Plastic
Watch this video. While it may seem a little silly, I think that the message it great, and it is actually really well done.
Can't get rid of plastic, but can prioritize
I used to think that plastic was nothing but pure evil and the world should be rid of it. However, after scanning through Stephen Fenichell's "Plastic The Making of a Synthetic Century", I've come to appreciate that plastic IS here to stay, and it DOES have some very important uses.
For society to go completely plastic free, it would be impossible. Many of our greatest leaps and strides (that even I can understand and am thankful for) have been made possible with plastic. Things like radar on planes and ships was made possible with plastic (polyetheylene) for insulation that is lightweight. And what about CDs, computers, or even space technology? Cars, Cameras, and medical advances?
As much as I'd love to go burrow away in the forest from this technological world that we live in, and fend for myself off the land, I know that that is not the solution. I know I must be a contributing, influence-causing citizen. If plastic is sticking around, then our mentalities about it need to change. We need to avoid it whenever possible, and support alternate solutions. Plastic should only be used when necessary, and otherwise avoided.
What plastics to avoid
Plastic is everywhere. Despite it's incredible functions, plastic will always retains it's status as a cheap material, and the common use of it reflects that. It is chucked and forgotten. But nothing happens in a vacuum. That means that we are paying for our excessive use of this cheap, highly functional and practical material.
You want to avoid single-use plastics, and plastics that are unnecessary.
We're talking plastic:
Bags
Cutlery
Plates
Water Bottles
Tupperware/Food Containers
Packaging
Drink Containers
Food Wrap
There are tonnes of simple, cheap solutions for these. Sure, sometimes they require some extra effort, or extra money, but they are well worth it. You are saving the planet, you are using recyclable, healthy materials. What do I use for a water bottle? Typically just a mason jar I bought at the thrift for 50 cents, or an old jar that once housed some sort of food in it that I have kept. Cost is next to nothing, and I can reuse over and over, with no adverse effects.
Dangerous Chemicals/Health Effects
Plastic and the issues with it really reflect society these days. Instant, No thought to consequences, cheap, complicated, lazy.
Our health is affected by plastic. We know that plastic chemicals leech. So, if we are drinking from plastic water bottles, eating from plastic containers, etc. they are only so many times you can do so before they begin to leech.
There are always going to consequences when we introduce synthetic things into our world, especially into a relationship with our food. I think that's a simple logic to follow with a lot of the dangers we're facing today.
Take a look at this:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.html
Something to be particularly strong about is bottled water. It is incredible that not only we insist on drinking "pure" water from plastic water bottles that we will only use once, but that will never, ever go away, but we also are willing to pay money for it, when it is provided free to us. What an incredible money-maker. I highly recommend watching the documentary "Tapped". While it doesn't cover too much about environmental affects of Bottled water, it will sure get you angry and shocked, for your health, and for your rights.
Here's a website based off the movie, and it gives you more information.
"Tapped" is available on Netflix.
http://www.tappedthemovie.com/
Environmental Effects
Why are we so concerned about plastic? It's common knowledge that plastic never goes away. It doesn't biodegrade, the pieces only get smaller. All those subtances are still out there from the very first plastics. Unlike most things, that will eventually return to nature, plastic remains. Which means, the more plastic we consume and chuck, the more there is just hanging around the earth. The more chemicals there are leeching into nature, our food, our water.
We have growing issues around plastic. Last week we learned about the Gyre. You were also able to see it in the video posted above.
Landfills are filled with plastic. And it will sit there for eternity. There is something so tragic knowing that there are pieces of our beautiful earth, large pieces, that will be forever tainted with this material... and it will only get worse if we don't clean up our act.
The pollution that comes from the production of plastic is another issue. All of those chemicals spilling out into the air is nothing you want to be around, nor does anyone else. The chemicals effect us, wildlife and vegetation. Plastic garbage is not only an eye sore, it's destructive. The production of plastic also requires a lot of energy and resources.
Let's remember to priortize with plastic, and do whatever you can to minimize your use. I am not saying it's okay to use plastic, I am saying that we cannot get away from all of it. I do not like the substance, but I do have to appreciate some of it's uses. I know that I can still be passionate about making sure it is only used when completely necessary. We don't want anymore of this eternal material just ruining our earth.
Recycling it is not enough. It does not justify it's use. Simply stop using single use plastics. We want the demand for plastic to be minimized.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=plastic-not-so-fantastic
Challenge:
Reduce plastic usage. Cut out plastic bags, cutlery, waterbottles, etc.
Be creative and find as many ways as you can, there's lots.
What were your solutions when you didn't use these plastics? What did you use instead?
Do some more research? Any shocking information you've discovered about the water or plastic industries? Any cool solutions you've seen?
Submit entries to me at cassm163@gmail.com by Sunday at 3:00pm
THANKS!
This week's showcase:
Amanda S!
While Amanda didn't have photos, she gave me a description of what she's been up to, this includes:
Less packaging on her foods,
Hanging clothes to dry (dryer is an energy guzzler)
Walking whenever possible
and meal planning that allows her family to eat in more often.
Great job on last weeks challenges Amanda! Keep up the great work guys. Remember, there's a prize at the end! :)
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