Interview with Shelby O'Neil: The RE.Plastic Change-Maker & Sagittarian Superstar

After coming across the Brut video about Shelby O'Neil on the Greener Minds Facebook group, about this wonderful teenage Girl Scout from California who has had a powerful impact #BeatingPlasticPollution, I nominated her the first Re.Plastic Change-maker and wrote a post about her contributions.
Shelby O'Neil, photo by Gigi Brisson.


Then I took it a step further -- taking a page from Shelby's book -- and reached out to her via Twitter and requested an interview. Despite just going back to school Shelby took the time out to answer some questions for the Re.Plastic blog and inspire others to #EndPlasticPollution.


Q1) When and how did you first become aware of the ocean plastic problem? 

(A1) The summer going into 7th grade, I was accepted into the Monterey Bay Aquarium's “Young Women in Science” program and then it continued the next summer for their second-year program.  This is when I learned the issues facing our ocean and the need to make a change and help eliminate single-use plastic items.  

Q2) When did you start Jr Ocean Guardians

(A2) I knew ever since I was a little girl that I wanted to make a change.  I seriously started putting my ideas down on paper after my first Young Women in Science summer program.  The summer before I started high school I was accepted into the Monterey Bay Aquarium's “Teen Conservation Leader” program and this is when I seriously started putting everything together and decided to form Jr Ocean Guardians as my Girl Scout Gold Award project.  The Gold Award project is the highest honor you can receive in Girl Scouts.

Q3) What are some of your non-profit's key activities? Which particular ones are you really happy with – those that you felt had an exponential impact. 

(A3) The mission of Jr Ocean Guardians is to educate youth on how they can help our planet. We have an Activity Book that connects kids to issues currently facing our oceans and it keeps their attention while making learning fun. 

While working in a classroom one day, I realized that the children were excited to learn and really want to make a difference, but they didn't know what they could do.  This is when I came up “No Straw November.”  #NoStrawNovember challenges people of all ages to refuse single-use plastic straws during the month of November and then keep a tally of how many straws they were offered and how many they refused.  It's all about building awareness.  2017 was the first year for #NoStrawNovember and it had a global following.  In the past year, the awareness to the impact of single-use plastic straws and plastics, in general, has become front-page news, which is a win for all of earth's inhabitants.  

Shelby O'Neil at Watsonville, CA, on April 22, 2018: Earth Day.

Q4) What inspired you to write to CEOs and influencers about the impact of single-use plastic & the marine plastic pollution crisis? 

(A4) To get things done, you have to start at the top!  CEOs of companies are the ones making the decisions and they need to be aware that their decisions affect our environment.  Companies can say they are environmentally sustainable, but they sometimes forget the small things like single-use plastic straws and stirrers.   

Q5) Are you aware of the Ocean Cleanup project – set up in your state (California) which will be launched in September 2018, started by a Dutch young man when he was just 19 years old to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? Have you had a chance to visit the facility? 

(A5) It's incredible what Boyan Slat has been able to achieve at such a young age and it gives me great hope for the health of our oceans.  He and his team are working out of the San Francisco area and hopefully, I will get a chance to tour his facility one day.  

Q6) The Story of Stuff project which was started by Annie Leonard who is now the head of Greenpeace USA is working on the Story of Plastic. They just had a #PlasticFreeJuly challenge. Are you aware of their work and/or are you associated with it? 

(A6) I did support #PlasticFreeJuly and I support awareness campaigns that bring global awareness to the issue of plastic pollution.  The more people that are educated, the more we can make a difference.  

Q7) Could you share a little bit about the impact of the #NoStrawNovember campaign and describe how you promoted it? 


(A7) #NoStrawNovember’s impact has beyond amazing.  I have very little funds but I was able to have close to 10,000 people worldwide pledge online their support to refuse single-use plastic straws during November. 

I requested a No Straw November Proclamation with the California Coastal Commission and they unanimously approved it in October 2017, which was a huge victory for #NoStrawNovember. 

After this victory, I had the support of large non-profits. 

Being a Girl Scout, I reached out to my Girl Scouts sisters throughout the USA and asked for their support.  All of this was down via social media, it just took off.  I had a special edition patch that a portion of the patch donation went to the Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council in Houston, TX, for Hurricane Harvey relief and I was able to donate $2,050

It was just amazing seeing posts from all over the world with their #NoStrawNovember posters promoting no single-use plastic straws.   There were cities, counties, schools, restaurants, and everyday people participating.  It was definitely a team #NoStrawNovember movement with people all over the world supporting and spreading awareness, it is much bigger than one person.  

Q8) Can you share your involvement and journey in getting the SCR139 bill passed in the California Senate and making way for providing Straws only on Demand only.  

SCR 139 No Straw November has been an incredible journey!  The protocol for a Resolution is that you first have to request a Proclamation from an Agency sponsor.  My sponsor was the California Coastal Commission and it has been very rewarding working with the staff at the Coastal Commission.  Once my No Straw November Proclamation passed, it then moved to my sponsor at the California Senate who is California Majority Leader Bill Monning

Jr Ocean Guardians, along with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, co-sponsored SCR 139 No Straw November with Senator Monning.  SCR 139 went to vote in the California Senate on June 21, 2018, and passed and then California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon jockeyed SCR 139 in the California Assembly, where it passed on August 23, 2018.  

While working on SCR 139, I was introduced to Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon and he asked me to testify at the Natural Resources Committee in support of AB 1884 – Straws Upon Request.  AB 1884 has passed both the California Assembly and Senate and is waiting for Governor Brown's signature.  

It's important to note that this bill does not ban straws, you have to request them as they will not be handed out or put in drinks automatically at dine-in restaurants.  



Q9) As an individual, how have you made your life plastic-free/reduced plastic use personally and in your home? 

(A9) It's not easy reducing single-use plastic and it's really a step-by-step process.  We eliminated single-use plastic straws and single-use water bottles.  We have paper sandwich bags and try to limit prepacked food items when shopping in the grocery store.  We use reusable shopping bags and shop for more environmentally friendly items.  My friends have been very supportive and they are also reducing their single-use plastic.  



                                               Supportive friends make a real difference.



Q10) What's your dream for a better environment and the effect & reach of Jr Ocean Guardians? 

(A10) 

"I want to leave the planet better than I arrived."



 My dream for Jr Ocean Guardians is to not only teach children what they can do for our planet, but teach everyone how their actions make an impact and how we all have the power to make positive change.  


 

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