Have you tried to eliminate plastic from your life in an effort to save the earth and oceans?
I have, and I find it to be an impossible aspiration.

About the only items I can purchase without plastic being used in some way are fruits and vegetables that I put into a reusable cloth bag. But even that bag had a plastic bottom that I had to throw away. So I inadvertently added to the local landfill anyway. Besides, plastics are used in many ways from the growing, tending, harvesting, processing, transporting, and displaying of produce before I come along to buy something for dinner.

Thinking about this problem I remembered the prophetic statement in the movie The Graduate in 1967. The star, Dustin Hoffman, was at a graduation party when his character Benjamin was given advice for his future. I don’t remember the exact quote, but I think it was just one word—“Plastics”—implying that plastic products would be the future of the world and he should join the bandwagon.

Few truer words were ever spoken, but the meaning in that context were meant to be a positive path for Benjamin’s future. For millions of manufacturers and users it has been true, but with dire unintended consequences. The planet is inundated with plastic that is not recyclable and emits toxic fumes when burned. Most is simply thrown away. There are few places even in wilderness areas that are free of plastic products that have simply been discarded by unthinking persons. And in videos that I have seen of waterways in economically poor areas of the world, and in open oceans, there is no control, or at best meager efforts, to clean up the devastation.

Even our current asinine president is touting the virtues of plastics and ridicules efforts to eliminate plastic straws. He, or his political party, are making money selling plastic straws with his name on them to his cult followers for $2.50 each.

So what can I do personally to help relieve this problem? I really don’t know. I guess I will continue to refuse plastic bags as much as I can, but it is impossible to purchase almost anything that is not sealed in plastic in some way. Even my 15-year-old truck has hundreds of components made from plastic.

I feel sorry for generations beyond me that are going to have to live on this fouled planet. But then maybe this is mute anyway since our stupid politicians are not taking climate change, air and water pollution, and gun violence seriously.

I guess it’s all about the money.

At least Dustin’s character got the girl in the end, even though he had an affair with her mother. Sorry about the spoiler.

Ken Kaiyala
9-4-2019