Why Is Plastic Pollution So Harmful?

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“EF. Conserve Energy Future. Plastic pollution is when plastic has gathered in an area and has begun to negatively impact the natural environment and create problems for plants, wildlife and even human population.”

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Note from author: Plastic pollution has become a serious problem around the globe, so serious that some countries, including Bangladesh, many countries in the African continent and so on, have either COMPLETELY banned the use of plastic or the use of plastic bags. It takes decades for a plastic bag to decay, and up to 450 years for a plastic bottle. It is devastating to see plastic items being thrown into nature e.g. here in Finland, and hear about the amount of plastic that ends up in our oceans each year. It is incomprehensible that many people lack the understanding about why throwing plastic waste into nature, much of which ends up in our oceans, is so damaging for our ecosystem.

Each year, thousands, or even millions of birds/sea animals DIE because of the plastic that human beings throw into nature, and if they do not die, they end up consuming our plastic waste, which ultimately ends up on our food plates. The next time you personally consume a portion of fish for example, take a moment to think about the fact that the fish you eat might have been polluted by toxic plastic waste that people throw into nature, and into our oceans, all the time. All chemicals and toxins are not visible to the human eye.

There are many efforts around the world to decrease plastic waste, including the complete ban of plastic waste in many countries, followed by the effort to minimize plastic waste e.g. by restricting the use of plastic bags and replace those with other options, recycling plastic (excellent!) so that consumers can bring their plastic waste to recycling to clear their conscience. There are even serious efforts to clean up our oceans from plastic waste, such as The Ocean CleanUp Project:

 

This young man has come up with a very brave idea, but he is smart enough to turn this idea into reality. Very impressive. Of course we have to thank everyone who is smart enough to minimize their plastic use, everyone who makes an effort to recycle plastic, everyone who cleans up the beaches, the lakes, the oceans and the nature from plastic waste. It is just devastating that some people take the freedom to pollute the environment carelessly, while others take the time to (mostly on a voluntary basis) clean up the mess caused by thoughtless individuals.

 

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Why Are Our Oceans Becoming More Acidic?

Global Climate Change (62)

“NOAA (National Ocean Service). Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.”

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Note from author: Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, decreases the pH balance of our world´s oceans since a significant amount of these greenhouse gases are being absorbed e.g. by oceans. Ocean acidification, according to National Geographic, endangers both shelled animals and causes reproductive disorders in some fish species.

In the following Ted Talk Rob Dunbar speaks to us about The Threat of Ocean Acidification:

 

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Why Is Deforestation So Detrimental?

Global Climate Change (61)

“National Geographic. Deforestation: Forests cover about 30% of the Planet, but deforestation is clearing Earth´s forests on a massive scale. At the current rate, the world´s rain forests could completely vanish in 100 years.”

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Note from author: The following article was published by Christopher Searles, Founder and President at BioIntegrity, LLC:

Least Expensive Way to Reduce CO2

and definitely worth reading to understand better what kind of a role tropical forests have in the Earth´s ecosystem. Of course, all forests are equally important. Deforestation and the loss of forests through e.g. forest fires/wildfires is extremely detrimental to our environment, already since a lost forest is not so quickly replaced.

Following video discusses the causes, problems and conservation techniques of deforestation:

 

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What Is Geoengineering?

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“Oxford Geoengineering Programme. What is Geoengineering? Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth´s natural systems to counteract climate change.”

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GeoEngineering Watch :

“Geoengineering is the artificial modification of Earth´s climate systems through two primary ideologies, Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). (GeoEngineering Watch. Quoted October 4. 2017).

Climate Change Is Here. It´s Time To Talk About Geoengineering:

“Geoengineering is a dirty word many climate scientists and climate policy experts avoid, because humans meddling with nature doesn’t have the best track record. Geoengineering strategies generally fall into two categories: removing carbon dioxide and reducing heat”. (Wired.com. Nick Stockton. 07.20.17).

Scientific American: What Is Geoengineering and Why Is It Considered a Climate Change Solution?

Watch the following video, Geo Engineering Documentary 2016 by GeoEngineering Watch:

 

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Tips For Taking Climate Action

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“Scientific American. David Biello. November 26, 2007. What to do about climate change? Forego fossil fuels, Infrastructure Upgrade, Move Closer to Work, Consume Less, Be Efficient, Eat Smart/Go Vegetarian?, Stop Cutting Down Trees, Unplug, One Child, Future Fuels, Experiment Earth.”

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There are many ways of making (small) adjustments as both an individual, a business, as a society and as a country to protect our environment, starting from changing legislation/regulations, improving production and packaging, using better materials and recycling. While in many countries majority of waste ends up in land fills, Sweden has become so efficient in recycling that the country is even IMPORTING waste, having made it into a lucrative business by using waste as a source of energy:

 

 

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How Can We As Consumers Prevent Climate Change?

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“EU communication campaign on climate change. What you can do: Smarter choices in general as a consumer, recycling, choosing goods with less packaging, consuming locally produced food (according to seasonal variations), washing clothes at a lower temperature etc.”

Watch this TEDxHamburg speech to learn What One Person Can Do About Climate Change, speaker Ella Lagé:

 

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What Can We As Consumers Do About Climate Change?

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“EU communication campaign on climate change. What you can do: Use more public transportation and cycling, turning down the heating by only one degree Celsius can cut off as much as 10% off a household energy bill.”

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Note from author: There are numerous actions that each and one of us can take as consumers/individuals. The responsibility of tackling climate change does not lie only on the shoulders of businesses and countries, nor is anyone communicating about climate action just for fun. There are real reasons behind e.g. the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. What is often forgotten is that it is not enough to have these goals on paper, but we have to EXECUTE and live up to them. And, the best way to do so is to start making (even small) adjustments in your personal life, by e.g. recycling and consuming more smartly in general. When consumers start making different choices, producers and businesses/corporations have no other option than to start improving their business practices, unless they already have done so. It is also essential to prevent and tackle corruption around the world, for many a good cause is suffering due to e.g. corruption.

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What Does The EU Communication Campaign On Climate Change Include?

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“EU communication campaign on climate change. Five themes: Travel & transport, building & living, re-use & recycling, shopping & eating, and producing & innovating.”

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Not only is the EU campaigning and working towards transforming economies into become more sustainable. In the United States, e.g. former Vice President, politician and environmentalist Al Gore launched the Climate Reality Project, educating Americans and people from around the world concerning climate change. Watch “The Human Impact of Climate Change”:

 

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The EU Takes Climate Change Very Seriously

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“EU communication campaign on climate change. European Commission Video Material 2014.” EU communication campaign on climate change

 

What kinds of thoughts does this message awaken in you?

Looking forward to your comments and thoughts: ___________________________________________________

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Climate Change A Threat To Regional And International Security

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“EC. Climate Change Factsheet 2015: Climate change could threaten regional and international security by triggering or aggravating conflicts, famines and refugee movements.”

Note from author: For more information about the topic, see e.g. the following data:

 

Mother Jones: Syria’s Climate-Fueled Conflict, In One Stunning Comic Strip

Phys.org: Is Syria really a ‘climate war’? The links between drought, migration and conflict

Climate change increases the risk of war, scientists prove

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