Britt Sturgis
FAQ
Meier
2pm MWF
Who is the Surfrider foundation, and why did this organization form?
This organization was founded by a group of surfers from Malibu, California.
The main concern of the people who started the Surfrider foundation was protecting
their favorite surf spot from development as well as keeping the beach clean. They
aim to reduce the amount of marine pollution being put into the ocean. This
organization has 292 coastal victories since 2006 and continues to protect the beach
to this very day (Henning 2015.) They aim to better the standard of living for marine
animals, thus improving the quality of life for humans.
Where does marine pollution come from?
Marine pollution comes from many different sources, 80% of marine
pollution comes from land-based activities (Garces 2015.). Also my research has
found that “Single-use food and beverage packaging is a prime component of the
plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways, which kills and injures marine life
and poses a potential threat to human health,” (MacEachern 2015). The standard of
human life is effected by marine pollution. Research has also shown that “China,
Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand are responsibly for 60% of the plastic
waste in the Ocean,” (Schiller. 2015).
Who does marine pollution affect?
Through my research on marine pollution I have found that this pollution
hurts every one. It affects marine species; they are unable to distinguish between
food and microplastics, thus feeding on the plastics. Humans consume these fish
with microplastics in them; therefore humans are consuming these plastics as well.
(Leslie 2014)
In what ways are plastics bad for the enviorment?
Plastics do not fully decompose the Marine Conservancy has published an
estimation of the decomposition rates of plastics. The estimated time for a plastic
foam cup is 50 years. A plastic beverage holder takes roughly 400 years to
decompose. (Ltyle. 2014) Fish confuse plastics with food, humans eat fish, and
therefore humans consume plastic particles. This can be easily explained if a equals
b and b equals c then a equals c
Where is does plastic derived from?
Plastic comes from crude oil or natural gas, 1 ton of recycled plastic saves
16.3 barrels of oil (Brennan. 2009). The creation of plastic uses crude oil, which is a
fossil fuel and fossil fuels are also pollutants. So in at least two different aspects
plastics are bad for the environment.
How can work to fix this problem?
Proper education, which fosters understanding about one’s society and its
problems, can contribute towards a balanced and healthy social structure. (Roy et al.
2015 p. 71) We need to reach the countries such as China, Indonesia, Philippines,
Vietnam, and Thailand who are responsible for 60% of the plastic pollution (Schiller.
2015). We can reach them through the Internet as long as they have the resources
to reach the information, by resources I mean technology.
Reference List
Stahl D., Urakawa, H., Garcia, J., Barreto, P., Molina, G., ; Barreto, J. (2012) A
sensitive crude oil bioassay indicates that oil spills potentially induce a change
of major nitrifying prokaryotes from the archaea to the bacteria.
10.1016/j.envpol.
Henning G. (2015). Surfrider foundation. Retrieved from
http://www.surfrider.org
Sindermann, C. (2005). Coastal Pollution Effects on Living Resources and Humans
(CRC Marine Science). Hoboken: Taylor and Francis
Garces D. (2015) Marine problems: pollution. Retrieved from
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/pollution/
Bohle B. (2007) The effects of ocean pollution on marine mammals. Retrieved
from http://www.bluevoice.org/news_issueseffects.php
Roy, A., Kihoza, P., Suhonen, J., Vesisenaho, M., Tukiaianen, M. (2014). Promoting
proper education for sustainability: An exploratory study of ICT enhanced
problem based learning in a developing Country. International Journal of
Education and Development using Information and Communication
Technology, Vol. 10 (Issue 1). Retrieved from
http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewissue.php?id=37#Refereed_Articles
Ltyle C. (2014) When the mermaids cry: the great plastic tide Plastic pollution
Retrieved from http://plastic-pollution.org
Brennan J. (2009) Benefits and savings of recycling plastics. Retrieved from
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/benefits-savings-recycling-plastic79284.html
MacEachern D. (2015, February 5) Which fast food companies are polluting our
oceans the most? Retrieved from
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/which-big-companies-are-pollutingour-oceans-the-most.html
Harding R. (2015, February 20) Does your shampoo or toothpaste contain
microbeads? If so, it could be banned in new york. Retrieved from
http://auburnpub.com/blogs/eye_on_ny/does-your-shampoo-ortoothpaste-contain-microbeads-if-so-it/article_3611850e-b868-11e4ab00-6fe6ab16d56a.html
Schiller B. (2015, October 12) Most of the plastic in the ocean comes from just a
few polluting countries. Retrieved from
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3051847/most-of-the-plastic-in-the-oceancomes-from-just-a-few-polluting-countries
Hamilton A. (2014, October 7) A list of products that contain plastic microbeads.
Retrieved from http://onepercentfortheplanet.org/2014/10/a-list-ofproducts-that-contain-plastic-microbeads/
Leslie H., Eriksen M. (2014) International campaign against microbeads in
cosmetics: Microplastics
Everts J. (2013) Threats to coral reefs: the effects of chemical pollution. Retrieved
from
http://www.marbef.org/wiki/Threats_to_Coral_Reefs:_the_Effects_of_Che
mical_Pollution