Reducing the impact of plastic on our environment
Collective Submission on the Government proposal:
Reducing the impact of plastic on our environment – moving away from hard-to- recycle and single-use items
Submissions close 4 December 2020, 5pm
Introduction
On Wednesday 12 August 2020 the Government announced a proposal to ban a range of hard-to-recycle and single-use plastic items. The proposal is now up for public consultation until 4 December 2020, 5pm.
Plastics cause lasting damage to our natural world and accelerate climate change.
That’s why Track Zero and 28 prominent, individual artists and scientists from around Aotearoa have made a Collective Submission that supports inclusive, ambitious steps to tackle plastic pollution and our current climate crisis.
The Collective Submission
Dear Hon. Kiritapu Allen, Minister of Conservation, This Collective Submission is made by Track Zero Trust (Track Zero) and a group of 28 prominent, individual artists and scientists from around Aotearoa ... (click to read more)
Dear Hon. Kiritapu Allen, Minister of Conservation,
This Collective Submission is made by Track Zero Trust (Track Zero) and a group of 28 prominent, individual artists and scientists from around Aotearoa whose expertise and creativity helps us to understand our inter-connection with the natural world and who deeply care about shaping a better, more sustainable future.
We tautoko/support the Joint Submission prepared by organisations across New Zealand’s wider zero waste community (to be read in conjunction with this), which Track Zero has also signed on to. We agree with their submission in advocating for a broader framing of the problem (which will likely require more than a simple ban) to enable the wider economic and regulatory context through which these and other materials flow to be tackled at a systemic level.
Plastics cause lasting damage to our natural world and accelerate climate change. By 2050, plastic production from fossil fuels is expected to triple, contributing up to 13% of the global carbon budget adding to global warming. We believe plastic pollution requires a concerted approach of regulatory and technological solutions and a re-imagining of our cultural beliefs and practices such as production, consumption, disposability and convenience. Such a shift will need diverse communication platforms to bring about the breadth and scale of change that is needed. The inclusion of creative and cultural communities and of artists working with scientists to communicate and implement this policy needs to be considered.
Arts and sciences can work together to change hearts and minds, to communicate complex concepts, and to allow people to feel included in the process when policy change is implemented. Creative tools also work as scientific tools, to measure changes in knowledge, understanding and compliance.
There are many examples where arts-science partnerships have been incredibly effective in communicating a concept, or they have resulted in measured behaviour change. For example, the award-winning partnership between Siouxsie Wiles (Microbiologist and Science Communicator) and Toby Morris (Cartoonist and Writer) on COVID-19 and collaborative initiatives such as ‘The Unseen’, an art-science-community project exploring marine ecosystems and climate change by Gabby O’Connor (Artist, Science Communicator, Antarctic researcher and PhD candidate).
Artists have a powerful role to play in our response to plastic pollution and the climate crisis. Art connects with people on an emotional level, in ways that scientific statistics and graphs cannot – both are important ways of communicating these critical issues. This visceral response can help to create entry points that make people feel more engaged and inspired to act.
Many of Aotearoa’s highly celebrated artists already use their creativity and cultural experience to draw attention to our relationship with oceans, rivers and land and the urgent need to protect our natural world. Artists like Moana Maniapoto, Miria George, Nina Nawalowalo, Carol Brown, George Nuku, Troy Tu’ua, Nigel Brown, Joseph Michael, Gareth Farr, Warren Maxwell and Michel Tuffery and many others continue to inspire diverse audiences in communities across Aotearoa and the world. Some examples of works of art by several artists who are part of this Collective Submission are included below.
We support many of the recommendations in this proposal and encourage the Government to show progressive leadership to ensure inclusive, ambitious steps to tackle plastic pollution and our current climate crisis. We believe we can come together to make a difference – drawing on all kinds of skills and knowledge, artistic, scientific, mātauranga Māori and that founded in culture and personal experience – working with the Government to help bring about a better, more sustainable future.
Yours sincerely
Dr Anne-Gaelle Ausseil
Environmental Research Scientist
Denise Batchelor
Artist
Nigel Brown onzm
Artist
Lynda Chanwai-Earle
Script Writer, Poet, Broadcaster and
2019 IIML Writer in Residence, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
Dr Daniel Collins
Freshwater and Climate Change Scientist
Dr David Hall
Lecturer in Politics, School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, AUT University
Professor Bronwyn Hayward
Professor of Political Science at University of Canterbury
Dr Daniel Hikuroa
Servant of Papatūānuku
Tanea Heke
Tumuaki – Te Kura Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School
Professor Shaun Hendy
Scientist, Author and
Director of Te Pūnaha Matatini
Michaela Keeble
Poet and Children’s Book Author
Lisa McLaren qsm
PhD candidate, Climate Activist
Renee Liang
Writer and Doctor
David Long
Composer, Musician and Producer
Susan Mabin
Artist
Moana Maniapoto
Musician, Current Affairs host
Sarah Meads
Founder/Manager of Track Zero, Development Specialist
Joseph Michael
Visual Artist
Jason O’Hara
Designer, Artist and Educator
Della Rees
Visual Artist
Lisa Reihana onzm
Artist
Professor James Renwick
Head of School, Geography, Environment
and Earth Sciences/ Te Kura Tātai Aro Whenua, Victoria University of Wellington/Te Herenga Waka
Dr Jenny Rock
Scientist and Artist
Rob Ruha
Te Whānau a Apanui, Ngāti Porou – Kōpara-tuhi (Singer/Songwriter)
Associate Professor Craig Stevens
Oceanographer
Kelcy Taratoa
Artist
Dr Carla van Zon onzm
Arts Festival Artistic Director, Curator and Producer
Kerry Warkia
Producer and Founding Partner of Brown Sugar Apple Grunt Productions
The Collective Submission tautoko/supports the Joint Submission prepared by organisations across New Zealand’s wider zero waste community
Have your say – make a submission
There are some good recommendations in the Government’s proposal and it’s important we all have our say. Here are some handy resources if you’d like to make a submission (closing 4 December at 5pm).
- You can find the consultation document and links to the submission form on the Ministry for the Environment website and a separate page for this consultation that’s more accessible . It includes a video, an official summary of the 74 page consultation document, as well as a quick “online survey” for people who want to have their say, but would rather not go through the full long-form submission process.
- Visit Takeaway Throwaways simplified 5 page summary of the consultation document and a handy range of resources (from template submission guides to a pre-written submission you have the option of editing before sending, but you don’t have to) assembled by The Rubbish Trip
In the media
Works of art by joining artists
Kelcy Taratoa – ‘Manu Rerenga, Waewae Pākura’ 2019
Artist. Image: Acrylic on canvas, 2130 x 1521 x 36mm. Collection of Chris and Kathy Parkin. Image credit: supplied by Bartley Company + Art.
Nigel Brown ONZM – ‘Tipping point’ 2018 -2019
Artist. Image: Acrylic with mixed media on canvas, 1350mm x 800mm. Image credit: supplied by the Artist.
Susan Mabin – ‘Black Stack’ 2019
Artist. Image: Made from plastic objects collected from the beach. Hawkes Bay. Image credit: supplied by the Artist.
Susan Mabin – ‘Black Stack’ 2019
Artist. Image:
‘Black Stack’
2019
Made from plastic objects
collected from the beach.
Hawkes Bay. Image credit:
supplied by the Artist.
Susan Mabin – ‘In memory of Waitangi Reserve’ 2017
Artist. Image: This work is made from plaster casts of the interior of all the plastic containers I found in one afternoon on the beach at Waitangi Regional Park. Hawkes Bay. Plastic is often a transparent material and we have learnt not to see it in the environment, this work makes visible the space that the plastic containers actually occupy. This work is a memorial to that space and to the past, present and possible future. Image credit: supplied by the Artist.
Edited – Denise Batchelor – ‘Bluebottle’ 2019
Artist. Image: “Living on the edge of the Hokianga harbour usually entails daily beach walks, and inevitably includes the picking up of some form of plastics. You can tell which ones have been bobbing around the ocean for some time and are breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces, and others that haven’t lost any of their colour or lustre yet and are a relatively new addition to the currents.”
Image credit: supplied by Artist.
Denise Batchelor – ‘Flotsam or Jetsam’ 2019
Artist. Image credit: supplied by the Artist
Joseph Michael- ‘Voices for the Future’
Visual artist. Image: ‘Voices for the Future’ lit up the United Nations General Assembly and Secretariat buildings in New York.
Image credit: supplied by the Artist
Joseph Michael – ‘Antarctica while you were sleeping’
Visual artist. Image: Explores the intersection between humans and
nature with projections of enormous icebergs
onto prominent architecture in urban areas. The
world premier saw over 20,000 visitors surround
Auckland’s historic War Memorial Museum.
Image credit: supplied by the Artist
Dr Jenny Rock – ‘Off the Ends’
Scientist/Artist. Image: Dr Jenny Rock is a rare example of someone who
is both an accomplished artist and scientist. As
well as more than 20 years of interdisciplinary
research in environmental physiology, molecular
ecology, and evolutionary genomics, she also
holds exhibitions for her art, mainly print work,
and writes poetry. “My art making often feels
like an act of renewing vows to the environment,
or honouring.”…Rock is convinced drawing “is
a deeply human way to know something”…
Likewise, science has helped Rock’s artwork…
”Quite often my art practice makes me invoke my
science methodology; more than I would like it
to!” she says.
Interview in Otago Daily Times, 2 October 2018
‘Painting a Picture’.
Image credit: supplied by the Artist
Dr Jenny Rock – ‘Warming Cell’
Scientist/Artist. Image credit: supplied by
the Artist
Moana Maniapoto – still from ‘Upokohue’ video
Musician, Current Affairs host. Image:
Upokohue (Moana & the Tribe/TŪ). A tribute to the endangered Maui dolphin. Lyrics by Scotty Morrison. Music by Paddy Free and Moana Maniapoto. Video: Louise Potiki Bryant. Image credit:
still images from the video supplied by Moana Maniapoto
Moana Maniapoto – still from ‘Upokohue’ video
Musician, Current Affairs host. Image:
'Upokohue' (Moana & the Tribe/TŪ). A tribute to the endangered Maui dolphin. Lyrics by Scotty Morrison. Music by Paddy Free and Moana Maniapoto. Video: Louise Potiki Bryant. Image credit: stills images form the video supplied by Moana Maniapoto
Moana Maniapoto – still from ‘Upokohue’ video
Musician, Current Affairs host. Image:
'Upokohue' (Moana & the Tribe/TŪ). A tribute to the endangered Maui dolphin. Lyrics by Scotty Morrison. Music by Paddy Free and Moana Maniapoto. Video: Louise Potiki Bryant. Image credit: stills images form the video supplied by Moana Maniapoto
Della Rees – ‘Mandala Series II’ 2011
Visual Artist. Image: In these Mandala works*
I have substituted the
traditional sand for plastic
bottle tops, material that
will not return to the earth
on the wind like the sand
Mandalas, Instead degrade
into smaller and smaller
pieces becoming micro
plastics, which will never
disappear completely, but
sadly, become a new kind of
sand. *Mandalas are a ritual
symbol in Buddhism and
Hinduism representing the
universe, in meditation its
purpose is to help transform
ordinary minds into
enlightened ones. Image credit: Image supplied by Artist.
Della Rees – ‘Mandala Series II’ (Floor detail) 2011
Visual Artist. Image credit: Image supplied by Artist.
Michaela Keeble – Poem ‘the ocean’s pockets’
Poet and Children’s Book Author. Poem credit: supplied by the Artist
Lynda Chanwai-Earle – ‘Hole’, Circa Theatre 2020
Script writer, poet and broadcaster.
Image: Ice hole and Weddel seal in Hole, Circa Theatre 2020.
'From the award-winning team of “HEAT” comes “HOLE” a green-powered black comedy about an Antarctic Scientist, a Greenpeace Activist, a Navy SEAL, and one huge OZONE HOLE. The second in the Antarctic Trilogy.'
Image credit: supplied by the Artist.
Lynda Chanwai-Earle – ‘Hole’, Circa Theatre 2020
Script writer, poet and broadcaster. Image: Sepelini Mua'au and Stevie Hancox-Monk in Hole, Circa Theatre 2020. Image credit: supplied by the Artist.
Jason O’Hara – ‘Hira’ from performance ‘Where Memories Sleep’
Designer, Artist and Educator.
Image: Jason O’Hara and
Warren Maxwell. Hira
from performance ‘Where
Memories Sleep’ created by
Jason O’Hara and Warren
Maxwell. Image credit:
supplied by Artist.
Edited – Jason O’Hara – ‘Kuia’ from performance ‘Where Memories Sleep’
Designer, Artist and Educator.
Image: Kuia from performance
‘Where Memories Sleep’
created by Jason O’Hara
and Warren Maxwell. Dancer
Zaniah Fae.
‘Where Memories Sleep’ –
the legend of the Aurora.
An immersive cine-dance
production combining dance
with full-dome
projections and sets by
Jason O’Hara and music by
Warren Maxwell inspired
by their real-life experiences
with science teams in
Antarctica.
Image credit:
supplied by Artist.
