The Queen banned plastic straws, bottles and microbeads in early February 2018 across the royal estates after David Attenborough's documentary on wildlife in the Commonwealth.The pair are quite literally old friends as you can see from this old photo and the news of the plastics ban made headlines around the world. This Ed, having had a hall pass for David Attenborough for years, suddenly loves the Queen a bit more as well. (Not hall pass level, but definitely best eco friend.)PRETTY MUCH EVERY ATTENBOROUGH FAN ON THE PLANET KNOWS ABOUT HIS POSITION ON PLASTICS, BUT WHEN SOMEONE LIKE THE QUEEN IS INFLUENCED TO MAKE A CHANGE, A WHOLE NEW AUDIENCE IS LISTENING. The thing is that the Queen is like the Kim Kardashian for monarchists, so her ban on plastic will get all those millions of Queen followers around the empire hanging off her every wave. And of course, they will tell their friends. It all counts in the global conversation.
Queenie seems to be increasingly involved with the 21st century as she was even seen here rocking it in the front row at London Fashion Week next to Anna Wintour this year. Each making their own personal fashion statement... And showing the same level of show side merry-ment. Let's hope she stays just as merry and focused on the plastics ban.
Queen Elizabeth has been working with Sir David Attenborough on a conservation documentary dealing with wildlife in the Commonwealth. Reportedly, in the documentary, plans were discussed to create a network of national forested parks across the 52 countries of the Commonwealth.Frankly, the parks are good, but right now Queenie's direct plastics ban is better because in this cynical world, the ban is immediate. No bureaucrats to sign it off, no approval process and no political whim to set it aside.. It's happened, it's news and what Queenie does influences others - and many of them, around the world.
Everyone of us has the power to influence someone. We don't have to be famous to influence. We have friends, family and work mates. (And even with none of those, we still have ourselves.)
90 percent of all trash floating on the ocean's surface is plastic. One million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed at our hands annually from plastic in our oceans.Every decision we take makes a difference, no mater how small. One less piece of plastic in circulation means one less piece of plastic in circulation. It all counts. A straw, a bottle, a cup, a balloon. All of it counts.Images: (Kim Kardashian et al) Popsugar | (Queen & Anna) NSS Magazine | (Shopping Trolley) Brett Stanley Photography