Did you know that in 2018 a whale with 1000 plastic pieces in its stomach was found in Indonesia? That’s nearly six kilograms of plastic bags, bottles, sandals and cups. This discovery increased concern over the impact of plastic pollution on marine life. This whale died because of us and our own actions.

First of all, it is important to understand the heaviness of plastic pollution in our world. Plastic takes among 200 years to biodegrade. That’s two times a human life. If you drink from a gal of water and then throw it away, it probably is going to end in the ocean, and it is not going to disappear like magic. This leads to damage of species who live in the coast. But the thing is that you don’t realize that you are the one who eats the plastic through the fish again. Sources have also confirmed cell damage and problems to reproductive systems, such as oysters, to produce fewer eggs.

While cleaning up beaches is important, it is not the first and only step. We have to fix the broken system by finding suitable solutions. We can start for example by reducing our own use of plastic. In addition, we could also recycle properly at school and home. Besides we should spread the word by explaining the heftiness of the current situation. By making small steps we can make a big difference together. Make an effort and it will be worth it for sure.

Daniela Mino and Brunela Zoeger, IV.4