Reflection

Reflection

In recent times, with the expansion of population, civilization, and mass production, we’ve exposed our planet more than ever to harmful man-made pollutants in the air and water. Research insights and reports say that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish in weight. My generation will still be around in 2050, and I certainly wouldn’t want those contaminating substances everywhere. The responsibility rests on the shoulders of the human race because we caused the problem. I believe we can do this through simple, large-scale solutions and our own sharp minds. The artistic process gave me a lot of time to think about how far we’ve plunged into this problem, and the sheer amount of effort it would take for us to reverse the effects (if that’s even possible.) It’s sad to think about the species that die out every day, the animals strangled by stray plastic items discarded into drains, but seeing that some species still manage to live sparks hope for the future. After all, if it were truly a lost cause, why would people still continue to form organizations and work toward healing the planet? Our time on Earth is short, and the time we have left to erase our carbon footprint is shorter. For billions of years, the planet thrived on its own. In just a couple hundred years, humans caused the entire globe to warm gradually, and even punched a hole in the protective ozone layer in the atmosphere. All we can do now is use this time wisely, and make sure the solutions we devise are for the best and won’t cause more problems. The large numbers of people, groups, organizations, and advocates that stand strong for the cause give me hope, as well as successful cleanups of the past. If we’ve done it before, we can move forward and do it again. As everyone should and can on their own, I plan to be more aware of what I use on a regular basis and make efforts to limit my usage of items like straws and plastic bags — and of course, continue to spread the message through creative expressions like art.