Pacifica Tribune letters-to-the-editor, 4/3/12. "Plastic Bags" by Jennie Pitsch (San Bruno)
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| "Only really dumb sea turtles eat plastic" |
I use them for selling at flea markets. I use them when I donate stuff. Plastic bags are great. Just because people are sloppy and make messes for everyone, we all shouldn't be punished by taking away what is so useful. Plastic bags are a most appreciative invention.
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| "Dang!" |
Supporting article - Save The Plastic Bag.com says the above anti-plastic bag sea turtle photo is trickery. And that the public is being mislead by the assertion that "..small plastics are the direct cause of mortality in sea turtles."
The larger view - Environmental Protection Agency. "Marine Debris Impacts", Conserve Turtles Organization, and Wiki Answers.
Massive problem for the Sea Turtles: Fisheries: USA New York Times, 9/14/11, World Discovery News.
Posted by Kathy Meeh
12 comments:
With all the attention on some other postings I almost missed this one. While Jennie Pitch doesn't appear to be very well informed on the issue, she is certainly entitled to her opinion. The accompanying links and captions however are factually incorrect and just plain insulting. For starters, the assertion that the turtle eating a bag photo is trickery is completely unsupportable. I checked out the link to Savetheplasticbag.com and all they had to "debunk" the photo is that there aren't very many photos of turtles eating plastic bags on the web. (Although I found about half a dozen in about a minute.) And the scientific paper that they cherry pick for this quote "There are very few, if any, published records of small plastics as the direct cause of mortality in sea turtles" includes numerous documented, published examples of plastic bags killing sea turtles by blocking their digestive tracts. With Earth Day this weekend dedicated to the Sea Turtle, this is a completely tone deaf and scientifically unsupportable posting.
"The accompanying links and captions however are factually incorrect and just plain insulting."
Ian (1125), what's insulting is your commentary response to this article. Reference links to the EPA, Conserve Turtles, Wiki Answers, New York Times and Discovery News are all "factually incorrect", really?
The global sea turtle life threat commentary I made in the surrounding pictures and information links indicate: 1) plastic bags and plastic of all kinds are one issue, but 2) the larger issue worldwide is Fisheries.
True, the picture of a turtle eating plastic is all over the internet, but posted primarily by eco-organizations
seaking donations. Whereas, "Save the Plastic Bag" organization findings are that the sea turtle eating a plastic bag is fake, photoshopped-- clearly not their doing.
Oh good grief, here we go, again.
I just bought the cutest rug made out of recycled plastic bags.
If you ban plastic bags you cause job losses. But that is the goal.
Turning America into a third world country.
"..."Save the Plastic Bag" organization findings are that the sea turtle eating a plastic bag is fake, photoshopped"
Untrue. Here is the entire quote from Save The Plastic Bag:
"We have been unable to find many other photographs of turtles eating plastic bags. To check for yourself, search for "turtle plastic bag" on Google Images. You won't find many."
Nothing about it being fake or photoshopped, and actually there are quite a few pictures of turtles eating plastic, check for yourself.
Ian, "untrue" huh, and you're quoting a different comment? The "turtle eating a plastic bag" fake picture comment is there somewhere in their studies. I saw it when researching the article.
Really Ian, there's enough for us to disagree about for valid reasons. And please keep in mind, when doing research my default attitude is "let the facts fall where they may" and that creates the article statement as understood.
Having said that, of course you're aware I'm on record favoring the utility of these light, clean plastic bags for transporting groceries. On the other hand, none of my plastic bags better fall into the ocean and harm wildlife. At the same time, I'm still wonder why smart humans can't produce a similar bag that biodegrades.
"The "turtle eating a plastic bag" fake picture comment is there somewhere in their studies. I saw it when researching the article."
No it isn't. But by all means prove me wrong. Here is the link you provided (and the page I got my quote from):
http://savetheplasticbag.com/ReadContent612.aspx
Please let us know what you find.
Ian, thanks for the website link from the article I posted, wow.
Sure I'll get back to you with this detail you can't find but really must find, when I have not much else to do zzzz.
With your recent antagonistic attitude, why should I care? This is disappointing, yet I continue to believe you are better than that.
And we wonder why people can't work together with this kind of childish finger-pointing?!?!
Kathy, when did you become a caricature like the tea party people?
Sad, sad, sad. How low the mighty have fallen. It's enough to make you want to put that plastic bag over your head.
Ian, the website calls the famous turtle picture "trick photography." The "supporting article" reference on my posted article describes the photo as "trickery". The Article was posted 4/10/12, and the information may have been compiled a few days prior. In compiling information I read much more than what is presented. From what I read, I recall the research detail "photoshopped" (4/15, 12:53pm comment). Same organization, I recall. But, on this website there isn't much content behind that "trick photography" header.
Such a good picture, who knows maybe someone fed some plastic to the turtle for the photo shoot. Either way I'm done with it. BTW Here's the Earth Day article repost.
Actually, there are quite a few different images of turtles eating plastic bags.
http://myplasticfreelife.com/images/Sea_Turtle_Eats_Plastic.jpg
http://coastalcare.org/wp-content/images/issues/pollution/plastic/Turle-eats-plastic.jpg
http://s4.hubimg.com/u/1518343_f248.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3011/3042475658_ff4913fcc4_m.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/3042475688_9f9e0b5df5.jpg
http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JR3qCpFzp5c/0.jpg
These are all actually from the first page of Google images.
Here's a video too.
http://wn.com/Sea_Turtle_eating#
And here's a crocodile eating a plastic bag
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cJuqOAyR4Og/TcRmQfSHpbI/AAAAAAAAQMQ/pnCpk25pTsA/s1600/croc%2Beating%2Bgarbage.JPG
This article isn't really that reliable because they don't actually back up their writing with any evidence, like showing a Google search page with only those search results. They only re-pasted the image numerous times. A good way to be sure your source is reliable is if they cite a respectable organization, or post evidence. Most of the larger view links actually blame plastic bags. They don't actually support the idea that plastic bags don't harm marine life. I suppose they were only put there to show opposing viewpoints. It's generally a good idea to view the links before citing them for supporting points in an argument.
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