PLASTIC – a 25 year plan
“The ocean is like a soup of plastic mostly composed of fragments invisible to the human eyes, killing life and affecting dangerously our health.” Pierre Fidenci,
The Montreal Protocol was an internationally ratified treaty to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. We urgently need a similar international treaty to curb the devastating and deadly effects of plastic. –Matt Foster – Civis Mundi
Preamble Considerations
The banning of plastic products must go well beyond bottles and bags. We must seriously look at legislating against the use of plastic in manufacturing worldwide. It is a threat to our existence and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer.
Plastic is not benign. It is like a malignant cancer causing devastation to every organism and ecosystem it touches on the planet. Educating the public on the threat of this destructive substance must be a priority. Banning it worldwide, in all but a few situations, is crucial.
Here are some of the problems with plastic:
- Excess packaging meant to deceive the consumer.
- Leaching of toxins into food and environment
- Ingestion by birds from floating plastic waste leading to death
- Floating plastic waste as transport for invasive species
- The ability to kill over and over again due to its longevity
- Micro fragmentation in oceans used as food source by fish and birds
- Waste of a petroleum resource
- Fish and mammal entrapment from lost plastic fishing nets
- Most plastic products could be manufactured with alternate materials
- Clogged waterways and swirling mass of floating plastic in waterways and oceans
- Reproduction abnormalities from ingestion and exposure to leachates
- Teflon concerns
- Clogging of sewers and drains
The first global petition might look something like this:
Directed To: The governments of all 190 (plus) countries of earth.
“As concerned citizens of this planet, we urge you, our political representatives, to immediately ban the food industry’s use of plastic identification stickers from fruit and vegetables grown, packaged, imported and distributed within our countries. Clear and effective action is needed immediately to reduce the flow of plastic waste into our collective landfills, water-ways and food chain and the subsequent harmful effects of such stickers” – Of course the first item proposed need not be fruit and vegetable stickers – it could be candy bar wrappers, coffee cup covers or drinking straws. The important thing is to get a start.
The following 24 year petitions could draw from the following:
The fast food industry
The snack and candy industry
The signage and labelling industry
The toy industry
The food packaging and container industry
The laundry and cleaning products industry
The appliance industry
The indoor and outdoor furniture industry
The beverage industry
The health care industry
The stationary industry
The apparel industry (manufacturing and packaging)
The shoe industry
The plumbing and electrical industry
The automotive industry
The eyewear industry
The waste collection and recycle industry
The throwaway products industry
The aviation industry
The building industry
All other industries using plastic.
Video links by others (What are you suggestions?)
Catalyst ABC TV – Plastic Oceans
MIDWAY – a film by Chris Jordan
Plastic and the Indian street cow
Groups reporting on this category (what are your suggestions?)
It would help if you supported some of these groups
http://www.seaturtle.org/plasticpollution/MTN129p1-4.pdf
The Times of India: Plastic bag threat more serious than atom bomb: Supreme Court http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Plastic-bag-threat-more-serious-than-atom-bomb-Supreme-Court/articleshow/13044203.cms?referral=PM
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