What active measures can be taken to to end environmental injustice [View all]

[Rhiannon12866]

A recent study suggests marine animals ingest plastics due to aromas that the debris emits.

Along the shoreline of Trumpeldor Beach, except this time I witnessed a tragic incident of a giant sea turtle that had washed ashore. I distinctly remember the exact moment as I walked closer when my feelings of excitement turned to sadness. I thought to myself, “Wow, this is the first wild sea turtle I have ever encountered in my life,” before thinking, “Oh, it’s dead.” A sharp wave of numbness and complete ignorance caught me off guard. I was naive thinking various maritime disasters only occur in distant places like Australia and Oceania’s shores, and that the Mediterranean Sea was unaffected by such tragedies.

As I and others examined the dead sea turtle, we deduced the turtle’s death was the result of plastic materials blocking its digestive system. Plastic bags were sticking out of the turtle’s gut, and its legs were wrapped in a fishing net. After further investigation, it appeared as though the turtle’s death occurred at some point well before it washed ashore, as the body had already begun to deteriorate. This also made identifying its species complicated.

Naturally, the encounter left me feeling uneasy. In a way, I felt guilty because of my connection to a society that routinely litters plastic and commits similar acts of environmental injustice. Environmentally inconsiderate actions and behaviors such as this will most likely continue to degrade all existing ecosystems, land and especially marine ones, unless we take active measures to stop it.

Smells like food
In recent years, many marine wildlife species populations have fallen victim to harsh decline – sea turtles especially. Many experts have drawn a link between higher mortality and the overwhelming presence of plastic waste and plastic debris reaching marine habitats. But the question scientists are seeking to answer is what exactly motivates animals like sea turtles to consume plastic material?


Much more: https://www.jpost.com/health-science/what-active-measures-can-be-taken-to-to-end-environmental-injustice-651918