Currently, the United States uses 500 million straws every day, which if laid end-to-end, could wrap around Earth two and a half times. Santa Monica, which has been a trailblazer in many environmental areas, should take the initiative to curb this number. The most effective course of action is to invoke a ban on plastic straws.

Several groups will benefit from the elimination of plastic straws. Marine life will no longer be plagued by as many single-use plastic products, which currently harm their health. It will also help improve the health of locals and other people who either swim in the ocean or eat marine life from the area. Locals and tourists alike will benefit by the reduced amount of visible pollution on our otherwise beautiful beaches and oceans. Finally, the city of Santa Monica will benefit from an enhanced reputation as an environmental steward.

Please take a moment to sign this petition, help take plastic straw pollution out of our food chain. For more information regarding our goals, see reducingstrawpollution.com. Thank you for supporting young environmental activists!