TED Community » Dianna Cohen

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Art & Creating a world free of Plastic Pollution.

An idea worth spreading

Plastic Pollution Coalition is a global alliance of individuals, organizations and businesses working together to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals and the environment.

Talk to me about

Alternatives to single use plastics.Glass, Wood. Stainless steel. Ceramic. And Art

My TED Story

Dianna Cohen is the co-founder of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a group that addresses the pervasive problem of plastic pollution. She was inspired to co-found the group by her work as an artist -- because her chosen material is the ubiquitous plastic bag. She writes: "Having worked with the plastic bag as my primary material for the past fifteen years, all of the obvious references to recycling, first-world culture, class, high and low art give way to an almost formal process which reflects the unique flexibility of the medium."
With the Plastic Pollution Coalition, she helps to raise awareness of ocean waste -- the majority of which is nondegradable plastic -- and everyday strategies to cut down the amount of plastic we use and throw away.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.30 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A reply on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Nov 30 2012: Yes, re-educate. Plastic Free Campuses!
  
  Check out: http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/projects/plastic-free-campuses/
  
  I think that you are describing the idea of making use of single-use and disposable plastics socially unacceptable...like smoking in public spaces. Cool idea.

• A reply on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Nov 30 2012: Hi Ines,
  
  The link to join the Coalition is www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
  
  Please join us and here's to a future free from disposable plastic!

• A reply on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Aug 26 2012: Traveling abroad does pose challenges to REFUSING disposable plastics. In Brazil for the Earth Summit, we found several brands of glass bottled waters at the regular markets.
  Many time, mineral or carbonated waters are sold in Glass bottles as well.
  I also carry a small brita filter with me. I would prefer if Brita would make these from glass and stainless steel, so it is not optimal, but they are multi-use at least.
  Open to more ideas so solutions and always searching for the better healthier choice.
  Please post ideas to the FB page Plastic Pollution Coalition.
• +2

  A comment on Talk: Inara George sings 'Family Tree'

  Feb 14 2012: Inara George and Mike Andrews performing "Family Tree": at the TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch - a conference to address the Global Plastic Pollution Crisis in November 2010
  Join the movement to REFUSE single use plastics at PlasticPollutionCoalition.org

• A comment on Conversation: If you could make a wish on behalf of The City 2.0, what would it be?

  Dec 7 2011: The City of the Future should be Free of toxic and carelessly used disposable plastics.
  
  As we shift from a Cradle to Grave to a more sustainable Cradle to Cradle model, we can move away from the wasteful use of any materials such as disposable and single use plastics and take into account the true costs and price of use to our health, the health of animals, the Ocean and to the Environment.
  With Extended Producer Responsibility and the True (yet often hidden)costs of materials and energy taken into account, the City 2.0 will be a wonderful, healthy and functional place to live.
  We must find a way to respect and incorporate Nature, because we are a part of it. The toxins which leach from plastics into my food and drink and into my body should not be a part of it.
  
  Here's to Plastic Free Times in The City 2.0
• +1

  A reply on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Aug 23 2011: This may interest you, Plastic Pollution in our Bodies:
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFfhkFpLxLI&feature=relmfu

• A comment on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Aug 23 2011: The best solution that I see is to choose alternative materials and move away from disposable plastics all together. I use glass and stainless steel bottles daily. My vintage pyrex and jam jar containers are wonderful and colorful and no energy has been expended to create them (at least no energy in the last 30 years as they are old, my friends) and they do not leach toxins into my food or beverages.
  I bring my own canvas bags and when asked paper or plastic, simple say, neither, thank you!
  Wishing you all a wonderful single use and disposable plastic free day!

• A reply on Talk: Van Jones: The economic injustice of plastic

  Aug 13 2011: This thoughtful talk by Van Jones was one of many talks given over the course of a day at the TEDxGreatPacificGarbagePatch in November 2010.
  To put his talk in context and if you are interested, you can watch all of the talks from TEDxGPGP on the following website:
  
  www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
  
  Go to VIDEOS. Thank you and REFUSE single use plastics.

• A reply on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Dec 31 2010: Gracias Lenora,
  Mas informacion en: www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
  y mas videos TEDtalks del TEDXGreat Pacific Garbage Patch
  http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/video-gallery/
• +2

  A reply on Talk: Dianna Cohen: Tough truths about plastic pollution

  Nov 8 2010: Please have a look at the site:
  
  www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org
  
  Be the Change that you want to see in the world.