16 January | 6.30pm |RISC Conference Hall |free admission
35-39 London Street | Reading | RG1 4PS
Have you ever wondered where your plastic waste ends up after you've thrown it away?
Here's a clue...
In June 2006, the United Nations reported that there are, on average, around 46,000 pieces of plastic litter per square mile of ocean worldwide. Causing the death of over 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and one million seabirds each year as a result of eating or getting entangled with plastic debris.
Fran Crowe collecting rubbish
Artist Fran Crowe was so shocked by this that she decided to do something about it.
She resolved to 'save' one square mile of ocean by collecting 46,000 pieces of litter whilst walking on the beaches near her Suffolk home.
Little did she know that her challenge would take over a year to complete, but it has resulted in a fantastically surprising and colourful photographic project documenting her collections.
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Fran Crowe's Bottle Tops
Exhibition in Reading
You can see a special exhibition of Fran's 46000 Challenge at RISC, on London Street in Reading, from Wednesday 16 January until Friday 22 February 2008.
Fran will will open the exhibition at 6.30pm on 16 January, and will be talking about her work and the impact of our plastic waste on the world's oceans.
Organiser, Shehnoor Ahmed says she hopes the evening will be an opportunity for people to discuss ideas, and actions so that we can all make a difference here in Reading.
I want to help, but how can I make a difference in Berkshire?
If the statistics are not inspiration enough, the exhibition launch evening will also show an excerpt of Message In The Waves, a BBC film by wildlife film-maker Rebecca Hosking, who led a campaign in her hometown of Modbury, to go 'plastic bag free'.
Did you know that Reading Friends of the Earth are running a similar campaign in Caversham?
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
BBC Radio Berkshire Actiondesk's top five tips for reducing your plastic waste:
1. Re-use your own shopping bag
2. Drink tap water instead of bottled water
3. Carry a reusable water bottle
4. Take your own mug to work
5. Avoid buying food in packaged in plastic
You could also get involved with RESCUE 2008 (Rivers and Environmental Spaces Clean Up Event in Reading) on the 15 and 16 of March.
RESCUE is a community-led, clean up event that happens every March in and around Reading.
Volunteers work alongside the rivers Thames and Kennet, the Kennet & Avon Canal and other streams and brooks around Reading to deal with litter and other rubbish.
If you would like to volunteer simply contact the BBC Radio Berkshire Actiondesk on 0845 900 1044.
