Blog 1: Killer Plastic Bags

 Geographical issues:

1. Plastic bags have been one of the worst environmental issues since they were invented. Plastic bags do not break up overtime, leading to tons of waste, both on land and in our oceans. A city in Kenya, Nairobi, is just one of many cities that have been heavily impacted by plastic bags. The land cannot be used for agriculture due to the plastic bags taking over the land, and the animals eating the plastic due to not having enough to eat. The city streets are filled with plastic, making it impossible to avoid and an eyesore. These bags even produce health risks on the residents of Nairobi. Mosquitos are attracted towards the plastic bags when it rains, and they carry diseases like Malaria. These many issues are not just a reality for Nairobi, but many other cities.  

What now?

2 and 3. Another African city, Mumbai, combated this issue. They banned "thin bags" and had an anti-bag police squad. People who use thin bags receive a fine, equivalent to $600 in USD. This method eliminated tons of plastic bag waste off of the streets. Another way to combat the plastic bag issue is to perform a similar method that Ireland used. They charged 30 cents per plastic bag and overnight bag use dropped by 90 percent! This method would be a small start, but it would not only be good for the environment, but also the economy. This method is already popping up in the major cities but would be beneficial for smaller towns as well. 

4. This issue is at a global issue, impacting every continent and city. Plastic bags are in our oceans, and in almost every city. This issue impacts us on a global level, which means it should be solved as such. Cities across the world can easily set regulations, as shown as the town of Modbury in England. This conservative area of the world banned plastic bags, and even issued a reusable tote bag for each household. If someone forgot their bag, the stores would charge 10 cents for a compostable bag. This simple regulation completely cut out plastic bags and helped clean up the local beaches of waste. Plastic bags are misunderstood. They help further our economy and make life easier. However, these pros do not outweigh the environmental issues that plague our planet Earth. The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained (nationalgeographic.org) This article further shows how plastic waste is a global issue and makes it easily digestible of how our environment is threatened by our plastic usage.

This image shows how plastic can take over a city. If a city does not fully ban plastic but implements fees to slowly stop others from using plastic bags. The World's Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained (nationalgeographic.org) This article further shows how plastic waste is a global issue, and not a local issue.