The Graduate (1967) directed by Mike Nichols and starring Dustin Hoffman, Ann Bancroft and Katharine Ross en.wikipedia.org/...includes one of the top quotes in American cinema history.
“One Word: Plastics ….”
Mr. McGuire: I want to say one word to you. Just one word.
Benjamin: Yes, sir.
Mr. McGuire: Are you listening?
Benjamin: Yes, I am.
Mr. McGuire: Plastics.
Benjamin: Exactly how do you mean?
Mr. McGuire: There's a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?
In recent years, that line has taken on a preciently sinister meaning. Plastics were indeed the future in 1963 when the book upon which this movie is based was published — and the future is now. Fifty six years after the Graduate was written, the continuous river of plastic waste keeps on rolling down to the sea, where it lasts forever and ever and is routinely consumed by fish, birds, whales and other sea mammals.
News reports circulated today about a 15’ long dead whale that washed ashore in the Philippines on Saturday www.npr.org/.... The whale starved to death. Its stomach was bloated with 88 pounds of plastic — a dense mass that prevented it from digesting food. Among the 88 pounds of plastic were 16 rice sacks — similar to potato sacks — and plastic bags from local Philippine grocery chains
The Missouri River is in flood stage this week in the Missouri state capitol where the legislature is in session. — which means it is carrying floating plastic trash down to the gulf.
There is a bill before the legislature introduced by Dan Shaul (R — Imperial Mo.) to prevent cities towns or municipalities in Missouri from banning plastic cups or straws www.stltoday.com/… adding to a ban on banning plastic bags ( House Bill 722) that Shaul helped to pass in 2015 and then helped to override the veto of that bill by Mo. Governor Jay Nixon.
It should be noted that in addition to his role as a state rep., Dan Shaul is also director of the Missouri Grocers Association www.missourigrocers.com. The grocers association is committed to
the growth and profitability of its members by providing: proactive state and federal legislative and regulatory representation, effective communication, beneficial member services,
The convenience store and grocery store owners clearly don’t give a damn about the environmental cost of consumer convenience. Use once and throw away plastic is profitable but it has a deadly lasting cost.
Shaul and the MGA should ask us if we think the whales and albatrosses are enjoying all that convenient indigestible single use plastic we inadvertently feed them. This is profitable convenient insanity. It is past time we stop this .There has got to be a better way.