Another losing battle…

It is becoming more and more evident that it is highly unlikely that the state of the environment will ever improve. Perhaps, evolution is to blame. The more we “evolve,” the more we value convenience and the finer things in life. Technology is at our fingertips and the possibilities are endless. We are wowed daily by the sheer magnitude of how far the digital age has come; it has surpassed the imaginations of most everyday people and it’s even more shocking to think that we may only be at the tip of the digital iceberg. If the earth is seemingly suffering now, what will happen when we make unworldly strides in technology?

Well, if the Florida Legislature’s decision to prohibit the cities from banning plastic straws is any indication, then the earth, and the everyday people living on it, are likely screwed. Deerfield Beach was among the cities that fined restaurant owners if they were caught dispensing plastic straws. As a result, some restaurants stepped up their game by using paper straws and some stopped using straws all together. Given the polluting effect (even if only 1%) of a plastic straw and the availability of an alternative, it would seem that banning the use of a plastic straw would be a reasonable and astute solution to the problem. In my humble opinion, replacing a plastic straw with a paper one is an insignificant step and any increase in cost to the restaurateurs should be outweighed by the importance of preserving the environment as much as we can for the generations to come.

On the other hand, what’s the point of giving up a plastic straw when nuclear warfare is a real possibility and the inevitable price of technological convenience is degradation of the environment? Really, should we worry about the fact that, by 2050, fish might have to swim through straws or should we just cherish today and sip from our plastic straws because tomorrow isn’t promised and 2050 may be too optimistic?