Guri Sogn Andersen

To Watch a Fulmar Die: Facts and Formulations about Plastic in the Ocean

Å se en havhest dø. Forestillinger og fakta om plast i havet

The whole world is now concerned with plastic as an environmental problem. Our huge consumption means that we find plastic waste everywhere. In the oceans, the plastic breaks down into microplastics that are eaten by even the smallest organisms. People all over the globe have mobilized through grass root environmental groups and clean-up campaigns, forcing politicians and decision makers to care. That’s a good thing. Because we need to act now. But a unilateral mobilization against plastic in itself is not the way to go, says Guri Sogn Andersen. Plastic is also an amazing resource that we should appreciate and use.

We need to approach the plastic problem from a whole range of different angles! Based on studies and fieldwork, Andersen shows where the biggest challenges lie, and how we should handle them. She also shares 10 specific tips on what we can do ourselves.

Andersen, guri sogn å se en havhest dø

‘(…) I will never bring a plastic bag home from the grocery shop again, and I will never use a straw for the rest of my life.’

Vårt Land

’ (…) Andersen is committed to nuance. Plastic is not only bad, it is needed in our modern society. Many of the figures in the media are inflated, based on poor statistical understanding and fear for the future. Such criticism is important; the images we use to describe a problem affect how we think about the solution.’

Klassekampen
Andersen, guri sogn

Guri Sogn Andersen is a marine biologist (PhD) specialized in kelp forest ecology. She has a lot of experience from fieldwork both above and below the water surface. She works as a researcher at NIVA, The Norwegian Institute for Water Research.
On her website you will find background material, graphical presentations of data and useful tips on projects and measures to limit the amount of garbage that end up in the wild: http://guriandersen.no/plasten-havhesten-havet/.