Plastic
Usually, people do not know how much plastics help us and how much plastics attack us. Plastics help us achieve a convenient world. However, I must not forget plastics have a bad effect too, because plastics have a good effect on human lives, but bad effect on humans and the environment. Human is a very egoist animal; however, we must not conscience. First, we should start learning about what plastics problems are. “Plastic waste blocks drains and gutters, stopping the flow of rain water and sewerage, causing an overflow which becomes the breeding ground for germs and bacteria causing many diseases (Abdulla, 2007, para.10-11.). The toxic smoke produced while burning plastic kills thousands each year. Workers and people living near a plastic or resin factory are prone to certain kinds of cancer and birth defects. Plastic bags that fly and land in agricultural land retard the growth of the crops by wrapping itself around the plants. Domestic animals like cows and goats are often found dead after swallowing bits of plastic that gets mingled with the grass they eat. More than one million sea birds and approximately 100,000 sea mammals die each year after ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic debris. Some marine life has been found with plastic fragments in the stomachs and plastic molecules in their muscles” Those problems are just a few of the many problems, but we have a lot of problems. Second, I want to introduce about what plastics is and history of plastics. “1839 - Polystyrene or PS discovered - Eduard Simon. 1872 - Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC - first created by Eugen Baumann. 1909 - First true plastic Phenol-Formaldehyde tradenamed Bakelite. 1938 - Polystyrene made practical. 1941 - Polyethylene Terephthalate or Pet - Whinfield and Dickson. 1953 - Saran Wrap introduced by Dow Chemicals” (The History of plastics, 2007, paras6-8). These sentences tell us that the history of plastics is very short, but it has grown very quickly. And these plastics are more and more complex. Next, we should know what plastic is. “Plastic covers a range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products. They are composed of organic condensation or addition polymers and may contain other substances to improve performance or economics. There are few natural polymers generally considered to be ‘plastics’. Plastics can be formed into objects or films or fibers. Their name is derived from the fact that many are malleable, having the property of plasticity” (Plastic, n.d. para.1.). This article gives basic information. Plastics have some characteristics; why do not transmit electricity, are strong in weather and with chemicals, and are weak with ultraviolet rays.
I suggest that we should look for new plastics that do not attack humans and the environment, because the earth is not just for ourselves. All creatures and in the future must share the earth; that means we must think about the next generation.
First, many animals were killed for plastic bags because we do not bother for other animals. “In the marine environment, Planet Ark estimates that plastic bags kill at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year” (Plastic Bags Reduction Program, 2007, para. 5.). Like that, many animals are damaged by plastics that are from human activity. Especially, plastics can kill many animals because plastics do not come back naturally. That means plastics have a special characteristic; they are strong in weather and arith chemicals; therefore, usually naturae cannot resolve plastics. “A wide array of marine creatures, including threatened species such as Green Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles, Blue Whales and Humpback Whales, albatrosses and petrels, may be severely injured and even die after ingesting and becoming entangled with plastic waste” (Keep the sea plastic free-bin it, 2006, para.7-8.). “Fishing line, fragments of trawl netting, and synthetic ropes can cut into their skin, leading to infection or the slow and painful amputation of flippers, tails or flukes.” Thus, harmless animals suffer from our oppression. I think it is not an allowable action.
Second, plastic pollution is not just for the sea; of course it is for the earth too. Plastics “are a significant source of pollution. The stuff last decades. Some 95% of all plastic produced since the material was introduced in the 1930s is still in existence, much of it buried in landfill sites. Plastic bags have even been found littering relatively untouched Himalayan mountains” (The problem with plastic, 2006, para.3.). Most plastics can remain until people dump it. Moreover, “Every year 20 million Australians use around 5 billion plastic check-out bags. A person’s use of a plastic check-out bag can be counted in minutes – however long it takes to get from the shops to their homes. Plastic bags however, can take between 15 and 1000 years to break down in the environment. Over 200,000 plastic check-out bags are dumped in landfills every hour” (Why are plastic bags a problem?, n.d., para1,2+9). This article told us that we do not start now. That means, those numbers tell almost nothing, and it is just talk about Austrarlia. If we think on the global scale, it becomes very huge numbers. Like this, the earth has a big problem too, so we must start to think about the earth problem from plastics.
Finally, I will suggest how to fix those problems well. My first suggestion is that we should reuse plastic bags. Usualy, after we buy something, we use plastic bags just one time. However, if all people reuse twice, we can reduce usage by a half. “Some said that many consumers reuse the bags, saving them for household jobs such as lining trash cans or picking up after a dog. They also said lawmakers are misdirecting their efforts” (Plastic bags may be banned in Boston, 2007, para.10.). My second suggestion is that we must reduce plastics. “San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to become the first U.S. city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets to help promote recycling. Under the legislation, beginning in six months large supermarkets and drugstores will not be allowed to offer plastic bags made from petroleum products. ‘Many [foreign] cities and nations have already implemented very similar legislation,’ said Ross Mirkarimi, the city legislator who championed the new law. ‘It's astounding that San Francisco would be the first U.S. city to follow suit’” (Newsroom blog - get the inside track on plastic bag news, trends & ideas worldwide, 2007, para.2). That article said that San Francisco's Board of Supervisors gave bags to people, and they try to stop that people from using plastic bags. My final suggestion is that people should think about recycling. “The key to San Francisco's recycling success is our ability to find markets for the recyclable products we pick up from residents and businesses. If there were nobody making paper out of recycled fiber, then all that paper we collect would end up in the landfill. So SF Environment and our partners at Norcal Waste Systems work hard to maintain existing relationships, and build new ones” (Now accepting plastic tubs & lid, n.d. para.1.). We have the success example, so it is not impossible. Fixing those problems is very difficult. However we have obligation to fix those problems.
We have a lot of problems; however, we can fix them because we know what we should do. Only we will or we will not. Notmally humans cannot think of other another animals seriously. However, we will fix those problems, and that action can help our next generation. I think no one hopes our kids are unfortunate. Therefore, we must fix plastic problems now, because the time flies fast.
Reference
Bellis, M. (2007). The History of Plastics. About.com. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/plastics.htm
Keep the sea plastic free-bin it. (2006, May 06). Australian Government. Retrieved June
20, 2007 from
http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications/waste/bin-it/index.html
Newsroom blog - get the inside track on plastic bag news, trends & ideas worldwide.
(2007, March 28). reusablebags.com. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://reusablebags.typepad.com/
Now accepting plastic tubs & lids. (n.d.). SF Environment. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://www.sfenvironment.com/aboutus/recycling/plastic.htm
Plastic (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
Plastic bag Reduction Program. (2007, June 21). Zero Waste SA. Retrieved June 20,
2007 from
http://www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/index.php
Plastic bags have long been a waste problem that harms the environment. (2007).
PLANET ARK. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://www.planetark.com/
campaignspage.cfm/newsid/52/newsDate/7/story.htm
The problem with plastic (2007, May 23) DAVE’S PART. Retrieved June 20,
2007 from
http://www.davidosler.com/2007/05/the_problem_with_plastic.html
Viser, M. (2007, April 26). Plastic bags may be banned in Bostion. Boston.com.
Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/04/26/plastic_bags_may_be_banned_in_boston/
Usually, people do not know how much plastics help us and how much plastics attack us. Plastics help us achieve a convenient world. However, I must not forget plastics have a bad effect too, because plastics have a good effect on human lives, but bad effect on humans and the environment. Human is a very egoist animal; however, we must not conscience. First, we should start learning about what plastics problems are. “Plastic waste blocks drains and gutters, stopping the flow of rain water and sewerage, causing an overflow which becomes the breeding ground for germs and bacteria causing many diseases (Abdulla, 2007, para.10-11.). The toxic smoke produced while burning plastic kills thousands each year. Workers and people living near a plastic or resin factory are prone to certain kinds of cancer and birth defects. Plastic bags that fly and land in agricultural land retard the growth of the crops by wrapping itself around the plants. Domestic animals like cows and goats are often found dead after swallowing bits of plastic that gets mingled with the grass they eat. More than one million sea birds and approximately 100,000 sea mammals die each year after ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic debris. Some marine life has been found with plastic fragments in the stomachs and plastic molecules in their muscles” Those problems are just a few of the many problems, but we have a lot of problems. Second, I want to introduce about what plastics is and history of plastics. “1839 - Polystyrene or PS discovered - Eduard Simon. 1872 - Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC - first created by Eugen Baumann. 1909 - First true plastic Phenol-Formaldehyde tradenamed Bakelite. 1938 - Polystyrene made practical. 1941 - Polyethylene Terephthalate or Pet - Whinfield and Dickson. 1953 - Saran Wrap introduced by Dow Chemicals” (The History of plastics, 2007, paras6-8). These sentences tell us that the history of plastics is very short, but it has grown very quickly. And these plastics are more and more complex. Next, we should know what plastic is. “Plastic covers a range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products. They are composed of organic condensation or addition polymers and may contain other substances to improve performance or economics. There are few natural polymers generally considered to be ‘plastics’. Plastics can be formed into objects or films or fibers. Their name is derived from the fact that many are malleable, having the property of plasticity” (Plastic, n.d. para.1.). This article gives basic information. Plastics have some characteristics; why do not transmit electricity, are strong in weather and with chemicals, and are weak with ultraviolet rays.
I suggest that we should look for new plastics that do not attack humans and the environment, because the earth is not just for ourselves. All creatures and in the future must share the earth; that means we must think about the next generation.
First, many animals were killed for plastic bags because we do not bother for other animals. “In the marine environment, Planet Ark estimates that plastic bags kill at least 100,000 birds, whales, seals and turtles every year” (Plastic Bags Reduction Program, 2007, para. 5.). Like that, many animals are damaged by plastics that are from human activity. Especially, plastics can kill many animals because plastics do not come back naturally. That means plastics have a special characteristic; they are strong in weather and arith chemicals; therefore, usually naturae cannot resolve plastics. “A wide array of marine creatures, including threatened species such as Green Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles, Blue Whales and Humpback Whales, albatrosses and petrels, may be severely injured and even die after ingesting and becoming entangled with plastic waste” (Keep the sea plastic free-bin it, 2006, para.7-8.). “Fishing line, fragments of trawl netting, and synthetic ropes can cut into their skin, leading to infection or the slow and painful amputation of flippers, tails or flukes.” Thus, harmless animals suffer from our oppression. I think it is not an allowable action.
Second, plastic pollution is not just for the sea; of course it is for the earth too. Plastics “are a significant source of pollution. The stuff last decades. Some 95% of all plastic produced since the material was introduced in the 1930s is still in existence, much of it buried in landfill sites. Plastic bags have even been found littering relatively untouched Himalayan mountains” (The problem with plastic, 2006, para.3.). Most plastics can remain until people dump it. Moreover, “Every year 20 million Australians use around 5 billion plastic check-out bags. A person’s use of a plastic check-out bag can be counted in minutes – however long it takes to get from the shops to their homes. Plastic bags however, can take between 15 and 1000 years to break down in the environment. Over 200,000 plastic check-out bags are dumped in landfills every hour” (Why are plastic bags a problem?, n.d., para1,2+9). This article told us that we do not start now. That means, those numbers tell almost nothing, and it is just talk about Austrarlia. If we think on the global scale, it becomes very huge numbers. Like this, the earth has a big problem too, so we must start to think about the earth problem from plastics.
Finally, I will suggest how to fix those problems well. My first suggestion is that we should reuse plastic bags. Usualy, after we buy something, we use plastic bags just one time. However, if all people reuse twice, we can reduce usage by a half. “Some said that many consumers reuse the bags, saving them for household jobs such as lining trash cans or picking up after a dog. They also said lawmakers are misdirecting their efforts” (Plastic bags may be banned in Boston, 2007, para.10.). My second suggestion is that we must reduce plastics. “San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to become the first U.S. city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets to help promote recycling. Under the legislation, beginning in six months large supermarkets and drugstores will not be allowed to offer plastic bags made from petroleum products. ‘Many [foreign] cities and nations have already implemented very similar legislation,’ said Ross Mirkarimi, the city legislator who championed the new law. ‘It's astounding that San Francisco would be the first U.S. city to follow suit’” (Newsroom blog - get the inside track on plastic bag news, trends & ideas worldwide, 2007, para.2). That article said that San Francisco's Board of Supervisors gave bags to people, and they try to stop that people from using plastic bags. My final suggestion is that people should think about recycling. “The key to San Francisco's recycling success is our ability to find markets for the recyclable products we pick up from residents and businesses. If there were nobody making paper out of recycled fiber, then all that paper we collect would end up in the landfill. So SF Environment and our partners at Norcal Waste Systems work hard to maintain existing relationships, and build new ones” (Now accepting plastic tubs & lid, n.d. para.1.). We have the success example, so it is not impossible. Fixing those problems is very difficult. However we have obligation to fix those problems.
We have a lot of problems; however, we can fix them because we know what we should do. Only we will or we will not. Notmally humans cannot think of other another animals seriously. However, we will fix those problems, and that action can help our next generation. I think no one hopes our kids are unfortunate. Therefore, we must fix plastic problems now, because the time flies fast.
Reference
Bellis, M. (2007). The History of Plastics. About.com. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/plastics.htm
Keep the sea plastic free-bin it. (2006, May 06). Australian Government. Retrieved June
20, 2007 from
http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/publications/waste/bin-it/index.html
Newsroom blog - get the inside track on plastic bag news, trends & ideas worldwide.
(2007, March 28). reusablebags.com. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://reusablebags.typepad.com/
Now accepting plastic tubs & lids. (n.d.). SF Environment. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://www.sfenvironment.com/aboutus/recycling/plastic.htm
Plastic (n.d.) Wikipedia. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
Plastic bag Reduction Program. (2007, June 21). Zero Waste SA. Retrieved June 20,
2007 from
http://www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/index.php
Plastic bags have long been a waste problem that harms the environment. (2007).
PLANET ARK. Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://www.planetark.com/
campaignspage.cfm/newsid/52/newsDate/7/story.htm
The problem with plastic (2007, May 23) DAVE’S PART. Retrieved June 20,
2007 from
http://www.davidosler.com/2007/05/the_problem_with_plastic.html
Viser, M. (2007, April 26). Plastic bags may be banned in Bostion. Boston.com.
Retrieved June 20, 2007 from
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/04/26/plastic_bags_may_be_banned_in_boston/
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