The Yangtze, Xi, and Huangpu rivers in China; the Ganges in India; Cross in Nigeria; and the Amazon in Brazil. Sort those 5 account for 70-80% of the plastic dumped into the seas.
Nice to know we aren’t the cause of all the problems. Maybe we should be setting a lead for the world to follow like the eco activists say we should with getting rid of fossil fuels and cars?
Rather than trying to collect plastic from the ocean it would be far more productive to catch it at the mouth of the river.
Yes. We should give lead although we are mot responsible for much of it. As with other things the other places will carry on regardless.
Totally agree. You just have to make your stand in life, show a positive action and impact, irrespective of what others do. Then eventually they'll turn round and look, then understand and follow.
Aren't cruse ships etc allowed to dump waste? Or did I dream that up. Albeit a drop in the ocean in the grand scheme of things.
Cruise ships now have sewage treatment plants on board, so I'd guess they're allowed to release treated sewage and used water. I don't think they'd get away with dumping rubbish overboard though - it would be terrible publicity, and rightly so. Up until the 1990s, everything went over the side into the sea.
Of course they will. There's huge changes every decade as ppl get more educated, develop understanding and contribute to a brighter, positive future that will benefit future generations. It's like planting a tree - will be appreciated decades in the future. Younger generations are in a great place right now with far greater empathy and respect for the planet than we ever had. Nihilistic, negative thinking is lazy, too easy and the cowards way.
So you think because we do something the world will follow? We are an insignificant little island off the coast of mainland Europe. That is what lefties who hate their own country, Remainers and others say. To believe that China, India, Brazil, the USA or anyone else will do things because we do despite being rather touching is naive in the extreme.
I was at sea, trawlers, 70,s 80's. Everything simply went "over the side". I will not claim responsibility for plastic, but a good few rusty nuts and bolts, hand wipes are down to me. The look on my grandson's face when I explained "this was before the enviroment was invented" was something to behold. A quick google suggests you are right. Waste management, all waste, systems appear to be a standard fit on marine vessels of all types now. Black Water waste is a good read. If you have a strong stomach.
You're not an island, your actions aren't limited within borders and you're not insignificant. Why are you so down on yourself. One man from Hull contributed hugely to ending slavery in much of the world. We all have a choice. We can either lock our front door, pull down the curtains, say we're going to die in X number of years and refuse to change and give up. Or we can at least try to leave some sort of positive legacy, through tiny actions that will echo through to the future.
So, what actions do you think we can do in the UK which will alter the way other countries act? Can you name any recently which have done so?
