I'm a teacher . . . a short quiz for you: which of the two photos does NOT belong in the ocean?
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Several years ago, my policy debate team argued the pros and cons of global Ocean Policy, a topic mandated by the National Forensic League that year. During the year, my students became passionate about the cause and effects of Ocean Pollution; one wrote a case that revolved around privatization of ocean clean-up, a fascinating concept that I want to write more about later.
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For many years, cities and towns, particularly those located near a coast, dumped municipal garbage, raw sewage, and radioactive waste, into the ocean. Up until the 1950s and 1960s, most scientists believed that the ocean's size gave it unlimited ability to dilute and render harmless pollutants, including highly toxic chemicals. Today, due to Congressional and international laws, dumping is regulated, but not banned completely (see Ocean Dumping Act of 1972 and 1988). And, the effects of Ocean pollution are dramatic. In fact, our oceans today contain many tons of oil, most released from land run-off and not oil spills.
CLICK HERE to learn more. Go to "Lesson 13," Ocean Pollution, to watch two informative videos. The first video is titled "Ocean Pollution;" it is on the left tab. The second video is titled "Global Impact;" it is on the right tab. These videos are provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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