BEAST! Debate Exercise Cheat Sheets Note for teacher: This sheet can be either given to the group for them to use the information in their debate OR kept from the group, and used by you to stimulate debate.
Argument Topic 3 “Plastic should be banned!” SOME ARGUMENTS FOR (agree that plastic should be banned):  Plastic is made from oil, and oil is running out.  Plastic is very bad for the environment.  Fish can eat plastic litter, which is bad for them, and bad for us when we eat the fish. We eat our own waste!  The process of making plastic is bad for our atmosphere (air)  Plastic takes a very long time (as much as 400 years or more) to break down, so once it’s in the environment it’s there for a very long time.  Plastic looks terrible when it washes up on our beaches. It ruins the beauty of our natural landscape.  It takes a lot of other chemicals to turn oil into plastic, so plastic is a terrible option for food packaging as these chemicals can get into our bodies.  Recycling plastic uses a lot of energy, and not every country has the option of recycling, so a lot of unwanted plastic just goes into landfill. And do we really know what happens to the plastic after we put it into the “recycling” bin? How much plastic can be recycled varies a lot, from city to city. MORE INFORMATION: Good short summary of plastic pros and cons by Electrolux (hoover manufacturer)! http://www.electrolux.co.nz/Innovation/Campaigns/Vac‐from‐the‐sea1/Articles/Plastic‐Karma‐2/ Interview with the author of “Plastic: A Toxic Love Story” http://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/04/25/are‐plastics‐good‐or‐bad‐an‐author‐explains/ Impact of plastic waste on ocean http://www.reuseit.com/facts‐and‐myths/impact‐of‐plastic‐waste‐on‐oceans‐beaches‐and‐the‐
environment.htm BEAST! Debate Exercise Cheat Sheets Note for teacher: This sheet can be either given to the group for them to use the information in their debate OR kept from the group, and used by you to stimulate debate
Argument Topic 3 “Plastic should be banned!” SOME ARGUMENTS AGAINST (do not agree plastic should be banned):  Plastic is made from a natural resource (oil) that comes from the earth.  When plastic gets into the environment it creates a new habitat (home) for small plants and animals, with lots of surfaces for algae to grow on, and sometimes new places for smaller creatures to hide and shelter from currents and predators.  Plastic takes a very long time (as much as 400 years or more) to break down, so it’s very strong and can be used again and again.  The problem with plastic litter is not the plastic! It’s that people seem to want so much STUFF and then don’t throw it out properly when they are finished with it.  Plastic is a very good material for packaging, building and all kinds of things. E.g. Tables, computers, fish farms, nets for fishing, CDs, kitchen items, electricals,…  If it is recycled it can be made into other things. MORE INFORMATION: Good short summary of plastic pros and cons by Electrolux (hoover manufacturer)! http://www.electrolux.co.nz/Innovation/Campaigns/Vac‐from‐the‐sea1/Articles/Plastic‐Karma‐2/ Interview with the author of “Plastic: A Toxic Love Story” http://www.berkeleyside.com/2011/04/25/are‐plastics‐good‐or‐bad‐an‐author‐explains/ Impact of plastic waste on ocean http://www.reuseit.com/facts‐and‐myths/impact‐of‐plastic‐waste‐on‐oceans‐beaches‐and‐the‐
environment.htm