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Plastisphere im Deutschlandfunk

Mit dem Deutschlandfunk Kultur produziere ich einige Folgen auf Deutsch nach. Hier kann man die Sendungen für kurze Zeit nachhören oder im Archiv lesen:

Was macht Kunststoffmüll mit den Böden?

Plastik gelangt nicht nur ins Wasser, sondern auch in Böden. Was das bedeutet, wird erst seit kurzem erforscht. Im Labor scheinen kleinste Kunststoffpartikel einigen Pflanzen nicht zu bekommen, während sie anderen Pflanzen nichts ausmachen. Und Geologen betrachten Plastik schon als das Fossil der Zukunft. Nachlesen

Deutschlandfunk Kultur | Zeitfragen | 29.08.2019 | 19:30 | 29 Minuten

Was hat Plastik mit Klimawandel zu tun?

Überall wird auf die Gefahren durch Plastik-Müll in den Ozeanen hingewiesen. Gerät der Klimawandel darüber aus dem Blick, auch weil dieser nicht so greif- und sichtbar ist? Oder hängen beide Umweltkrisen enger miteinander zusammen, als wir denken? Nachlesen

Deutschlandfunk Kultur | Zeitfragen | 07.02.2019 | 19:30 | 30 Minuten

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Swaantje’s generation


‘I grew up in the 70s and 80s, and it was the time when pretty much everybody was convinced that when it comes to the protection of the environment, we were all messing it up. What people would tell us as children was, us adults, we have messed it up, so now it’s on you’, I’m told by Swaantje Güntzel, an artist who engages with plastic and waste in her performances and in the images she creates. As a child, she was barely able to deal with the burden of this topic. She experienced depression and tried to be an activist, but always felt small, alone and powerless.

She wasn’t the only one. Continue reading “Swaantje’s generation”

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Inheriting the Anthropocene

Artist Swaantje Güntzel clears a squaremeter of beach of microplastics in Lanzarote (Spain). During her intervention, she counted 1370 pieces. Image: Jan Philip Scheibe

Edited version of the article translated by Sebastian Smallshaw and published by Salzburg festival

Kamilo Beach is wild and beautiful. Shallow tide pools formed from black volcanic rock extend to the deep blue sea, while lush green vegetation hugs the white sandy beach at the southern tip of Hawaii’s Big Island. There are no tourists as far as the eye can see in this remote place.

Nonetheless, Kamilo has a worldwide reputation. The ‘plastic beach’ has become a symbol of the impact of human mass consumption. Continue reading “Inheriting the Anthropocene”

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Ep.7: Confused about bioplastics?


What happens if bioplastics end up in the environment? In this episode, Anja takes a closer look at synthetic polymers marketed as more environmentally friendly. Can they contribute to a healthier planet, and in what way? Continue reading “Ep.7: Confused about bioplastics?”

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Are bioplastics better for the environment than conventional plastics?

Published on Ensia, republished by Undark, Revelator, The Wire

Confusion among terms like bioplastics, bio-based and biodegradable plastics makes it hard to discern — and make — the environmentally responsible choice.

July 16, 2019 — Have you ever stood in front of a supermarket shelf and wondered if you should buy that product made from bioplastics rather than the conventional kind? Many people assume all bioplastics are made from plants and can break down completely in the environment. But that’s not the case. Continue reading “Are bioplastics better for the environment than conventional plastics?”

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Plastisphere auf RiffReporter

Unsere journalistische Genossenschaft RiffReporter ist einem Korallenriff nachempfunden. Gemeinsam mit anderen Journalist*innen schaffen wir einen Ort voller Leben, Recherchen und Geschichten. Unsere Projekte nennen wir, passend zum Vorbild im Meer, “Korallen”. In meiner Plastisphere-Koralle gibt es deutsche Artikel zum Thema, einen Newsletter, und die Möglichkeit, meine Recherchen zu unterstützen. Mit Klick aufs Bild geht es zu RiffReporter:

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Ep.6: Traces in the soil


Plastic pollution also affects the soil, the thin layer of ground that feeds all of us. For a long time, this terrestrial plastic has been overlooked. Now scientists are starting to investigate the extent and impacts of plastic pollution in the soil and in the ground. What do we know about them? Continue reading “Ep.6: Traces in the soil”