POWER IN THE NATURAL WORLD

Some thoughts that came to me, after watching the documentary 'A Plastic Ocean': 

Power is an inseparable element of every natural conflict. “A Plastic Ocean” reminds us, yet again, of the power structures in the natural world. Just like the omnivores that Guha and Gadgil describe in ‘Ecology and Equity’, who exploit resources excessively but rarely face the deadly consequences of their actions; ‘A Plastic Ocean’ takes us into a world were all humankind are merciless omnivores, while the animal kingdom bears the brunt for our actions. 

We consume tonnes of plastic as packaging in our daily lives for the sake of ease and conveniently dispose of these, into the open; clearing up our kitchen, our houses, and our neighborhood. Though we like to believe, these plastics are no longer our problem, once they are out of our sight, this is far from the truth. Traces of these plastics will exist on the phase of earth, even longer than our time on the planet, and most of it eventually ends up in our oceans, which are home to mute sea creatures. 

Plastics never completely decompose on their own. However, they break down into extremely small pieces that cannot be viewed easily nor removed from the environment. These are called microplastics. Though micro in size, they are creating macro problems in the environment. According to a 2018 UN report, there are more than 51 trillion microplastic particles in the sea, more than 500 times the number of stars in the Milky Way. Unlike macro-sized plastic waste, microplastics are insidious as they are invisible to us. They are said to be washed out of cosmetic products with microbeads such as face washes and scrubs. Research into microplastics and their effects are still very much in its infancy. These microplastics are readily ingested by small aquatic organisms like shellfish such as oysters and clams, which recent studies have shown to damage the gills of these species. 

A Plastic Ocean touches upon the problems faced by oceanic life due to the rise of plastic in our seas. One of the most affected species of marine life are whales. Beaked whales and sperm whales are amongst the most affected, both species known to consume squid. Due to the close resemblance of plastic bags to squids, these animals are seen to consume large amounts of plastic. Plankton, known to be the primary food source for many aquatic species, is now getting tough competition from plastic. Recent estimates suggest that Plankton is now at a 2:1 ratio with plastic and if current trends of plastic growth and disposal continue, this will result in plastic outweighing the number of fish in the ocean by 2050. 

Over the past decade, numerous whales have washed up on shores across the world, starved and dehydrated, with their stomachs strangled with plastic waste. Scientists have found plastic bags, gloves, snack bags, and even large tangles of nylon ropes and nets used by fisherfolk in the intestines of whales, resulting in them strangling to death, unable to eat anything. But whales aren’t the only victims of the plastic crisis. It is their large size that makes the issue visible; smaller creatures also ingest plastics in the form of microplastic in large quantities. However, the smaller the species, the lesser we know about the effects that have played out on them. This is reflective of the power dynamics in nature.

Though the ocean is the world’s largest landfill, animals on land are not safe from the menace of plastic waste created by omnivores. These are concerning times were animals fiddling with plastic bags and containers has resulted in viral videos. Food containers were generally made for knives or spoons to be dipped into them, or to have their contents poured out and certainly not for serving up to hungry animals. An animal with its head stuck in a plastic food container may suffer from overheating, suffocation, dehydration, starvation, and eventually even death from these elements. Amongst animals that live in close proximity to plastic waste and human settlements, consumption of plastic packaging while eating left-over packaged food is also a rising issue. This has resulted in the death of many wild animals in the last decade. However, with the closer proximity to human settlements, the plastic consumption by animals has been taken note of, by forest officials, across the globe. To prevent such hazards in most protected forests, visitors are not allowed to carry plastic bags or bottles into the forest. In the pyramid of power, in the natural world, terrestrial animals and wildlife are still bearing the brunt of our actiopns, but are comparatively well off to marine life. 

Towards the end, A Plastic Ocean shows us the impacts of plastic waste on human life in different parts of the world. Islands like Tuvalu in Polynesia, are reminders for us omnivores, of what is going to happen to our lands soon, if we don’t act fast. Borrow Pit area in Tuvalu, occupied by just 30 people, is drowning in plastic waste. Since 2010, among the 30 inhabitants of the island, 5 have contracted cancer, signifying the level of toxicity in the area. The natives are not the primary creators of this waste, most of it is oceanic waste, which rushes up against the island. These people are bearing the brunt of our actions. Tuvalu is not alone, many other third world countries are today becoming landfills. International news agencies have also reported shipping of plastic waste from richer countries to the poorer, further reflecting the power dynamics of waste. 

Halfway through the documentary, I wasn’t alone in feeling relieved that I was an omnivore, living my best life in the Global North, free from the effects of plastic waste and toxic chemicals. However, like me, none of us are completely free of the impacts of plastics. Some of these after-effects will be borne by every citizen on the phase of this planet. Like, air pollution affected the rich and the poor of Delhi on varied scales, the same applies here. Nobody can escape scath free from this mess, we’ve created for ourselves. BPA or Bisphenol A is a popular chemical found in plastic food containers, baby toys, and hygiene products. When BPA products are made, not all of the BPA gets sealed into the product, allowing parts of it to break free and mix with the container’s contents. BPA is said to mimic the structure and function of the hormone estrogen, due to its estrogen-like shape. BPA can bind to estrogen receptors and influence bodily processes, such as growth, cell repair, fetal development, and reproduction. Studies have found high levels of BPA amongst people consuming packaged food items, resulting in further health complications. 

Though all may seem grim in ‘A Plastic Ocean’, the documentary also offers some hope of sustainable plastic management strategies. Pyrogenesis seemed to provide the most practical solution. Pyrogenesis is a company that uses a plasma torch for the destruction of combustible waste including plastic. The only residue produced is ash, while the heat produced by the machine can be captured and reused by the community, being a completely sustainable solution to the plastic crisis. However, the private company is still struggling to take this technology globally and has a long way forward to solving the problem. If they do become successful in doing so, this could improve lives worldwide. 

Watching ‘A Plastic Ocean’, is truly an experience that will shape your values and habits. It drives in consciousness, of using plastic use and management, and serves its purpose well. It reminds us once again of our omnivorous lifestyle, without concern for those below us in this power hierarchy of nature. As the creators of this problem, we need to hold ourselves responsible for these effects. As the most powerful community of consumers, only we can work together and solve this crisis before it impacts our lives and livelihoods, the way it has taken over islands like Tuvalu. “Plastic packaging destroyed our paradise,” said an elderly woman from Tuvalu, it won’t be long before Our beautiful planet meets the fate of Tuvalu if we don’t act soon.