IMPACTS OF OUR WASTE ON OCEANS AND MARINE LIFE

ENGAGING THE HUMANITIES: INTERDISCIPLINARY LEARNING AND PRACTICE PORTFOLIO

IMPACTS OF OUR WASTE ON OCEANS AND MARINE LIFE 

By Emiley Martin

The major concern of today’s modern society is the rapidly increasing rate of waste, pollution and climate change. These key issues come hand-in-hand with one another, where now we are responsible for the damage it does to the world. This blog will help educate, and shed light on the impacts of our waste on the world, while closely looking at this implication on oceans and marine life. 

Waste is a relational concept. Waste is only something which we regard as 'waste', what we determine it to be, what we don't and can't use. This can be food waste, plastic waste, clothing waste, or even time (time can be considered wasteful). All relational, perceived differently by everybody. what can not be considered to be perceived differently is the detrimental impact and the obvious effects of waste on the planet on which we live. As the human population increases so does the amount in which we consume, resulting in more WASTE. We make more than 2 billion tons of waste per year, we produce 1.5 pounds of waste per day and over 33% of this waste isn't managed properly. From finding these statistics, it becomes overwhelming, to be the origin - the foundation, of the cause of the problem. something has to be done, to educate more people on the problem is the start to the solution. So, to talk about oceans and marine life is something very complex and the implications of waste are impactful on humans and the state of human life but also that of marine life.

The initial impact of our waste on the atmosphere - As we know, the impact of the Industrial revolution causes a rapid rise of factories across Europe and the United States. This transition in many first-world countries allowed for manufacturing production growth. As an immediate growth of these industries "many waste products are emitted into the atmosphere from factory chimneys, car exhausts and waste incinerators. While much of the emitted material is gaseous and remains in the atmosphere (or undergoes chemical reactions in the gaseous phase), many of the substances emitted are either small particulates or they react with water in the atmosphere, dissolving in rain droplets. These particles/water droplets are carried in the atmosphere and, because the oceans cover 70% of the Earth’s surface, when the particles drop to Earth or rain falls a large proportion is deposited in the oceans" (Clark R.B, Attrill M, Frid C 2001).  The industrial revolution jump-started the waste problem of today's society, the waste and disposal of atmospheric pollutants has remained the focus of waste and the cause of climate change and ultimately, the reason for polluted oceans."A factory, a sewage treatment works, a power station or a ship might all place its waste directly into the sea, often via a pipeline. Waste that enters streams, rivers or estuaries eventually ends up in the sea as the natural hydrological flow cycle carries it downstream", and "key pathways carrying pollutants into the sea include direct discharges from industry and municipal works, riverine inputs, atmospheric sources and ocean disposal of pollutants. For many substances, only one of these routes will be important, but other substances will enter via a number of routes and predicting their impacts in the environment and regulating the effects will be made more complex as a result" (Clark R.B, Attrill M, Frid C 2001).

The impact of rubbish pollution in the ocean - 

Habitat impact: The accumulation of waste/rubbish pollution on beaches, lakes etc, causes harm physically to habitats, the debris of waste can modify the structures of habitats. while also, due to waste debris light levels in oceans, other forms of water can be reduced underneath water levels as a result oxygen levels can deplete. The changes can be the main reason why benthic and open-water habitats may not be able to support aquatic life. 

Chemical impact: Ocean waste transports chemical pollutants, imminently threatening marine life, and as a result interferes with the human use of oceans and other coastal environments. Ocean waste/ rubbish has the potential to absorb chemicals from its surrounding environment and transport these contaminants globally through the food chain and humans who eat seafood. Contaminants lay on the surfaces of plastic particles and other contaminants be released from within the particles. Once released into the environment the plastic begins to break down into smaller particles due to UV radiation and weathering. From this, marine organisms ingest the plastic waste where the contaminants enter their digestive system, the transfer of contaminants between marine species and humans through consumption of seafood has been identified as a health hazard, but has not yet been adequately researched.

Biological impact: It is estimated that marine waste affects at least 267 species across the globe, that being 86% sea turtles, 44% seabirds and 43% marine mammals. The common threat these animals face is the physical hazards of ingestion and entanglement, and toxicological threats from contaminants in plastic particles. These animals are said to mistake plastic waste for their prey, most of which die as a result due to starvation while their stomachs are filled with plastic waste. These marine animals also die due to lacerations - as a result of entanglement - and infections, the loss of ability to swim and internal injuries. Plastic waste contributes to the death of marine wildlife through the spread of organisms and bacteria which live in the oceans, disrupting ecosystems.

Human impact: Plastic waste can interfere with navigation, impede commercial and fishing, and reduce tourism. A large sum of waste much like that of fishing nets and lines that float at or just below the surface, pose the greatest threat to vessel navigation. Lines and nets can become wrapped around propellers damaging them. 

Humans can be directly harmed by plastic waste, becoming entangled in nets and lines while swimming, or being injured by sharp debris. Medical waste, such as hypodermic needles, is of particular concern as punctures from this can result in the transfer of infections and disease. Due to the human health risk of medical debris, beaches in New York and New Jersey were closed to protect the public from medical waste that washed ashore in 1988, the loss of revenue from beach closures cost an estimation of $706 million to nearly $3 billion. 

The impact of our waste on climate change - When our waste decomposes or incinerates, carbon dioxide and methane gases are released into the atmosphere. These gases (greenhouse gases) contribute significantly to climate change specifically global warming. Due to climate change, many island countries are facing sea level rises, as they are low lying countries that have only a small land size. Rising sea levels due to global warming lead to an increase in flooding - ultimately causes an increase in pollution across coastal water as a result. Also, due to climate change, there has been a change in rainfall patterns, which increases the risks of extreme events such as cyclones. Cyclones can cause an extreme amount of damage which in turn, can cause more waste damage and waste pollution, increasing risks for marine life also. 

The difference we can make - We only cause more damage to oceans and marine life by ignoring the problem. We can make a huge difference in the amount of waste dumped into the ocean and can change the effects this has on aquatic life. This can be done through: exploring the existing legally binding international agreements on marine plastic pollution and questioning its effectiveness and what more can be done to help.

The government and research institutions need to work together in redesigning products and their disposal in order to reduce waste pollution. Recycling and reusing plastic can make a difference - even slightly, and supporting research to help develop products to replace single-use plastic products are necessary for reducing waste and waste pollution. The impact of waste and pollution should be taught in education so that each individual has knowledge of the full extent and effects waste has on the environment. this would encourage manufacturers, policy-makers and us as consumers to be more environmentally aware and could possibly change policy solutions to this problem. Through this, it could accelerate the idea of conceptualising and making new technology or products in order to replace detrimental material such as plastic with something else. "

At its simplest, this principle requires that the organisation responsible for placing pollution in the environment pays for the cost of cleaning it up and mitigating the damage. Thus, if an oil spill occurs and affects the coasts of several countries, separate national governments will initiate a response to protect and clean up their own part of the coastline. Then, once the emergency is over, it will recover the costs from the business/organisation (or their insurers) that caused the spill"(Clark R.B, Attrill M, Frid C 2001). Some example of policies which help the cause of reducing waste pollution is "the multinational treaty on pollution is the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, commonly known as MARPOL, which regulates discharges into the ocean. MARPOL is a comprehensive treaty that regulates pollution from ships. Six annexes to the treaty set out regulations for different aspects of pollution. Annex I covers prevention of pollution by oil from operational measures and from accidental discharges; Annex II regulates pollution by noxious liquid substances carried in bulk (some 250 substances were evaluated and included in the list); Annex III specifies requirements for the issuing of detailed standards on packing, marking, labeling, documentation, stowage, and quantity limitations for “harmful substances”; Annex IV contains requirements to control pollution by sewage (the discharge of sewage is prohibited, except when the ship has an approved sewage treatment plant or is discharging disinfected sewage using an approved system); Annex V governs garbage and bans discharge of plastic from ships; and Annex VI limits sulfur oxide and nitrogen Introduction to the Marine Environment and Pollution 17 oxide emissions from ship exhausts and prohibits emissions of ozone depleting substances into the air" (S Weis, J 2014).

To conclude, the future of oceans and marine life and their ability to thrive in modern society is all dependant on the way we treat the planet and how we manage our waste and dispose of it. "

The future ocean will continue to be used by humanity for waste disposal and treatment, for transport, food supply and recreation while still offering a cultural and spiritual heritage. [...] we wish to consider some of these issues while recognising that commenting on the future ocean is a highly risky activity for anyone without a crystal ball" (S Weis, J 2014). Change needs to be made about waste pollution and its disposal, more people needed to be educated on this problem and more awareness needs to be made on the matter, this change can start from this blog - now. 

 

References - 

R.B CLARK, CHRIS FRID, MARTIN ATTRILL 2001 : MARINE POLLUTION, NEW YORK: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PAGE 3

R.B CLARK, CHRIS FRID, MARTIN ATTRILL 2001 : MARINE POLLUTION, NEW YORK: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PAGE 4

R.B CLARK, CHRIS FRID, MARTIN ATTRILL 2001 : MARINE POLLUTION, NEW YORK: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PAGE 8 

JUDITH S. WEIS 2014: MARINE POLLUTION: WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PAGE 16

JUDITH S. WEIS 2014: MARINE POLLUTION: WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PAGE 236

Narrative - Amy

How does Kapadia build a narrative around the Amy Winehouse story?

- Structure (chronological, beginning - rise to fame, middle - fame itself, and end - decline and false endings. Follows a classic five part narrative)

- Binary opposites (alcoholism and sobriety, drug use and non-drug use, inner conflict and outer              conflict)

- Character creations (who is represented as hero - Amy, and villain - Blake and Mitch)

-  Codes (action - self destruction through drugs and drugs in performance scenes, through appearance and clothing)

Sunrise, representations

Gender representations and reflection of the 1920's in Sunrise -

Gender is represented in Sunrise as very male dominated reflecting the time typical of the 1920's where females were seen to be below males and the males were reliant upon to 'look after females', this is seen through 'the mans' superiority over 'the woman' and the woman is represented as weak in comparison to the man whereby she easily forgives him for wanting to kill her. Although the man at the beginning of the film is represented as dominant and superior this is contrasted to later in the film reflecting the turning point of the stereotypical male being ahead of its time in which the man is seen to be more vulnerable and sensitive for example; when the man is trying to win back his wife he is represented as being more emotional when he is crying. The woman from the city is also represented to be ahead of her time to which she isn't represented as weak but may reflect the role of a femme fatale to which she has control of the mans thoughts and convinces him to kill his wife.

Trainspotting revision

How does the Characters, mise-en-scene, narrative and cinematography affect spectatorship responses in Trainspotting?

- Characters; Renton



-mise-en-scene; apartment



-sound; lust for life contrapuntal sound



-cinematography;




what is the intended response ?
how are the techniques used to achieve this ?
what responses to different spectators have (dominant,oppositional and negotiated)?
what are the factors which influence this?

Sunrise, mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene in Sunrise represents an expressionist approach in contrast to the realist approach for example;

- The setting of Sunrise, is reflected through the expressionist architecture for example; the tall buildings and exaggerated crowded environments in the scenes in the town. The town scenes were filmed on a film set which also reflects the expressionist approach as it is more artificial as opposed to filming on a real location.


- The lighting in Sunrise begins very dull and dark reflecting the expressionist approach in the film as it represents 'the man' plotting his wife's death but then as the film progresses to which the man and the woman are attempting to rekindle their love for each other.


- The performance in Sunrise is melodramatic, this reflects the expressionist approach of the film through the over-dramatic change in the performance of the man from wanting to kill his wife to then the extreme sudden change to wanting.

Pulp Fiction - Core study areas assessed on & opening scene questions

Key elements of film form = Mise-en-scene, Cinematography, Editing, Sound and Performance.

Context of the film = Historical and Social

Specialist study area = Narrative and Auteur


opening scene questions


How is the genre of the film made clear in the opening 2 scenes?

The genre is mainly crime and gangster which is made clear as the couple are talking about robberies and then is made clearer as they carry out hold-up with guns, then is made clear in the next opening scene through their clothing as they're dressed in black suits this presents them as criminals and their guns they carry.


what enigma's are present in the 2 scenes?

Through the questioning of who the people are, why are the starting a hold up, who are the men, what are the doing, whats in the briefcase, why are they killing the other men?


how is the opening of the film different from the usual way of starting a film (in terms of narrative)?


The opening in the film shows the couple in the restaurant and conveys them to be the main characters of the film but then is followed by other scenes which shows different. also the normal narrative structure of the film is in chronological order whereas this starts in mid action of them holding up a restaurant where it is followed by the next scene which is also in mid action of another story which the film follows.


What are stereotypes are challenged/ reinforced in this opening scene?











how has the director made the 2 opening scenes interesting and appealing for the audiences despite the fact that not much actually happens?

Essay question - Documentary

Apply one filmmaker's theory of documentary film you have studied to your chosen documentary. How far does this increase your understanding of the film? ( 20 marker)


This essay will explore how far the documentary filmmaker theories of Michael Moore, has increased the understanding of Amy. The genre of documentaries has become increasingly popular, through the growing culture of documentary film in cinemas and other media outlets.

Moore approaches documentary filmmaking in a biased polemical way, inciting responses through his  laid 'everyman' persona which catches his subjects off-guard. Moore acts as the spokesperson representing the 'little' and silenced people, pushing against the mainstream media and government and the injustices brought about by these. For example, this is seen in Moore's documentary film - Bowling for Columbine, whereby he explicitly displays his polemical view about gun laws in America, taking on a negative perspective to the state government. Moore through this doesn't express a balanced argument in this documentary but rather only portrays his own viewpoint. Again, in another Moore documentary film, Sicko, Moore represents himself as this 'spokesperson' when examining the healthcare crises in America, to which uses 'Voxpop' ( voice of the people ) as a way to reflects the silenced people and those who are suffering as a result of the capitalistic society, in which is the healthcare system is only beneficial to those who can afford it. Therefore Moore implements his 'everyman' persona in representing these oppressed people. The realism which Moore achieves in his documentary films are seen through the lack of scripts, the use of Voxpops and through the interviews with the main protagonists of the issue he is portraying. This reflects his stlye of filmmaking to which he presents himself as 'laid back' and ingenious or 'faux naïf'. This style allows him to achieve to catch his subjects off-guard, and also allows him to use humour and emotion. 

in comparison, Kapadia's approach in Amy, has some similarities such as dealing with controversial topics, Kapadia's Amy can be viewed as controversial as it portrays the life of Amy Winehouse and her downfall caused by alcoholism and drug use. Similarly, Moore's approach also explores controversial topics, to which he presses against mainstream media and government to express the biased views he has although supporting those 'silenced' people in society. Kapadia's approach to Amy, although does have similarities, mainly contrasts to Moore's approach. Kapadia's use of real home footage which is coupled with recorded voiceovers, allows him to shape his narrative around the use of this which ultimately allows Kapadia to be more open-minded about the narrative of the film of documentary. However, Moore contrastingly has shaped the narrative himself, through knowing the story and subject he wants to tell this has created bias from the beginning as Moore sets out to capture footage rather than already having it. Also as Kapadia in Amy uses real home footage, this means that the documentary is unscripted and unplanned through the use of these. Whereas Moore, explicitly uses scripts and planned scenes in order to portray the bias he wants to show.





More subjective, explicitly representing their own opinions - Moore, Broomfield

Implicitly represents their views - Kapadia