As a staple of every Key Wester's personal care regimen, it was no surprise to find standing room only as locals flooded the City Government building to discuss a proposed ban - the first of its kind in the continental US - on certain types of sunscreen. We discuss the arguments shared by both sides, and go into why this matters not just for Key West, but for the entire planet.
One thing is certain, if youre in Key West, you’re outside and enjoying life on the water.
But if you’re the unlucky coral larvae recently spawned into the open ocean, awaiting your chance to cling to a passing surface so you can begin your slow steady journey to growing into a rocky habitat for fish and sea life to call home, those sounds might sound like something out of a horror film.
Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the barrier reef by private boat, by charter, and by catamaran, to take in the sights beneath the surface, totally unaware of the unintentional mess they leave behind.
I wanted to make sure to thank the City of Key West Government for providing access to the City Commission meetings via live stream and video, the January 15th meeting being the one from which the audio you hear in this episode was procured.
Full show notes at www.keywestperspective.com/podcast/sunscreen
Includes link to the full debate video
Includes links to resources on coral, oxybenzone and octinoxate, as well as a list of stores in Key West currently (as of January 2019) carrying safe sunscreens that would not be affected by the ban.