We’ve posted here before about our pal Kevin, who is Special Assistant to the General Manager for the World Series Champion Houston Astros. (Can I drop names, or what?)
Shedd Aquarium staff were on hand to explain why plastic straws are a threat to marine life.
Well, though he was on the road scouting and unable to attend the game himself, he was generous enough to offer me and Beth seats to yesterday’s White Sox-Astros game. And, it was sunny. And not cold.
There was bratwurst for Beth and me. And beer. For others, there was soda. And popcorn, peanuts, ice cream, polish sausage, nachos, Italian beef…well, any ballpark food you’d want.
But not drinking straws.
Sunday was Earth Day, and the White Sox and Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium (just the best place, get there if you’re from out of town and are visiting) used the occasion to promote a program called Shedd the Straw, whereby participating organizations, including the Chicago White Sox, will not hand out drinking straws unless a customer requests one.
May not sound like a big deal, but it is. Shedd had exhibits in two locations to let people know just how big a deal plastic straws are when it comes to our oceans and waterways. Plastic drinking straws do not decompose and they are virtually impossible to recycle. That means that every plastic straw ever made is still on earth. Or worse, in oceans, lakes, and rivers. And they kill aquatic creatures.
Thanks to Kevin, we had some sweet seats. We bought our own brats.
I’ve never been fond of them, regardless of their environmental impact. Maybe for a milk shake, but that’s about it.
When Beth was invited to sit on a panel at the Shedd about accessibility issues, she learned how dedicated the Shedd is to both the environment and to people with disabilities. Turns out a few people who’d attended Jazzin’ at the Shedd (during the summer the Shedd opens its deck for patrons to enjoy live jazz) had disabilities that required them to use a straw to drink, and the Shedd was happy to provide them. of the curve.
You can’t find a plastic straw at the Shedd. They do have paper ones on hand and offer those to the anyone who needs one.
But, if you can, I recommend getting crazy—go strawless.
Yeah!! No more straws…..even though my husband with Alzheimers D. will drink something with a straw (long-term memory?) and not from a glass only we use reusable ones. Thanks to the efforts of the Shedd! Don’t they have a sculpture there made entirely from straws rescued from beaches?
Hi Mike,
Thanks so much for mentioning that there are folks that still need to use plastic straws. We don’t want to shame anyone who needs to use straws. There are other ways to join Shedd Aquarium and Chicago White Sox to reduce plastic pollution and prevent marine debris by going beyond the straw and committing to utilize reusable alternatives in other forms, like bags and bottles.
And if you’re ever at Shedd and need a straw, please ask the folks working in the restaurants, they will be happy to provide one for you!
Thanks for reading, Lynn! And for re-emphasizing that straws are available for those who need them. And that we can reduce all sorts of marine debris. I lived on the North Carolina coast for a couple seasons, and volunteered for cleanup days. It was troubling, to say the least, to see the volume of stuff that shouldn’t have been there. Thanks for all your work at the Shedd.
Straws may seem to be a small issue, but when you think about just how many are used all over the world, every day, it adds up. I have noticed that several restaurants no longer serve straws. Some serve them “on request”. It’s a start. What will get the ball rolling is making the public aware. I’m glad that the Shedd has several sculptures, around town, made from refuse taken from the ocean. It’s waking people up.
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