The percentage of garbage that goes into the ocean is astounding. You probably think that it’s not that much, but does the statistic that 88% of the Earth's surface is garbage mean anything to you?
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What happens to the trash that gets taken away every week?
Up until 2019, China took our recycling. They actually bought our recycling. So, now what happens to the waste and garbage that we produce every day? It goes to landfills. But what if there's a piece of garbage on the ground or the road and the wind blows, then where does that piece of trash go? IN THE OCEAN!
How does the trash from the landfills get to the ocean?
The wind picks the trash up, then it flows into the ocean. It’s that simple for it to go from land into the ocean, because the wind is constantly blowing, so that means trash is going into the ocean more rapidly. So, do you honestly want to keep contributing to this awful thing called plastic pollution? To help the environment, please start to use reusable and eco-friendly things.
How are dirty oceans related to global warming?
I’m going to give you the very simple answer. The ocean sucks in the carbon in our atmosphere. In so doing, the ocean is getting sick because of how much carbon is in our air. The ocean contains a very important animal called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton gives us 65% of our air, so when we kill a piece of phytoplankton, we are also killing ourselves.
Fragments. What are they?
You know when you see a plastic wrapper on the ground, yes, you should pick it up, but sometimes the damage is already done. By that, I mean that if you see the wrapper and the slightest bit has been torn off, that little plastic wrapper has been broken down by the wind. What’s left of the wrapper, those are called fragments. Fragments are little microscopic pieces of trash. And how does that affect the sea? Well, the fish are eating the plastic and the animals that eat the fish are now eating the plastic, and then the animal that eats the other animal that ate the plastic is now consuming that plastic. So, as you can tell, the cycle can go on and on and on, but we just don’t know it. That is why on the chart, fragments are a big deal.
Global warming's evil twin
There is another half to global warming, and its twin’s name is called ocean acidification. Ocean acidification is a big problem, and how is it? Well, let me tell you. The earth’s carbon atmosphere releases carbon, so when the carbon reaches the ocean it then goes into the ocean, making both the air and the water hotter and hotter. This is called ocean acidification, because it’s like putting acid in the ocean.
Recycling
8.3 billion. What does that number mean? That's how much trash doesn’t get recycled. Did you know? For the people who didn’t know, think about how many animals have to suffer just because you want to drink your cola with a plastic straw? How many turtles get that straw stuck in their nose and then they die? Maybe when you're fishing and your net breaks, then you put it in the ocean. How many animals die by getting choked? I don’t think you know, but that’s just a "maybe" – all of that because you don’t know what is happening in reality.
Trash
What happens to the trash that gets taken away every week? Up until 2019, China took our recycling, they actually bought our recycling. But what happens now to the waste and garbage that we produce every day? It goes to landfills, but are the winds going to stop just because there is a landfill nearby? No. And what if there is a piece of plastic on the ground. Are you just going to pass it or are you going to stop and pick it up? It only takes one second out of your day, but yet 75% of people litter in the United States.
“Ocean pollution is caused by numerous industrial and domestic activities, which include oil spills, garbage dumping, sewage, factory-waste disposal, and the use of toxic pesticides. These activities pollute the oceans through drains, rivers, and direct dumping. According to All Recycling Facts, land-based activities account for more than 80 percent of ocean pollution.”
The problem is that thousands and thousands of marine creatures die every day because of our plastic use. That means that billions of marine creatures die every year. Can you believe how much one single person can pollute?
Who gets affected?
That question is interesting because everyone is getting affected. Your water is from a lake or a stream. Where does the water come from? THE OCEAN! So now you might be drinking polluted water because 65% of lakes and streams are polluted, and no one even cares that their water is polluted.
Charities that support this cause:
Ocean Conversely
Green Peace
Surfrider Foundation
Oceana
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
The 5 Gyres institute
Oceanic Preservation Society
The Environmental Defence Fund
All of these charities help in one way or another, so please help one of these charities or maybe all of them. This is not a "have to," but if you help these foundations, you’ll be helping the ocean and hundreds of animals.
Why do you want to save the oceans?
Now for some of you, you know why you want to save the oceans, but for some of you, the answer is still unclear. Let me tell you the answer... Pick up trash when you see it, and don't use straws and try to reuse as many pieces of plastic as you can. These are just some of the things you can do to help, but for now, help one piece of trash at a time. If you want to have clean oceans that you can swim in and have fun in and see amazing creatures, I think you know what you should do.
I hope this blog will help you understand more of what is happening to the oceans. If you would like to learn more about global warming or more about ocean pollution, read on. Or you can go check out the Deforestation blog, Animal Consumption blog, Fossil Fuels blog, and the Species Extinction blog.