Every generation faces its characteristic challenges, and the increasingly apparent one facing ours is environmental. Lead in gas may have been acceptable in the 60’s, but its adverse effects have rendered it banned altogether since 1995 (TodayIFoundOut.com). The production of CFC’s (chlorofluorocarbons—gases used in refrigerants and aerosol products that are harmful to the ozone layer) were as much a part of daily life as computers are in our own, and it required an international effort, the Montreal Protocol, to finally end any further manufacturing of the catastrophic compounds (Ozone.Unep.org). The common theme surfacing appears to implicate the fact that environmental problems have often arisen in the face of ignorance, or at least a general lack of knowledge regarding the consequences of certain actions. It is because of these previous mistakes, and the ongoing occurrence of current ones, that our generation is the one forced to attempt to tackle this ever-growing problem; specifically, the problem surrounding ocean pollution.

Recently, a Thai turtle underwent a complex surgery to remove 915 pennies and two fish hooks that she had digested over the course of her life. This was the combined result of her habitat, a wishing fountain, and the Thai belief that tossing coins onto turtles will increase one’s lifespan. Unfortunately for the turtle, “Bank” as she was nicknamed, this ordeal added eleven pounds to her frame, accounting for about 10% of her total body weight (Telegraph.co.uk).

The head of the veterinary surgical team that performed the life-saving operation on Bank, Nantarika Chansue, issued a statement regarding her emotions after discovering Bank’s story noting, “I felt angry that humans, whether or not they meant to do it or if they did it without thinking, had caused harm to this turtle…” Herein lies the crux of the problem as mentioned above, for I highly doubt there was anyone attending that wishing fountain with the conscience desire to harm Bank. Instead, a lack of awareness and knowledge led to the problem, as is common with most environmental problems.

Though Bank’s habitat was not her native ocean, many of her kind who do reside there are subjected to similar circumstances—trash in their home. Fortunately, 20 year-old Boyan Slat, transitioned his high school science project from a theoretical solution to rid the ocean of trash into his life’s mission. He noticed that instead of expending exuberant amounts of money and energy into attempting to manually collect the garbage, he could utilize the natural current of the ocean to filter out the plastic bottles and bags. His solution was to implement a designed line of floating barriers that would concentrate and guide the debris towards a platform that efficiently extracts it (BBC.com). This solution is ideal as it effectively rids the oceans of pollution without harming or disturbing marine life, as most other solutions thus far have been incapable of escaping.

With greater awareness and effort exemplified by Slat, the world could solve even more problems. At Xavier, specifically, recycling Dutch Bros cups and reusing Lululemon bags all assist in the fight for saving marine life. Though the issue may seem out-of-hand to most of us, if each girl at Xavier did something everyday to help with pollution and recycling, even if we cannot change the world, we can at least develop the look of our campus and rid it from stray cups or a messy Founder’s Hall.  I don’t believe the problem is a lack of care on behalf of the general population of humans, for that is too cynical a view of our race. I do believe that people are unaware of the damage they are contributing to everyday. So long as scientists and laypeople alike continue to exploit knowledge regarding the state of our earth to the general public, hope is present.