5 Gyres - Understanding Plastic Pollution Through Exploration, Education, and Action

It's amazing--  as an activist working for common sense policy on plastic bags, I've been astonished by the tactics of The American Chemistry Council to influence the public, lawmakers, with sheer economic clout.  According to a 2006 tax return, The American Chemistry Council had an annual budget of right around $120 million.  They've spent $9 million in the state of California since 2003 and I'd recommend taking a look at campaign contributions to your state's lawmakers where plastic bag policies are being considered. That information is public information on your Secretary of State's website. Fighting for their bottom line with no regard to the environmental and possible human health effects of their product on the commons is one thing, but actively lobbying California's educator to change curriculum to mislead our children is another.  And that's exactly what they did in California- they influence educators into changing curriculum to be more plastic bag friendly.  Outrageous. Check the full article (where the above photo was obtained) on SFGate online.