Tag: #plasticpollution

The need to save the ocean

To paraphrase a line from Ron Burgundy, the ocean is a big thing. Big enough for scientists to point out that the term “Earth” is a misnomer. Water may be a more accurate name for a world that is nearly 3/4 covered in water, with marine plants contributing a whopping 50 percent or more of the oxygen we breathe. With all of that stated, it’s past time (high tide?) for us to band together to save the resource that has been depleted.

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The state of the ocean is not good

The bad news is that human activity is wreaking havoc on the environment. The good news is that there are several things we can do to help stop (and even reverse!) those detrimental behaviors, which is why this is a message about hope and empowerment rather than doom and gloom.

Plastic pollution is destroying the ocean

A non-profit that works to protect the ocean Every year, 17.6 billion pounds of plastic is estimated to escape into the ocean from land-based sources, according to Oceana. Every 60 seconds, a garbage truck full of plastic is dumped into our waterways. The world’s most renowned (and largest) rubbish dump is located in the ocean.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers 1.6 million square kilometres and contains 1.8 trillion bits of plastic in an estimated 80,000 metric tonne landfill. Plastic garbage in the ocean is believed to kill over one million sea animals each year, including sea turtles, sharks, and coral reef (yes, coral reef is an animal!).

Plastics in the ocean will surpass fish in the ocean (!?) by 2050, according to research, and 99 percent of seabirds will have plastics in their GI tract. Plastic pollution is not only destructive to the ocean; there is also evidence that it is harmful to humans.

Acidification in the ocean

Carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by the oceans over decades have changed the underlying chemistry of our ocean, resulting in an increase in acidity. Acidification causes small decreases in shell density in small creatures, which support entire ecosystems despite their small size.

As the world’s seas warm, species are moving in large numbers to new locations, posing new challenges or simply failing to develop as they should, while millions of people rely on fish as their primary source of nutrition. It’s also causing the Great Barrier Reef to perish. Coral reefs require all of the protection we can provide, given the disastrous effects of climate change.

Because it has the potential to cause the most apparent and immediate human misery, sea-level rise may be the most well-known of these concerns. Low-lying areas such as Miami and the South Pacific islands are growing increasingly vulnerable; 10% of the world’s population lives on the low-lying coast.

Meanwhile, deoxygenation, which is most typically caused by algal blooms fed by nutrient-rich fertilizer run-off, is causing enormous dead zones and suffocating marine life.

Overfishing

Fishing techniques that are illegal, uncontrolled, and unreported are common. Humans have already brought the giant grouper, several skates and rays, and a dozen or more other sturgeon species to the brink of extinction through fishing.

Bluefin tuna is one of the fish species whose populations may never recover as a result of unsustainable fishing techniques. Other apex predators, such as sharks, are among the most endangered.

Places like Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary have shown how impactful policy changes can be in helping species rebound.

Ocean conservation isn’t just a hobby for those who enjoy the water. You might not be a scuba diver, a fisherman, or a seaside dweller. Perhaps you have a seafood allergy and despise surfers! Even so, chances are you still breathe air and enjoy life when there is less human suffering.

Plants and trees are oxygen-producing powerhouses. But wait till you see what oceanic greens can accomplish! (Hint: it’s not just trees.)  More than half of the oxygen on the earth is produced by marine plants. 

Thoughts famous people have about ocean

Jacques Cousteau: “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

Beyoncé Knowles: “I’m always happy when I’m surrounded by water, I think I’m a mermaid or I was a mermaid. The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective… it humbles you and makes you feel almost like you’ve been baptized. I feel born again when I get out of the ocean.”

William Wordsworth: “The ocean is a mighty harmonist.”

John F. Kennedy: “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.”

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Ways in which you can help save the ocean

  1. EDUCATE YOURSELF

Step 1: Land and sea are far more intertwined than most people think, and activities taken on land have substantial consequences in the ocean. The good news is that there are a plethora of tools available—Pinterest offers a plethora of ocean-saving categorieS.

2. Opt for Ocean and Earth-Friendly Products

Oceana’s is to demand plastic-free alternatives to items such as plastic water bottles, straws, plastic cutlery, coffee cups, bags, balloons, plastic-wrapped produce, and take-out food containers.

References

http://www.growensemble.com

http://www.wikipedia.com

Should plastic be banned?

Plastics are a man-made disaster that will continue to plague us for thousands of years. Furthermore, we have never lived a life free of plastic. Plastics are present in every part of our life, including entertainment, medical care, travel, employment, and even our homes. But it wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t recognize that plastic has also been a benefit to global economic prosperity. For many industries, it has shown to be a wonder material. Plastic derived from fossil fuels such as oil and petroleum is widely utilized in the production of a wide range of products, including plastic bags, kitchenware, furniture, doors, sheets, packaging materials, counter tops, and other items.

Plastics are omnipresent, and they have improved our lives, so banning them isn’t an option. However, prohibiting certain plastic sectors, such as the plastic bag industry, appears to be a sensible idea because plastic bags can be replaced. Jute, gunny, and paper bags are all viable alternatives to plastic bags. When it comes to plastic bags, the reuse and recycle approach can be applied. People should be made aware of the negative consequences of using plastics through proper awareness and instructional programs. Plastic bags are frequently utilized and are freely available on the market. Plastic bags are commonly found in supermarkets and are used to transport commodities such as rice, fruits, vegetables, wheat flour, and other foods. Plastic bags come in a variety of sizes and are far more cost-effective and convenient to use than paper bags.

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY PLASTIC BAGS INCLUDE:

Environmental Degradation: Because of their negative consequences, plastic bags have become a major source of land pollution today. Plastic bags are placed in landfills and take 500 years to decompose. Although these bags are light in weight and easily delivered by air, the waste they create on land and in landfills pollutes the environment. Plastic bags that enter water bodies are a major source of water pollution, and as a result, they harm our ecosystem in every manner.

Human Impact: On land, one of the most common sorts of litter is plastic shopping bags. Large amounts of plastic bags have been known to clog local drainage systems, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Floods in Bangladesh 20 years ago, for example, were blamed in part on bottlenecks in drainage systems caused by plastic shopping bags. Over time, plastic shopping bags leach pollutants into water systems, posing a health danger to human populations. Plastic bags are extremely difficult to recycle. While the three arrows in a circle recyclable emblem appears on many plastic shopping bags in the United States, it is frequently a marketing ploy.

Animal Impact: The world’s largest albatross colony is found on Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. These birds fly to these remote islands and forage at sea, often hundreds of miles away, for food for their young. Thousands of these beautiful birds have died at Midway Airport after ingesting significant amounts of plastic bag shards and bits. Adult birds bring all of the plastic detected in these birds to the island, where it is fed to the young birds. On a daily basis, four tons of plastic are predicted to accumulate here. Our oceans and seas are home to the bulk of the world’s species. Hundreds of different animals and birds are at risk of being injured or killed as a result of swallowing or being entangled in plastic bag flotsam. Marine creatures that eat floating plastic shopping bags may mistake them for jellyfish. Sea turtles are one of the animals that are threatened by the bags. They’re on the verge of extinction, because to their habit of consuming massive amounts of plastic. Plastic shards fester in the stomach since it can’t be digested properly.

Why plastic bags should get banned?

Plastic bags are harming our environment. Plastics are non biodegradable product which means that they will not degrade in the soil for thousands and thousands of years. Plastic harms our environment in all the ways it can.

How plastic degrades our environment?

Land pollution from plastics…

Firstly, let’s talk about land pollution so if we throw plastic bags on for example, soil, it will not degrade easily and it will degrade may be after thousand years but the chemicals which are used to make the plastic bag degrade the fertility of the soil. Plastic bags are made from poisonous chemicals and if we will throw it in soil firstly it will degrade the fertility of the soil and secondly it will make the crop poisonous and if we will eat that food crops that will grow on such soil we can even die so it deplete the fertility of soil and at the same time makes our food poisonous. Please ,Please ,Please never throw plastic bags on soil or some land area where crops are grown. This way it causes land pollution.

How plastics causes animals death?

Sometimes animals eat plastic bags which causes them to choke. We should never throw plastic bags in garbages because in our country especially in India cows and many other animals like dogs eat from garbages and if by mistake they eat plastic it will let them to die so please never throw garbage inside plastic bags.

Water pollution from plastics…

Plastic bags also causes water pollution. Let’s see how. So when plastics are thrown inside water, the Marine animals which used to live inside the water bodies , by mistake eat that plastic or even a part of the plastic bag which made them to die. The plastic bags are made from poisonous chemicals so please remember never to throw plastic bags anywhere.

In these above-mentioned ways and many more ways plastics destroys our environment.

Measures taken against plastics by different countries…

Some Countries banned plastic totally while some other countries levied taxes on it. But a country is made by its countrymen and we are the country man of India and it is our national duty to stop using plastic bags and save our environment. In our country today also people are using plastic bags even after knowing that they are not good for our environment and causes so many problems.

Why still using plastic bags?

The question is why we are not stopping ourselves from using the plastic bags even if we know that it causes harmful effects on environment. So, there are a lot of reasons behind it. Let’s discuss them one by one.

The first reason is that we are used to it. We habitual of using plastic bags.

The second reason is that it is very convenient to use plastic bags. Plastic bags are lightweight and are very small in size so it becomes very easy for us to carry them . On the other hand cloth or jute bags are not lightweight and are big also, which makes them inconvenient or less convenient than plastic bags.

The third reason is that plastic bags are very cheap. So it’s easy to buy them.

So there are many more reasons but these are the main reasons which make plastic bags very common in use.

Conclusion

We should today take the oath that we have to never use plastic bags and this is not a rule that you have to follow against your will but this is your duty to never never never use plastic bags because it’s our Earth we can make it a better place to live for everybody else.We always want to change our society and the world. But let me tell you very clearly that you can’t.

You can just change yourself and you know what that will make the world change.

“If you can change yourself, you can change the world and if you can’t change yourself ,you will never be able to change the world.”

Thankyou so much for reading.

PLASTIC POLLUTION!

— A hazardous problem for our nation

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I have realized that i’m living in a world ,where : rivers are filled with pollutants , air is filled up with toxic gases , soil is polluted with waste materials , and humans are habituated to turn a blind eye upon these by the name of technology and development, expect for some people.

The major factor of this pollution is plastic , Do you know : More than 99% of plastics are produced from chemicals derived from oil,natural gas and coal -all of which are non-renewable resources. only 9%of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled , About 12% incinerated & the rest 79% used in land fills ,dumps etc,. so , please understand the seriousness of this and start using eco-friendly items.

plastic: the common factor for all pollutions.

Plastic waste is something which is not eco-friendly , non-renewable particles . Plastic pollution is nothing but a harmful accumulation of synthetic plastic production in the environment. Basically , plastic pollution is nothing but pollution caused by the plastic in different kinds of ways . Alot of plastic waste is dumped in the dumping areas not only causing the soil pollution but also making the land non-usable .

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-> This land can be used for the poor people from slum areas . India consists 2,216,533 of population who are living in slums . By decreasing the usage of plastic makes the land useful by providing the people to get a place to live.

-> Plastic waste also makes the land infertile and makes the land useful for farming which decreases the production of crops.

-> By dumping the plastic waste in oceans and rivers creates water pollution . It even causes a problem for the livelihood of marine animals . 100 million marine animals die each year from plastic waste in oceans. “This is only in the records , out of the records don’t even know”. and 100,000 marine animals die from getting entangled in plastic waste.

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-> Coming to the water pollution , Chlorinated plastic can release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources, and also the ecosystem. The long stay of plastic in water can stimulate the plastic and combine some of its nature into water which makes water unreliable to drink and use .

->By burning the plastic , the toxic gases get released causing air pollution . The chemicals which get released ,pollute the air and affect the surrounding areas by making the air un-breathable . The smoke which comes is so hazardous ,it remains in air for longer time and causing the damage for ozone layer : which is protecting us from the direct hit of sunlight . The direct hit of sunlight can shatter the livelihood of humans cause we cannot bare the heat it produces. Though there are many other initials where poisonous gases are producing which causes air pollution. one of the main cause is plastic.

summary

so , guys its high time . so many people changed their way about using plastic in their lives .We also need to change and make earth a better place to live . Lets struggle at first to enjoy the tang of better planet . Don’t you guys want to feel the smell of fresh air where pollution is not present anywhere ,see the stars where the sky can create mysteries with the insane nature it has . I hope one day we can see plastic free world.

Should Plastic be Banned?

A truly wonderful and magical material, plastic was invented in the year 1907 by Leo Hendrick Bakeman in New York, United States of America. This wondrous material was made from phenol and formaldehyde in a cheap and easy method. Ever since this revolutionary invention, the world as we knew it changed. Plastic replaced many materials in industries. Plastic is so widely used around the world because of its following properties:

  • Plastic is a hard material
  • Plastics are a highly dense material
  • Its tensile strength is high
  • It is resistant to heat and high temperatures
  • It is a non-conductor of electricity and heat
  • It is light in weight
  • The production of plastic is cheap and simple

All these properties make plastic the most popular material for factories as well as consumers. With the invention of plastic bags, things started to take nosedive in terms of the per capita plastic produced in the world. Everything was hunky-dory until people started to realise that plastic can’t be degraded by natural causes. Its a non-degradable material and will stay in the environment for more than 500 years to come. It is estimated that more than 6 billion metric tons of plastic waste are lying on our earth with no place to go.

Enzymes and bacterias cannot degrade plastic because plastic is not made up of naturally occurring materials. It is a purely man-made material. Most of the plastic is dumped in open lands and far away in oceans. While this seemed like a logical idea until people released that they were polluting the environment, air, water and land. The hazardous chemical in the plastics started to be seen in fishes and crops we eat which ultimately meant that plastic waste that we assumed was gone, was slowly making its way back to our bodies through our food chain. It is said that human beings have already started consuming plastics in small portions and a plastic worth the weight of a debit card in consumed every year by a person.

While plastics can’t be banned completely, because it has made our lives better. Plastic is used in advanced medical equipment to save lives. They are used in the pharma industry, the travel industry and clothing industry and the truth is, human beings cannot live without plastic. But we can surely reduce the consumption of plastic. Banning plastics completely is not a sensible idea.

Why plastic bags should be banned?

There are various alternatives to plastic bags. Jute bags, paper bags and gunny bags are some of them. Plastics bags are not so much necessary that man cannot live without it. And certain kind of plastic bags can not be recycled as well. But they surely can be reused. The habit of reusing the same plastic bags comes into effect only when the manufacture of new plastic bags are banned.

More than 20 million metric tonnes of plastic waste is dumped in the ocean and open lands. More than 50% of these are plastic bags. They are creating enormous pressure on our environment and causing irreversible pollution. It will take a herculean task to get rid of all the plastic that is produced in the world as of now. If it is not banned, then it will be impossible to get rid of it ever and the existence of the human race will be in question.

There are areas in several parts of our ocean which is covered with plastic as big as the size of India. The aquatic life is consuming these plastics and we are consuming them which disturbs the whole food cycle in our ecosystem. Banning plastic bags will at least, if not totally eliminate plastic from our earth, reduce this disturbance to our environment.

Drugs : you choose , you loose .

Addiction is just a way of trying to get at something else. Something bigger. Call it transcendence if you want, but it’s a rat in a maze. We all want the same thing. We all have this hole. The thing you want offers relief, but it’s a trap.

“ DRUGS ” A five letter word that is destroying human race. A word that could get you to the cloud nine and than kick you from the top.

What do you think it is ?

Is it a pleasure or a pain ?

Some says ‘it gives you wings ‘, others says ‘it makes you insane ‘ . What would you do , if someone is taking drugs ? Well , I would fly (its a joke ).

Ok , Let’s just get over with the topic .

Introduction

All the suffering, stress, and addiction comes from not realizing you already are what you are looking for.

– Jon Kabat-Zinn

Drugs are substances that change a person’s mental or physical state. They can affect the way your brain works, how you feel and behave, your understanding and your senses. This makes them unpredictable and dangerous, especially for young people.

Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease. It causes a person to take drugs repeatedly, despite the harm they cause. Repeated drug use can change the brain and lead to addiction. That can destroy one’s life .

Signs that shows someone has a drug problem

  • Changing friends a lot .
  • Spending a lot of time alone.
  • Losing interest in favorite things.
  • Not taking care of themselves – for example, not taking showers, changing clothes, or brushing their teeth.
  • Being really tired and sad.
  • Eating more or eating less than usual.
  • Being very energetic, talking fast, or saying things that don’t make sense.
  • Being in a bad mood.
  • Quickly changing between feeling bad and feeling good.
  • Sleeping at strange hours.
  • Missing important appointments.
  • Having problems at work or at school.
  • Having problems in personal or family relationships.

If a person shows these signs than he / she is using drugs . But it’s not , it’s a probability . The person may or may not be using drugs . For the assurance you have to ask the person (well they can lie ) . Take them for the blood test . It will show if the person is taking drugs or not . It’s a simple procedure .

Why can’t people stop using drugs on their own?


Repeated drug use changes the brain, including parts of the brain that give a person self-control. These and other changes can be seen clearly in brain imaging studies of people with a drug addiction. These brain changes explain why quitting is so difficult, even when an addicted person feels ready.

Many people are compelled to enter treatment by the pressure of their family, friends, or a court system. People of all ages with substance use disorders live in fear of what will happen if their drugs are taken away.

Due to the addiction , they experience a variety of physical and emotional withdrawal symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders; restlessness, and sleeplessness . It may lead you to the death bed .

Treatment :

Counseling and other behavioral therapies are the most commonly used forms of treatment. Medications are often an important part of treatment, especially when combined with behavioral therapies. Treatment plans must be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs.

  • Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
  • Detoxification.
  • Treatment with Medication.
  • 12-Step Facilitation.

One of the hardest things was learning that I was worth recovery.

Link

Pollution caused due to Plastics

Plastics are the most used product nowadays. These are cheap and easily accessible and usable which makes them more available for the humans.

Plastics cost lesser than other alternatives like paper and cloth. This is why it is so common. Plastic can be used for almost anything either liquid or solid. Moreover, it comes in different forms which we can easily mold.

“Plastic pollution free world is not a choice but a commitment to life – a commitment to the next generation.”

Plastic is a non-biodegradable material. It does not leave the face of the Earth. We cannot dissolve plastic, in land or water, it remains forever. People throw garbages including plastics in the water bodies and these plastics do not get dissolved and so they pollute the water and the marine lives.

Water pollution

Thus,more and more use of plastic means more plastic which won’t get dissolved. Thus, the uprise of plastic pollution is happening at a very rapid rate.

“Our commitment to the next generation is toxic chemical free world – not just plastic pollution free world but also nuclear weapons free world.

Great things happen through great commitments.”

Plastic pollution is affe ring the whole earth, including mankind, wildlife and aquatic life. It is spreading like a disease which has no cure. Plastic polluted our water. Each year, tonnes of plastics are dumped into the ocean. As plastics doesn’t dissolve , it remains in the water thereby hampering it’s purity.

Plastic pollutes our land as well. When humans dump plastic waste into the landfills, the soil gets damaged . It ruins the fertility of the soil. In addition to this, various disease-carrying insects collect in that area, causing deadly illness.

“If we say no to plastic bags, it will save millions of people down the line.”

Most importantly, plastic pollution harms the marine life. The plastic litter in the water is mistaken for food by the aquatic animals. They eat it and die eventually. For instance, a dolphin died due to a plastic ring stuck in its mouth. It couldn’t open its mouth due to that and died of starvation.

Thus,it is our duty to decrease the plastic pollution otherwise many innocent lives will be gone, those creatures living in the water and soils.

“Plastic disposal not only pollutes the land but the water and the air, the three primary elements for any living being on the earth.”

“Ban every form of plastic before plastic bans every form of life on the earth.”

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/plastic-pollution