Let’s make Oban a plastics-free town

The response last year to Blue Planet II, the award-winning natural history series presented by David Attenborough, has been absolutely phenomenal.

Right across Britain, the sense of outrage at the damage being done to our marine environment by the reckless dumping of plastics has been almost palpable.

The crisis facing our oceans and seas prompted an immediate response from countless people and organisations.

Among the initiatives is the Scottish Government’s national marine plastics summit being held in Oban this month, on Monday June 18.

Ahead of that, as we have reported over recent months, there have been a number of efforts locally to reduce the amount of plastics used in the area. Schools, individuals and campaign groups have come up with ideas to cut plastics in our community, including the peaceful ‘plastic attack’ on three supermarkets in Oban recently. Also, many pubs, hotels and cafes have ditched plastic straws in favour of the paper variety.

Now activist Janie Steele is organising a petition calling for people to support a campaign to make Oban plastics-free.

People can find out more about the initiative at a special community-run screening of A Plastic Ocean at the Phoenix Cinema on Tuesday June 19 at 7.30pm.

We commend Ms Steele for her efforts and would encourage as many people as possible to get behind the attempt.

There is no downside that we can envisage.