Over the last few days in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset, over a
thousand stricken seabirds including guillemots, puffins and razorbills have
been washed up on our shores, dead or dying.
The culprit: a substance called
Polyisobutene (PIB) which covers these precious seabirds in a toxic glue. [1]
Birds that come into contact with PIB eventually die of
hunger or hypothermia as the sticky glue-like substance means they can’t eat or
move properly.
There is already a long list of banned substances which
ships can’t dump at sea. The transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin MP, has
the power to press for PIB to be added to that list.
To do that, he must put pressure on the International
Maritime Organization (IMO).
This international agency is responsible for our
seas and oceans and has the power to make it illegal for ships to dump PIB. [2]
He needs to know that the British public want him to act
now, and do as much as he can to protect our precious birds.
The RSPB and other conservation charities are putting
pressure on the transport secretary to take action without delay. [3]
The organisation 38 Degrees has raised a petition.
Will you please consider adding your name to protect our
wildlife?
NOTES:
[1] BBC News England: RSPB says seabird deaths caused by
'worst PIB spill': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22246072
[2] Read more about the IMO here: http://www.imo.org/Pages/home.aspx
[3] RSPB to raise seabird pollution issue with Government: http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/344390-rspb-to-raise-seabird-pollution-issue-with-government
