Civil Action

An issue that I am concerned about is pollution, especially garbage from restaurants, schools, universities/ colleges, sporting events/ stadiums, etc. Not only on land is pollution a problem but within our oceans all over the world. Oceans are being flooded with plastics and chemicals running off into streams and then oceans. In addition to that, there are millions of pesticides and oil spills that have occurred in our oceans. An estimated eight million tons of plastic enter our oceans each year while it is estimated that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste are in our oceans killing turtles, seals, fish, whales, dolphins, etc. By 2050, if we stay on this same path, plastic waste and other sorts of waste will outweigh marine life. In order to cut down on this pollution, we can start locally in a variety of groups and locations. We can partner with schools and institutions to start thinking about how many plastics they throw away and create certain other parameters and guidelines for other manufactures’ practices. One more way we can combat this ongoing problem is by focusing on how we use our water and how the soaps and products we use runoff into streams. We will need to start thinking about what companies are committed to protecting the environment while providing common products to the general public. These workshops and this one forced me to think critically about my own footprint and what we can all do to better our situations to preserve the resources of future generations.