A new blog post today. This is actually one that has nothing to do with my usual subject maters, art, street art, public art, snail mail, etc. It is just based on a traveling observation about styrofoam. And those who took part in the old ban of styrofoam in Freeport ME, well you were all in my mind while I wrote it. Acts of Random Art http://ift.tt/NZSxzB Acts of Random Art: Styrofoam. Not a Street Art Story. This is about public art and looking at all kinds of art from graffiti to outdoor sculptures to murals to random things set up for pictures. Comments welcome. http://ift.tt/JSL7u6

Styrofoam. Not a Street Art Story.

This is one thing I thought should be shared and yet not related to art, my usual subject mater.

First, I just want to say that traveling across the country by Greyhound is always fun for me. This last trip was Freeport, ME to Salt Lake City, UT. The bus is a great way to see the country and note a few things along the way. 

The one thing that seemed to stick out this trip was as I left Maine and headed further west was how much Styrofoam was used to serve coffee. (I am sure it was also used for other things but I was mostly buying coffee on the road, so for the purpose of this note, that is what I will concentrate on.) Thankfully, for myself, I had a travel thermos that I would pour my coffee into. Living in Maine I often have a travel cup in hand or sit with a mug at the place I grab a drink. If I don't have my cup I know I’ll get a paper cup, either because that is what is offered or I can request one. That just makes me really happy about living in the state of Maine. It feels like far less foam is offered and if it shows up it is from a coffee chain or a gas station counter. 

Noticing the use of so much Styrofoam made me think of how happy to be proud I am of my home town of Freeport, ME. In 1990, it was put into the town law that no food or drink is to be served using Styrofoam. This was accomplished by kids who noticed on the bus rides to and from school that there was a lot of trash on the side of the road, especially fast food packaging. We also all attended nature camps and special classes and learned that Styrofoam did not biodegrade and was unhealthy to people at every stage – making it through eating from it, not to mention the bad impact on wildlife. So we went up against McDonald's coming to town to get them to stop using foam packaging (I was one of those who helped make protest signs for outside of McDonald's). Our activism not only got McDonald's to change their minds locally, but they brought that practice nation-wide. We also got the town to back us and pass the local ordinances that are still in place today. I was just looking over the rules that were put into action and couldn't believe that it has almost been 25 years since Freeport, Maine passed this law. 

I think that sometime in 2015 we should truly celebrate this. Not only was it something good for the environment, but also for our own health. A few years back Freeport's law was put up against a chain grocery store moving into town. They did not think the rule should apply to their deli. But at that time, we had a small grocery shop that already followed that rule and did not wrap meats in Styrofoam trays wrapped in plastic. After a battle from the people in town, we won keeping the law intact. This is also why we need to have some kind of "Styrofoam Free Zone" celebration. The town of Freeport should be very happy for this environmental and health accomplishment. Traveling across the country really made me realize how special a feat a bunch of kids accomplished. I just wish more towns and cities would follow our lead. It was a rather simple concept and it really would be healthier for the planet and every living creature and person.

If you would like to learn more about the "Styrofoam Ban" in Freeport Maine check Code number 33.

Freeport Maine: Ordinances and Codes (#33)

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