Recent research supported 
 
by environmental 
 
advocates found that 
 
the Mediterranean Sea 
 
contains some 
 
250 billion pieces, 
 
or approximately 500 tons, 
 
of suspended microscopic 
 
pieces of plastic. 
 
For the study, 
 
French and Belgian 
 
marine biologists 
 
who comprise the 
 
organization Expedition 
 
Mediterranean in Danger 
 
(MED) analyzed 
 
water samples at depths 
 
of 10 to 15 centimeters 
 
off the coasts of France, 
 
Spain, and Italy. 
 
Of the samples obtained, 
 
90% contained 
 
the biologically hazardous 
 
plastic fragments. 
In addition to being mixed 
 
in with plankton 
 
that is consumed by fish, 
 
there is also evidence 
 
that this plastic debris 
 
is also affecting seals, 
 
tortoises, and other 
 
larger marine species. 
 
The researchers will next 
 
expand their evaluation 
 
to Gibraltar, Morocco, 
 
Algeria, Tunisia, 
 
Sardinia, and southern Italy. 
 
Meanwhile, 
 
they are calling for 
 
the European Union to 
 
implement more stringent 
 
rules on the disposal 
 
and biodegradability 
 
of consumer goods. 
 
Supporters can sign 
 
an on-line petition at 
 
www.expeditionmed.eu/petition/. 
 
Our sincere thanks, 
 
Expedition MED, 
 
for your awareness raising 
 
eco-conscious work.
 
Let us quickly heed 
 
such alarming information 
 
and act to protect 
 
the inhabitants of 
 
the Mediterranean Sea 
 
and oceans worldwide.
 
Speaking with concern 
 
for all life during a May 
 
2008 videoconference 
 
in South Korea, 
 
Supreme Master Ching Hai 
 
emphasized 
 
the need for humanity's 
 
more conscious efforts 
 
to care for our 
 
fragile environment.
 
Supreme Master Ching Hai : In many places 
 
there are already bans on 
 
the use of plastic bags and 
 
many convenience stores 
So, I think that's 
 
a very good start, and 
 
maybe we should impose 
 
a little more stricter ban 
 
on these 
 
harmful substances. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
And then 
 
we have to change. 
 
Even if the government 
 
doesn't impose any ban, 
 
we as individuals 
 
should pay attention. 
 
We should use something 
 
less toxic,
 
and we should use 
 
our own shopping bags 
 
wherever we go, 
 
to minimize whatever 
 
we can the effect, 
 
the harmful effect 
 
to the planet. 
 
And instead of polluting 
 
our planet, the air, 
 
we have to turn to 
 
friendly energy 
 
and sustainable energy. 
 
Just reverse our actions. 
 
Vegetarian diet -
 
number one. 
 
Green energy -
 
number two. 
 
Everybody work together 
 
to be frugal, 
 
and protect the environment 
 
and the animals. 
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/159949.html 
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1972338/plastic_found_floating_around_in_the_mediterranean/index.htmlhttp://www.expeditionmed.eu/petition/ 
http://www.plasticseurope.org/event/polytalk10.aspx?page=EVENTS