Category: WaywardSundial

Definition Rewrite – WaywardSundial

When one brings to mind the concept of ocean pollution, it may bring to mind sludge, trash, and plastic waste ensnaring marine life. A topic that is mostly left out of the media is the fact that dispersants sent into oil spills seeking to clean the ocean actually causes more harm than good. Although it seems very one sided in terms of definitions, there are many aspects that can be mentioned about it that provoke thoughts from a different perspective. From the physical description, where pollution resides in the ocean, to more political ways of description such as when pollution is caused by efforts seeking to rid it in the first place.

Although most of the pollution in the waters of Earth are mainly emissions from vehicles such as boats and cars, plastic and oil pollution is still very prevalent. Ocean pollution is both a very broad topic, while also being singular in the sense that there is pollution in the ocean. Compared to the simple, straightforward take on ocean pollution there also can be taken into account the political meaning of it. With so much damage being done to the ocean every day, alongside the influx of trash and plastic being dumped into it, the effects can and are harming both the ecosystems and the beings that live inside them as well as humans. From this article, it discusses the exact ways of how pollution is added to the oceans, “https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-ocean-pollution.php.”  With all of this pollution being added through a multitude of ways, a solution must come to light soon or else there may be consequences that will be of a lingering enormity.

From the pollution being added to the pollution, a subcategory of this topic is also what happens once the harmful materials are in the water; harm to life. The fact of the matter is very frightening, as not only are the innocent marine animals being harmed, killed, and hindered through the sludge, humans in turn consume life from the ocean wherein the harmful effect is transferred to us as a whole. This is a concept that is very real, where the repercussions for humanities laziness that harms the environment also comes back around to not only humans, but all lifeforms that have the bad luck to reside in areas where pollution is prevalent. Although not every person eats seafood that was affected by pollution, those that have are more at risk for sickness as well as health problems, as consuming oil tainted fish is not the most pleasant thing to be eating. Although humans suffer greatly from this plague that we brought upon ourselves, entire environments are being put at risk. If specific groups of marine life are killed off or otherwise incapacitated from living their lives normally, entire ecosystems are in danger of being dwindled greatly, or completely disappear due to key roles being empty due to the harmful toxins that kills so equally.

Although it seems obvious, boats produce an incredibly large amount of pollution. These emissions then add to the ever increasing state of ocean pollution. The part that is somewhat obscure while being counterintuitive at the same time, is the fact that even in pollution cleaning efforts, pollution is at the same time being added to the ocean. With many operations with a focus on cleaning the ocean of trash and oil, they use boats to either skim the water or simply pick out pieces of floating rubbish. From a marine article”https://trid.trb.org/view/1420676″ comes information regarding the output of pollution that ships themselves produce. The concept of ocean pollution as a whole can also be applied to this situation; any efforts to rid the ocean of pollution will also add pollution to the very thing people set out to put an end to. Although a very frustrating concept, it is something that must be dealt with until a way of cleaning pollution without using any resources that will directly affect the ocean in a negative way. In a way, this is an extension of my previous statement that ocean pollution has a both singular and broad definition at the same time. Although troubling but still unique, there are many ways that ocean pollution can be applied to modern topics of debate as it is something that is lingering above, or at the very least at the edge of our shores, at all times.

Although there is no definitive “perfect way” to rid the ocean of pollution, nearly every way that we as a whole have to potentially solve this issue also contributes to the fact. With this in mind, perhaps alternative methods must be used such as sailboats or free-floating nets that capture and collect waste automatically with no reliance on power that directly expels waste. Although many potential methods are not in use, there still is a vast amount of opportunity that awaits. With the subject of various world leaders on this issue, it seems as if not much research is going into this issue aside from private groups that seek to diminish the pollution of the ocean. An article from “LiveScience” explains several methods of how these groups are participating in the relief efforts of the ocean state “There are four basic ways to clean or contain an oil spill, and workers determine the most appropriate method depending on the location of the spill, potential hazards, weather conditions, waves and currents”. Although this is a bold claim that there are only four, one of these cause more harm than good, and that entry is dispersants. Only praising the good of it, this specific article does not show how treacherous that “solution” can be. Another method used is the action of simply skimming the ocean with nets to capture several feet worth of pollution, such as trash or oil emissions. This does have several issues, such as contributing to the pollution by using fuel consuming vehicles, it also can potentially ensnare marine life that are unaware that they are about to be tangled. Although this is not outright pollution, it is still considered damage to the environment because life is potentially being harmed.

With all of the things that are a potential source of damage to the environment of the ocean and not a large amount of ways to diminish it, there is still hope. Although efforts to help using boats to slowly chip away at the immense amount of pollution, the amount of pollution that said efforts emit are not as large as the amount of damage that they in turn clean up. Yes, there still is pollution being added, although not always is it more than what is being taken. With this somewhat dark mindset, if more people were to contribute to the cleaning of the pollution that is so numerous in the ocean, the small amount of pollution the efforts may add are a cost that must be paid for the ocean to be at least more clean than it was before cleaning exhibitions were made. I believe that if people were to apply the knowledge of the fact that boats add emissions, by traversing carefully and ethically the pollution that takes so many forms may very well be lessened in the coming years.

Citations

Causal Rewrite – WaywardSundial

With modern efforts set in place to rid the ocean of pollution, every way to do so adds further contaminants to the seas of the world. Dispersants added to oil spills seeking to make the ocean appear clean as well as “protect” the wildlife may be one of the most damaging things that could be done in that situation. Ocean pollution is also derived from plastic waste being thoughtlessly tossed into the seas, out rightly damaging the marine life as well as humans. For efforts that set out to relieve the ocean of pollution, there are sources wherein unfortunately the blame is due to the attempts seeking to expunge the various scourges of the ocean.

With the ocean being such an immense source for the air we breathe, water that we drink, alongside a plethora of other resources it is truly an upsetting prospect that pollution in many forms are being added to it every day. Whether it be intentional or accidental, oil emissions, plastic, and runoffs are among the most damaging and common forms of ocean pollution. Regardless of the form that ocean pollution takes, the effects of such damage are very severe, harming both the life that resides in the depths alongside humanity itself. From an article from (http://www.planetaid.org/blog/how-ocean-pollution-affects-humans) a notable bit of information is “Chemicals such as oil, mercury, lead, pesticides, and other heavy metals can all be found within the ocean and can contaminate water supplies and our food chain by affecting the marine life involved. If humans are exposed to these toxic chemicals for long periods of time, then this can result in dangerous health problems, which include hormonal issues, reproductive issues, and damage to our nervous systems and kidneys.” Although this quote doesn’t focus on the specific ways that wildlife is harmed, it focuses more on the effects of pollution on humans. With the cause obviously being humans for the majority of the pollution being added to the seas, it seems very ironic that it comes around to harm the very creatures that have created this vast scourge. As stated before, with so many resources being taken from the ocean such as water and food, it is incredulous that certain behaviors are committed by any group of people that add pollution, as the results are truly devastating on the health of the ocean, the marine life that reside within, and humans themselves.

Alongside oil emissions from vehicles being added to the ocean or literally dumped into it, plastics are another form of pollution that has been proven to be extremely detrimental to the well being of all three parties involved; the ocean itself, the wildlife, and humans. From an article exclusively dedicated to the causes and effect of plastics that have entered the waters of the ocean discusses how impactful this issue really is on everyone. (https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html) Discussing a harmful property of pollution in the ocean, “In fact, not only do the toxins in plastic affect the ocean, but acting like sponges, they soak up other toxins from outside sources before entering the ocean. As these chemicals are ingested by animals in the ocean, this is not good for humans. We as humans ingest contaminated fish and mammals.” This quote provides insight into the issue of the less spoken portion of plastic pollution. When plastic waste is sitting in the ocean, it essentially absorbs the toxins in the water that were pre-existing due to other forms of pollution. Consequently, when marine life eats the tainted plastic they would in turn be contaminated with this odd form of pollution transfer, due to the seepage of the waste that resided in said plastic. With the scale of fishing that people do, the amount of people that are impacted by this is of a serious degree. When the captured marine life are eaten, the transfer that initially started from two forms of pollution will then end up in the individual that consumes it, with the effects described in further detail in the article discussing plastic and its effect on the ocean when discarded so carelessly. With this type of damage being caused by plastic pollution, it is disheartening to realize there are a plethora of ways that plastic harms the ecosystem of the ocean ever further. Aside from the fact that pollutants seep from the plastic were it to absorb any external sources of pollutants, plastic waste in the ocean physically harms animals living within as it is very easy for a creature to mistake a plastic bag, fork, or straw as a food source. Countless sea turtles alone are recorded every year that they suffocate on plastic bags floating in the ocean as they share a resemblance with a key component of their diet, and that being jellyfish. Amongst the many viral videos depicting sea life getting plastic waste stuck in their throats, nasal cavity, or their necks tangled amongst 6-pack plastic bindings, it seems that they spark more motivation for people to band together and try and end this hardship that people and animals have to endure. Although efforts are being made to rid the ocean of all forms of pollution, plastic included, those very attempts also add pollution that very well may impact an individual negatively purely due to the fact that as of now there are little to no ways to safely and effectively clean the ocean with a 100% certainty that no further pollution will be added.

Although plastic and vehicle-emission pollution are very big factors of pollution, shown by the fact that I heavily went over the causes and effects of those topics, the worst form of pollution may very well be from dispersants. Purposefully put into the ocean with good intent surrounding the act, the effects are catastrophic. Put into simpler terms in “Beachipedia” it related this effort to putting dish soap in a sink full of water with oil on the top. Although much smaller scale than the ocean, with less harsh chemicals taking place of the dispersants, it shows what they are meant to do; remove the oil from the water or at the very least break it up in order to make it be easier to break down. However, due to the dispersants being way more harmful than dish soap, it actually harms the ecosystems where it is being used in ways that the model can not demonstrate. By breaking down the oil in real-life scenarios, it makes it easier for the oil to be consumed by wildlife. Not only reaching the biological aspects of things, it also spreads throughout the ocean not just on the surface, furthering the reach of pollution into the depths of the water. An often overlooked group of marine life that can be severely harmed through the use of dispersants are coral reefs, with the use of said chemicals being heavily restricted in those areas according to “The Office of Response and Restoration” . Areas that are OK for the application of dispersants to be used is discussed in an article on their website saying “These are areas far from the reefs, or located where currents would carry the dispersed oil away from the coral.” Even though to the public dispersants seem fine to use, it is odd that there are these rules even though the uneducated view of dispersants is one of a beneficial view, even though this a benefit is something not found while using dispersants. Although not visible, pollution is almost always there when using these chemicals, causing more damage than if the oil was left alone.

With so many causes that lead to such negative effects, it seems imperative that ocean pollution of all forms ceases to exist. Although with modern technology, that goal is not directly feasible, however any attempts still help clean a portion of the majority, although it is not the entirety it surely helps. Although the many reasons for pollution has been discovered, the means by which to stop and get rid of existing pollution is not fully in effect. Were a solution to be founded and put into effect, it seems obvious that the well-being of the ocean, those that reside in it, as well as humanity will benefit greatly not just in form of health, but in the sense that the purity of the ocean will not be as tainted as it is in its present state.

References

Rebuttal Rewrite – WaywardSundial

Using dispersants to clean pollution that resides in the ocean has direct consequences that harms life living in it, as well as outside of it. Unintentional harm from several techniques cleaning the seas can hinder or even kill unsuspecting marine life, especially from said dispersants. Regardless of the method of cleaning, harm will still be added, and in the case of dispersants being used to make the ocean appear cleaner, it actually is making more harm happen.

When pollution is being cleaned, one could argue that the amount of waste added as well as the damage dealt doesn’t compare to the amount of pollution that is being cleaned, as more good is being done than harm. Although that is true, many lives within the ocean will be harmed in potentially more severe ways. With the example of oil nets that clean up oil spills or emissions from aquatic vehicles, although there exists chances of animals being harmed, a good quantity of pollutants is being taken out of the environment. While this is mostly positive, the few lives in question would be snuffed out due to these efforts. It would be unfair as well as cruel to dismiss the possibility of loss of life, no matter if the loss in question is a fish or bird.

Dispersants are chemicals in which they are poured on oil spills, “dispersing” the pollution so that it appears to be clean, however there very well may be more harm than benefits with this method. With a notable quote from “One Green Planet,” “While it would be nice to believe that dispersants rid the ocean of oil forever, the truth of the matter is that dispersants do not reduce the amount of oil entering the environment. Instead, they literally just push the problem (a combination of oil AND chemicals) underwater where we can’t see them …” and  “ Not only does it appear that our methods of cleaning up oil spills are ineffective, but the chemicals used in dispersants are also damaging marine life. Dispersants wreak havoc in ocean environments, and have proven to be harmful to many marine organisms.” These quotes show the dangers and effects of a single type of “rescue” people use to clean up oil spills.These dispersants spread the oil to eventually settle on the seabed, where it causes arguably more harm than it did on the surface. From being in the same environment as these harmful chemicals and toxins, marine life become not only tainted but also hindered by these toxins, passing the harmful effects to human were they caught and ingested. The effects of a product of humans seeking to help the ocean and those who benefit and live within it inadvertently negatively impacts the beings who are dedicated to it.

Dispersants deployed on oil spills near coral reefs may be more harmful to them than the oil itself. Done by an organization publishing their research on “ACS Publications”, a group of scientists and oceanographers revealed that dispersants were more harmful to coral than crude oil. “The dispersed oil and the dispersants were significantly more toxic than crude oil WSFs.” alongside a series of tests, this was the conclusion they discovered. Perhaps a good analogy to this overall topic would be for one to metaphorically look tat the sky of a polluted city. Although there is a blue sky and everything seems ok, it isn’t possible to see pollution in the sky with the naked eye. This goes for dispersants; although oil spills appear to be gone, they are really just dissipated throughout the water setting up the possibility to cause more harm. Again, the opposition to my overall thesis is that more good may be done than harm in the overall scheme of cleaning ocean pollution with the use of dispersants.

When the biggest crude oil spill in history struck the Gulf of Mexico, British Petroleum used dispersants in order to clean the pollution. Based off their thinking, the huge crisis had been completely solved, as noone could see it anymore! According to the “United States Environmental Protection Agency,” the dispersants used were completely harmless to human life. On their government website, there is an entire section dedicated to discussing the dispersants used on the spill, and the effects of them. “Dispersants are generally less toxic than oil. When considering the use of a dispersant in the deep ocean, the federal government weighs the effectiveness of the dispersant in breaking down the oil at such depths, the benefits of preventing the oil from rising to the surface and eventually hitting the shore where it is likely to do significant damage to birds, wetlands and aquatic life, and the long term impacts of the dispersant mixed with oil in deeper waters.” Due to this statement, a reader could be convinced that the method and chemicals used to clean the BP oil spill was completely ethical and logical, especially given that the EPA said it was completely fine. Although this is a more “shallow” take on the effects of dispersants on crude oil spills, it does not grasp the entirety of the impact that dispersants have. The true nature of dispersants and their effect on the environment are much more severe than simply clearing the spills. Nevertheless, the stance that the EPA has on British Petroleum using dispersants on their oil spill could be a possible counterargument in saying that dispersants are fine since the EPA said so, even though that may not be the case.

Perhaps another case for refuting my claim is that when dispersants are used on oil spills, the oil that was initally harming animals are nowhere to be seen, completely dissipated throughout the water. Explained by “Marine Life Article” talking about how dispersants work, the types of them, as well as how “beneficial” they are, it completely neglects to talk about how disastrous they really are for marine life and the ocean in general. This claim is completely untrue, as although the oil spill appears clean it actually was just broken down, spreading throughout the ocean in small globules which not only spread the maladies of the pollution ever further, it also is more easier for wildlife in the ocean to consume it and become effected negatively by it. Furthered by my point about how ocean pollution can harm humans, this can be related to the use of dispersants as humans who are unlucky enough to eat marine life that have become contaminated through eating the globules caused by the dispersants will inevitably gain health problems, all leading back to the dispersants them self. This is very much the opposite to what is wanted when trying to save and preserve the ocean. Although it may appear good for an organization in the media to be associated with “cleaning the ocean”, there is virtually no benefit to this method other than the waters appearing cleaner. In actuality the waters are being polluted even more than if the oil were to just sit on the surface.

References

Reflective – WaywardSundial

Core Value 1. My work demonstrates that I used a variety of social and interactive practices that involve recursive stages of exploration, discovery, conceptualization, and development.

I met this goal throughout the majority of my works that had to deal with my research project due to the fact I had to go from one source to another that was similar to one another. This would would lead me to the most condensed and well informed piece of information relevant to the topic, where I made an extension of this in my writing. My rebuttal essay required me to “explore” different points I could make that was relevant, using the sources to further my point and to counter any rebuttals. Due to the nature of the rebuttal essay, it was easy for me to develop practices that lead me to writing that utilized critical thinking, and extending one point to another.

https://counterintuitivefa18.com/2018/10/28/rebuttal-waywardsundial/

Core Value 2. My work demonstrates that I read critically, and that I placed texts into conversation with one another to create meaning by synthesizing ideas from various discourse communities. 

In my causal essay, I believe I portrayed this value the most clearly by me transferring one key idea to another, especially with dispersants and the effect they have on the environment. An example of this is I talked about how dispersants make oil spills more harmful for the environment, but also used writing skills to explain how the dispersants themselves are bad for the ocean. In order for me to do this, I learned about the actual definitions of the topics I was discussing as well as all the specifics necessary to push along the point I wanted to. From there I was able to conceptualize the overall theme for my research paper, using the different information that was learned to support each other that would lead for the most solid argument I could make.

https://counterintuitivefa18.com/2018/10/23/causal-waywardsundial/

Core Value 3. My work demonstrates that I rhetorically analyzed the purpose, audience, and contexts of my own writing and other texts and visual arguments.

My visual rhetoric paper seems to most accurately portray that I grasp this core value. With an advertisement video seeking to raise donations for relief efforts, the video that was chosen was lead by a dollar bill taking the shapes of different utilities that can be used in relief efforts. My writing made it clear to summarize what was going on in the screen, which was translated to my writing in and of itself by explaining in depth deeper meanings that certain things could have. By doing this I analyzed each scene very closely, which lead to a greater understanding overall of the work. The audience for the video that I analyzed was for people that may be so inclined to donate, and the analysis that I made shows how the people who developed the video was trying to make the most compelling argument to donate, even though some points could be interpretative. I try to incorporate this into all of my essays in general because I feel that by being clear helps eliminates the possibility of confusion in a reader.

https://counterintuitivefa18.com/2018/11/14/visual-rewrite-waywardsundial/

Core Value 4: My work demonstrates that I have met the expectations of academic writing by locating, evaluating, and incorporating illustrations and evidence to support my own ideas and interpretations.

Throughout my research paper, I used scientific evidence to support my claims in the most clear and efficient way possible. I showed that I was capable of following standard academic procedures with citing, quotations, paragraph structure amongst other important specific topics. I was also able to use my research to further my point in a rhetorical way that made it obvious I knew how to transfer subjects from scientific evidence to benefit my thesis.

https://counterintuitivefa18.com/2018/11/27/research-waywardsundial/

Core Value 5. My work demonstrates that I respect my ethical responsibility to represent complex ideas fairly and to the sources of my information with appropriate citation. 

Although I always try to portray information in a light that is most relevant to the truth of a subject, I feel this is best shown in my definition essay. I explained what dispersants were and what they do to the ocean. I did discuss other forms of pollution to show the contrast that although dispersants are made to help the ocean, it actually causes more harm than good. I genuinely tried my best to explain each topic with the most accuracy that I could muster, and extend that information to my writing in later essays. Although a lot of the sources that I used had some form of emotional ties what with how harmful ocean pollution can be to marine life and humans, I tried to remain logical with all topics that I brought up. In doing this I feel that I made the definition paper the most trustworthy with nothing to derail it from discussing definitions and the facts about dispersants and pollutants.

https://counterintuitivefa18.com/2018/10/17/definition-waywardsundial/

Research – WaywardSundial

  The Scourge of the Seas

A common “solution” to cleaning oil spills involves pouring dispersants throughout the spill so as to make the oil fade. Unbeknownst to many, dispersants actually cause more damage to the environment and the creatures living in it and around it compared to if the oil was simply left alone. Although this seems very one sided in terms of definitions, there are many aspects that can be mentioned about pollution that provoke thoughts from a different perspective. From the physical description of pollution with it residing in the ocean, to more political ways of describing it, pollution and further damage is caused when efforts are made in the first place.

Although most of the pollution in the waters of Earth are mainly emissions from vehicles such as boats and cars, plastic and oil pollution is still very prevalent. Ocean pollution is both a very broad topic, while also being singular in the sense that there is pollution in the ocean. Compared to the simple, straightforward take on ocean pollution there is also the political meaning of it. With so much damage being done to the ocean every day, alongside the influx of trash and plastic being dumped into it, the effects can and are harming both the ecosystems and the beings that live inside them as well as humans. From this article there are descriptions of how pollution is added to the oceans, “Causes and Effects of Ocean Pollution.”  With all of this pollution being added through a multitude of ways, a solution must come to light soon or else there may be consequences that will be of a lingering enormity.

When dispersants enter oil spills and spread out the crude oil, harm is brought to the marine ecosystem. Based upon a study from “Springer Link,” tests were done to determine how dispersants harm marine life. It was found that microplankton, who are the “starting point” for the food chain of the sea digest the very fine particles of crude oil once it is broken up from the dispersants. From exposure and ingestion of dispersant-treated crude oil spills, the egg production rates dropped by 45-54%, while also being a sadly fast way for crude oil the be spread in an ecosystem. As explained in more detail in the article, since plankton are the primary food source for marine life such as fish, the contaminant will be spread further. To go even further, those that consume the now “tainted” fish will then become harmed by the toxic nature of the crude oil. Although the risk of consuming crude oil through other organisms that was started with plankton may seem small, the actual damage caused by crude oil is quite serious. According to the “Public Safety Department of Santa Barbara county,” consuming seafood contaminated by crude oil spills can be very harmful to ones health. A frightening fact about the exposure to crude oil is “Crude oil is comprised of several hundred compounds, some of which are known to cause cancer.” With this fact in mind, the damage that oil brings is a very serious threat, with the origins of it coming from plankton in the ocean being exposed and consuming crude oil that became accessible to them due to the use of dispersants.

Although it seems obvious, boats produce an incredibly large amount of pollution. These emissions then add to the ever increasing state of ocean pollution. The part that is somewhat obscure while being counterintuitive at the same time, is the fact that even in pollution cleaning efforts, pollution is at the same time being added to the ocean. With many operations with a focus on cleaning the ocean of trash and oil, they use boats to either skim the water or simply pick out pieces of floating rubbish. From a marine article”Ship Pollution” comes information regarding the output of pollution that ships themselves produce. The concept of ocean pollution as a whole can also be applied to this situation; any efforts to rid the ocean of pollution will also add pollution to the very thing people set out to put an end to. Although a very frustrating concept, it is something that must be dealt with until a way of cleaning pollution without using any resources that will directly affect the ocean in a negative way. In a way, this is an extension of my previous statement that ocean pollution has a both singular and broad definition at the same time. Although troubling but still unique, there are many ways that ocean pollution can be applied to modern topics of debate as it is something that is lingering above, or at the very least at the edge of our shores, at all times.

Although there is no definitive “perfect way” to rid the ocean of pollution, nearly every way that we as a whole have to potentially solve this issue also contributes to the fact. With this in mind, perhaps alternative methods must be used such as sailboats or free-floating nets that capture and collect waste automatically with no reliance on power that directly expels waste. Although many potential methods are not in use, there still is a vast amount of opportunity that awaits. With the subject of various world leaders on this issue, it seems as if not much research is going into this issue aside from private groups that seek to diminish the pollution of the ocean. An article from “LiveScience” explains several methods of how these groups are participating in the relief efforts of the ocean state “There are four basic ways to clean or contain an oil spill, and workers determine the most appropriate method depending on the location of the spill, potential hazards, weather conditions, waves and currents”. Although this is a bold claim that there are only four, one of these cause more harm than good, and that entry is dispersants. Only praising the good of it, this specific article does not show how treacherous that “solution” can be. Another method used is the action of simply skimming the ocean with nets to capture several feet worth of pollution, such as trash or oil emissions. This does have several issues, such as contributing to the pollution by using fuel consuming vehicles, it also can potentially ensnare marine life that are unaware that they are about to be tangled. Although this is not outright pollution, it is still considered damage to the environment because life is potentially being harmed.

With all of the things that are a potential source of damage to the environment of the ocean and not a large amount of ways to diminish it, there is still hope. Although efforts to help using boats to slowly chip away at the immense amount of pollution, the amount of pollution that said efforts emit are not as large as the amount of damage that they in turn clean up. Yes, there still is pollution being added, although not always is it more than what is being taken. With this somewhat dark mindset, if more people were to contribute to the cleaning of the pollution that is so numerous in the ocean, the small amount of pollution the efforts may add are a cost that must be paid for the ocean to be at least more clean than it was before cleaning exhibitions were made. I believe that if people were to apply the knowledge of the fact that boats add emissions, by traversing carefully and ethically the pollution that takes so many forms may very well be lessened in the coming years.

With modern efforts set in place to rid the ocean of pollution, every way to do so adds further contaminants to the seas of the world. Dispersants added to oil spills seeking to make the ocean appear clean as well as “protect” the wildlife may be one of the most damaging things that could be done in that situation. Ocean pollution is also derived from plastic waste being thoughtlessly tossed into the seas, out rightly damaging the marine life as well as humans. For efforts that set out to relieve the ocean of pollution, there are sources wherein unfortunately the blame is due to the attempts seeking to expunge the various scourges of the ocean.

With the ocean being such an immense source for the air we breathe, water that we drink, alongside a plethora of other resources it is truly an upsetting prospect that pollution in many forms are being added to it every day. Whether it be intentional or accidental, oil emissions, plastic, and runoffs are among the most damaging and common forms of ocean pollution. Regardless of the form that ocean pollution takes, the effects of such damage are very severe, harming both the life that resides in the depths alongside humanity itself. From an article from “Ocean Pollution Effects Humans” a notable bit of information is “Chemicals such as oil, mercury, lead, pesticides, and other heavy metals can all be found within the ocean and can contaminate water supplies and our food chain by affecting the marine life involved. If humans are exposed to these toxic chemicals for long periods of time, then this can result in dangerous health problems, which include hormonal issues, reproductive issues, and damage to our nervous systems and kidneys.” Although this quote doesn’t focus on the specific ways that wildlife is harmed, it focuses more on the effects of pollution on humans. With the cause obviously being humans for the majority of the pollution being added to the seas, it seems very ironic that it comes around to harm the very creatures that have created this vast scourge. As stated before, with so many resources being taken from the ocean such as water and food, it is incredulous that certain behaviors are committed by any group of people that add pollution, as the results are truly devastating on the health of the ocean, the marine life that reside within, and humans themselves.

Alongside oil emissions from vehicles being added to the ocean or literally dumped into it, plastics are another form of pollution that has been proven to be extremely detrimental to the well being of all three parties involved; the ocean itself, the wildlife, and humans. From an article exclusively dedicated to the causes and effect of plastics that have entered the waters of the ocean discusses how impactful this issue really is to everyone,”Plastic Pollution and the Harm it Causes.” With the focus of this article being on the results of ocean plastic pollution, “In fact, not only do the toxins in plastic affect the ocean, but acting like sponges, they soak up other toxins from outside sources before entering the ocean. As these chemicals are ingested by animals in the ocean, this is not good for humans. We as humans ingest contaminated fish and mammals.” This quote provides insight into the issue of the less spoken portion of plastic pollution. When plastic waste is sitting in the ocean, it essentially absorbs the toxins in the water that were pre-existing due to other forms of pollution. Consequently, when marine life eats the tainted plastic they would in turn be contaminated with this odd form of pollution transfer, due to the seepage of the waste that resided in said plastic. With the scale of fishing that people do, the amount of people that are impacted by this is of a serious degree. When the captured marine life are eaten, the transfer that initially started from two forms of pollution will then end up in the individual that consumes it, with the effects described in further detail in the article discussing plastic and its effect on the ocean when discarded so carelessly. With this type of damage being caused by plastic pollution, it is disheartening to realize there are a plethora of ways that plastic harms the ecosystem of the ocean ever further. Aside from the fact that pollutants seep from the plastic were it to absorb any external sources of pollutants, plastic waste in the ocean physically harms animals living within as it is very easy for a creature to mistake a plastic bag, fork, or straw as a food source. Countless sea turtles alone are recorded every year that they suffocate on plastic bags floating in the ocean as they share a resemblance with a key component of their diet, and that being jellyfish. Amongst the many viral videos depicting sea life getting plastic waste stuck in their throats, nasal cavity, or their necks tangled within 6-pack plastic bindings, it seems that they spark more motivation for people to band together and try and end this hardship that people and animals have to endure. Although efforts are being made to rid the ocean of all forms of pollution, plastic included, those very attempts also add pollution that very well may impact an individual negatively purely due to the fact that as of now there are little to no ways to safely and effectively clean the ocean with a 100% certainty that no further pollution will be added.

Although plastic and vehicle-emission pollution are very big factors of pollution, shown by the fact that I heavily went over the causes and effects of those topics, the worst form of pollution may very well be from dispersants. Purposefully put into the ocean with good intent surrounding the act, the effects are catastrophic. Put into simpler terms in “Beachipedia” it related this effort to putting dish soap in a sink full of water with oil on the top. Although much smaller scale than the ocean, with less harsh chemicals taking place of the dispersants, it shows what they are meant to do; remove the oil from the water or at the very least break it up in order to make it be easier to break down. However, due to the dispersants being way more harmful than dish soap, it actually harms the ecosystems where it is being used in ways that the model can not demonstrate. By breaking down the oil in real-life scenarios, it makes it easier for the oil to be consumed by wildlife. Not only reaching the biological aspects of things, it also spreads throughout the ocean not just on the surface, furthering the reach of pollution into the depths of the water. An often overlooked group of marine life that can be severely harmed through the use of dispersants are coral reefs, with the use of said chemicals being heavily restricted in those areas according to “The Office of Response and Restoration” . Areas that are OK for the application of dispersants to be used is discussed in an article on their website saying “These are areas far from the reefs, or located where currents would carry the dispersed oil away from the coral.” Even though to the public dispersants seem fine to use, it is odd that there are these rules even though the uneducated view of dispersants is one of a beneficial view, even though this a benefit is something not found while using dispersants. Although not visible, pollution is almost always there when using these chemicals, causing more damage than if the oil was left alone.

With so many causes that lead to such negative effects, it seems imperative that ocean pollution of all forms ceases to exist. Although with modern technology, that goal is not directly feasible, however any attempts still help clean a portion of the majority, although it is not the entirety it surely helps. Although the many reasons for pollution has been discovered, the means by which to stop and get rid of existing pollution is not fully in effect. Were a solution to be founded and put into effect, it seems obvious that the well-being of the ocean, those that reside in it, as well as humanity will benefit greatly not just in form of health, but in the sense that the purity of the ocean will not be as tainted as it is in its present state.

Using dispersants to clean pollution that resides in the ocean has direct consequences that harms life living in it, as well as outside of it. Unintentional harm from several techniques cleaning the seas can hinder or even kill unsuspecting marine life, especially from said dispersants. Regardless of the method of cleaning, harm will still be added, and in the case of dispersants being used to make the ocean appear cleaner, it actually is making more harm happen with regards to all life inside and out of the ocean.

When pollution is being cleaned, one could argue that the amount of waste added as well as the damage dealt doesn’t compare to the amount of pollution that is being cleaned, as more good is being done than harm. Although that is true, many lives within the ocean will be harmed in potentially more severe ways. With the example of oil nets that clean up oil spills or emissions from aquatic vehicles, although there exists chances of animals being harmed, a good quantity of pollutants is being taken out of the environment. While this is mostly positive, the few lives in question would be snuffed out due to these efforts. It would be unfair as well as cruel to dismiss the possibility of loss of life, no matter if the loss in question is a fish or bird.

Dispersants are chemicals in which they are poured on oil spills, “dispersing” the pollution so that it appears to be clean, however there very well may be more harm than benefits with this method. Within an article from “How Cleaning Spills can Harm Animals,” it discusses the counterintuitive aspect of cleaning oil pollution and the effects it can have. “While it would be nice to believe that dispersants rid the ocean of oil forever, the truth of the matter is that dispersants do not reduce the amount of oil entering the environment. Instead, they literally just push the problem (a combination of oil AND chemicals) underwater where we can’t see them …” and  “ Not only does it appear that our methods of cleaning up oil spills are ineffective, but the chemicals used in dispersants are also damaging marine life. Dispersants wreak havoc in ocean environments, and have proven to be harmful to many marine organisms.” These quotes show the dangers and effects of a single type of “rescue” people use to clean up oil spills.These dispersants spread the oil to eventually settle on the seabed, where it causes arguably more harm than it did on the surface. From being in the same environment as these harmful chemicals and toxins, marine life become not only tainted but also hindered by these toxins, passing the harmful effects to human were they caught and ingested. The effects of a product of humans seeking to help the ocean and those who benefit and live within it inadvertently negatively impacts the beings who are dedicated to it.

Dispersants deployed on oil spills near coral reefs may be more harmful to them than the oil itself. Done by an organization publishing their research on “ACS Publications”, a group of scientists and oceanographers revealed that dispersants were more harmful to coral than crude oil. “The dispersed oil and the dispersants were significantly more toxic than crude oil WSFs.” alongside a series of tests, this was the conclusion they discovered. Perhaps a good analogy to this overall topic would be for one to metaphorically look at the sky of a polluted city. Although there is a blue sky and everything seems ok, it isn’t possible to see pollution in the sky with the naked eye. This goes for dispersants; although oil spills appear to be gone, they are really just dissipated throughout the water setting up the possibility to cause more harm. Again, the opposition to my overall thesis is that more good may be done than harm in the overall scheme of cleaning ocean pollution with the use of dispersants.

Perhaps the biggest case for refuting my claim is that when dispersants are used on oil spills, the oil that was initally harming animals are nowhere to be seen, completely dissipated throughout the water. Explained by “Marine Life Article” talking about how dispersants work, the types of them, as well as how “beneficial” they are, it completely neglects to talk about how disastrous they really are for marine life and the ocean in general. This claim is completely untrue, as although the oil spill appears clean it actually was just broken down, spreading throughout the ocean in small globules which not only spread the maladies of the pollution ever further, it also is more easier for wildlife in the ocean to consume it and become effected negatively by it. Furthered by my point about how ocean pollution can harm humans, this can be related to the use of dispersants as humans who are unlucky enough to eat marine life that have become contaminated through eating the globules caused by the dispersants will inevitably gain health problems, all leading back to the dispersants them self. This is very much the opposite to what is wanted when trying to save and preserve the ocean. Although it may appear good for an organization in the media to be associated with “cleaning the ocean”, there is virtually no benefit to this method other than the waters appearing cleaner. In actuality the waters are being polluted even more than if the oil were to just sit on the surface.

In today’s society, more often than not issues that have a very obvious cause for malfeasance towards to environment have the “spotlight.” In the case of dispersants, this is not always true. Be it due to the concept that oils spills appear cleaned once dispersants are added, it doesn’t get the recognition that is should. The harm that dispersants cause, both by spreading the oil throughout the ocean as well as causing harm what with the chemicals being toxic to marine life, is not always something that can be captured on photographs. The harm that is caused is very real, albeit somewhat hard to capture. With all of this said, the result is clear that dispersants cause more damage to the environment and wildlife than good. It makes the ocean appear cleaned and healthy, although the consequences to this naive way of thinking could be extremely dire.

 

References

Bibliography – WaywardSundial

Definition

Yılmaz, and Başar. “Investigation of Marine Pollution Caused by Ship Operations with DEMATEL Method.” Home – Transport Research International Documentation – TRID, 31 May 2016, trid.trb.org/view/1420676.

https://trid.trb.org/view/1420676

Background: A study to show how much pollution is added to the ocean from commercial and exportation vessels.

How I Used It: I used this article to show how pollution can be added to the ocean, even from people hoping to clear the seas from pollution. I hoped to show how counterintuitive the entire process of cleaning the ocean can be, even though it is a necessity.

Definition

“Causes and Effects of Ocean Pollution.” Conserve Energy Future, 20 Jan. 2017, http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-ocean-pollution.php.

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-ocean-pollution.php

Background: Explains the various ways of how pollution can be introduced into the ocean.

How I Used It: I used it to emphasis that with so many ways of how polution can enter the ocean, there needs to be more conscious efforts to rid said waste from the seas in order to bring the ocean to a state free from pollution.

Definition

Chow, Denise. “How Are Oil Spills Cleaned?” LiveScience, Purch, 5 Apr. 2010, http://www.livescience.com/32524-how-are-oil-spills-cleaned.html.

https://www.livescience.com/32524-how-are-oil-spills-cleaned.html

Background: Describes the four main ways as to how oil spills are cleaned.

How I Used It: I explained how dispersants are generally shown in a positive light such as in this article, although there still are other ways to go about oil spills. I focused mainly on the dispersants due to the focus of my essay being centered around how dispersants cause more harm than good, and how it can be detrimental if people are blind to how damaging they can be.

Causal

“Blog.” Lessening the Harmful Environmental Effects of the Clothing Industry – Planet Aid, Inc., http://www.planetaid.org/blog/how-ocean-pollution-affects-humans.

http://www.planetaid.org/blog/how-ocean-pollution-affects-humans

Background: Describes how pollution in the ocean can effect humans.

How I Used It: I used it to stress how it is important to humans and marine life that pollution gets removed from the ocean.

Causal

“Plastics in the Ocean Affecting Human Health.” Examples, 3 Aug. 2018, serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html.

https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/plastics.html

Background: Talks exclusively about the causes and effects of plastics entering the ocean.

How I Used It: Used it to describe how damaging plastics can be in the ocean, which in turn helps my point that pollution should be removed although ways to do so can be harmful in their own way, which is a backing topic to how dispersants can cause more good. Although that is my focus, I believe that talking about other ways to clean the oceans pollution and how it can harm it will be useful in the sense that the reader knows how harmful any attempt can be to clean the ocean without harming it.

Causal

“Beachapedia.” Climate Change – Beachapedia, http://www.beachapedia.org/Dispersants.

http://www.beachapedia.org/Dispersants

Background: Talks about dispersants and how horrible they are to the environment

How I Used It: I used this article to back my case that dispersants cause more harm than good in the cleaning of oil spills in the ocean

Causal

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/resources/10-what-are-some-environmental-impacts-dispersants.html.

https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/resources/10-what-are-some-environmental-impacts-dispersants.html

Background: Discusses how harmful dispersants are when used in the proximity of coral reefs

How I Used It: I used it to show that even though dispersants are viewed to people as helpful (even though they aren’t), they still accept that there are dangers involved with using them. Sadly, the whole scope of how bad they are for the ocean isn’t as widely covered as it should be.

Rebuttal

“The Weird Way Cleaning Up Oil Spills Can Actually Harm Animals.” One Green Planet, 17 Dec. 2014, http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-weird-way-cleaning-up-oil-spills-can-actually-harm-animals/

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-weird-way-cleaning-up-oil-spills-can-actually-harm-animals/

Background:Talks about how dispersants simply push the oil throughout the ocean, furthering the harm of the oil.

How I Used It: Used it to support my overall claim that dispersants cause more harm than good in cleaning the ocean.

Rebuttal

“Pressure Swing Adsorption.” ACS Publications, pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ie0109758

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es0704582

Background: Showed how dispersants are actually harmful by themselves, let alone how they disperse the oil throughout the ocean.

How I Used It: I used it to talk about how not only are they bad for distributing the oil that is floating on the surface, but also about how they are harmful to the ecosystems due to the fact that they are harmful chemicals on their own.

Rebuttal

Anish. “Different Types of Dispersants Used in an Oil Spill.” Marine Insight, Marine Insight, 20 Nov. 2017, http://www.marineinsight.com/environment/different-types-of-dispersants-used-in-an-oil-spill/

https://www.marineinsight.com/environment/different-types-of-dispersants-used-in-an-oil-spill/

Background: Talks about how “good” dispersants are, and how they make the oceans appear cleaner.

How I Used It: I used this article to show that people commonly view dispersants as beneficial to the environment because it makes the oil disperse, thus making people unable to see it. Although it is out of sight, the damage it causes is greater than simply making it disperse. I talked about the harm dispersants cause even though it spreads the oil out.

 

Grammar Exercise – WaywardSundial

If a primary caretaker has a negative attitude toward their child it increases the risk that the child will grow up being aggressive. Children with abusive parents tend to not only be aggressive towards others, but also may have a tendency of harming themselves. The reason for this negative behavior is because the children don’t learn appropriate techniques for handling life’s disappointments. A child may act more innapropriately if they are raised without learning coping skills. According to Dr. Geoffrey Dahmer in “The Bully Papers,” everyone gets the child they deserve.

Visual Rewrite – WaywardSundial

0:01-Opens with text in the center of the screen saying “Want to help in the aftermath of a hurricane?” with a gray background. The only thing that was in the frame was a folded dollar bill in the shape of a heart. Due to the money being the only physical object in the frame along with the text, it can be assumed that perhaps it is a donation ad? Is the fact that it is a dollar bill rather than a bill of higher value important? Is the fact that it’s a USD important? The heart shape could signify the “love” or caring of people that would donate money for relief efforts. Perhaps they want to “pull at the heart strings” of people in order to get them to donate to their specific cause, as the heart does have a ribbon that could be pulled.

0:04- The dollar heart unfolds to show the fully unfurled bill with no crinkles whatsoever. It may be that it was reversed in filming. As it unfurled, more text appeared saying “Together, you and I can really help.” addressing the viewer directly. This scene also leads to the bill being folded once more. So far it seems like an ad of some sort.

0:09- The bill transforms, seemingly from stop motion photography, into a shape of either a bed or a car. It is unclear, as it even somewhat looks like a “flying car” with wings on the side and a spoiler in the back in the shape of generic flying futuristic vehicles. In my opinion I believe that they made this shape vague on purpose, in order to allow the largest amount of viewers to interpret it in whatever way they want. There is also text that says “I am fast and versatile.” maybe it definitely is a vehicle of some sorts, although that is vague in itself.

0:10- it unfolds once more and turns into the shape of a stethoscope, and then into a regular rectangular shape. It is also important to note that so far the background has not changed and has remained a grayish color with no additional objects or words.

0:14- Text saying “I can be whatever is needed.” The rectangular shape turns into a nail in the rectangle with a hammer appearing hammering it in. Perhaps this is significant to show that the money donated will go to rebuilding things, as that is what hammering a nail could signify.

0:16- The rectangular shape turns into a house, with the words “to help you provide important relief when its most critical.” This puts the viewer in the position of power so to speak as it tells of how the person donating has to ability to provide relief to whatever the donator deems necessary. Although this is a nice concept, it may not always turn out the way the donater wants as any donations usually end up in a giant pool where it is distrbuted from there, unless there is a very specific delivery system where every dollar goes to a very specific place with a very different system for normal donation systems. The specifics is yet to be explained, and it doesnt provide much information on this so far. With the house and this text it could be said that maybe one would want to donate to help houses that suffered a natural disaster, although there isnt much to prove that.

0:23- The bill unfolds, turning into a origami hand with text that says “if you want to lend a hand, I can help you reach out and truly touch lives.” This seems obvious as “touching” with the imagery of a hand are very much in the same category, so it may lead one to think of their own hand personally helping lives. This gives the ad a humanization factor, as before now there were no dollar bills in the shape of human body parts, aside from the personification of a heart, albeit it being the love type of heart and not the anatomically correct human heart. The text brings to mind, who is this “I” character? Who is the person that will help us reach out so that we may touch lives? There are many unclear elements to this ad so far, although the general message is quite clear; if you donate money, even a dollar bill as so overly imposed on the viewer, then it can help people in need.

0:26- The ad fades to black with bold white letters saying “EVEN A SMALL DONATION CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.” This summarizes the entire ad, especially the whole theme of the dollar transforming into a tool of imagery that guides a viewers mind, that even a dollar donation is still something that can benefit relief efforts. Of what, it was not clear besides in the title as nothing throughout the video suggests anything about relief from hurricanes. There also is a link to the donation link; the only clue in the video that this in fact talks about a hurricane relief website.

Enough About You – WaywardSundial

Original

Money seems to have a big role in our society; you can’t do much or get far if you don’t have any. Money is valuable in different ways, even when you don’t see it physically. In today’s society you must have faith in the government and in the banking system that your money is being handled in the proper manner; if not, then you would have to hide all of your money under your mattress or around your house. I have no clue what happens in the banks, or how they take care of your money. I always thought money was simple; you either have some or you don’t—that’s it. However, being introduced to this assignment, the Yap Fei, US gold, French francs, Brazilian cruzeros, and debit accounts now seem similar. You don’t actually see your money being transferred. When you get paid, you aren’t handed cash, you don’t receive a physical check, the money’s all directly transferred to your bank account, and you just have to trust that you got more money.

Revision

Money seems to have a big role in our society; one cannot do much in life without it. Money is valuable in different ways, even though it is not always physical in form. In today’s society there must be faith in the government that the peoples money would be safe; if not, then the act of stashing money would be the most viable way to go about things. I have no clue what happens in the banks, or how they take care of money. I always thought money was simple; people have money or they don’t—that’s it. However, being introduced to this assignment, the Yap Fei, US gold, French francs, Brazilian cruzeros, and debit accounts now seem similar.The depositor doesn’t ever see the money being deposited. When employees are paid, they receive a paper check that can be cashed out to ones bank account, all the while no physical money being seen.

RobustVerbs – WaywardSundial

Original:

There is a huge problem in Vancouver with heroin addicts committing crimes to support their habits. The “free heroin for addicts” program is doing everything they can to stop the addicts. The problem is that there is a large crime rate due to the addicts. It is obvious that addicts have a hard time getting through their day to day lives. Daily activities such as jobs, interactions, and relationships are hard to maintain because of the fact that they are using. By heroin users being addicted, they will do whatever they have to do to get their hands on the drug. The types of crimes committed are those of breaking and entering as well as stealing. There are no limits to where they will go to retrieve this drug so that they can feed their addiction. The problem with this program is that it won’t help to ween these addicts off using heroin. It is only trying to save the city from rising crime rates that they’re up to. By providing the drug, these addicts will be off the streets, which in turn will prevent them from committing minor street crimes. This will also keep the heroin users out of the hospital. It is pointless that the hospitals have to deal with people that want to use bad drugs or unsanitary needles and find themselves being unable to afford hospital bills and hard to cope without the drug. This program gives people free heroin in the cleanest way possible. This will in turn fix the city  but not the addiction that these people face.

Revision:

Heroin addicts commit crimes within Vancouver. Programs that provide free drugs are working to cease the crime rate, not helping the well being of the individuals affected. Addicts will do anything to gain the means to purchasing their drug, from breaking and entering anywhere they can gain access to, robbing innocent civilians, as well as a plethora of other heinous crimes. These acts alienate themselves from those in their life. The “free heroin for addicts” programs merely provides heroin to prevent the crimes they would normally commit in order to get their drug. Although it gives clean heroin and prevents the addicts from using unsanitary needles leading them to hospitals, it does nothing whatsoever to helping the addicts get off the drug indefinitely.