Man versus Nature Technology Essay Example

others prioritize profit over the well-being of nature. This has had a negative impact on our oceans and undermined the importance of a healthy planet. The company Monsanto claims to address world hunger but has yet to prove their actions align with their claims. Their produced pollutants accumulate in the ocean, causing harm to marine organisms and entering the global food chain. In 2013 alone, pharmaceutical company Pfizer earned $1.5 trillion from just four drugs. Research suggests that pharmaceuticals consumed by humans end up in fish when not fully processed by our bodies. In the past, litter was an ongoing issue both in water and on shores; even syringes were found on the Jersey Shore during this time period. Additionally, New York's garbage barge traveled across seas during this period.
In "Paradise" by Donald Birthrate, the main character witnesses a significant amount of garbage floating near Kennedy Airport from an airplane window. This serves as an example of how we often become desensitized to new variations of impending catastrophes, much like celebrities or popular songs. The impact of syringes losing their guilt or dread diminishes over time. Humanity's selfishness hinders the restoration of the earth, putting it in jeopardy. Despite the implementation of the Ocean Dumping Reform Act, as reported by the EPA in 2004, the United States continues to discharge more than 850 billion gallons of untreated sewage and storm runoff annually. Manhattan's streets are filled with plastic bags referred to as "folktales" by the EPA – these buoyant or semi-buoyant solids include items such as cotton swabs, condoms, tampon applicators, and dental floss. Birds face a nightmarish situation when they ingest such substances. While

I couldn't find information on KM Eagle's profits as last year's leading plastic processor, I did come across a case where they were found guilty of defrauding the government and were ordered to pay $22.5 million in a whistleblower lawsuit that will cost our nation billions. Certain regions experience ocean currents that accumulate trillions of decomposing plastic items and trash, resulting in enormous garbage patches.The Pacific Trash Vortex, a large patch of trash floating about a thousand miles off California's coast in the Pacific Ocean, was discovered by a seafaring scientist in the late 'ass. This enormous patch is estimated to be as big as Texas and acts as a floating dump that can hold an amount equivalent to one or two Texas or possibly all of North America depending on who you ask. The different size estimates may be due to most of the trash being below the surface, making it almost invisible from above. Additionally, this trash moves with ocean currents and similar patches exist worldwide. The term "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" generally refers to the largest patch that stretches from Hawaii to San Francisco. In just this specific patch alone, there are approximately 3.5 million tons of watery garbage, with about 80 percent being plastic waste.

In early 2010, another massive garbage patch was found in the Atlantic Ocean. Many people have seen commercials highlighting how many plastic water bottles Americans discard each year – enough to encircle the globe numerous times. However, not many individuals have transitioned from bottles to using a water filter attached to their faucets.

As I write this report now, I currently have over 30 bottles of water

in my house that will be thrown away within the next 10 days.My resolution for this year is to buy a water filter for my faucet and stop using plastic bottles.The US cruise industry generates $37.85 billion in annual revenue and has invested $15 billion in building new ships. However, some cruise ships irresponsibly dispose of unregulated or inadequately regulated waste, called 'grey water,' into the oceans without facing consequences. These ships can accommodate over 5,000 passengers and crew members, leading to over 11 million gallons of wastewater produced daily. Taking into account the annual count of 20,335,000 cruise ship passengers, an estimated 44,737,000,000 gallons of unregulated waste water are dumped into the oceans each year. It is important to note that this estimation only includes passengers who book cruises within the US.

This vast contrast between massive profits and environmental damage becomes evident when comparing Exxon's revenues of $2011 billion in Florida to the distressing state where dolphins are either dead or dying. Greg Boasts, chief veterinary officer of the Georgia Aquarium and a seasoned dolphin researcher for over 30 years, expresses concern about three major environmental disturbances simultaneously impacting dolphins. According to Boasts, unhealthy dolphins in our oceans indicate that our oceans themselves are also unhealthy - much like canaries warning miners about dangerous conditions in coal mines.Prior to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, there were indications of trouble in the Gulf of Mexico. A few dead dolphins were found on the Gulf Coast, raising concerns about a potential leak on the rig before the catastrophic blowout occurred. As the oil spill persisted, dolphin deaths increased significantly. Even dolphins found on Florida Panhandle

beaches as far east as Apalachicola were affected. Some of these deceased dolphins were premature newborns or stillborn, while others showed symptoms such as having oil on their bodies or a bacterial infection called Bracelet, which is believed to be caused by suppressed immune systems due to exposure to oil.

Another threat currently exists in the form of a viral infection that causes mortality in dolphins. This virus is similar to measles in humans and more severe than what dogs experience. Along the eastern seaboard, over 780 dolphin lives have already been claimed by this virus. The die-off initially began off New York's coast and progressed southward through Virginia and then North Carolina. More dolphins were affected in southern areas compared to northern ones.

In December 2013, a deceased dolphin discovered near Jacksonville, Florida tested positive for this virus. Further tests are being conducted to determine if this same virus caused two other stranded dolphins in Bread County. It is believed that dolphins migrating along the Atlantic coast transmit the virus to other dolphins through droplets from their blowholes when they surface for breathing purposes.
Although humans cannot contract the virus, NOAA advises against coming into contact with beached dolphins. This year's dolphin mortality is not the first occurrence in Florida; from June 1988 to May 1989, there were 742 dolphin deaths along the Atlantic coast due to this illness. Over half of the local dolphin population was estimated to have been wiped out during that epidemic. The previous die-off followed a similar pattern starting in New York and then spreading down the coast to Florida throughout summer, concluding in spring. Based on this trend, it is predicted

that there will be an increase in dolphin fatalities before the illness subsides by May due to migratory populations moving southwards. Unfortunately, there is currently no available antiviral vaccine for this die-off prevention; scientists can only observe and hope to determine the cause. Some experts like Boasts believe that dolphins may be falling ill because of a sick ocean surrounding them. Marine litter poses a widespread issue for coastal communities and organizations worldwide. Over the years, numerous studies and surveys have been conducted to assess the problem of marine litter. However, only recently have they started addressing data on volumes and types of this litter. Limited research and data are available regarding the economic and social impacts of these substances.
The economic and social impacts of marine litter on coastal communities were investigated by KIM International in a 24-month project conducted in 2000. The findings of this study reveal previously unrecognized costs that burden these communities. It is alarming to note that those who pollute the oceans face no consequences or accountability for their actions. The difficulty lies in quantifying the cost of crimes against nature, but taking individuals and companies responsible could potentially deter them from continuing to discard trash into our marine environments. Unfortunately, the suffering endured by sea creatures stranded on shores or perishing on the sea floor often goes unnoticed, making it easier for people to overlook this silent plight. Many may believe that what is out of sight cannot immediately harm us. Despite having a long history of pollution, it was only during the twentieth century's United Nations Conferences on the Law of the Sea that significant international laws to combat

marine pollution were established. Initially, it was believed that the vastness of the oceans would dilute pollution and render it harmless; however, controversies arose when licensed companies started dumping radioactive waste into coastal waters during the late 1900s. Jacques Acoustic gained global recognition as he tirelessly fought against marine pollution following several incidents that drew attention to this issue – most notably, the oil tanker Torrent Canyon crash in 1967 and Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969The United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972, extensively discussed marine pollution and resulted in the signing of the London Convention that same year. This convention established lists categorizing substances as banned (black list) or regulated by national authorities (gray list), although it did not completely prohibit all forms of pollution. The black list included cyanide and high-level radioactive waste but only applied to waste dumped from ships, excluding waste discharged as liquids from pipelines. Advocates of ocean dumping popularized the phrase "The solution to pollution is dilution," which has had severe consequences evident today with a New Jersey-sized dead zone caused by decomposing plastic in the northern Pacific Ocean. As a result, this approach has pushed the once thriving ocean ecosystem to its breaking point. To effectively address ocean trash, reducing plastic usage alone is insufficient as it directly and indirectly causes deaths and introduces harmful chemicals into the oceans. It is crucial to not only change our perception of plastics for future generations but also find ways to clean up and properly dispose of oceanic trash. Three main challenges must be overcome to reduce the amount of trash in the world's oceans, particularly

in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch": distance from ports or supplies, photoengraving degradation, and cost considerations.Banyan Slat, a 19-year-old Aerospace Engineering student at TU Delft, has devised a solution called the Ocean Cleanup Array concept to address the problem of plastic waste in our oceans. The plastic in garbage patches breaks into small pieces due to sunlight exposure, making it difficult to remove from the water effectively. Overcoming these obstacles would be expensive and potentially result in bankruptcy for any project attempting it. Therefore, instead of focusing on cleanup efforts, it is currently more realistic to prevent the patch's spread and promote recycling.

The Ocean Cleanup Array concept involves deploying long floating booms and anchored processing platforms that collect and separate plastic waste for removal and recycling. The goal is to place networks of booms around garbage patches and use natural ocean currents to guide trash towards processing areas near shorelines. According to their website, these arrays have the potential to clean up a gyred within five years while removing 7,250,000 tons of plastic waste from oceans.

Slat's inspiration for this project came from a school project focused on finding solutions for ocean garbage patches. This earned him recognition, including a Best Technical Design award at Delft University of Technology in 2012. Building upon this concept, Slat presented it at Deselect 2012 and established the Ocean Cleanup Foundation as a non-profit organization with the aim of turning his idea into reality.The foundation is currently seeking financial support for feasibility studies and is reaching out to interested individuals. The plastics industry has taken action and expressed its commitment to collaborate with governments in addressing plastic pollution in the

ocean. The Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter highlights the need to protect marine ecosystems while recognizing the societal benefits of plastic materials. Various organizations are dedicated to promoting responsible use, reuse, recycling, and recovery of plastics instead of littering them. Inadequate waste management practices, insufficient recycling and recovery processes, as well as poor practices like land and marine littering contribute to plastic pollution in marine environments. Addressing these issues requires collective efforts from industries, governments, and other entities involved. The undersigned organizations are working together with governments, NGOs, researchers, and stakeholders to prevent marine litter by building upon regional efforts.

Echelon, the largest nuclear energy producer in the US generated $4.B in operating revenues during Q1 2010. On 2/20/14 according to news reports from Tokyo a storage tank at Fukushima nuclear plant leaked approximately 100 tons of highly radioactive water.

The most severe spill at the plant in six months was detected, revealing dangerous levels of radioactive cesium near Fuchsia prefecture where the 2011 nuclear disaster took place. The Fisheries Research Agency of Japan reported that a black sea bream caught in that region had 12,400 Becquerel's per kilogram of radioactive cesium, surpassing the safe threshold for human consumption by 124 times. Two other fish from that area also showed unsafe radiation levels for human consumption. However, the remaining fish were found to be within safety limits. To restore the environment and address these concerns, several measures need to be taken such as implementing specialized desalination plants for water cleanup, promoting healthy lifestyles, transitioning away from oil as a fuel source, banning single-use plastic items and ensuring sufficient funding.