A Modest Proposal | Teen Ink

A Modest Proposal

November 11, 2016
By sophiegil2000 BRONZE, Freeland, Michigan
sophiegil2000 BRONZE, Freeland, Michigan
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

FOR PREVENTING THE ESCALATION AND LONG TERM PERPETUATION OF PLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE OCEANS


It is a melancholy object to those whose natural habitat is being destroyed by plastic waste distributed into the oceans by fault of humans. Plastic pollution is being globally distributed into the oceans, causing a plummet in the oceans wildlife. Plastic pollution is globally distributed across all oceans due to its properties of buoyancy and durability, and the sorption of toxicants to plastic while traveling through the environment [1], [2], have led some researchers to claim that synthetic polymers in the ocean should be regarded as hazardous waste [3]. The impact of plastic pollution through ingestion and entanglement of marine fauna, ranging from zooplankton to cetaceans, seabirds and marine reptiles, are well documented [14].


I think it is agreed by all parties that the life-threatening occurrence of plastic pollution is fatal to our oceans wildlife. Plastic pollution in our oceans is endangering marine life and ecosystems. It is now believed that there are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean. Of that mass, 269,000 tons float on the surface, while some four billion plastic microfibers per square kilometer litter the deep sea. (1) 100,000 marine creatures a year die from plastic entanglement. There are believed to be 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of ocean. World wide, 13,000-15,000 pieces of plastic are dumped into the ocean every day.  Scientists have identified 200 areas declared as ‘dead zones’ where no life organisms can now grow.


But my intention is far from being confined to provide only for the betterment only for the human organizations assigned to deal with the problems we are faced due to pollution, but for the ocean itself, and all the wildlife affected. Although actions are being taken by organizations assigned to fix the problem, my intention is to find a way to end the problem of plastic pollution once and for all. The plan I have is the absolute only way to go, and will fix our threatened wildlife problem once and for all.


As to my own part, I have studied the proposals of other projectors, and concluded that they are not nearly as efficient as they claim to be. Although major organizations are on the job to try and reduce and prevent future plastic pollution, their work isn’t effective enough. Their simple solutions to have volunteers walk the shores and collect trash, and to create laws to prevent dumping, simply just aren’t cutting it to be fully effective. My solution offers a much better and faster solution, with more promising results.


I will now propose my idea, which I hope will not subject to any disagreement.


I humbly offer it to public consideration that humankind as a cohesive and cooperative unit, should all support the proposal to completely empty out and filter our world’s 5 great oceans to remove all plastic pollution and make them safe and lively again. This means once this action is taken and successfully completed, all humans will be required to recycle any plastic waste, by law, to prevent this problem from ever reoccuring. Failure to follow these important laws will result in serious fines and jail time, only to ensure the effectiveness.


In this scenario, the largest buckets found on the planet will be filled with all the oceans water, every last drop of it. All the wildlife found in the oceans will be taken to aquariums to be checked in and taken care of during this act. If needed, animals will be x-rayed and checked for plastic pollution in their systems to cure all the troubled wildlife before being released back in. All plastic pollution found on shores will be sweeped and recycled. All plastic pollution found in the water will also be recycled. The water will be filtered in the buckets, to ensure there is no harmful pollution left before filling our oceans back up.


Of course this process will not be easy to accomplish. We will need many helping hands and lots of determined workers. In order to accomplish this proposal, we will have to have many different types of professionals. Vets, to cure the sick wildlife of plastic pollution already in their systems, garbage men, to sweep the ocean’s shores and depths completely of any plastic waste, and supporters, to help the proposal become a reality.


These drastic and sudden changes will change and bette our planet instantly. With these actions being taken, wildlife will recover and thrive as they once did before oceans were infected with so much harmful waste. Humans will no longer have to worry about endangered species, with the deadly plastic waste gone, the oceans wildlife will go back to its natural food chain and thrive as it once did, naturally. And other humans, who have previously caused our oceans harm, will be heavily informed the consequences of harming our oceans after this. Simply, the death penalty. It's only reasonable.


I can think of no valid objection that may be introduced to antagonize this proposal, unless someone else proposes a quicker and more effective one than I have proposed, which simply isn’t possible. The solution I have proposed would solve a problem that has gone without an answer for centuries, and is only getting worse with time. Humans do not know how to individually prevent problems if it means changing their lifestyle willingly, we must take action in large steps and enforce heavy laws to make sure our solutions stay. If anyone else were to object to this proposal, it would be for their own selfish wants to keep the planet a polluted place, and no one in the right mind can justify that.


Again, no one should dare to suggest these notions to me until they have a small spark of hope that these actions may be implemented.


It is not that I do not respect the input of others on the subject to this topic, but simply that I am an expert. I have done all the research, completed all the findings, studied all the wildlife, and finally, came up with the world’s most groundbreaking proposal since sliced bread. My solution is truly  groundbreaking, and will fix the problem we’ve had for many, many years. There simply is no counter argument, the actions I am proposing we take are in the best interest for the world, not just humans, as we are usually only concerned about, but for wildlife, what we need to be concerned about.


The author's comments:

My name is Sophia. I am a student studying Junior English. I wrote this paper as a satirical solution for plastic pollution in the oceans because I personally take interest in this topic and very much care about the social issue of plastic pollution. I enjoyed using literary elements and writing this proposal for Junior English.


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