PLASTICS, LIKE DIAMONDS - ARE FOREVER!

Last year, I’ve been transferred to teach different program. From American to Australian Program. Teaching in both programs brings different experiences. To cut it off, one of the subject that I taught was Issue Analysis. This subject is basically encourages students to analyse and at the same time to think critically on any issues discussed. Among the issues, one stood up (to me). It is an environmental awareness issue. The specific subject (matter) was plastic bags. We were actually discussing various aspects of plastic bags. Therefore, I would really love to share our discussion (me & Aussie 7) on the said subject.

In everyday life, PBs are part and parcel of it. Nearly every day we will be given PBs upon purchases. For my family, those PB will be stored for future usage (one of it- jadi plastic sampah. *How irony it is). But, the question is- do we really care and know where the PB will be thrown? And what would happen to the thrown PB? Hhmm....

Allow me to introduce PB briefly. According to Knight (2008), average plastic shopping bag is made from polyethylene- a thermoplastic made from oil. The person who created the first man-made plastic was Alexander Parkes in 1862. Basically, plastic have only been around 146 years but unfortunately no one can be sure how long they (plastic) take to break down. However, environmentalists, scientists and manufacturers somehow agree that the process can take anything up to 1000 years. Can you imagine it?

Ok. Let me share with you guys one fact. First, look around you. Nearly everything was made from plastic as it is most widely used material in the world. The basic components of plastic are molecules derived from crude oil or natural gas called monomers. (Please be dictionary-friendly for better understanding). To make a plastic, many monomers are joined together like paper clips in a chain to form a very long polymer molecule. (Ok, this is the most important part) – The polymers in a plastic are so tightly intertwined that they create a surface that cannot be penetrated by water or the bacteria that normally do the job of breaking down matter. So, can you see now? How would the PB break down if they were created not to be broken down easily?

Now, I would like to introduce to all of you to Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). This GPGP is actually a huge dump of plastic debris floating in the Pacific Ocean. The first person who had found this GPGP is a sailor named Charles Moore who was actually on his way home to Los Angeles from a yatch race in Hawaii. Based on subsequent research, it is determined that there are actually two (2) patches of GPGP. They are Eastern Garbage Patch (EGP) and Western Garbage Patch (WGP). The EGP is believed covers an area twice the size of Texas, between California and Hawaii. On the other hand, the WGP is off the coast of Japan. So, according to Moore, he estimated that more than 100 million tons of plastic are swirling around in the two patches. About 20% is thought to have fallen off ships; the rest has come from the mainland countries of the Pacific Rim. (You guys may Google the image of GPGP for clearer picture.)

And now, it is believed that this issue had been threatening the ocean life ever since. I think it is enough said coz I don't think it could be explained here. So, in return I'll paste some pictures that I really believed had affected myself personally after the discussion had over. And this pictures are the result of my effort in analyzing the issue in-depth. However, in the next entry, I will share with you guys about one of the town in Europe who had amazingly support and made the effort in curbing this enviromental issues. Therefore, it is hope that we could contribute with and/or by any means in supporting our awareness of this global issue.

p/s: enjoy the photos and THINK!

So, how they are threaten? Look it yourself.

This photo (above) particularly, shows that how plastic bag(s) is look alike a jellyfish. And the victim is: TURTLE

And this is the most touched photo for me. How could the bird survive!? By no means it could pull the plastic by itself, right!

So, lets do something for the earth. I've started a lil bit. Still, it is an effort.. Join me! (",)

REFERENCES:

1) Fraser S 2008, 'What a Dump', Current Science, vol.94, iss. 2, p.6

2)Knight 2008, 'Plastic bags, Marine Conservation Society, viewed 9 October 2008, http://www.adoptabeach.org.uk/pages/page.php?cust_id=41

and speacial thanx to my aussie 7 2008 specifically aishah, afina, iqbal n luqman!