I decided to select the problem of plastic pollution for my final project. Therefore, today, I want to discuss a social ad made by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF, 2018). The video discusses the drastic effect plastic has on wildlife, the environment, and people’s health. In particular, it shows that millions of fish, sea animals, and birds die every year from plastic, people are forced to drink, eat, and breathe microplastic, which leads to adverse health conditions, and plastic contributes to climate change (WWF, 2018). Thus, people, governments, and NGOs need to unite to address the problem of plastic pollution today.
The artifact directly relates to the concept of wellness. In particular, it affects at least two dimensions of wellness: physical health and the environment. The problem of plastic pollution affects biodiversity and human wellness. In particular, birds, animals, and fish die from entanglement and starvation. As for humans, microplastic can become a source of a wide variety of health conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammation, auto-immune conditions, and neurodegenerative diseases (Center of International Environmental Law, 2015).
The social implications of the artifact are evident. People need to become aware of the problem of plastic pollution and begin to act actively to address the problem. First, people need to consciously use less plastic in their daily life. Second, citizens of all countries need to support laws that address the problem of plastic pollution. Finally, people need to support companies that use eco-friendly materials for the productions and packaging of their products. Even though this may be associated with a myriad of issues, we need to change our lifestyles to allow future generations to be healthy.
Reference
Center of International Environmental Law. (2015). Plastic and human health: A lifecycle approach to plastic pollution. CIEL.
World Wildlife Fund. (2018). Plastic pollution [Video File]. YouTube.