and find creative solutions to tackle these huge environmental issues.
Fairy Creek Blockade, Old Growth Logging
Protests against old-growth logging in the South Vancouver Island region of British Columbia escalated through late 2020 and into 2021. These events, many coalescing around the Fairy Creek watershed, represent a critical moment in BC's recurring history of conflict related to ecological values and the forest industry.
I was lucky enough to spend 10 days on the ferry creek blockade in April. This issue is really important to me and I will continue to fight and support the movement.
On the right are a few photographs I captured of the protesters who risked being arrested to stand against the destruction of our last ancient trees.
Microplastics
There is a growing awareness that tiny pieces of plastic, known as microplastics, are now widespread in the world's oceans -- but we are only just beginning to understand its impacts on marine life.
Several recent studies by scientists around the world are revealing that microplastics, defined as pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters, are now present throughout the ocean food chain, and are being eaten and transferred from tiny zooplankton, to fish, and upwards to the turtles and seals that feed upon them.
Marine Debris
Remote Clean ups
On the rugged, remote, and astonishingly beautiful west coast of Vancouver Island, you will find white sandy beaches and rocky coves choked with marine debris. In 2017, 35 shipping containers crashed into the shores of the Pacific Rim. Since then we have focused our efforts on removing pollution from the remote shorelines of Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds.
-Surfrider Pacific Rim
