Double Dose of Good Vibes in Palau

Palau, ever heard of it? Probably not. In May 2018, Hawaii became the first state to ban reef-harming sunscreens. The policy will go into effect in January 2021. Since then Palau has also stepped up, not wasting any time. The Pacific island nation recently became the first country to ban toxic sunscreens. From January 1, 2019, any store in Palau selling a banned sunscreen will be fined $1,000.  Now it’s not all sunblocks just those containing oxybenzone, for example, a chemical that is a known endocrine disruptor in humans. In fact, it has been linked it to reproductive issues including endometriosis, early puberty, low sperm count, infertility, and increases in hormone-related cancers. Just how much of the stuff does it take to harm our underwater world? A f**king smidge is all you need. According to a study it only takes as little as one drop of the stuff in six-and-a-half Olympic-sized swimming pools to cause serious damage to a coral reef. Now think about how much of the stuff you smear all over your self?  Following on from their assault on toxic sunblock, Palau got an instant Karma boost. After being closed for two years to allow its diminishing golden jellyfish population […]

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