Pollution is a Major Problem in the Pacific


 


In the current time, Pacific countries are continually experiencing pollution as the major environmental problem in the region. Pollution is one of the major threats to sustainable development in the Pacific islands region. The increase sources of pollution are threatening the Pacific islands’ efforts in maintaining a healthy society, as well as in stimulating development and new investment and in sustaining future for the people. In this relation, the major kinds   of pollution within the Pacific region are shipping-related pollution, hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes and solid waste management and disposal.  In the same manner, the region’s coastal and marine resources are endangered by the marine species, ship wrecks, marine accidents and spills, ships’ waste and antifouling paints on vessels. By all means, the rapid increase   of solid waste, poor control of chemicals in the region; so as to the lack of capacity to manage pollutants are primary problems in the Pacific regions.  In the same token, the lack of proper waste recycling strategy has resulted in an explosion of plastics, paper, glass, metal and even drums of hazardous chemicals all over the region. The wastes gradually break down and leak into the soil and into drinking water. Another thing is the foul-smell of organic wastes that attract disease-carrying pests like mosquitoes, rats and flies.  The load of household wastes that even develop on beaches and in mangrove swamps are the major sources of water contamination and prevalent of various diseases in the communities. (http://sprep.org/topic/pollution.htm)


Consequently, the pollution problem in the Pacific affects significantly on the tourism aspect in the region. Tourism as being considered as the primary money earner in the Pacific island countries has been started to suffer the bad results of the widespread pollutants. In the past, the region had a spirited and competitive advantage as to compare to other tourist areas in the part of the world for its fresh scenery of lagoons and beaches.  However, this is no longer the same situation these days because of the weight of solid waste piling up around shorelines and waterways areas.  In the contrary, Pacific countries have been doing there best efforts to eliminate the wastes problem as well as to find means of preventing the increase of wastes pollution in the regions.  There are many local and international environmental organizations joint hands in trying to save the Pacific region from totally shrinking into wastes. Moreover, the environmental pollution can have direct and indirect connection to poverty condition of the people. Poor people are the most affected by environmental pollution; for it caused them to loss basic food supplies for subsistence or income earning due to contamination of land or marine resources. They are also vulnerable to harmful pollutants and foremost the associated health problems that environmental waste has brought to the entire society. The discharge of environmental pollutants would have a great help and benefits to the society at large; some of the materials thrown away as rubbish could be a source of income for people.  For instance, the aluminum cans, plastic materials, cartoons and various types of papers can be sold for recycling purposes by many companies. By doing this, pollution productivity and contamination   can be tremendously reduced.  And, marine resources as well as export markets can still be saved.   In addition to that, effective pollution prevention brings many benefits to mankind.  As an illustration, in the manufacturing and energy sectors this can include reductions in raw material costs including fuel and increased processing and operating efficiencies.  It also reduces packaging cost of various goods.  At the same time,   “pollution-free” or environmentally friendly products are now being widely recognized throughout the world, especially in the tourism sector.  More than that, the waste recovery and recycling operations even provide potential business opportunities for both the public and private sectors worldwide.


(http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Pollution-of-the-Ocean-by-Sewage-Nutrients-and-Chemicals.html)


Lastly, pollution prevention is something that must be given focus and top priority by any national and local government in order to address efficiently and effectively the problem.  Unfortunately, there are very few Pacific countries and territories that have specific environmental acts and associated regulations. The worst thing is; there are even fewer laws and regulations that deal with specific aspects of   environmental pollution, like waste management.   Majority of the environmental laws have come from the outdated and fairly general legislation, like the Health Act. In view thereof, there should be more progress and efforts   to be made in order to develop national policies and strategies to address the waste management problem in the Pacific region.  It is very obvious that still, much  planning and implementation  programs must have to be done by national and local government levels  to be able to  achieve a real on the ground solutions against pollution issues in the Pacific countries.


(http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Pollution-of-the-Ocean-by-Sewage-Nutrients-and-Chemicals.html)


References:


http://sprep.org/topic/pollution.htm


http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Po-Re/Pollution-of-the-Ocean-by-Sewage-Nutrients-and-Chemicals.html


 


 



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