Activist Shares 5 Tips to Reduce Plastic Waste
& Ocean Pollution

It's a growing problem in the northern Pacific Ocean and one that could change life on our planet within the next 20 years.

"I remember the first time I felt it; I was paddling out on my surfboard and noticed a mushy, plastic-like substance sliding through my fingers. That's what started my obsession with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch," says charity fundraiser and environmentalist Veronica Grey. "The patch is located between Hawaii and California in the northern Pacific Ocean, where millions of small bits of plastic have gathered in a vortex of ocean currents known as a gyre."

As someone with ample experience raising awareness for worthy causes, Grey paired her professional skills with her personal passion for the ocean, creating the award-winning documentary "Aqua Seafoam Shame," (www.Pacific-TV.com), which spotlights the mess in the ocean that has garnered precious little media attention, she says.

"Fifteen years ago The Patch was the size Texas, but now it's the size of the continental United States," says Grey, who used her iPhone to shoot the documentary, which features renowned scientists, journalists and environmentalists.

Plastic in the ocean has far-reaching implications that, if not addressed within 20 years, could change life on this planet, she says. To date, 177 species of sea life are known to ingest plastic; other species feed on those creatures, extending the chain of damage.

"People eat the seafood that eats plastic, and the planet gets its rain from the oceans, which are being polluted at an exponential rate," she says. "We use significantly more of our planet's surface as a dump than for growing food; this has to change."

To begin addressing plastics pollution, Grey encourages people to use alternatives:

• Americans buy 2 million bottles of water every five minutes; ditch plastic bottles and use glass or recyclable cans.

• Carry a cost-effective canvas bag instead getting disposable plastic bags at the grocery store. We waste 10 billion plastic bags every week!

• Do not line your trash cans with plastic bags. Use paper bags or nothing.

• Skip the lid on your to-go drinks. The paper cup is normally recyclable but the lid usually isn't.

• Remember that each and every time you flush; it all ends up in the ocean. Be mindful of what you toss in your toilet!

About Veronica Grey

Veronica Grey is an award-winning author and filmmaker. A graduate of UCLA, she is a regular contributor to TV stations across the country and is the recipient of the 2011 New Media award from the Pare Lorentz Film Festival. "Aqua Seafoam Shame" is a critically acclaimed documentary that explores the diagnosis that 25 percent of our planet's surface is now a landfill, due to the Pacific garbage patch and plastics. The movie also explores the process by which conscientious companies, some because of her encouragement, switched from plastic to a more sustainable alternative. Grey was born on PI (3.14) in PI (Philippines Island) and she is recognized as a numbers savant.

AMES, Iowa - Iowans have gotten their lawn and garden questions answered by Iowa State University horticulturists for three decades by calling Hortline at 515-294-3108, an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach hotline. With the expansion of the Internet, an email option was added in 1997 with inquiries directed to hortline@iastate.edu. Now the Iowa State horticulturists who support Hortline have assembled frequently asked questions on a Yard and Garden FAQs website at http://expert.hort.iastate.edu/.

"The website lets individuals find answers to common garden questions whenever they wish," said Richard Jauron, ISU horticulturist and author of the weekly Yard and Garden column. "Hortline hours are limited to 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, so the Yard and Garden FAQs website allows people to look for answers at other times of the day, evenings and weekends."

The website currently has answers to more than 750 commonly asked questions on a wide range of gardening topics. The FAQs cover topics on vegetables, fruits, annuals, perennials, roses, bulbs, lawns, trees, shrubs and indoor plants. Searching the site is as easy as typing in one or more keywords or browsing the subject categories.

"Answers are specific to Iowa gardeners," Jauron said. "The information may not be appropriate for individuals in other regions of the country because of different weather and soil conditions."

Jauron is the horticulture specialist behind the scenes answering many of the more than 3,200 phone calls and 1,400 emails each year. He has been instrumental in building the database for the new website, calling on his extensive history with the horticulture help line and his understanding of the most common questions asked. Assembling answers to common questions on a website may cut Hortline contact numbers - but it will definitely expand the horticulturists' reach to even more people looking for answers.

"With the addition of the website, gardeners now have a full range of options for having questions answered by an Iowa State University horticulturist," Jauron said. "Some questions will be resolved by the website questions and answers. Other gardeners will want to talk to someone and will call Hortline; while others may want to send a photo and prefer using email."

Jauron also answers yard and garden questions in his weekly news column published on the ISU Extension and Outreach website http://www.extension.iastate.edu/.

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USO, 2/24th Marines Host Chicago Cubs Caravan

CHICAGO (01/17/2013)(readMedia)-- More than 50 Illinois National Guard Soldiers along with 250 other servicemembers from all branches of service joined the Chicago Cubs for lunch sponsored by the USO of Illinois at the 2013 Cubs Caravan in Chicago Jan. 16.

Hosted by 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Reserve Regiment in Chicago, servicemembers were treated to lunch from D'Agostino's and had an opportunity to visit with Cubs players, management and front office.

The event started with the 2/24th Marine Color Guard posting the colors followed by an introduction by Cubs radio announcer Len Kasper.

"On behalf of the Chicago Cubs I want to give our thanks for everything you do to protect this country and our freedom," said Kasper.

Cubs manager, Dale Sveum, thanked the servicemembers for serving our country.

"Oh behalf of the Chicago Cubs we want to tell you how much we appreciate what you do here and abroad. We really appreciate that. I even have a tattoo that says thanks," said Sveum. "Thank you for having us here today to be able to serve you like you serve us all the time."

The Soldiers met and talked with the players and managers and appreciated the time the Cubs took to meet with them.

"I really liked it. Getting all the players out here mingling with the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen - it was a good time," said Sgt. First Class Shawn Money of Dekalb. "And I'm impressed. I'm impressed they are out here doing this. You really don't see this that often."

For Staff Sgt. Benjamin Allen of Palatine, being a Cubs fan runs in the family.

"I've been a Cubs fan all my life and I really didn't have a choice. I grew up as one so it was nice to come see them all," said Allen. "My wife was excited I was coming for it, she is a big Theo Epstein fan."

Sgt. First Class Samer Elguindy of Chicago noted how welcoming the Cubs were to the servicemembers.

"I thought it was awesome. Not too often do I get to be served by the general manager or the top players," said Elguindy. "They were very warm and very easy to talk to and they didn't hesitate when asked to get a picture or autograph. It was really cool."

For more on the USO of Illinois visit http://usoofillinois.org/.

For more on the Chicago Cubs Caravan visit http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/community/

Illinois National Guard Soldiers share a laugh with Cubs outfielder David DeJesus and infielder Anthony Rizzo at the 2013 Chicago Cubs Caravan luncheon sponsored by the USO of Illinois in Chicago Jan. 16. More than 300 Active, Reserve and National Guard servicemembers were treated to lunch from D'Agostino's and had an opportunity to visit with Cubs players and management at the event hosted by the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Reserve Regiment in Chicago.  U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs.