An Open Letter to Everyone Destroying the Ecosystem

written by Airene Grace Matabia of G11 - S10

Dear every human being on this plant,

Through school, I'm sure everyone of us have learned about our ecosystem, what Mother Earth does for us, the importance of keeping everything green or whatsoever, what to do and what NOT to do in order for it to be kept safe and preserved. Most of you may have even had projects about it regarding our environment. You tried to understanding the concepts, the lessons or topics about it but you probably haven't even gotten the real image yet to try and fix the problem.

Let me get straight to the point. People have been constantly destroying the ecosystem at every moment. From poaching black bears to throwing a plastic bag away, the ecosystem is getting constantly destroyed little by little. Animals once so common like bees are becoming few, and with the other things are dying too. Food like fruit or honey is becoming harder to produce, and predators are dying, but prey are blooming. A lot of

you, might not have realized how harmful everything is

yet, you are aware of the consequences we would face when these human actions of ours stay the same for years. Imagine what would be left for us in the near future. Just look at how even the smallest bit of plastic is damaging our entire planet. The fact that there are 500 times more pieces of microplastic in the sea than there are stars in our galaxy and by 2050 it is estimated there will be more plastic than fish says a lot, doesn't it?. Plastic is toxic and it can disrupt hormones crucial for a healthy existence. To sea turtles, plastic bags in the water can look like jellyfish, floating on the surface plastic can appear to be a tasty snack for a seagull, based on millennia of experience, and to baby perch it appears more appetizing than the plankton they are supposed to eat. Since plastics are killing off our marine life, it is bad for humans because we do consume so much of it ourselves. Given how plastic degrades to pieces small enough to pass through the stomach into the flesh of fish and other animals, we may already be eating some of the plastic we have thrown into the sea. And, of course, just like other animals that plastic is likely to be finding its way into the tissues of our bodies with potentially harmful consequences. Not only that but plastic may also be contaminating the air we breathe as well.

There are so many ways we can at least HELP to PREVENT these situations from growing bigger and consuming our system. One thing we could do is recycling, through this we can lower the amount of trash and PLASTICS thrown in the sea, killing fewer animals and maintaining our ecosystem in balance. it also takes the mindset of people to save the ecosystem. If you think that one person can't make a difference, other people probably do too BUT with changing that typical mindset and thinking that a lot of us CAN make a difference, then, a lot of us can engage into recycle, disposing of items properly, and most importantly, remembering that one person can make a change no matter how small the action is.

All the ecosystem problems could be lessened if we all tried. Even one person could help!

If we try to at least see and prioritize these environmental cause and effects, I believe that everyone will seem to realize how important it is to make a difference. I honestly believe we can do it. The world can be a better place if we all try.

And if we don't? In a few decades, a blink of an eye in Earth's 4.5-billion-year history, plastic will not only change the fabric of life but even the very rocks of the earth.

Captivating hearts through the form of poetry

A self composed Poetry by Danica Mae Budlong of G11-S10

#SaveTheEarth #SayNoToPlastics #MakeTheChange

When writing environmental poems today, contemporary poets tend to write about nature more broadly than their predecessors, focusing more on the negative effects of human activity on the planet. Critic Jay Parini explained in his introduction to Poems for a Small Planet: Contemporary American Nature Poetry, “Nature is no longer the rustic retreat of the Wordsworthian poet. … [it] is now a pressing political question, a question of survival.” Distinct from nature poetry, environmental poetry explores the complicated connections between people and nature, often written by poets who are concerned about our impact on the natural world. Poets today are serving as witnesses to climate change while bringing attention to important environmental issues and advocating for preservation and conservation.

Don't be drastic, say no to plastic! -- Be A Part of The Solution

What is plastic?

Plastic is any of a group of synthetic or natural organic materials that may be shaped when soft and then hardened, including many types of resins, resinoids, polymers, cellulose derivatives, casein materials, and proteins: used in place of other materials, as glass, wood, and metals, in construction and decoration, for making many articles, as coatings, and, drawn into filaments, forweaving.

How does it harm the environment?

Plastic pollution is one of the prevalent and most widespread environmental problem. As the amount of garbage in the world increases and as the population grows, the disposable plastic products, like water bottles and soda cans escalate over time.

Overuse of plastic is the main cause of plastic pollution. It has brought a terrible impact on marine species that can damage the economy and food supply for communities that rely on fishing.

It does not only affect the ocean but also the groundwater sources. Plastic toxins in dumps and from litter can seep into the groundwater, which people drink every day.

Air pollution is another issue for humans and animals. When plastic is burned in the open air, it releases large amounts of toxins, which pollutes the air. If the toxins are inhaled for a long period of time, it can lead to serious respiratory problems.

As the world’s population increases, land becomes more valuable, and it will soon become difficult to dispose all the garbages. Over time, landfills and dumps will take up more land, invading animals’ habitats.

#PLASTHINK #SaveTheEarth #NoToSingleUsePlastics