Don't Go to the Beach

How do we protect the Earth’s oceans from the constant effects of pollution? Well, it’s ingeniously simple.

Don’t go.

You heard me. Don’t go.

Stay away from the beach!

You see. Simple!

If you can’t see the pollution, smell the pollution, or step on the pollution, pollution isn't a problem, right? What’s that old cliché, “What we don’t see, we don’t mind.”? Well, if you don't see it, you won't mind, right? You know I’m right. Don’t fight it. Just move along, there’s nothing to see here.

Made you mad, didn’t I?

Yet, that’s how a lot of people think, isn’t it? What we don’t know, or understand, we're hard-pressed to believe. And that truth should humble us all. We should connect with the world around us. We should learn to understand. And as a result, learn to believe.

Believe Pollution is a Problem

Our first task is to believe that our planet suffers from the daily effects of pollution. In the air, on the ground, in the water, in our food. This is not just happening in the less industrialized parts of the world. It is happening everywhere.

Consider these three examples.

1) Major water crisis in Flint, Michigan.

2) Multiple garbage patches floating in the Pacific Ocean.

3) The world is ultra-dependent on PLASTIC.

While these are only three examples of our international problem with pollution, they affect each of us. What are you gonna do the day you find plastic in your seafood or lead in your water, complain?

The Size of the Pollution Problem

We all know that by then it’s too late. We are not immune to the problem. We can’t survive in a vacuum. We don’t live in bubbles. Nor can we escape to the mountains. The pollution that is destroying our planet’s ecosystems will eventually destroy us. And while some might scoff at the notion, the leading cause of illness and death in the world is environmental pollution.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) states that worldwide air quality is so poor, that 90% of the world’s population is affected by air pollution, ultimately killing over 6 million people each year. See also the report compiled by a leading air filter company, Camfil on the effects of widespread air pollution.

In a world inhabited by 7.8 billion people, 6 million doesn’t seem like much. But when your family and friends are dying from the effects of air pollution, 6 million souls are far too many. In June 2019, I suffered from the effects of an Ischaemic stroke, could it have been caused by air pollution greater than PM2.5?

In a world so large, inhabited by so many, it is difficult to separate the cause and effects. This is why The Worldcounts website continues to make sure we know what’s at stake. We simply cannot escape the negative effects of pollution. Pollution will find us in some form or fashion, sooner or later. And if you’re reading this, pollution has already affected you. Quite possibly more than me. But what can we do about it if anything? Have we reached the point of no return?

Human Activity and Pollution

While the situation is certainly critical, I don’t think we have tipped those scales quite yet. There is a lot of ground to cover, but efforts are being made. Cleanup efforts are ramping up, even if slowly. But those inches gained, will eventually pay off. However, if we don’t enact a more aggressive and comprehensive plan, then this world will certainly be lost. So, is it possible to reduce the human effects of worldwide pollution? Yes, I believe so, and there is evidence to support it.

A March 2020 article published by the Guardian showed during the first weeks of the 2020 Pandemic shutdown, nitrous dioxide emissions decreased. The data provided by the European Space Agency show the levels of nitrous dioxide levels had decreased in the largest areas of industrial activities. While the levels seem small, they were measurable. IQAir.com released new data in March 2021, that strongly suggests the lack of human activity attributed to lower air pollution levels.

A July 2020 article published by The World Bank further suggests a direct correlation between human activity and environmental pollution. However, as the world begins its recovery from the worst health and economic crisis of the 21st century, the air pollution levels are certain to rise. The World Bank doesn't paint a rosy picture of international cooperation, but it doesn't dismiss it either.

Instead, The World Bank suggests,"Can we can agree that if humans stopped “polluting”, pollution would decrease"? Then it squarely places the strength of the solutions onto the governments and industries of the world by promoting "green fiscal stimulus programs". These and other programs can kick start a greater level of human intervention that can lead to preventing further pollution. In other words, this will take time, because it's always easier to destroy than the create.

It's certainly not what anyone wants to hear. We want certainty. We someone to MAKE it happen. We want it NOW!

Yet, despite the dismal predictions, I find the data promising. The next step in our fight against pollution is to pit human innovation against human activity.

The Cost of Pollution and Its Cleanup

We have all been told, “You have to admit you have a problem in order to solve your problem.” The same is true of pollution. We must admit we have a pollution problem, confess, and repent. This is a situation that deserves a comprehensive proactive approach. It is a ridiculous notion that our supposedly enlightened planet throws trash in its own yard. How many of you sleep with garbage in your bed? We yell at our kids, “Clean your room!” But when it comes to cleaning up pollution, there's hesitation. Why? Because cleaning up our polluted environment costs money.

Remember all those plastic grocery bags? The things that have become an environmental economic disaster in the USA. So much of a disaster that many states began passing legislation to reduce the negative environment impact by such non-recyclables.

In response to this ongoing crisis, 1BagAtaTime was created to raise awareness of the efforts by local communities to clean up the mess. One article on their site reveals that San Francisco alone spent nearly $9 million dollars in one year! It cost tax payers an average of 17 cents per bag to dispose of 50 million bags. What is even more shocking is the clean-up cost for just litter, at that time, was $11 Billion dollars nationwide!

In response to this pollution nightmare and some state laws, retailers began to other sources like paper bags or reusable bags. Many retailers have also provided ways to dispose of those old plastic grocery bags.

In addition to the pollution clean-up cost, what other economic factors are evident? A 2019 article by TreeHugger estimates that plastic pollution costs the world $2.5 trillion dollars annually. But this is not a clean-up cost. This is an estimate of how much the earth’s value has depreciated in one year. This depreciation effect caused by global plastic pollution continues to escalate. The Monitor Deloitte published an analysis of a 2015 UN report that assessed the cost of worldwide river pollution to be in excess of $6 billion in 87 coastal countries.

Can you imagine letting your let your house, business, or car depreciate that much? Of course not! We clean, paint, repair, upgrade, remodel, and maintain. All for the sake of keeping up the value of our investment. Maybe even improving on that investment. If we valued our planetary ecosystems in a similar fashion, would pollution still be a problem? I wonder.

The Human Intervention Factor

Oh, I’m terribly sorry, I seemed to have digressed from the topic at hand. However, I’m gonna stick with my first premise, if you don’t want the oceans polluted don’t go to the beach! Because that’s not where the pollution begins, it’s where the pollution winds up.

Pollution, just like everything else, follows the laws of gravity. Everything flows, floats, and ultimately finds its way into the water. So, if you’re gonna fight the pollution in the oceans, you need to start higher up the hill.

First, I will start with one of the three examples I gave earlier: PLASTIC! Oh, how I hate and love this synthetic material. It is cheaply made, widely used, and so casually discarded. My first solution would be to regulate this material so that only recyclable forms are manufactured. We certainly need more education on how to reuse plastic. Paper, glass, metal, and biomass are relatively easy to recycle, but only certain plastics are. Additionally, another synthetic material like Styrofoam is horribly harmful to the environment and nearly unrecyclable.

Second, embrace innovation and stop using those plastic grocery bags. Use paper sacks or better still bring your own reusable grocery bags. Unfortunately, I forget them more often than I use them. However, I do use the paper sacks for gathering recyclables and for picking up yard debris. Another incredible piece of technology being utilized are the huge ships from The Ocean Cleanup Group that are cleaning up garbage patches in rivers and oceans.

Third, sell the trash like The Ocean Cleanup Group is doing with these sunglasses. It’s a very enterprising effort. Several other companies, 11 in this article, have joined in the effort to reduce and reuse recycled plastic. As a note of caution, be sure to research anything before you buy it. Some good ideas, like plastic grocery bags, became pollutants. Read this article, warning about possible health risks with clothing made from plastics. Despite the possible risks, this is a great first step in the cleanup process.

Further Considerations

Boy, this is a long article. I didn’t mean to write this much, but the muses had their way. What else is there to consider?

My first suggestion is to connect with your community. We all live in different states, cities, and even different countries. What might work for you, like public transportation, doesn’t work for me. The closest taxi is at the airport 30 minutes away. But burning leaves, tree limbs, and grass clippings is nothing for me. Yes, I know – air pollution. The yard debris can also be used as biomass fuel. Or as the brown carbon in a compost pile.

Second, sell it or donate whatever you have that someone else could. Maybe donate those clothes, books, or toys to a thrift store for resale. I once worked at a local thrift store that recycled damaged donations they couldn’t sell.

Third, recycle as much you possibly can. For those things that you can’t recycle like TVs, computers, or appliances, check with electronics stores and repair shops, Also, major some power companies and retailers might give credit on a new purchase by recycling your old appliances. Use social media, Craigslist, or sites like Freecycle. I’ve seen ads for pallets, bricks, glass, and cars. You never know who might want it.

Final Thoughts

Finally, our plan shouldn't be about cleaning everything RIGHT now! It’s time for the development of a realistic mindset that reduces consumption, thereby stopping waste, which will assist in the cleanup, that will ultimately help to stabilize, and increase the value of our environment.