Comments on: Plastic bags

By: Raffaella

Raffaella — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:11:22 +0000

In the marine environment plastic bag litter is lethal, killing many birds, whales, seals and turtles every year. After an animal is killed by plastic bags its body decomposes and the plastic is released back into the environment where it can kill again.
At least 267 species have been scientifically documented to be adversely affected by plastic marine debris and it is estimated to kill over 100,000 marine mammals and turtles each year.

By: Beverly Spicer

Beverly Spicer — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:40:28 +0000

Good question! If anyone knows the answer, please tell us!

By: Joel McCoy

Joel McCoy — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:30:23 +0000

Dear Raj,

I’m in something called youth and goverment and I’m creating a bill to ban plastic bag and I need some statistics on plastic bags, how much the U.S.A uses today, what % does America use out of a global %?

By: Kristen Clark

Kristen Clark — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:31:09 +0000

Right on Beverly Right idea, Raj, just don’t burn plastic. But plastic bags can be woven into a fabric in a mesh-like pattern. A friend of mine has a purse made out of them… the colors even coordinate into a pattern! Add some beads and maybe you could sell them, give as gifts, or use around the hut!?? Thanks for caring

By: Melody Lyn

Melody Lyn — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:05:38 +0000

Wow this article may be short but its powerful, it makes my heart sad knowing how much these plastic bags are affecting our earth and animals with it. Plastic bags need to be replaced in my opinion with perhaps cloth bags we can continue to reuse. Would probably create a nice positive effect on our environment. Thank you for this read.

By: Beverly Spicer

Beverly Spicer — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:24:33 +0000

Dear Raj,

Although I can understand your rationale, I strongly advise you not to burn plastic for fuel or any other reason. The CO2 is not the problem, but outgasing and release of PVCs (polyvinyl chloride) and other harmful chemicals can cause toxic inhalants and make you very sick indeed. If you would like to find out a little about PVCs, their prevalence of use in baby bottles, soft plastics used for water and soda bottles and containers, liners for metal cans and milk cartons, housing materials, and I.V. lines, there is a very interesting documentary called “Blue Vinyl” on the subject. Rent it! And don’t burn plastic!

Beverly

By: Raj Shrestha, Nepal

Raj Shrestha, Nepal — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:18:47 +0000

Thanks for adding this category “What are we doing to ourselves?”. I am pretty interested in what can we do little things to improve the environment. I have devised a small iron furnance which is powered by a small fan with 12 volts d.c. electrict supply which supply limited air. As an alternative to today’s hike in the oil and gas prices, I use small pieces of wood, papers of no use, plastics pieces, other materials around me which catches fire, and (perhaps plastic bags) as fuel for cooking my food from tea to rice to boiling water. I am little bit worried by the fact that “Do this process release carbon dioxide to my surrounding and harm environment?” . I am sure the benefit is higher than the release of co2. As my experience, a modest large plastic bag is sufficient to boil two cup of tea. So plastic bags which come to my home, are all consumed as fuel substitute. So Dear Beverly, Please comment on this.