World Oceans Become Plastic Pollution - Term Paper Example

Ocean Plastic Pollution Project By: Professor: Class: University: City: State: Date of submission: Ocean Plastic Pollution Project Title of project In the project, I am going to focus on the Ocean Plastic Pollution for my jewelry. Brief outline The oceans are quietly being filled up with plastics. It is time to change the manner in which people use and think of plastic. The large rotating currents collect the floating plastic debris and funnel them towards the centre, which result in vast areas that contain huge plastics of pollution. Plastics often end up into the ocean due to littering of land entering the waterways and illegal dumping. The topic is of great motivation considering that plastic pollution present physical threat, trap, and ingested by various marine organisms. In addition, they act as raft for transportation of invasive species. The worst this is that the plastic materials never breakdown as they fragment into smaller and smaller pieces until they eventually become chemicals in water (TakePart, 2015). These chemicals affect the aquatic ecosystem directly. However, some organizations are targeting the plastics to eliminate pollution. In Sydney, harbor pollution is responsible for the death of endangered turtles and marine life. For example, a dead fuel found had 30 plastic bags presenting the major problem associated with ocean pollution. Theoretical background to the project Plastics are increasingly becoming important in artwork. Vanishing Point is an art exhibit takes on the presented by ocean plastic pollution and the harm the marine animals including the birds, turtle, and seal. The artworks represent the collaboration between the artists and the scientists with an hope to spur people to reduce consumption of plastic in their lives and assist in cleaning up the rest. The fundamental reason for such exhibition was to highlight the issue and educate people on the small changes required on their plastic usage (Shanghaiist, 2016). Sophie Carnell works for the exhibit with an aim of transforming the plastic debris into beautiful objects such as the jewelry that comprise of the ocean plastic trash, repurposed gemstone, and recycled silver. When such wastes are incorporated into the precious objects, it reveals the how important such disposable materials have value. Carnell noted that if people treasure the materials they use on daily basis, then it is important to consider what happens after they fully utilize them; perhaps people would bestow them the shared living environmental values. Some of the jewelry objects developed by Cornell from the ocean polluted plastics for Vanishing Point and IMAS marine scientists include Frederique Olivier, Patti Virtue, and Heidi Auman and noted the effects of these flood plastics on the marine life (Ecouterre, 2016). Kat Crabill is also an artiste turning ocean plastic pollution into jewelry. Kate is in Hawaii and makes jewelry from the plastics, which sparks positive conversations regarding ocean plastic pollution. Literally, Kate is turning the trash into treasure. This reflects her inspiration, care, and positivism behind every jewelry such ocean loving metal smith develops (Ocean Allison on Patreon, 2016). In Sally Collins’ jewelry, one explores the hyper decorative and excessive ornamentation within the jewelry pieces fashioned from the miniature of plastic materials from polluted environments including the oceans and teeny tiny crochet. Sally aimed to make eco-friendly products through the plastic wastes. Having studied an Art Foundation course, he understood the significance of developing jewelry from the commodities with adequate and easily available resources. This was also driven by environmental passion. Practical aspects My project will be driven by environmental passion and the need to eliminate various environmental pollutants including ocean plastic pollutants, silver, metals, wires, and various materials such as CD and the finishing lines. Various mining activities for silver, gold, diamond, gemstone, and various elements could result in various pollution aspects: water pollution, soil erosion, and greenhouse emission. Air pollution cause global warming which impacts even the oceans. In places like Beijing, in 2005, it experienced its red alert of the quality of air that led to the closure of schools and outdoor construction projects (RealClearLife, 2015). It is evident that there was need for improving the China’s air quality. However, the country’s answer lied with the Dutch designer and architect, Daan Roosegaarde who developed the Smog Free Tower, which is considered the largest air purifier (Pleasant Liz, 2014). According to Roosegaard, the amount of power used is equivalent to the home-use water boiler and have the ability to clean 30,000m3 of air within an hour. Therefore, it has the capacity to clean the majority of air within the standard football stadium. The most important part about the tower is its ability to gather carbon from the polluted water, which is placed under high pressure for conversion into diamond. The profits realized from the jewelry are used in supporting the construction of other towers. Ben Kneppers, Kevin Ahearn, Dave Stove, and Bureo Skateboards managed to create the first skateboard deck from the recycled fishing nets. I intend to replicate such project in polluted areas where fishing activities take place. Improperly discarded fishnets pose serious threat to the oceans. Fishnets make up about 10% of the world’s marine trash; as a result, there is creation of environmental problem known as ghost fishing which happens whenever fish and other aquatic ecosystems are caught and in abandoned nets that drift below the surface. In Kenya, Ocean Sole has been able to receive lots of attention in transforming the garbage washed downstream on the beaches (Gertz, 2016). This is an important opportunity for me to make and sell the toys, gifts, and jewelry from the colorfully discarded sandals across the coastlines. This will create jobs for those cleaning up the coasts and pay the artisans for production. With the project, the old discarded shoes that once littered along the beaches will be adorable in shore shaping the main chains or the colorful sculptures of the elephants. Besides the creation of jobs, the project will use the crafts in educating the global customer base on ocean pollution. As a conservationist and artiste, I have taken notice on the marine plastic as the medium such as paint or clay for creation of artwork. Even though they are aesthetically considered beautiful, my work aims to point to the concerns of plastics in our environment. As a result, I will combine various ocean pollutants to make jewelry with ocean resources themes: coral brooch, jellyfish earrings, and necklaces. Skills Needed Ocean ecosystem resources continue to play important roles in ensuring economic development. However, with increased ocean pollution from the plastics, these resources are at risk of extinction, which can impact the country and food web negatively. My purpose is to convey the significance of protecting our oceans, which is one way of keeping the beautiful, specifies. However, the project requires sufficient resources such as time and money to collect the plastics and recycle them for manufacturing the jewelry. The major skill that I need is to understand the compatibility of plastic with other materials for production of precious resources and learn the technique used in sawing, sharpening file, soldering, and polishing (Vujica, 2013). Considering the high value of resources required to accomplish the project, the project will start from the scale basis with an aim of growing to cover wider geographical scope of the affected areas. It is evident that there is need for ocean plastic pollution; hence, I will focus on a smaller area with adequate development strategies and resources in place for expansion. For effective implementation of the project, there is need for coordination with other professions to understand the nature of plastics and designs that are the most affordable and fewer pollutants to the environment. Methods, process, and materials required for the project There is vast area occupied by plastics covering the ocean coastline. Therefore, there is need for manpower to assist in the collection of plastics. The initial method for collection will be physical collection as the pilot project to measure the level of contamination and determining the negative impact of process. In addition, the project will determine the major source of contamination and types of jewelry extractable from the materials collected. The collection will involve ocean-born plastic debris from 1,000 yards with each piece used in creating the jewelry. The materials are cleaned and sorted into various colors and inventory. References Ecouterre. (2016). Sophie Carnell | Ecouterre. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.ecouterre.com/sophie-carnell-creates-haunting-jewelry-from-salvaged-ocean-trash/sophie-carnell-vanishing-point-ocean-trash-2/?extend=1 Gertz, M. (2016, June 8). World Oceans Day: 13 Artists Who Create Art From Ocean Trash | Time.com. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://time.com/4358434/world-oceans-day-art-marine-plastic/ Ocean Allison on Patreon. (2016, December 13). Kat Crabill: Turning plastic pollution into jewelry. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from https://www.patreon.com/posts/kat-crabill-into-7482255 Pleasant Liz, L. (2014, August 1). Trash Into Treasure: 6 Cool Things Made from Sea Plastic by Liz Pleasant — YES! Magazine. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/trash-into-treasure-six-cool-things-made-from-sea-plastic RealClearLife. (2015, October 24). Dutch Designer Creates 'Smog Free Tower' That Converts Chinese Pollution Into Diamonds - RealClearLife. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.realclearlife.com/science/dutch-designer-creates-smog-free-tower-that-converts-chinese-pollution-into-diamonds/ Shanghaiist. (2016, August 4). Dutch designer has a way of turning China's smog into diamonds: Shanghaiist. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://shanghaiist.com/2016/08/04/smog_diamonds.php TakePart. (2015). Jewelry That Makes a Statement Against Ocean Plastic Pollution | TakePart. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.takepart.com/photos/jewelry-makes-statement-against-ocean-plastic-pollution/ Vujica,, M. S. (2013, December 24). How Jewelry Production Hurts the Environment, Eco-Friendly Options. Retrieved March 6, 2017, from http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/415861-how-jewelry-production-hurts-the-environment-eco-friendly-options/ Read More