Aside from the absolutely adorable robot figure that dominated the movie screen, I've learnt that Wall.E stands for Waste Allocator, Lot Lifter, and the "E" goes unknown.
The show opened with a scene of Wall.E crushing heaps of waste into square cubes, then the scene progressed to a bird eye's view of an entire typical New York City.
However, glamour was not even in the picture - not even a hint of life. What I saw were tall overpowering towers that were made of cubes of waste, waste, and more waste.
That was one scary picture, but at the rate that we humans are dumping rubbish and hurting Mother Nature, it comes as no surprise if we do actually reach this stage one day where all humans find it necessary to evacuate to a new planet and invent robots to clear up Earth while we're gone enjoying life somewhere else.
One of Nature's largest dusbin:
300 and 150 million litter respectively cover the bottom of the Mediterranean and of the North sea. 60% are plastics that will last hundreds of year.
Statistical Evidence:
In the past twenty years, solid waste produced by industrial countries has tripled on a average of up to 475kg per person and per year. If the current trend remains, the global production of waste should rise by 70% by 2020. In Northern countries, which are already and by far the main waste producers, this rise could reach 200%. - www.youngreporters.org/
Key figures
A European bin contains 23% organic products (animal and vegetal), 33% paper/cardboard, 5% plastic, 8% glass, 8% metal, 3% textile, 13% various (china, dust…)
Europe counts 8700 dumps containing 1,2 billion tons of waste, producing greenhouse methane gas and contaminating ground waters (Eurostat)
On average, paper can be recycled 8 to 12 times. It is used to make more paper or cardboard. (Eco-emballages)
The entire amount of aluminium thrown per year by the USA would be enough to renew their entire fleet of commercial aircraft every three months (Worldwatch Institute)
In the wild, it takes 3 months to a paper tissue to disappear, 10 year to a tin can, 200 years to a plastic bag. (Ademe)
Recycling of 12 soft drink bottles can produce one pillow, 11 plastic bottles = one watering can, 670 cans= one bicycle, 19000 tin cans = one car. (Eco-emballages) - www.youngreporters.org/
Source: http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/Statistics.htm
A small effort goes a long way.
Do your part to save the Earth today, and remember The 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!
Labels: General Affairs
