What are we throwing away?
May 27th 2008 00:17
It happened again yesterday. I was down by the river, supposedly fishing but also reflecting on world events and circumstances. (Heady stuff, for sure!)
I stood there noticing there are fewer boats on the water than last year--no doubt a result of spiraling gas prices--and then I saw one of the culprits fueling our oil dependency!
Someone had discarded a disposable lighter! Sure, we can simply drop a disposable lighter when it is of no more value. BUT are we really getting rid of it? Or have we reached the point where our "throw away mentality" is coming back to bite us in the butt?
What happens when that lighter ends up along the river bank? Granted, some of the water in a river ends up as drinking water but often small rivers or streams flow into bigger rivers and they, in turn, flow into our oceans. Realizing that, it's not too far fetched to believe a lighter may end up in the stomach of a fish. Since plastic doesn't digest easily, the fish will probably die and make it unpleasant to boat, fish, or swim.
If our "throw away" mentality is contributing to our oil consumption, the Bic Corporation is surely leading the way. Since the 60's we've been introduced to disposable pens and even razors in addition to the aforementioned lighters. Why am I picking on Bic? It takes oil to make plastic and those razors, pens, and lighters are more plastic than anything else.
How often do you see a lighter that someone has thrown away? Maybe we need to revert back to the days when everyone had a Zippo and a can of lighter fluid in the cupboard!
Let's see--less oil--less garbage. Hmmm.
I stood there noticing there are fewer boats on the water than last year--no doubt a result of spiraling gas prices--and then I saw one of the culprits fueling our oil dependency!
Someone had discarded a disposable lighter! Sure, we can simply drop a disposable lighter when it is of no more value. BUT are we really getting rid of it? Or have we reached the point where our "throw away mentality" is coming back to bite us in the butt?
What happens when that lighter ends up along the river bank? Granted, some of the water in a river ends up as drinking water but often small rivers or streams flow into bigger rivers and they, in turn, flow into our oceans. Realizing that, it's not too far fetched to believe a lighter may end up in the stomach of a fish. Since plastic doesn't digest easily, the fish will probably die and make it unpleasant to boat, fish, or swim.
If our "throw away" mentality is contributing to our oil consumption, the Bic Corporation is surely leading the way. Since the 60's we've been introduced to disposable pens and even razors in addition to the aforementioned lighters. Why am I picking on Bic? It takes oil to make plastic and those razors, pens, and lighters are more plastic than anything else.
Let's see--less oil--less garbage. Hmmm.
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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