Latest news with #MandyBarker
Daily Record
24-06-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Tiny Scottish island becomes launchpad for major marine plastic pollution campaign
The island welcomed high-profile figures for a campaign to tackle ocean plastic pollution A tiny Scottish island has become the striking launchpad for a nationwide campaign to combat marine plastic pollution. Wee Cumbrae, a quiet island in the Firth of Clyde, recently welcomed high-profile figures for a drive to tackle plastic in the ocean. Conservationists, artists, and environmental campaigners all travelled as the starting point of Project One Wave, a new collaborative initiative led by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK and Seashell Clothing. The campaign aims to bring together the UK's most committed ocean conservation groups, businesses, creatives and policymakers to tackle the escalating issue of plastic pollution through beach clean-ups and underwater recovery efforts. In one of the project's first major events, 36 volunteers travelled to Wee Cumbrae to remove harmful debris from the shoreline of the island, which had a peak of 23 residents in the late 1800s. Items like cotton buds, bottle tops, and nurdles that pose serious threats to marine life were recovered. The following day, the group regrouped in Inverkip to sort the waste, preparing it for recycling and upcycling to ensure it never returns to the sea. Among the volunteers were several high-profile figures, including internationally acclaimed photographic artist Mandy Barker, dedicated seal rescuer Eden Willmott, and Scottish Influencer of the Year Laura Young. David Brown, co-owner of Seashell Clothing, hailed the growing movement: 'We have started a movement here in Project One Wave that is gathering real momentum. "The willingness and sheer want to get involved in this project by a rapidly growing number of individuals, organisations and businesses alike is hugely encouraging. "It is giving us the perfect platform to explore ideas together, whilst amplifying a positive message of collective ongoing efforts to tackle marine pollution here in the UK.' Rob Read, Chief Operating Officer of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK, added: 'This should be a top priority. In the west of Scotland alone, local fishing boats lose over 600 tonnes of gear every year, nets, ropes and lines that become deadly traps. If we don't act now, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.' Owned by the Patanjali Yog Peeth Trust, Wee Cumbrae is more than just a stunning backdrop for this environmental effort. Rich in wildlife and history, the island once served as a royal hunting ground and now functions as a haven for nature and a spiritual retreat. It is home to the second-oldest lighthouse in Scotland, three castles, and a beach often visited by a colony of around 100 grey seals. Sunita Poddar, Trustee of the Patanjali Yog Peeth Trust, said: 'Wee Cumbrae is rich in history and wildlife so it's only fitting that it becomes the starting point for a movement as vital as Project One Wave. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "We're proud to welcome the Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK, Seashell Clothing and all the fantastic volunteers to the island, and to be a part of such an important effort to tackle pollution in our oceans.' With more clean-up events planned across the summer, preparations are also under way for the inaugural Project One Wave summit in Glasgow, scheduled for late October. Wee Cumbrae itself remains something of a hidden gem. Its only residents, caretakers Peter and Linda, tend to the main house and maintain the grounds, preserving a landscape steeped in Scottish heritage.
France 24
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Art that speaks for the sea: Mandy Barker's mission to end fast fashion waste
10:14 In this special edition for World Oceans Day, we spotlight the urgent, haunting work of Mandy Barker, the award-winning British photographic artist using sea-salvaged fashion waste to expose the truth about plastic pollution. Her cyanotype series "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections" reimagines the work of 19th-century botanist Anna Atkins, replacing seaweed with clothing scraps collected from 121 beaches around the UK. The result is both poetic and jarring, earning praise from none other than Sir David Attenborough, who supports Barker's work for its power to inspire real change. Also on the programme, we share the mesmerising photography of Jean Gaumy, an official naval artist and member of Magnum Photos, whose decades-long career documenting life at sea continues to shape how we see the ocea – from polar expeditions to submarine missions. Together, their work is a wake-up call – and a visual love letter – to the world's most vital ecosystem.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Photographer in disbelief after eerie beach discovery raises questions: 'I recovered clothing ... from different eras'
A photographer used her craft to document how fast fashion is rapidly becoming a danger to the environment. Mandy Barker has spent the last decade and a half using her art as a way to increase awareness about plastic pollution on the coast of the United Kingdom. The effects of fast fashion waste are explored in her latest book, "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Imperfections." Barker started the project after mistaking a piece of cloth for seaweed. She eventually recovered 200 seaweed-like fabric samples of waste clothing from 121 beaches along the coast. The photographer said the damaged textile samples are the type of synthetic clothing that often contributes to plastic pollution in the sea. "I didn't only find socks or items that could have been left by someone visiting the beach," Barker said. "I recovered clothing identified from different eras like the 1970s." The fashion industry is a major contributor to environmental harm. According to Business Insider, the fashion industry produces 10% of all carbon pollution. It's also the second-largest consumer of the world's water supply. Fast fashion refers to trendy, low-quality clothing that is quickly produced and sold to consumers at affordable prices. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 35% of microplastics found in the ocean come from synthetic fabrics that are often used for fast fashion. The rapid production of fast fashion is responsible for massive amounts of waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the main source of textiles in municipal solid waste is discarded clothing. Around 92 million tons of clothes-related waste are discarded every year, per In an effort to curb the effects of fast fashion, the United Nations launched an initiative called the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion. The U.N. said the alliance is committed to reducing the negative environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry. There's also the slow fashion movement. Slow fashion is dedicated to reducing overproduction and overconsumption and urges consumers to shift from quantity to quality. Consumers can save hundreds of dollars by breaking up with fast fashion. Consider shopping at thrift stores or browsing resale platforms such as ThredUp to find more durable secondhand clothing. What should the government do about the fast fashion industry? Set strict regulations Incentivize sustainable options Use both regulations and incentives Nothing Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
