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 Post subject: Ocean plastic
PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 1:31 pm 
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Sea plastic has been a major issue for sea life and it keeps rapidly getting worse. Things like plastic bags, balloons, trash, but mainly straws have hurt sea creatures for a long time, and what these things do to them are horrific. These things will end up on beaches or in the ocean just from it being carelessly being left behind. There is a video of a turtle with a plastic straw up its nose and rescuers are panicking, trying to get the straw out before the turtle can no longer breath. Another way these have hurt turtles are by getting it stuck in their eyes and throats. The main reason why the turtles are being affected by this is because they lay their eggs on beaches and most of the trash is left there. A lot of the plastic also gets washed into the ocean and stays afloat where turtles come out and in the water. There are some really gruesome pictures of this, but it is a real problem. These situations are happening everyday and something needs to be done about this. Starbucks has recently taken control about what they would like to do to participate in helping remove some of this problem. Eliminating their straws from all Starbucks stores by 2020 will majorly reduce some of the plastics that end up on beaches and in the ocean. They do not want their straws to be responsible for this problem. Other animals that have been affected by this are sea gulls, where these end of in their throats, and fish who think it is food and they end up choking on it. Other companies have said that they want to join in on this, and it would be very beneficial in helping eliminate straws all together and to help the sea animals.

Some other people think that eliminating plastic straws from a few places won’t do anything and this whole idea is a waste of time. What many don’t realize is how much waste there actually is. About 100 tons of plastic waste has been estimated in the world’s ocean and by doing some of the little steps, it can add up to a big difference. With 500 million straws being used everyday and 500 years for the straw to decompose, you can really see the damage. Others are saying this is the least of our problems, which I can agree with for the most part, but starting small could really change our views of how we use everyday items that get throw away after a couple hours. A group actually against this is the disability group. By discontinuing the straws, this now creates another problem. People with disabilities need straws to be able to eat and drink at restaurants and not having them removed that. What they do not realize is, if you need a straw, Starbucks will still give you one upon request. If ending plastic straws will help our ocean and animals in the ocean, then I think that we should help.


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 Post subject: Re: Ocean plastic
PostPosted: Tue Nov 06, 2018 2:30 pm 
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I appreciate being able to se both sides of the arguement. I agree with the information you provided. I feel you balanced your sources well when giving examples to your readers that ocean plastic is an issue. Using examples that readers may be familiar with will make your post more relatable.


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 Post subject: Re: Ocean plastic
PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2018 10:50 am 
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Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2005 12:59 am
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You are off. The estimate is 5 trillion pounds of plastic in the oceans. 90% from 10 rivers, 2 in Africa, 4 from China, and 4 from other places in Asia. Then there are the dead zones from human excrement and over fertilization runoff.
https://www.sciencealert.com/dead-zones ... arine-life

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