Here's an eye-opening special on VBS TV about plastic in the ocean: Garbage Island

Anyway, today is Earth Day. But, the earth doesn't need our help; it's just a planet. Now life on earth is what's in danger. As George Carlin said, "The planet if fine, it's the people that are fucked!"
Why not call it "Life Day"? After all, most of the things "good" for the environment also help life on earth.
Humans need food, water, and air to live, and pollution contaminates all three. Diseases and cancer result.
If people don't know that their health is in danger, well then they have less of a reason to worry about pollution.
We usually get to choose what we buy here in America, and what we buy is what we support. Support companies that are environmentally responsible.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle, in that order.
Reduce: Do you really need a plastic bag for that sandwich from SUBWAY? Get a reusable canteen or bottle instead of buying bottled water.
Reuse: Reuse bags, containers, etc. Buy and sell used furniture, clothes, books, etc.
Recycle: Look for recycling centers if you don't have weekly pickup. Recycling metal (a.k.a. beer cans) is way cheaper that mining for it, which means less energy, which means less pollution.

There are plenty of websites and books on how to live "green."

The Green Guide

Green, Greener, Greenest