Where I once swam freely and fed freely, in the depths of the great blue ocean, my world has transformed into something I could never imagine. I am a green sea turtle. For millions of years, my ancestors and I glided through these clearl waters with colorful sea floors in which we call our home, helping maintain the balance of our ecosystem. We coexisted with other creatures, from the smallest of fish and crabs to the largest of sharks and whales. Each of us plays a part in this magnificent underwater world. But in these past few decades, our home has been invaded by something so foreign to us so silent, and deadly: Plastic. 

When I was young, we rarely encountered this strange substance… I would swim beside my mother and father, exploring the reefs, snacking on seagrass, and bathing in the sun near the surface. But over the years things began to change. One day, I mistook a clear floating object; in what I thought was my favorite snack, a jellyfish. I eagerly swallowed it, only to feel a severe discomfort as it clogged my stomach. I struggled to eat anything else for days, felt weaker in every single passing moment. It took me weeks to recover and since then, I've learned the bitter truth: these plastic items are everywhere, they are poisoning us. 

Plastic doesn't just hurt us when we accidentally eat it; it clogs our reefs, making it hard to find food and shelter. My fish friends tell me they have to hide near floating plastic like bags and bottles to hide from predators, putting them at risk of getting trapped. My fellow turtle friends and I often find ourselves trapped in plastic, restricting our movement and cutting into our flesh as we grow, leaving us with cuts and sometimes infections. The younger turtles struggle even more, as they are not strong or skilled in avoiding these hazards. Every piece of plastic becomes a threat to our lives, and with more of it invading our home, it feels like we have no safe place to go. 

It's worse for the moms in the community. When they go up to shore to lay eggs, they struggle to find a safe place to lay them that isn't littered with plastic waste. When the hatchlings emerge, their journey to the ocean is interrupted by plastic pollution, oftentimes leading them in the wrong direction, because of this, some of the hatchlings never make it into the ocean. 

We sea turtles are begging for a change. By using reusable bottles, reducing, and reusing single use plastic, using reusable bags, and using bamboo and reusable straws,  you can make a difference in our world. We want to continue thriving in the ocean in which we call home. Every small act counts, and with your help, our home can become a safe haven once again. 

Sincerely, 

The Sea Turtles