Plastic Pollution - Explanation Writing

Have you ever thought about the effects of plastic? They have a major dark-side. However, there are many different ways of helping the marine ecosystem with plastic pollution by minimising our use of plastics, buying 2nd hand items and cooking more at home.

What is Plastic Pollution? It's plastic where it shouldn't be. It's in the sea and on the beach and it's causing harm because we're using more plastic than ever. It's durable, cheap to produce and we're consuming it at staggering rates. Most times when you throw your rubbish into the recycling bin, you think it’s being recycled right? Well, it’s not. Places like China, Vietnam, and Malaysia are having to take all that rubbish with them. 

Firstly, we can refuse to buy plastic items in the first place. Like plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, straws, and more. This would probably be best if you like buying things. But the second option is buying reusable things. Like cardboard bags, reusable coffee cups, Stainless Steel Drink Bottles, and more!!

Another way to reduce our use of plastics is to purchase second-hand items where we can.Things from places like your local salvation army store, trademe postings, and more places have things that are still ready to be used, even when they were previously used. Things from 2nd hand stores are way cheaper than the price they cost at other  places, so you get to save more money. 

Lastly, you can cook more!! Instead of wasting your money, taking in more plastic and eating food that isn’t  even healthy for you. You can use the different ingredients in your house and make  your own homemade meals. Like home-made Pasta, burgers and more things. It also helps you not buy more food with more plastic containers. 

What are you prepared to do to contribute to minimise our use of plastic products? These are all the basic things you can do to help our Ocean Ecosystem. Minimising our use of plastics, buying 2nd hand items and cooking more at home. Do these to help for the sake of our sea life and our lives. 

Random Facts: (Not Included) 

There are 9,000 volunteers in 42 countries who take part in 239 cleanups, and who gather up more than 187,000 pieces of plastic trash. 

Plastic is mainly being shipped to places in Asia like China, Malaysia, and Vietnam. 

Companies like Coke and Pepsi aren’t being responsible for their plastic trash.

Shearwaters consume more plastic than any other marine animal.

There are approximately 500 billion plastic bags being used worldwide.

Over 1 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic debris in the ocean. 

There are 100 million tons of plastic in oceans around the world.

Plastic pollution started in the 1960’s. 

Reading - Create Task

 

For  this task we had to create a  post to explain  what are the main causes of Plastic Pollution,what are the Effects of it and what we can do to help. 

Rata and the tree

This is our reading task. It's about the myth or legend of Rata and the tree. First we had to agree or disagree towards a statement. Then we had to pick another myth or legend of Maui. I chose Maui and the sun. I enjoyed this task because I got to re-read this text and get a better understanding of this story.  

Writing - Sign Language

For this task we had to do a explanation writing for sign language week. We also explained what NZSL is. As our tests are coming up next term this was kind of like a practice for our writing test.

New Zealand Fairy Tern

New Zealand Fairy Tern

A New Zealand Fairy Tern is one of the most rarest,

but endangered species within New Zealand. 

Scientific Name:

The scientific name for a New Zealand Fairy Tern is a

Sternula Nereis Davisae.

Appearance:During the breeding season, New Zealand Fairy Terns

have a black head and a yellow and orange beak.The upper part of their body

is a pale grey color.

They have a white throat, forehead, chest and belly, and orange legs.

The length of this bird is around 250mm.

States:

They are endangered and very close to extinction. 

Habitat:

They are commonly found and nest at four sites in Northland at Waipu. T

he four sites are  Mangawhai and Papakanui sand spits, and Pakiri River mouth. 

Diet: These Fairy Terns are carnivores. They mainly eat fish.

They also eat crustaceans, snails and plant material.

Crustaceans are sea creatures that have a really hard shell, such as crabs,

Lobsters and more. 

Reproduction Cycle:

They start breeding within September. They start laying eggs from

late October to early January. They lay 1-2 eggs every now and then. 

Current Population: 

There are approximately 40 individual Fairy  Terns and less than 12

breeding pairs. This is pretty  sad. As I said they are

endangered and need our help!!

Reasons why their Endangered:

Not many of these birds survive between Whangarei in the north

and Auckland to the south. They are threatened by introduced predators

and disturbances by humans.

How are we protecting them:

They are expanding their breeding range back into parts of their former

range. Some people are making some scrape nests for these birds, and

sometimes they’re lucky enough to see a pair of these birds nest in there. 

Future Outlook:

In my opinion I don’t think in 10 or 20 years time there will be any Fairy

terns left in the world, because as I said with the current population,

there aren’t  many left to go. It’s best to just leave these birds  at

peace if they’re trying to mind their own business. 

Fun  Facts: 

Weighing just 70 grams as an adult, the Fairy tern is one of

Australasia’s smallest terns. It’s New Zealand's rarest

breeding bird. The lifespan of a New Zealand Fairy Tern is less than

10 years.

Quick Note:

Please help us look after our beautiful bird. I don't want it to become extinct,

I want it to live on and make more generations to come!! So if you see a bird

that is in need or it's about to go extinct, then please do as

much as you can to help.