Environmental Networking Platform for Children and Youth by SAMSUNG E&A
Stay connected with Eco-generation :
| Share 
| 
- Home >
- Our Actions >
- Ambassador report
13
Comments
Can Our Oceans Really Be Cleaned Up? |
|---|
|
by Rosa Domingos | 27-03-2019 21:10
|
|
Somewhere on Hawaii’s Big Island, Hilo, a team of scientists and engineers are tending to The Ocean Cleanup’s 600-metre-long rubbish-herding device, after its voyage was cut short in December 2018 to because it fractured into two pieces, the Great Pacific garbage patch (Khan, 2019). The project has had its fair share of problems since it was unveiled in May 2017 and has been criticised by marine scientists and environmental groups for its potential negative environmental impact. However, some still herald The Ocean Cleanup for having a positive effect on plastic pollution. Pete Ceglinski, the Australian co-founder and chief executive of the Seabin Project – plastic-cleaning devices deployed in harbours and marinas – is one. He credits Boyan Slat, the inventor behind The Ocean Cleanup, with increasing the global awareness of the ocean plastics issue over the past six years (Khan, 2019). But marine biologist Dr Jennifer Lavers from the University of Tasmania says that argument is also the project’s downfall. “I think that’s really dangerous,” Lavers says. “It gives people a false sense of hope that this team of people have got [plastic pollution] covered, and that we just need to throw some money at the problem.” (Khan, 2019). Plastic pollution is a devastating problem for the world’s oceans and marine life. According to the UN, about 8m tonnes of plastic waste is dumped in the seas annually. It has been discovered at the deepest point of ocean, in Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, and in Australia, CSIRO scientists found microplastics in the sediment of the Great Australian Bight. Last year Guardian Australia reported that scientists now believe “plastic is literally everywhere.” So the idea of attempting to “clean up” the ocean is a quixotic one. Can these projects really make a difference? The answer is yes, but not as expected (Khan, 2019). Smaller technical solutions can make an impact in a localised area. Two rubbish-sucking Seabins were recently installed in Sydney’s Darling Harbour. The devices suck in water, trapping rubbish in a mesh bag, and recirculate the water back into the environment. There are 450 Seabins in 26 countries around the world, in 60 harbours throughout the US, Europe, and now the Asia-Pacific, collecting on average around 4kg of marine litter a day – or about 1.4 tonnes a year, according to Ceglinski. What those cleanup projects such as The Ocean Clean Up, Seabins and the Baltimore Water Wheel are good at is increasing awareness of the plastic problem. Says Ceglinski:“The real goal is to stop plastics from entering the water in the first place. And we can do that using the Seabin as a powerful communication tool. So, like Seabins quietly sucking away in harbours, community and individual cleanup action plays a role too. When you add up the numbers, at least in Australia – the potential impact of picking up rubbish on beaches is huge. “There’s around 50,000 volunteers across Australia who participate regularly in beach cleanups”, says Lavers (Khan, 2019). Reference list: March 20, 2019 - Joanna Khan -https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/mar/22/plastic-pollution-can-the-ocean-really-be-cleaned-up |
|
|
|
|
|
Previous : Different Drainage Patterns
13 Comments
Hi Rashmita!
Thank you for reading my report, I appreciate it greatly!
Posted 18-04-2019 17:17
Hi Kushal,
Thank you for reading my report, moreover commenting! I really appreciate it!
Posted 18-04-2019 17:16
Thank you so much for your great report..it is really a great movement.
Posted 12-04-2019 10:37
Hello partner
I do hope that you are fine and doing great with your works. Thank you for your great report once again. I just love to read reports from you and this report is such an inspiring one as we all have to work together for the change we want to see.
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Yours,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 10-04-2019 18:18
Hello Rosa
Thank you for sharing this important issue with fellow ambassadors. Plastic problem is becoming more and more serious environmental problems. Since now, people from all countries dumped plastics in the oceans and the results are not discovered yet. Even though the problem is very clear, the solutions for plastics are controversial. Even whether “Ocean cleanup”, which is seen to be the most directive solution, will really help clean the oceans is open to discussion. We really need to take a careful approach to solve all the environmental problems as it can cause unintentional impacts. Thank you for your wonderful report : )
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 02-04-2019 01:53
Thank you so much for reading Mentor Louis!
Posted 01-04-2019 21:04
Hi Rosa,
I really appreciate your report and I had great time reading this. Although due to the time constraint, I could not provide you with a detailed feedback, I'd like to point out that you did a great job!
Keep up good work :)
Louis Mentor
Posted 01-04-2019 21:03
Hey Muskan,
Thank you for reading muskan, the report does spring a ray of hope for volunteers who put their time and efforts into this.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
Posted 28-03-2019 14:46
It gives a good message. 'No matter if the challenge is big, persistent efforts makes changes'. This report provides hope to all those volunteers working selflessly. Thanks for sharing! :)
Posted 28-03-2019 11:18
Hey Asmita,
Thank you for reading my report, you are one of many who never fails to read and moreover, respond to the reports I write. I too commend these volunteers for their amazing efforts in cleaning up their harbours...They have done really well.
Once again, thanks a million for commenting!
Warms regards,
Rosa
Posted 27-03-2019 22:13
Hi Ashley!
You are indeed welcome, I too concur with your statement in that we are all role players and our goal is but one, to ensure a healthy play for all. And a good way to start is with you and me...
Establishing an awareness campign goes a long way in ensuring that the environment iswell looked after.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my report, I truly appreciate this.
Posted 27-03-2019 22:00
Hello Rosa sis...
I was like wow... Ocean clean ups campaign. It??s great.
Hope it gives good and awaring message among people and stop polluting the ocean being a responsible citizens.
Salute to volunteers...
Thank you so much for this wonderful report sis. You alaways amaze with report.
Green cheers!
Posted 27-03-2019 21:16
Thank you for this article, Rosa!
I do believe our oceans can be cleaned up and it is a collective effort - everybody needs to play their role in doing so. The best way is by raising awareness of plastic pollution and empowering them to play their part in saving the environment.
Green cheers!
Ashley
Posted 27-03-2019 21:15