Canada Aims to Ban Single-Use Plastics by 2021: Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet

 

Six-Point Critical Analysis Worksheet 

CANADA AIMS TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTICS BY 2021

1. Exploratory (All facts taken from Canada Ban Article)

More than 60 nations have taken steps to reduce the use of disposable plastics by imposing bans or taxes. 

Canada has the world’s longest coastline, about 151,019 miles. It also has a quarter of the world’s freshwater. This makes it a large contributor and target for plastic pollution in water. 

Canada recycles less than 10 percent of its disposable plastics. This fact can be changed by encouraging people through advertisements around the country and implementing things that make it a normality to recycle. (Brian Howard)

2. Diagnostic

Canada is aiming to ban single-use plastics because of the amount of trash it generates. Single-use plastics contribute tons of waste to our oceans and water, due to the fact that they are mass produced, only used once, then thrown. Canada aimed to cut down the use of single use plastics to counter the effects it has had on our environment. 

3. Cause and Effect

Because of single use plastics, it causes large amounts of pollution. This pollution gets into our water ecosystems and causes those ecosystems to die out. Things like plastic tupperware, plastic bottles, and any other single-use plastic item can get ingested by an animal and causes them to be filled with plastic and die. There are also many other negative effects plastic has on our water and environments and earth as a whole. It negatively impacts us and our planet, and that is why Canada is taking this big step to try and reverse it. 

4. Priority

The most important issue here is the fact that plastic (which is already bad for the environment) is being mass produced and used for so many things daily, and can only be used once. The priority is to stop the production and sale of most of these plastics in order to lessen the negative impact. 

5. Application

This applies to me and also everyone because we all buy single use plastics every day. It is completely normal and a part of our culture and society. That is mostly because it is an easy and cheap way to meet all of our needs. Whenever I shop at the grocery store, over half of the products I buy have single use plastics. This Canadian ban directly influences how manufacturers produce and sell their items, and how everyday consumers like me and you go about our day. It will be a drastic change to everyone living in Canada, and also a change to the market and economy due to Canada not buying specific goods from other countries. 

6. Critical

It makes me realize how much effect plastic has on our planet and how it is a bigger deal than I thought. Now I am wondering if other countries will follow Canada by placing new rules on single use plastics and also if places near me in Texas are changing their ways at all. It will make me more mindful of my single-use plastic use and has made me want to try to lessen my contribution to the buildup of it. I can’t help but notice this article is from 2019, and says they aim to ban it by 2021. It is now 2022 and I do not know of any news of Canada taking action on this. It does make me think that maybe this is a lot harder than people are willing to try and keeps getting pushed to the side. It does make me lose a little bit of hope for a better future with less plastic pollution. 

 

References: 

Howard, Brian Clark, et al. “A Running List of Action on Plastic Pollution.” Environment, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/ocean-plastic-pollution-solutions. 

Activity 3.3.3 - My Plastic Use

Microplastics

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. Microplastics can be found everywhere now, but are especially starting to be plentiful in freshwater ecosystems. Some are from additives in personal care and cosmetic products called microbeads, which serve to "exfoliate" your skin when applying. (HABB) They are also formed from the breakdown of larger plastic products, like if some pieces broke off and made their way into the environment. Other types of microplastics are found in many different things, even things you wouldn't think. These include tires, synthetic clothing, tennis balls, laundry and dishwasher pods, cigarettes, glitter, wet wipes, tea bags, etc. (Conversation.com) So may things used throughout our daily lives are not just made of plastic which can harm the environment, but also contain these tiny microplastics that are even more harmful because they are not able to be as seen and are not able to be removed. Plastics in general can get into oceans and freshwater from flying out of trashcans, landfill sites, and also littering. They find their way into sewers and small bodies of water and eventually flow down out into our oceans and large bodies of water. That's where they then do the most damage. Microplastics are problematic and pose a threat to the environment because they are polluting the earth's natural habitats with non natural waste. This plastic cannot be broken down over time and instead stays in the water or area, which can pose a threat to the wildlife living there. Animals like fish and other sea creatures are affected negatively by these microplastics because they can get inside their body when they inhale or open their mouth. Then when that plastic infested animal is eaten by a predator, that animal then has plastic inside their body system. Microplastics have even been found in some fish sold at supermarkets and is starting to become a concern of what we can put in our body. This causes sea life to die, which hurts the environment as a whole down the line. Not to mention it also has a negative affect on how clean our freshwater is, which we use for drinking water, irrigation, cleaning, etc. Due to microplastics' small size, they are not able to be removed by treatment. They have proven to be impossible to remove, and the more plastic we use, the more pieces broken down and into our water. The more microplastics in our soap and other toiletry items, the more of those tiny pieces end up somehow in our water. 

Throughout my day, there was so many more things I used that were plastic than I had thought. It got me thinking about what things are made of and when I'm done with them, what harm they cause to the environment. I went and took a look at my soaps and shampoos and luckily I buy the kind that does not contain microbeads. What else is in there that can harm the environment, I don't know. The plastic bottle itself can end up our bodies of water. It made me think and made me see that we use plastic for a lot of things. This assignment has made me want to change what I use in hopes of lessening the pollution of microplastics in our waters.

References:

Haab, S., & Haab, K. (n.d.). The environmental impacts of microplastics: An investigation of microplastic pollution in North Country waterbodies. Adventure Scientists. https://www.adventurescientists.org/uploads/7/3/9/8/7398741/haabhaab2016_environmental_impacts_of_microplastics.pdf

Sharon George Lecturer in Environmental Science, and Deirdre McKay Senior Lecturer in Geography. “Ten 'Stealth Microplastics' to Avoid If You Want to Save the Oceans.” The Conversation, 15 Nov. 2021, https://theconversation.com/ten-stealth-microplastics-to-avoid-if-you-want-to-save-the-oceans-90063. 

Activity 3.2.3 - Alternative Energy

a. Alternative Energy is energy that is created from renewable resources that are naturally formed from the earth and can be replenished within a time frame. 

b. Arguments for alternative energy are vast and include things such as being better for the environment and being renewable, meaning they can be replenished. Arguments for alternative energy have grown and a major argument is that solely relying on nonrenewable resources will soon lead to no longer having those resources so we need to start gradually turning to different alternative ways of obtaining our energy. People have also been fighting for alternative energy due to the major negative impact fossil fuels and other nonrenewable resources have had on the planet. Things such as climate change and pollution has led people to want to transition away from that to a more sustainable way of obtaining energy, especially since scientists have predicted it will become worse and soon too late to fix. 

c. Solar energy. It has increasingly become more popular among home owners and as a way to harness energy in a clean sustainable way. Solar energy is mainly the use of solar panels which harness the sun's light and heat energy and transform it into electricity or thermal energy we can use. Solar panels have been placed on roofs of houses and help power people's homes. The appeal of it is that families do not have to pay monthly electricity bills. The overarching advantage to solar energy though is the fact that it has no greenhouse gas emissions (Multiti, ch 4), which contributes to less climate change. There has  been more and more large solar panel plants being placed on land not being used. Solar energy is completely renewable because the sun is the main natural resource. It is also one of the most popular choices of alternative energy since we know the sun will not be going away anytime soon and is completely renewable and clean to use. Solar energy has no gas expulsion or pollution whatsoever, therefore it does not really contribute to climate change, which has become a major problem recently and for the future. Solar energy is a great alternative energy source, but like everything, it does come with a few disadvantages, one being that the sun only shines at certain times of the day, losing out on many hours of potential energy absorption. Another is that not all places have enough light throughout the day to have solar plants. Solar energy also cannot be stored and used on demand, making it hard to depend on fully when needing energy. Though there are advantages and disadvantages, solar energy has become a growing source for energy around the globe and is starting to be implemented much more frequently. We might not be fully depending on it anytime soon, but it has definitely become a major alternative source for energy usage that is shining light towards a brighter future. 

Resources:

Mutiti, S., Mutiti, C., Manoylov, K., VandeVoort, A., & Bennett, D. (2018). Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.). Biological Science Open Textbooks. University System of Georgia.

Activity 3.2.1 - Natural Resources Review

 Link to natural resources concept map:

https://bubbl.us/13051540

This energy resources concept map has so many strands to it, so it might look confusing, but they are all connected and related somehow. For example, there are two separations of ways we get our energy and that is through renewable resources and non renewable resources - meaning if they have a limited supply or not. Most of the renewable energy sources are shown on the left side while non renewable fossil fuels are shown on the right. Though these are separate, all energy sources are connected. We use everything available to us in order to power our planet, but the main energy source that all of our energy resources come from is the energy of the sun. This makes up 99% of the earth's energy and powers it all. (Jerome, Exploring Natural Resources) Fossil fuels have the sun's energy in it through decay of plants' and animals' matter and carbon in things such as coal. The left side of the map can be naturally replaced and tend to not hurt the environment as much compared to fossil fuels. All of these strands go through different kinds of sources used for energy and if they are renewable, what affect they have on the environment, and what they are/how they are used. 

References:

Jerome, B. A. (Producer). (2017). Exploring Natural Resources [Video file]. Visual Learning Systems. Retrieved from https://nvcproxy.alamo.edu/login?url=https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/energy-3

Activity 3.1 - Human Population

Less Developed Country

Niger

A less developed country I found is a country in western Africa called Niger. In fact, it is one of the most, if not the most, least developed countries in the world today according to the data presented in the Population Reference Bureau. Niger has a birth rate of 47, which is up there in the higher percentage of birth rates. Having 47 births for every 1000 people means they are rapidly expanding their population and directly correlates to their population growth (RNI) which is 3.7. Having a higher rate of natural increase means their population will double from 25.1 to about 50 in around 20 years (by 2040). Now having a high birth rate does not necessarily mean a country will have a high RNI, but in this case, Niger has a somewhat average death rate of 10 people per 1000. This means they are adding more people than they are taking away, contributing to their rising population. In African countries, life expectancy tends to be lower compared to the other parts of the world. Niger has a life expectancy of 59. Due to Africa, specifically Niger, being a more underdeveloped country, it does not have all the same availability of healthcare and better life support systems for things like diseases which are much more common and untreated. It also is known to have water shortages due to inconsistent rainfall and food needs not being met. Whereas in other parts of the world, for example Norway, the country has an economy that can provide healthcare and allow people to have access to healthier, sustaining medical assistance and nourishment. Norway also has a much different climate than Niger, having a much higher rate of precipitation per year, leading them to have abundance of resources for water and food, which also leads to an increased economy that can trade and ship and allow people to have a higher income and more comfortable living situation. Another factor contributing to Niger's lower life expectancy is sadly the high infant mortality rate of 69, which brings down the average since children are dying more often at a very young age. The fertility rate of Niger is 7.0, meaning the average amount of children a woman has is 7. This is higher compared to most parts of the world and specifically the more developed country of Norway's rate of 1.5. It is more common in Niger to have more children due to the higher number of infant deaths. This is most likely because they want to have more of a chance of more children growing to older age. It is also most likely a cultural norm. For example, Niger has a mainly agricultural lifestyle, so having more people and children in your family, means more helping hands. The gross national income of Niger is low at about 1210. The combination of having a high population growth rate and a low GNI, shows that Niger is a less developed country. It shows that the country struggles more to support its citizens, since it has a smaller amount of money for a growing population and a low life expectancy, which is due to a combination of its climate, economic struggles, healthcare, etc. 

More Developed Country

Norway

A more developed country I found is a country in northern Europe called Norway. This country is one of the most developed countries in the world right now, and has a birth rate of 10 births per 1000 people. This is much lower than Niger and meets the average birth rate for a more developed country. The death rate in Norway sits at 8 per 1000, which contributes to a total population growth of about 0.2. This RNI is low, meaning the population is not quite evened out, but on a small steady incline. This makes sense because Norway's current economic prosperity with a high gross national income of 66,020 combined with its social structure, where women and families have different values and ideals, causes most to want/have less kids. This leads to their fertility rate landing at about 1.5. Norway's current life expectancy is about 81 years for males and 85 years for females. To put this into perspective, The United State's current life expectancy is about 77, and Niger, the least developed country, is 59. This shows Norway is a developed country because it can support its population to be able to live to an old age, showing they have great access to healthcare and a thriving economy. Overall Norway is one of the most developed countries in the world, according to the data presented in the Population Reference Bureau. 

References:

Population Reference Bureau. (2021). 2021 world population data sheet. 2021-World-Pop Data-Sheet.pdf

U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). International database. International Programs. https://www.census.gov/data-tools/demo/idb/informationGateway.php 

Activity 2.3 - Biosphere and Interconnections

I have provided links in order to give a clear image to read.

Link to first map - Energy

http://go.bubbl.us/c6af90/413d?/Energy-(Chapter-4)

This concept map goes over the units of energy, energy in ecosystems, and how energy is transformed.

Link to second map - Biodiversity

http://go.bubbl.us/c6b006/f111?/Biodiversity

This concept map goes over the value of biodiversity and how we organize biodiversity into different groups.

Link to third map - Biomes

http://go.bubbl.us/c6b09d/f8d1?/Biomes

This concept map goes over what a biome is, the different types of biomes, and how each biome is classified.

These three concept maps are interconnected because they make up what we know the world as today. They are all concepts we have made in order to organize ideas of how the earth works. They all are affected by one another and have their own relationships happening among them. You can't have one without the other.

For example, energy is what creates and gives life, and what sustains it. Energy is found in the concept of biodiversity, because biodiversity is all the different life forms. Then this goes into the subtopic of biodiversity of what kingdoms of life there are, the main separator being the way they obtain their energy. For example, autotrophs produce their own food from the sun's energy and molecules versus heterotrophs consuming energy from other organisms. Another example of the concept of energy being in the biodiversity concept is the second law of thermodynamics and the theory of entropy. Energy transformations can never be completely efficient, there's always a a "loss" of energy through thermal energy back into the atmosphere. (Freedman p. 64) This is directly seen in energy pyramids and food webs when only 10% of energy gets passed onto the next consumer. Energy is what is passed on to each organism, and the organism that the energy supports and transfers through makes up a biome's biodiversity.

Biodiversity directly correlates to biomes, where life makes up the different kinds of biomes. Biodiversity and what grows in a certain area is influenced by the climate and environment of the area. For example, a giant water lily can only grow in the rainforest because of its high moisture levels (Freedman p. 119), and a penguin can only live in a cold climate like a tundra biome that suits its body and way of life. Biodiversity is directly influenced by biomes and vice versa. They are all interrelated and have their own relationships and connections.

References:

Freeman, B. (2018). Environmental science: A Canadian perspective. Halifax, Canada: Dalhousie University Libraries.  FREEDMAN_Environmental-Science.pdf 

Activity 2.2 - Cryosphere: Eliot Glacier, Mount Hood, Oregon

First Photo

(H.F. Reid, 1901)

Second Photo

(H. Basagic, 2012)

Google earth View 2022

(Google Earth, 2022)

Eliot Glacier on Mount Hood in Oregon

Problem

What we are seeing in these photos of the Eliot Glacier in Oregon is that the glacier is retreating and has been on a steady decline since the first photo taken in 1901. The Eliot Glacier is one of the two largest Glaciers on Mount Hood, with about 1.5 to 1.8 miles in length. (usgs.gov) As you can see between the first and second photo, during this one hundred year period there is a dramatic difference. Most of the snow and ice seems like it has disappeared. The ice has melted and moved down the mountain, decreasing the amount maintained up top and increasing water lower on the ground. The problem shown from these images is climate change effecting glaciers and the issues that arise from glacial retreat. 

Explanation

Glaciers like Eliot provide evidence for climate change. This is because the increased temperatures of the climate has contributed to melting of part of these glaciers, causing them to slide down or recede and then melt. We see that the period between 2012 and 2022, despite it being only a ten year difference, has lost a vast amount of its snow, which further enforces the idea of climate change becoming a larger factor in changing the environment. This can prove to have negative consequences. Yes, some might say it has some positive aspects, but those will only last for a short amount of time, and the negatives outweigh the positives. People say the glaciers melting add and contribute to our availability of fresh water, which is true, but considering the normal is for glaciers to melt very slowly, what is happening with these glaciers is not a normal nor positive. They are melting at a fast rate while not gaining any new ice, therefore, they will not have any glacier left to provide water, which will impact the ecosystem greatly by affecting habitats and water needed by plants and animals. Glacial retreats like this one will also affect sea levels from adding so much ice which causes levels to rise across the globe. Retreating glaciers also cause habitat destruction from its erosion and create safety hazards from potential avalanches. Overall the problem with these photos is the ice that seems to be disappearing, which shows us the effect climate change is having on the environment and causes us to think about the negative impacts it will cause. 

References:

H.F. Reid (1901). Eliot Glacier: Glacier Rephoto Database. ephoto.glaciers.us  https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115462382238657018379/album/AF1QipOeyP_mC1jfsqFw__QV9XKx6pWNwS_Va_nqYVWe/AF1QipPW4BxauPD4RUJT1s7JJ5vRgFtc1YhO5o_YTnDw

H. Basagic (2012). Eliot Glacier: Glacier Rephoto Database. ephot.galciers.us   https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115462382238657018379/album/AF1QipOeyP_mC1jfsqFw__QV9XKx6pWNwS_Va_nqYVWe/AF1QipPW4BxauPD4RUJT1s7JJ5vRgFtc1YhO5o_YTnDw

Google Earth, Google. (2022). Eliot Glacier, Oregon   https://earth.google.com/web/search/Eliot+Glacier,+Oregon/@45.3889041,-121.66208981,2087.73280617a,0d,60y,252.5614206h,93.76532225t,0r/data=CigiJgokCcRi3sBC0FFAEVyPrs6nKiBAGXLf2vVPYFTAIfjSFkR5dmLAIhoKFnpkdHRZd3BPY19EUTF4WDlBUG5CWlEQAg

“Glaciers at Mount Hood, Oregon.” Glaciers at Mount Hood, Oregon | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mount-hood/glaciers-mount-hood-oregon.

“What Are the Impacts of Glacier Loss, Other than Losing an Aesthetic Landscape Feature?” What Are the Impacts of Glacier Loss, Other than Losing an Aesthetic Landscape Feature? | U.S. Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-impacts-glacier-loss-other-losing-aesthetic-landscape-feature.