Ask Grace Doleshel why she loves the ocean, and she bubbles with memories of family visits to the rugged Olympic coast: exploring tide pools, walking miles of wild beaches. Shay Steeves also grew up with a love of the sea, swimming and exploring Puget Sound shores.
But the high school seniors have another thing in common: both Zoo Guides at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, their shared passion for the ocean and its creatures recently led them to Olympia to testify about why Washington should give up plastic bags.
The Olympia visit on Monday, January 21 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – was part of a joint teen advocacy day with Woodland Park Zoo and the Seattle Aquarium. Grace, Shay and six fellow Zoo youth volunteers, along with their Seattle counterparts, met with state legislators to discuss the proposed Washington Reusable Bag Bill.
This bill would create a statewide law eliminating the distribution of thin plastic shopping bags, reducing the threat plastic trash poses to marine wildlife and replacing the confusing mix of the existing 27 different city and county bag ordinances.
After an introductory meeting learning about the legislative process and getting tips from Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien) and Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-Seattle), the group dispersed to talk with representatives of their home and surrounding districts.
After some initial jitters, the students hit their stride.
“While I was nervous at first, I learned that they are just people interested in our thoughts, and were very open to hearing from us,” observed Logan Cornwell. “We could relate on a personal level to find common ground.”
The teens noted that while many legislators support the bill, some had concerns. Those meetings, they agreed, were the most instructive.
Said Enjoli Shaw, “I learned how to be persuasive with people who have different perspectives than I do.”
Shay Steeves, who has an interest in studying political science, had a chance to bring her passion to center stage by testifying at the bill’s committee hearing. Her poise during an event that would intimidate most adults was impressive.
“I tried to make it personal,” she said. “It felt really good to share my story and hear the diversity of opinions. I’d love to do it again!”
Enjoli and the other teens agreed the Olympia day was a powerful learning experience.
“It was really cool to take action by talking to people who make the decisions about the future of our environment,” she said.
For Sam Kerr, who plans a career in marine biology, the issue of ocean plastic pollution is personal.
“Scientists estimate that by 2050 there may be more plastic in the ocean than fish,” he said. “An ocean full of plastic won’t have much value for exploring.”
Why would eight teenagers give up the freedom of a school holiday to spend the day talking with elected officials – especially when they won’t know the impact of their advocacy for some time?
Grace Doleshel summed it up.
“I know we’re the generation that will face the results of today’s action,” she said. “I want to be part of making a change.”
TAKE ACTION: Find out here about the reusable bag bill and how you can tell your representative how you feel about reducing plastic!
-Karen Povey, conservation engagement manager, PDZA