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Imagine a world where our oceans, once alive with movement and colour, are suffocated by an invisible enemy: plastic. Every day, this silent intruder seeps into our waters, our food chains, and even our bodies. Yet within this crisis lies a spark of hope—and together, we can turn the tide.
As Sir David Attenborough reminds us: “It is surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”
The Urgency of Now: A Planet in Peril
Humanity currently produces over 430 million metric tonnes of plastic each year—a figure that has doubled in the last two decades and is projected to nearly triple by 2060 without bold intervention. Consider this:
- Around 1 million plastic bottles are purchased globally every minute, fuelling a crisis in which 19–23 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into rivers, lakes, and oceans annually—the equivalent of 2,000 refuse lorries dumping their loads straight into the water every single day.
- By 2050, scientists warn there could be more plastic than fish in our oceans by weight.
- Every piece of plastic ever created still exists somewhere on Earth. It does not biodegrade; it simply breaks down into toxic microplastics that poison marine life, ecosystems, and ultimately us. These toxins have been linked to health concerns, including potential cancer risks. Yet only around 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide. The rest lingers—leaching chemicals that disrupt hormones, contaminate our food, and threaten future generations.
We cannot undo the damage overnight, but we can act by:
- Reducing single use plastics
- Demanding better waste management systems
- Funding research into the health and environmental impacts of plastic related toxins.
The connection between plastic pollution, cancer, and human health remains underexplored—and that is where stories like mine can help ignite meaningful change.
My Journey into the Heart of the Crisis
On 11 May 2026, I will embark on a two and a half week eXXpedition voyage from New Zealand to Tonga in the South Pacific, aboard a 72 foot scientific sailing vessel operated 24/7 by all crew members.
As part of a multinational team of scientists, explorers, and changemakers, I will help document the devastating toll of plastic pollution: toxins from land based plastics infiltrating marine ecosystems, entering the food chain, and ultimately returning to our dinner plates. eXXpedition’s mission is to shine a light on the global health and environmental consequences of plastics—and to inspire action.
Join the Wave of Change
I am aiming to raise £7,500 (US $9,750) to cover my share of the voyage, including research equipment, outreach materials, and community workshops. With your help, I hope to reach 60% of that goal by 11 May, and continue building momentum until fully funded. Your support is more than a donation—it is a micro action that joins billions of others, creating ripples of change.
By backing this mission, you are not just supporting me; you are investing in cleaner oceans, healthier communities, and a safer legacy for future generations. Every contribution brings us closer to solutions.
Donate today, share this story, and help prove that together, we can outpace the plastic tide.
“We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about it.” Sir David Attenborough
Organizer
Bonita Baker
Organizer