Most of us can say we have heard of trash buildup in the ocean. However, fewer of us can say we have done something about it. The more we ignore the trash in our ocean, the worse it is going to get.

Currently, 1.7 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, affecting the fragile ocean ecosystem. About 1 million sea turtles are killed every year because of the plastic and debris they ingest. These turtles make up around 10% of the population of this animal. We have all just watched this happen, while we are getting closer and closer to having not a single beach without trash on it.

Factories are making more and more plastic. Even though we can clean up it up, we can never persuade them to stop making it, which will again make its way to another beach. Thus the cycle continues and will never stop unless we do something about it.

The animals will not stop dying unless we do something about it. So, I beg the good people of Durango to donate to an organization that can help these poor animals, so we can still look to the seas with wonder. Some of these organizations include The Ocean Cleanup, Project AWARE, and Coral Reef Alliance.

Then, and right then, you can tell yourself that you have contributed to helping to reshape our planet. And that is certainly something to brag about.

Elise Harvey, sixth-grader at Mountain Middle School

Durango