Ighato Awomi & Sentilong
Immanuel College
Plastic pollution has grown to be a serious threat to our environment today, and it is likely to worsen within the coming instances. President John. F Kennedy said, “the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard”, therefore on this World Consumer Rights Day we celebrate the theme “Tackling Plastic Pollution” because consumers have a critical role to play to control the plastic generation. Plastic entered the world through chemistry in 1909 and was originally coined to describe Bakelite, the first fully synthetic resin. But the modern plastic bag was an accidental discover of the first industrial practical method of polyethylene Synthes in 1933 which was not disposable.
Plastic, the wonder material which is inexpensive and cheap that we use for everything pollutes our environment and is perhaps the most harmful of thrash dumped by mariners and sea-goers in seas because it does not readily break down in nature. Careless disposal of plastic can have dire consequences as a plastic bag looks like a tasty jelly fish to an indiscriminate fisher which is indigestible and causes infection. Scientist had estimate that around 15 million tons of plastics wind up in the ocean each year.
Plastic thrown on land can enter the drainage lines and choke them resulting into floods in local areas in cities as was experienced in Mumbai, India in 1998. It was claimed in one of the T.V programs that eating of plastic bag results death in 100 cattle’s in U.P.
Plants are also a victim because plants absorb micro plastic which effects their seeding development and inhibits their growth.
Is plastic inside our body? YES!
Human health is affected because we encounter plastic in all stages of its lifecycle. Substances such as POP's, Benzyne and VOCs are present which are all proven to adversely affect our health. Health impacts of plastic are overwhelmingly numerous. Cancer, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and various other immune diseases are just a few examples of severe issues caused by plastic.
Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in June of 2018 that all single-use plastics will be abolished by 2022. Such laws and social movements are the most effective means in changing the mindset of the people on a large scale.
How can You and I help rid plastic pollution?
The plastic pollution problem may feel overwhelming. But all of us can make an influence in tackling plastic pollution.
We can start by:
• Reducing our own plastic use.
• Be a conscientious consumer when we shop.
• Pressure offenders and praise those who fight plastic pollution.
• Hold campaign on plastic free environment.
• Take part in cleanup efforts.
• Help organizations that tackle plastic pollution.
• Opt for paper bags instead of poly bags.
• Get politically active.
• Follow the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycle)
• Lead the change.
It is to be remembered that as members of the society, we can all have an influence on plastic pollution in the products we buy, how we use them and how we dispose of them. Notably we are all able to adopt a responsible approach and so try to better satisfy the 3Rs of reduce, reuse, and recycle when plastics are concerned especially around the issues of littering and pollution in our environment.
“Plastic is a curse to humanity, it’s high time to bring the change.”
