It’s here, my no straw challenge!

Okay, let me back up a little bit.

About a month ago one of my Soul-Cycle instructors, Pixie did a no straw challenge to bring awareness to the amount of single use plastic straws our society uses each day. I admire Pixie for using Instagram as a platform for education and change rather than ego inflation. I knew I had to follow in her footsteps.

You see, I can still remember falling in love with the Ocean.

As a young girl I fell in love with any body of water, but there was always a special connection with the Ocean. I remember family beach trips where I would annoy my sister trying to build sand castles. As I grew older traditions shifted, during my teenage years my Dad would take me deep sea fishing after my basketball camp each summer. And, when I laid eyes on the pacific Ocean from the outdoor basketball courts of Pepperdine University (I was there for a basketball camp), I knew LA would be my home.

The Ocean has always brought me a sense of calm and understanding. In fact, it’s where I usually go when I need to re-evaluate aspects of my life. The Ocean has been a constant beacon for all that is possible in life, a reminder of how small but important I am in this life. The way I can repay her for all the life lessons is to do my part to ensure her livelihood. We, humans, need the Ocean and yet we continue to destroy her.

I want you all to think about the following statistics (of course I would give stats 😃) from The Last Plastic Straw,

The United States of America:

• Makes up 5% of the world’s population
• Consumes 30% of the world’s resources
• Creates 30% of the world’s waste

In the U.S., we use 500 million straws a day! That is enough straw waste to wrap the circumference of the earth 2.5 times or to fill Yankee Stadium over 9 times in a year! Now imagine that magnified by global consumption!

500 million straws in one day!

Here’s the problem, plastic straws (most plastic really) is not biodegradable. Meaning, it will never go away. Many of us believe, I sure did, that if you recycle it’s totally fine. But that’s a fallacy. Only a small percentage of recycled plastic is ever actually reused.

What can you do?

• Just say no to plastic straws. Do you really need a straw for water?
• Bring your own straws. Must have a straw, bring it with you; preferably in a reusable cup!
• Metal, reusable (biodegradable) plastic, and paper straws are inexpensive and environmentally friendly.

What is the No Straw Challenge?

• From August 14 – September 14 give up single use plastic straws
• Post pictures on your Instagram and/or your Instastory
• Use the #NoStrawChallenge AND tag me JeanaJuice
• I will keep track, those who post the most will be eligible for prizes!

I am working with sponsors to finalize prizes, but there will be reusable water bottles and coffee cups. Also, if a winner is local to Santa Monica I am going to throw in a gift certificate to a local coffee joint!

**You have to use the hashtag and tag me in your posts so I can keep track!

Together we can make a difference. ✌🏼

Featured image from: Lumina News

Post image from: Greenpeace UK