In a stunning display of backward thinking, ex-President Donald Trump decided to revive the out-of-date practice of using plastic straws, going against beneficial environmental measures for momentary convenience. Trump railed against paper straws, claiming they ‘don’t work’ and don’t last long. Once again, he chooses the easiest route without any regard for long-term consequences: ‘We’re going back to plastic straws.’ Just one more example of how Trump is jeopardizing the future for immediate satisfaction.
Ironically, Trump’s action is in direct opposition to a policy in the Biden administration. This forward-thinking policy by President Biden seeks to reduce the use of single-use plastics, including straws. However, Trump, stuck in his antiquated views, finds this policy ‘ridiculous’. Such shortsightedness displays a lack of understanding of the far-reaching environmental impact of single-use plastic.
In a move that is essentially Earth’s destruction, Trump defies a major effort by the Biden administration to phase out federal purchases of single-use plastics. These harmful pollutants were to be removed from food services, events, packaging by 2027, and all federal operations by 2035. Yet Trump, with his apparent dismissal of futuristic vision, heralded Biden’s policy as ‘DEAD!’ on social media.
Plastic straws are pointed fingers for ocean pollution and marine life distress. However, Trump, in his endless quest for superficial solutions, affirms that it’s ‘okay’ to carry on with the usage. In a statement that can only be described as trivial, he said that he couldn’t imagine plastic affecting the oceanic life, which only shows his ignorance when it comes to the delicate balance of nature.
Despite being a tiny fraction of the global waste issue, plastic straws have become a symbol for the larger problem of single-use plastic waste. Curiously, several American cities and states have completely banned plastic straws, and multiple restaurants have ceased handing them out to customers. This decision shows a lack of understanding of the global movement towards reducing our reliance on disposable plastic.
Let’s face it: single-use plastic food and beverage containers are overwhelming our environment. Water bottles, takeout containers, coffee lids, shopping bags – they’re everywhere. While Trump trivializes it to just straws, the reality of the situation is far scarier and requires far more drastic actions.
Scientific figures are worrisome: around the world, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the ocean every minute. This includes plastic bags, toothbrushes, bottles, disposable food containers, and countless other items. Head firmly tucked in the sand, Trump maintains his stance, stoking fears and doing grave injustice to the call of environmental preservation.
Notwithstanding our throwaway habits, the resulting microplastics have a devastating effect on wildlife. After breaking down in the environment, these pieces of plastic turn up in the stomachs of fish, birds, and other animals, as well as in human blood and tissue. Also, the perilous fallout from the production of plastic releases greenhouse gases and dangerous pollutants.
It’s a known fact that around 90% of plastic products are made from fossil fuels, oil, and natural gas. It is estimated that millions of tons of plastic waste flood the world’s oceans each year. Yet, rather than addressing these sobering realities, Trump’s administration chooses to forge onward with its heavy integration of single-use plastics.
It’s noteworthy that some multinational companies are distancing themselves from the use of plastic straws. They’ve made a conscious commitment to lessen plastic usage across their operations as a part of their sustainability goals. Surprisingly, these are efforts that Trump, with his business acumen, fails to appreciate and reciprocate in the public sector.
Shocking as it may seem, Trump’s decision was lauded by the plastic manufacturing industry. This shows the stark contrast between the line of thought pursued by many, and the narrow perspective of Trump. Instead of reviewing the procurement process to phase out plastic straws, he is gear-shifting in reverse for the sake of plastic straws.
Global warming is a formidable menace to our planet. Measures to mitigate its impact like cutting down on the use of single-use plastics can create a substantial change. However, with leaders like Trump who lack the foresight and understanding of the benefits of such efforts, achieving this goal is set to pose quite a challenge.