How can we respond to the impact of plastic debris in the Pacific?

Define · Locate · Select · Organise · Present · Evaluate Define the task Scenario As one of the teams of experts you have been invited to discuss the impact of plastics on the food security, culture and economy of people living in Pacific Island countries. From your research you will recommend a program to address your findings for people who use plastics. Background The ocean is Earth’s life support system. It drives and moderates the climate, creates the weather, and is home to a great diversity of species. It purifies the water we drink and the oxygen we breathe. The Pacific Ocean occupies about one-third of the Earth’s surface. It has two enormous circular currents, known as ‘gyres’ – a clockwise, warm-water gyre in the north and a counterclockwise cool-water gyre in the south. It is home to about 15 million people, who live mainly on tiny islands scattered across thousands of kilometres. Pacific Islanders depend on the ocean for a wide variety of food items, making cultural connections, and income. They are highly dependent on maintaining a healthy ocean. Plastics, derived from oil, have only been mass-produced since the 1950s. Their convenience, versatility, and low cost have led them to become the most basic infrastructure of modern consumer society. However, nearly 40% is used in single-use packaging. Almost every single molecule of plastic that has ever been manufactured is somewhere in the environment. Millions of tons of plastic are floating in the oceans leaching toxic chemicals and killing marine life. The grinding action of the North Pacific Gyre reduces discarded plastic into a soup of tiny pieces known as ‘nurdles’, which are found at the surface and deep sea levels. Nurdles do not biodegrade, can travel great distances, and are easily swallowed by fish and birds. Reducing pollution from plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean is important to safeguard the health and livelihoods of Pacific Islander people. However, it poses an enormous challenge to a modern world dependent on plastic. In this Global Learning Quest you will investigate the importance and impact of plastic waste on the lives of Pacific Islanders. In groups, you will investigate your allocated roles and consider methods of addressing plastic pollution. Each group will present their recommendations for effective ways of dealing with plastic wastes, using supporting evidence and with particular actions needed by those who use most plastics. As a whole class you will discuss the Global Question: How can we respond to the impact of plastic debris in the Pacific? Perspectives on the Global Question Form teams of four or five to investigate the use and impact of plastic on Pacific Islanders. Outline of team roles Oceanographer: You are a world authority on ocean currents. You have closely examined the North Pacific Gyre and the formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. You will describe the ocean current patterns and how gyres create nurdles. Your view is that this problem is not a local, or even a regional, but a global issue. Pacific Islands Minister for Fisheries: You want to protect your coastal and oceanic fishing industry, particularly the harvesting of tuna fish. The tuna harvest is worth some US$3 billion annually and is a major source of employment for about 10,000 Pacific Islanders employed on tuna vessels and in tuna processing plants. You are concerned about the economic impact of plastic debris on the commercial fishing industry and the job security for your daughter who works in a tuna processing plant.   Pacific Islands elder: In your lifetime you have been amazed how plastic has replaced natural materials. Plastic containers have allowed a wide range of food items to be imported. Plastic bags and buckets have made village life easier, however you are concerned that these items have taken away traditional skills and cultural links, and have created mountains of waste. Plastics manufacturing engineer: You are a world authority on plastic production and you understand the modern world’s drive for its consumption. You are aware of the notion of plastic recycling known as ‘cradle to cradle’, in which all manufactured things are made reusable and poison-free. However, you are concerned that it is unrealistic. Funding research into a biodegradable substance to replace oil-based plastics would put the billion-dollar plastic industry out of business. Plastics have become popular because they are so long-lasting, so if they are to degrade it needs to be in the right place, at the right time, and in the right environment. You also question whether nurdles are really having a negative impact on the environment. Marine ecologist: You have specialist knowledge about the coral reefs and other marine ecosystems in the Pacific. You are familiar with threats to the marine life through overfishing, climate change, waste pollution and introduced species. You have witnessed turtles and young dolphins becoming trapped in plastic waste. The widespread ingestion of plastic soup raises your concerns about the marine food chain and, thus, the health of all living things, including people, in the Pacific. You feel all plastic users must be alerted to this Pacific Ocean crisis. Locate Background http://url.edna.edu.au/DEt2 Team specific websites Oceanographer http://url.edna.edu.au/ekSx Pacific Islands Minister for Fisheries http://url.edna.edu.au/nNcQ Pacific Islands elder http://url.edna.edu.au/MrzP Plastics manufacturing engineer http://url.edna.edu.au/3hRX Marine ecologist http://url.edna.edu.au/mH6m Select information Personal reflection How much plastic do you and your family use each day? How does plastic assist daily life? What percentage of your household waste is plastic? What happens to the plastic waste? Background questions What and where is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? What type of plastic debris is found in the Pacific Ocean and what is its source? How does plastic debris impact on people and the environment? What is currently being done to raise awareness about the issue of plastic debris in the Pacific? What is currently being done to reduce plastic debris in the Pacific? Team specific questions Oceanographer What is a gyre and how does it break down marine debris? What are the characteristics of the South Pacific Gyre – the general shape and depth of the sea bed, ocean temperature, light penetration, ocean current patterns? What evidence is there for a Great South Pacific Garbage Patch? From your perspective, who needs to be made aware of this issue, and how should awareness be raised? Pacific Islands Minister for Fisheries In the South Pacific, what is the nature of the deep ocean and coastal waters commercial fishing industry? What are the different roles played by Islander men and women in the Pacific Islands fishing industry? What is an Exclusive Economic Zone? How might the plastic debris interfere with the commercial fishing industry and the livelihoods of those who depend on it? From your perspective, who needs to be made aware of the plastic debris issue and how should awareness be raised? Pacific Islands elder What consequences (positive and negative) has the introduction of plastic brought to the Islanders’ lifestyles? How might plastic debris impact on traditional methods of fishing? What have been the traditional methods of waste disposal in the Pacific Islands? What, if any, are the current methods of waste disposal in the Pacific? From your perspective, who needs to be made aware of the plastic debris issue and how should awareness be raised? Plastics manufacturing engineer What have been the key historical moments in the development of plastic? How and where in the world is plastic made today? How does plastic break down on land and in the sea? What have been some of the recent ideas about recycling plastic and why are these difficult for the industry to adopt? Consider ‘cradle to cradle’ manufacturing. From your perspective, who needs to be made aware of the plastic debris issue and how should awareness be raised? Marine ecologist What are the main marine ecosystems in the South Pacific? What are some of the key species found in these ecosystems? How might plastic debris of all sizes impact on the main marine ecosystems? Examples include interference with marine feeding patterns and the food chain, and the introduction of feral aquatic species, and plastic toxins to reproduction systems What programs, run by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, are currently in place to raise awareness about issues affecting the marine environment? From your perspective, who needs to be made aware of the plastic debris issue and how should awareness be raised? Organise Individually, establish a thorough understanding of the issues around the use and disposal of plastics by completing the Individual reflection questions. This will give you a general understanding of the issue before narrowing your focus to one perspective. Share responses to the questions in a classroom discussion. In your team, research your role and background using the guiding questions and suggested resources, though don’t limit yourself to these. Once all the information has been collected and analysed for your team’s role, you will need to propose some possible actions that will address the issues around the use and disposal of plastics from your point of view. This might include auditing use, an education campaign or a clean-up activity. Check that everything you propose addresses your key concerns and can be supported by evidence. Include actions for groups responsible for the plastic waste. Meet with your team to devise a campaign strategy for raising awareness of the plastic debris issue. Negotiate with your team who the campaign needs to be aimed at, which stakeholders should take responsibility for it, who should fund it, and what form the strategy should take. This could take some time as each team member shares their considered proposals. Identify any further research you need to undertake to support your response to the global question: How can we respond to the impact of plastic debris in the Pacific? Present Each group introduces their campaign strategy to the other groups. Groups then re-form with a member of each of the original groups to review the different recommendations about the effective response to the use and disposal of plastics. OR Debate: The world will meet its commitment to the seventh Millennium Development Goal ensuring environmental sustainability. OR Organise an event which educates others about the use and disposal of plastics and what individuals can do to address the impact of plastic pollution locally and/or globally. Evaluate Individually and as a group reflect on what you have learnt about addressing the issues arising from the use and disposal of plastics. Also reflect how you have worked with each other as members of a team to complete the project.     High Medium Low Collecting information       Ability to gather relevant information Used a large number of appropriate resources to gather information that was important and related to the questions Used a variety of resources and collected information that was generally useful Used only one or two resources and did not select the key points to answer the questions Ability to use information to support a particular perspective. Developed an understanding of a particular point of view about use and disposal of plastics and supported this capably with accurate information Presented a key aspect of a particular point of view about the use and disposal of plastic and provided some information to support it Formed an opinion about the use and disposal of plastic with only limited use of the source materials Working as a team       Ability to work with others in a group Listened carefully to others, shared own information and supported others to express their point of view and kept the group working together well Listened to others and made some comments to support the group in working together Listened to some people but did not always encourage others to contribute their ideas Presenting information       Ability to present information with rationale Presented the key points with supportive evidence. Presented the key points with some evidence. Presented some key points without supporting evidence. Ability to reflect on learning       Ability to apply learning about use and disposal of plastic Able to explain the value and problems about the use of plastics Able to advocate and implement changes to personal behaviour to address issues arising from the use and disposal of plastics. Able to explain some aspects of the value and problems about the use of plastic Able to argue how personal change is needed to address issues arising from the use and disposal of plastics. Able to ask questions about the value and problems about the use of plastic Able to suggest a personal action to address issues arising from the use and disposal of plastics.

The Pacific ocean occupies about one third of the Earth's surface

Fishing is an important industry across the Pacific region but there is concern about overfishing and pollution. Photo credit: Rob Maccoll/AusAID

Learning outcome : Students will investigate the environmental, economic and social consequences of plastic use and waste for the Pacific Ocean and Islander communities. They will develop a response to the issues which could include an awareness campaign to reduce our reliance on plastics. Learning Areas: Social Science, Geography, Science, English Year levels: Lower secondary Duration: Minimum 2 hours Tools needed: Internet access