WHAT
What is happening
There are families living on "islands" of plastic. They see nothing but plastic and don't get the chance to live a life that's as beautiful as ours. They are suffering due to our actions and how we handle things so carelessly.
It's not just the humans that are suffering, but the animals themselves don't live wonderful lives either. Especially those living in oceans. Plastic bags are responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 marine animals every single year.
HOW
How are we being affected
20% of the plastic that enters oceans comes from ships. The rest comes from litter being whirled into the sea, picked up by tides, or a garbage dump. This plastic does not biodegrade, it breaks into tiny pieces and they act like sponges and attract many toxins. If it's exposed to sunlight for long enough, it undergoes physical breakdown. Ultra-violet rays turn the plastic brittle, breaking it into ever smaller pieces. The plastic pieces are consumed by sea life. There are plastic particles in our food chain - which harms our health because some of these toxins contribute cancers, birth defects, immune system problems, and childhood developmental issues.
HOW
How you can help
START RECYCLING !!
It's not hard to separate your trash. One simple action will make a huge difference to our environment, which will eventually make a huge difference to our daily lives and our health.
SOME SIMPLE ACTIONS FOR YOU TO LIVE BY:
Bring your own water bottle
Bring your own shopping bag
Try to use glass containers instead of plastic ones
Use less straws
Try to go for organic face washes and toothpastes
Stop using plastic cutlery and plates
Buy fresh meat and cheese to save plastic packaging
Donate to foundations and organisations
WHY
Why should you do this
There are about 580,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometre in the Atlantic Ocean. Animals will be endangered and eventually go extinct if we don't reduce the use of plastic.
There are so many downsides to plastic and its not just that the material harms the animals and us, but it is destroying our environment. Once the plastic in in the ocean there is no way back. It affects the safety of sea transport , fisheries, tourism and in the end it affects us too. Now a days there are many alternatives.. the world is so modernised that companies have solutions to reduce the use of plastic. It is time to start making up for what we have caused.
TO CONCLUDE
If we carry on overusing plastic there won't be a healthy future for our population as well as generation! Think of our kids - our grandchildren - think of them and how they are going to end up living if we continue wasting plastic. Think of all the lives that we are currently destroying and will be destroyed in the years to come. Generations will be negatively affected by our wrong choices therefore it is our responsibility to make the right choice now.