Why Do Plastic Straws Seem To Be the Bane of Everyone’s Existence?
In Eliza Starbuck Little’s essay Animal Magnetism, Little makes a comment about how “plastic straws became the new six-pack rings”, which has stuck with me ever since I read the essay in September. The humourous yet disturbingly accurate observation has led me to wonder about how that came to be, which is why for my research project, I would like to investigate why plastic straws have taken the spotlight in discussions about waste on the planet, and what other measures could be taken to actually make an impact. What drew me to this topic was how change is absolutely possible if given the resources and mindset, compared to topics such as xenophobia and racism, which, like it or not, will always exist due to families passing on their beliefs etc. People claim that even the smallest action will make a difference, however, research points to the fact that action must be taken NOW in order to prevent the planet from plummetting into a catastrophic state of disarray. As great as it is to see shops not offering plastic straws in an attempt to be environmentally conscious, it has a degree of ableism to it, as it puts people with disabilities at a disadvantage when it comes to accessibility. For my research, I will look into reports and statistics on the percentage of waste in the ocean or washed up on the shores of third world countries and read the essays and responses of environmental activists and scientists.