Last month we were pleased to feature Natlie Fee in the Plastic Free U.K. Directory. Here is some more of her work
A recent report by Dr Jenna Jambeck, one of the researchers from the University of Georgia in the US claims that 8 million tonnes of litter is dumped in the oceans each year. So Natalie Fee, Singer-Songwriter, TV presenter, and plastics campaigner used 8th June, World Oceans Day to ask a panel of experts and a live audience, “How do we address this plastic marine litter problem, City to Sea: Bristol Fashion?”
World Oceans Day is a significant date for Natalie Fee as it was this day last year that started her on a journey, which was initially about crowdfunding a music video but has culminated in bringing together experts in the field to ask serious questions and look for practical actions at a city-level to make changes.
Having had a fear of the sea, Natalie admits she was out of touch with the growing problem of plastic pollution. But after seeing the the film ‘Midway’, where young Albatross living in the middle of the Pacific are dying on a diet of plastic bottle tops, she was moved to do something more. During the course of the crowdfunding campaign, Natalie learnt to surf, met a great number of people working on this issue in their respective fields, all within the Bristol area and identified an opportunity to bring everyone together.
“It also seemed timely as it was Green Capital year. Bristol is such a can-do, forward-thinking City and I was curious to see what solutions or initiatives could materialise if people collaborated.”
Each year numerous volunteer groups conduct litterpicks along the banks of the Avon, Frome and Severn, the regular offending articles are plastic bottles, plastic bottle tops, polystyrene takeaway containers and earbuds (which are flushed down the toilet). And it was the devastating scenes on the riverbanks of the Avon after this Spring’s high tides that spurred Natalie into action.
Natalie Fee shows the downside of the high tide in Bristol today. Swells of plastic heading out to sea.
So just over a month ago over 30 people living in Bristol and working in fields relating to marine and river health attended the first City to Sea meeting, hosted by Natalie and her newly formed ‘City to Sea’ volunteer team. Following break-out groups a number of initiatives were identified and further discussed on 8th June, with the premise of stemming the flow of plastic litter heading into the Bristol Channel.
Bristol residents, businesses and organisations are joined the panel of experts: Chris Sherrington (Eunomia), Thomas Bell (Director, Changes Us) and Jo Ruxton (Plastic Oceans) in a lively debate which will form the basis of a Bristol Plastic Charter.
“If San Francisco can ban the plastic bottle and New York the polystyrene takeaway carton, just imagine what Bristol can do during its year as Green Capital! I’d like us to become an example to the rest of Europe, of how we stopped so much plastic litter flowing out of the Avon!”
Natalie Fee conducts a two minute beach clean on the banks of the River Avon in Bristol, one week after she witnessed the high Spring tides carrying thousands of pieces of plastic litter out to sea.
The night, which started as a launch of a music video, was broadcast by Made in Bristol TV as an hour-long current affairs debate, and was concluded with a lighter look at the issue through four adult, comedy poems that reflect the experience of the marine animals who are the victims of the plastic problem.
Press Enquiries: Livvy Drake 07973 369847
Interviews: Natalie Fee 07871 397868
All Enquiries: citytoseabristol@gmail.com
Website: www.citytosea.org.uk