As usual, Bjorn Lomborg has entered another debate in order to bring some facts and sanity to the issue.

This time its the plastic scare... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-sorry-banning-plastic-bags-wont-save-our-planet/

Some pertinent facts:

* 70% of the plastic in the oceans comes from waste and debris from the fishing industry. (I've seen others say this number is around 50%, showing how nebulous much of this data is). Taking the 70% figure, that means that only 30% of the plastic comes from land activity.

* 5% of that 30% comes from OECD countries ie around 1.5% of the total.

* from that its clear that about 0.1% of the total comes from Australia.

* half of all land-based plastic waste comes from just 4 countries with China contributing 27% of the total.

* Plastic bags make up less that 1% of the total.

* banning plastic shopping bags results in increases in the usage of other bag types which also have environmental impacts.

Still the west acts as though its banning of single use plastic bags and plastic straws will have a material effect on oceanic eco-systems. It won't. Its mere virtue signalling and/or opportunities for our political masters to pretend to be doing something of value.

Want to 'save' the oceans. Go talk to China, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

But that's too hard. Much easier to do useless things that the uninformed think are virtuous.

to many people make to much out of lies. That is why when men like Bjorn Lomborg come out with facts they are demonised. Look at Peter Ridley pointing out truths about the Great Barrier Reef. Every rent seeker jumped on him. The last couple of generations are among the most immoral ever on this planet hence the need for virtue signalling such as banning straws, plastic bags, banning coal, renewable energy etc etc.

There is a lot of guff about how much plastic "we" throw around, but the truth is that most of the plastic polluting oceans and rivers comes from the African and Asian continents.

mhaze,

What an interesting topic.

I am impressed with Bjorn Lomborg.
He's got a reputation as a "global
warming skeptic." His issue however
is not with the reality of climate change
but rather with the economic and political
approaches being taken (or not taken) to
meet the challenges of that climate change.

I've seen him speak on various TV programs
and he made a lot of sense.

I like his balanced views. He presents both
sides of the argument to any issue but also
looks for solutions. As he points out - yes
plastics do clog drains and cause floods,
litter nature and kill animals and birds. But,
they also make our lives better in a myriad of
ways. As he tells us, plastic packaging has
become useful because it does keep
everything fresher.

He also stresses the importance it plays in
the medical sector which has made syringes, pill
bottles and diagnostic equipment safer.
And that going without disposable plastic entirely
would leave us worse off.

How to tackle the problems we have with plastic
without losing all of its benefits is key.

Here's a few links that may be useful:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/13/the-plastic-backlash-whats-behind-our-sudden-rage-and-will-it-make-a-difference

Dear mhaze,

Up to your usual tricks of completely misrepresenting your own links I see.

Lomborg says quite clearly that we should; "think about actions we can take as consumers in rich countries to reduce our use of unnecessary plastic bags".

Why?

Because; "plastics clog drains and cause floods, litter nature and kill animals and birds."

But he rightly points out we need to think about the other sources of plastics impacting on our oceans.

Single use plastic shopping bags are among the most mobile of our waste products and therefore are particularly important to control.

I know your ideology doesn't permit you to appreciate some of the simple facts Lomborg and others point out but do try a little more.

Such themes, tell us not to take care of the environment are hardly worth the effort
A day will come, be sure of it,when we will not longer be able to destroy waterways and such with plastic
Science, not its opponent, the self interest of owners of pollutants, will win in the end