Yes, we have all agreed that if you can’t reuse it.,refuse it. Saying NO to single-use plastics. As we mark World Environment Day, the theme is to beat plastic pollution. We are to work together in ensuring that we avoid the use of one-time-use plastics.
This year’s World environment day was celebrated by more people. It seems that conservation education and awareness are finally getting home. More people are aware of the need to stop pollution.
Governments, organizations, and individuals were able to mark this important day. The message was similar across the board. Beating plastic pollution.
Most countries including Kenya have banned the use of one-time-use plastics. This was great progress towards a plastic-free universe. More laws are being made to regulate plastic use.
The banning of one-use plastic bags is just the beginning. We should be able to find alternatives for other plastics too. This includes straws, utensils, among others. None of the plastics decompose, hence end up harming the environment.
Oceans are the most affected in this fight.
Oceans are where plastics find their way into, once discarded. Tonnes of plastics have been retrieved from these water bodies during clean-ups. As the rivers and other water bodies fed the ocean with water. They do carry plastics with them.
Plastics are light hence float on water bodies and are easily carried away by waves. They end up causing more harm to marine life.
These effects include:
- Preventing oxygen from penetrating the ocean. As they form a layer on the top of the water. No air is allowed to penetrate through.
- Prevents light. Plants growing at the surface of these water bodies need light. Photosynthesis becomes impossible. Plants end up dead.
- Marine animals do confuse plastic for food. They end up feeding on these plastics. Plastics are indigestible. And with time, these animals end up dead.
- Plastic does produce harmful toxins. The toxins cause serious illnesses to both marine life and humans.
- They cause suffocation.
- They tangle marine life.
Just to name a few.
For plastics to disappear, we have to act as a universe. They are many ways you can be able to contribute to a plastic-free universe. These includes:
- Refrain from using plastic straws.
- Replace plastic beverage cups with travel mugs.
- Invest in long-lasting water bottles.
- Finding alternatives for plastics.
- Ensure to dispose of the yet banned plastics responsibly.
- Participate in sensitizing others on the effects of plastics.
- Participate in clean-up activities.
- Contributing ideas and ways to beat plastics in forums.
Anything that can help beat plastic, just do it.
May we observe this noble act throughout. And not only on World Environment Day. Make it a daily routine. We only one planet and if we destroy it. We have nowhere to go. No planet B, let’s make it plastic-free again.
Every little or enormous step and contribution will be a great step to our success. We are homo sapiens sapiens, the most superior species. Nothing is impossible to accomplish. We just need to be willing. Where there’s a will, there’s away.
Make World Environment Day, your daily thing.
This reminded me of something I saw on Twitter a few days ago… A whale died because of swallowing plastic bags! It’s heartbreaking!
It was very sad. Marine animals confuse plastics for food.
My cynical side made an observation some years ago, while rafting on the Colorado River (USA) and discussing the layers of earth on the canyon walls: our era will be a thin layer of plastic in the earth’s strata 10’s of thousands of years from now.
On the more optomistic side, while I personally avoid our disposable culture, I have been reading about bio-degradable plastics made from corn. Again, I perfer to clean and reuse items myself, but if others are going to use-and-pitch cups, plates, wrappers, etc. at least make them to decompose in our life-time.
-Oscar
What you are doing is great and more of us practiced it, if we could be able to reduce the plastic we dispose. Bio-degradable plastics will help greatly. Thank you very much.
Pingback: Let's talk about the Zero Waste | Cheche Winnie
Pingback: Merry Christmas | Cheche Winnie
Pingback: How do we sell the environmental concept without having it diluted? | Cheche Winnie
Pingback: 30 Day Challenge for a better and healthier planet, Ditch disposable choose reusable | Cheche Winnie
Pingback: 30 Day Challenge for a better and healthier planet, Demand sustainable palm oil, Embrace minimalism and Learn to refuse. | Cheche Winnie
Pingback: Reduce and Reuse - Cheche Winnie