Bags are out of style
1. One local impact plastic bags have on the environment that I was surprised to learn about in the
documentary was that plastic bags indirectly cause malaria in poor communities that do not have
developed sewer systems. The documentary basically explains that because plastic bags are not
biodegradable they can hold stagnant water. As we know, mosquitoes grow and stagnant water. So, these
plastic bags are basically creating breeding grounds for the insects. A high population of mosquitoes can
cause diseases such as malaria and cause health problems in the population of people living in that area. I
knew that stagnant water was a problem and brews bacteria, but I had no idea that plastic bags contribute
to disease epidemics.
2. When watching the documentary I found it absolutely fascinating and encouraging that there are
designers out there that are attempting to make a change and putting effort in to stop the use of plastic and
influence their buyers to be more environmentally conscious. I thought it was really cool that they were
using propaganda to get a message across by printing it on their bags. I think this is a really effective way
of reaching and educating people on the damage that classifies and it also encourages the use of reusable
and recyclable materials. I think part of the effort to reduce plastic also comes from being aware and
conscious of plastic use; a lot of people don't really realize how much plastic actually affects the
environment.
3. When thinking about the use of plastic bags and the fact that they have on the environment, and the way
that they are being used, I believe they have more of a negative effects than a positive effect. The fact that
they're not biodegradable and to not only animals but also the environment and people is a clear indicator
there needs to be more of a change. In my opinion, the narrative that plastic bags are misunderstood and
can be reused is flawed because there's so many plastic bags being produced every single day irregardless
of people reusing them or not. Plastic bags are also prone to breaking so how are they really reusable? I
think the documentary proposed a lot of good solutions to try to minimize the use of plastic such as
giving the option of using compostable bags at checkout lines or providing tote bags that are made of
cloth. I believe the change not only has to be on a conscious level but also on a government. It is
refreshing to see that there are governments that have banned plastic bags such as India, and places that
have attempted to use more recyclable products, but for the most part a bigger percentage of the
population still uses plastic bags. The bottom line is that there needs to be a bigger effort on a national
and global scale to reduce plastic bags.
The image I provided down below is a perfect example of the breeding ground from where mosquitos
would be able to grow. I decided to include this picture because it was what most shocked me in the
documentary.You can even see some of the wildlife that has unfortunately been affected by plastic bags
and the pollution it brings to bodies of water. I provided a link down below to a report written by Sharon
Jacobson that I think does a good job at explaining all of the effects plastic bag has on the environment,
including some information on how it damages sea life (as mentioned in the documentary as well)
and the health problems they indirectly cause.
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