Plastic pollution and seabirds

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Wed 16 Aug   [ozayr_patel_hello-1] A new global study has found that seabirds often mistake pieces of plastic for food and consume them. The study found that the plastic is then fed to their chicks waiting at breeding sites. This can lead to starvation or poisoning and injury as Lesego Chepape reports. The study is a global one that explored seabirds across continents in many locations. Birds like petrels are at larger risk because of their digestive tract, this means the plastic stays in their systems longer. Seabirds like albatrosses and petrels play crucial roles in the ecosystem and their poisoning could have knock-on effects, posing a threat to the entire ecosystem. The plastic can move on to other species as they form part of the food web which can eventually have impacts on human health. Solving the problem remains a human issue and if people don’t dispose of plastic properly, it inevitably ends up in the food web. Better waste practices, especially in coastal communities, will have an impact. It will lead to less plastic waste entering the ocean. There must be a concerted drive to raise awareness of the harms of plastic and how it impacts oceanic birds. This could trigger people into being more plastic conscious going forward. Don’t forget to sign up to the Green Guardian, our [environmental newsletter]( which goes out every Wednesday. You’ll find our climate and environment news and a fun weekly quiz. Ozayr Patel | Climate & Environment Editor [@Ozayr8]( [Screenshot 2023-08-15 at 16.27.41]( [Global study highlights effect of plastic pollution on foraging seabirds]( The presence of plastic particles in the birds has potential implications for human health [// Read more]( [Snuki Zikalala did not comply with SABC policies.]( Premium [Veterans believe ANC and DA can work together]( Veterans league president Snuki Zikalala said it wanted the ANC to terminate its “unethical” coalitions with the EFF and PA [// Read more]( [Ethekwini Mayor briefs the media on the progress made on the plight of the homeless in South Africa]( [Durban rates revolt: not easy or cheap]( eThekwini residents must be commended for withholding rates because of poor services and corruption, but a dispute also calls for serious funding and long-term commitment [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [We are on the right side of history, says Froneman of Sibanye’s response to Marikana]( The mining company hosted its fourth annual Marikana memorial lecture on Monday to mark the 11th anniversary of the massacre [// Read more]( [Unemployment retreats slightly to 32.6%]( Despite the economy recovering to its pre-pandemic level, South Africa’s jobless rate is still higher than it was at the beginning of 2020 [// Read more]( [Marike de Klerk’s murderer granted parole]( Twenty-two years after being handed two life sentences, Luyanda Mboniswa will be released on parole [// Read more]( [Limpopo MECs are useless, says Sekhukhune regional secretary]( ANC leaders hoping for a spot in the provincial and national lists have intensified their campaigns as the party’s list conference approaches [// Read more]( [Brics shows resilience despite the West’s media spin]( It is crucial to resist attempts to undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming Brics summit in South Africa [// Read more]( Pic of the day [gettyimages-1601157838-594x594] A Taliban supporter holds a gun while parading through the street on August 15, 2023 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Two years ago, the Taliban completed their return to power in Afghanistan after the fall of the Western-backed government and rapid evacuations of foreign militaries, organisations and many Afghans who worked with them. In the time since, no country has formally recognised Taliban rule. (Photo by Nava Jamshidi/Getty Images) [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa