Impact of Solid Waste on Marine Life

Name of Centre: GREEN POND HIGH INSTITUTE

Centre Code:
Name of Candidate:
Candidate’s Registration #:
Teacher:
Theme of Portfolio:
Topic:
100106
Dwayne Codlyn
Mr. Rupert Shaw
The Environment
The Impact of Solid Waste on Marine Life
 Table of Contents

Plan of Investigation 3
Reflection 1: How have the Materials Selected Shaped the Researcher's Thinking of the
Topic? 4
Reflection 2: Use of Language in the Article 5
How the SBA Process Helped me to Become a Better Person 7
Group Written Report 8
Conclusion 11-12
Overview of Oral Presentation 13
References 14
Appendix 1 15 -18
Appendix 2 19
 Plan of Investigation

The researcher chose this topic because he dreamt of becoming a Marine Biologist.

Piles of garbage are often seen polluting the ocean so it was decided to embark on a journey

to research the Impact of Solid Waste on Marine Life.

As an English student the exploration of this topic will enable the researcher to:

● Improve Communication, Comprehension and Analytical Skills

● Build Vocabulary

● Be more cognizant of environmental issues.

Secondary sources that will be used include an online journal, case study and a

newspaper article. These are relevant to the study as they provide supporting evidence of the

issue.
 Reflection 1: How have the Materials Selected Shaped the Researcher's

Thinking of the Topic?

The researcher found the newspaper article to be very informative, it raised great

concern for the reader as the headline was not only captivating but startling “ SPL

Foundation removes 430lbs of garbage from MoBay's beaches.” To think that the beaches

in the tourism capital of Jamaica have been polluted with garbage, harming not only the

marine life but the livelihood of the people within the area.

The second piece is a report from the United Nations Environmental Programme.

This piece highlighted how garbage - more so plastic and styrofoam- harms ecosystems,

biodiversity and human health.

The third piece is a case study carried out by the National Environmental and

Planning Agency (NEPA) which highlights some of the ways garbage reaches our oceans, the

impact it has and provides recycling solutions.

 Reflection 2: Use of Language in the Article

The tone in all three pieces of work is formal as they all contain factual

information that the writers want to be taken seriously. The newspaper article, though formal,

has a more relaxing and welcoming tone. Here the reader is able to review and assess the

good deeds carried out by the SPL Foundation and is motivated to join or organize a group

that carries out a similar drive. Phrases such as “We had volunteers as young as 14-year-old

and some in their 40s. There is no specific age group, we just said let us just come out and do

this initiative.” (paragraph 7 lines 1-2) and “If we start with just one beach and 10 volunteers,

we hope that other individuals across Jamaica will jump on board in keeping our beaches

clean by recycling and reducing our plastic consumption” ( paragraph 15 lines 1-3) gives a

more welcoming approach to the message being sent. The reader feels as if the message is

more of an open invitation to do the right thing rather than a scare tactic shouting

consequences at them. This technique is found to be effective as more people will be inclined

to volunteer and give their time to the cause.

In the United Nation Report, the article takes on a more serious tone. The piece

commences with an attention grabber by stating what the most collected material is. The

choice of words used by the writer is geared at not only captivating the attention of the reader

but also to place great emphasis on the consequences of improper garbage disposal creating

an emotional response in the minds and hearts of the reader. This serious, fearful approach

puts a state of urgency for change invokes not only an emotional response but also an urge

for immediate solution.

The case study conducted by NEPA, Marine Debris - Jamaica’s Response, while

formal, has a more educational tone, there is no bias identified in the information presented
and the choice of wording is neutral. There is no figurative language or words used for

emphasis. This piece is used to simply raise awareness and educate persons on marine debris.

The language and choice of words used in each piece are both effective for the

purpose and the target audience. The newspaper article targeted individuals from all ages

encouraging them to join the cause and clean up the beach. The UN report stated

consequences and called for urgent change while the NEPA case study educated persons

about the challenges and consequences of marine debris.

How the SBA Process Helped me to Become a Better Person

The SBA assisted me by improving my team bonding and team building skills. I am

now able to work better with people from different cultural backgrounds. There were times
when we had disagreements and I learned to resolve them by coming to a common

consensus. I am now able to better respect the opinions of other people and work better as a

team. I have learnt to prioritize time in order to meet deadlines. My communication and

analytical skills have also significantly improved.

 Group Written Report

The theme selected by the group was “The Environment” and the topics derived from this

theme were:

● Christians’ views on climate change

● Littering in our environments

● How air pollution affects the environment

● How flooding affects the environment

● An investigation into the causes of ozone depletion

● How does flooding impact people who reside in flood prone environments

The group had several meetings in which each of the group's original eighteen articles were

discussed. A thorough review of these articles was conducted as a precursor to the written

report. Three articles were then selected as they were deemed best suited to the theme of the

SBA. The articles that were chosen were, a newspaper article by Sasha Rowe (June 14 2017)

“PM says littering a cultural problem”, an article by the UN environment program (January

25, 2021) “Jamaica: plastics ban creates new opportunities” and a newspaper article by

Adrian Fratter (November 8, 2021) “Major flooding, infrastructure damage after heavy

downpour batters St. James”.

In order to arrive at the three articles for the written report, the group underwent a

rigorous selection process, which involved each group member reading their articles and
highlighting the main points in the first meeting. In the second meeting, each group member

gave their input regarding their own three articles and proposed one article each for the

written report. Having six group members therefore meant that at this stage, there were six

articles from which the selection would be made. The six articles were then re-evaluated to

determine the best fit for the theme. After a robust round of voting the final three selections

were made.

Ultimately, the selected articles proffered significant factors that affect the environment,

such as flooding and pollution. The first paragraph of the article “PM says littering a cultural

problem” brings to our attention the severity of littering caused by plastic and the effects on

our coastal and marine life. This leads us to our next article, “Jamaica: plastics ban creates

new opportunities” which speaks to the Government’s attempts to correct the wrongs of

pollution. In this article, a survey was conducted to ascertain the most problematic pollutant.

This was found to be plastic bags, bottles, and straws etcetera. This resulted in the

government imposing a ban on plastic bags and straws. The final article is “Major flooding,

infrastructure damage after heavy downpour batters St. James”. This article spoke about the

impacts of littering, to include major flooding when there is heavy rainfall. The improper

dumping of plastics can cause blockage of drains which then results in flooding and in turn

contributes to major infrastructure damage and loss of life.

Notably, a rich array of different tones and techniques of writing were on display in the

articles, as the writers skilfully articulated their points. In the first article, the writer presents

the information in paragraphs while constantly quoting the words of the Prime Minister. The

writer does this to establish a tone of concern as the Prime Minister expresses his views on

the littering caused by plastic. The writer used an informal register to present the information

in a relatable manner. In the second article, the writer also expressed a tone of concern as

seen in her title for the second paragraph (“A growing problem”). The passage that ensued
gave detailed information on the amount of residential waste Jamaica generates, the

percentage that is legally and properly disposed, the amount that ends up in drains, rivers,

gullies etcetera, and how much of the waste is plastics. The writer did this to inform and

persuade the reader to use less plastic and reduce the amount of waste which is dumped

illegally. In the third article, the writer used an informal register in order to capture the

reader’s attention. The writer explained some of the effects of the flooding on the community

in this article.

Furthermore, pollution wreaks havoc on the environment not only for humans but also for

animal life. In order to alleviate the challenges caused by plastic pollution, the human race

must be educated and make a drastic turn, or the world as we know it today will plunge into

chaos, as pollution destroys the only environment in which life can survive. In order to

reduce the impact of solid waste on the environment, the government can implement

recycling programs throughout the country. By ensuring that there is frequent garbage pickup

in communities and providing incentives for communities who practise recycling, these

initiatives would encourage persons to play their part in protecting and preserving the world

we live in. The government should also consider imposing strict fines and penalties for

people caught littering the environment. This will act as a deterrent to this practice. The

world and the livelihood of all its species are counting on the effort of all humans to survive.

In conclusion, this research has traversed many paths in order to get to the final

destination of a comprehensive research paper on “The Environment". In summarizing the

journey however, the group chose and analysed three pieces of artefacts for the final Written

Report. Critically examining the tone and literary devices used in these artefacts, enhanced

the group’s overall awareness of the theme, increased our knowledge base and provided a

solid platform for the creation of our oral presentations. Stimulated by the chosen artefacts

too, the group through robust discussions on the causes, impacts and solutions to
environmental issues , came to a unanimous conclusion that as humans, in every sphere and

at all levels in society, we all have a greater role to play in protecting and preserving the

integrity of our environment in order to make it a safe, liveable space to exist.

 Conclusion

Solid waste wreaks havoc on the environment. It causes pollution which is

detrimental to the lives of humans as well as marine life. Improper waste disposal causes loss

of biodiversity and decreases the aesthetic appeal of our beaches and natural environment.

In order to reduce the impact of solid waste on the environment, everyone needs to

play their part by reducing or cutting back on waste that we generate, reuse items by giving

them new life instead of just throwing them out, recycle by turning useless items into

something useful. The government can also play a role by rewarding good environmental

deeds and fining persons who litter the environment.

 Overview of Oral Presentation

Topic: The Environment

Genre: Narrative

Source: Original Poem by Dwayne Codlyn

Register: Formal

How Does the Piece Relate to the Topic: The researcher chose to use an original poem as

the piece will bring more awareness to the audience about the impact of Solid waste on the

environment. The message will be conveyed in a creative manner thereby captivating the

attention of the audience so that the message will be well received

 References

Clayton, R. 2021, September 23 SPL Foundation removes 430lbs of garbage from MoBay's

beaches.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/observer-west/spl-foundation-removes-430lbs-

of-garbage-from-mobay-s-beaches_231859

2021, January 25 Jamaica: plastics ban creates new opportunities

https://www.un.org/depts/los/consultative_process/documents/6_davis.pdf

Davis- Mattis, L 2005 Marine Debris: Jamaica’s Response

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/jamaica-plastics-ban-creates-new-

opportunities
 Appendix 1

SPL Foundation removes 430lbs of garbage from MoBay's Beaches

Thursday, September 23, 2021

BY ROCHELLE CLAYTON

Observer West reporter

MONTEGO BAY, St James -In observation of this year's International Coastal Cleanup

(ICC) Day, the youth-led Street People Liberation (SPL) Foundation's Eco Initiative

embarked on a two-day operation to rid Montego Bay beaches of plastic waste.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer West, executive director and founder of SPL, Ashli-Ann

Broughton-Jackson, said though ICC was officially observed last Saturday, her foundation

decided to commence their beach clean-up activities a week in advance to expand their reach.

She shared that along with her team of 10 volunteers, they removed 430 pounds of waste

from the shorelines and seabed in the resort city during the two-day activity.

“We hosted a beach clean-up activity [on September 11] with 10 volunteers at the Old

Hospital Park Beach, and we collected 18 bags weighing approximately 300 pounds of plastic

waste,” she said.

“Then on September 18, we had the underwater clean-up and what we did was, we entered

from the Doctor's Cave Beach and went [over] to Buccaneer Beach [where] we collected four

large bags of plastic waste [weighing] approximately 130 pounds within the seabed in that

area. It was a lot of waste,” the 24-year-old Broughton-Jackson added.

She shared that the 10 volunteers for the foundation's ICC activities were like-minded

individuals simply wanting to remove the waste from the beaches in their hometown.

“We had volunteers as young as 14-year-old and some in their 40s. There is no specific age

group, we just said let us just come out and do this initiative,” she told the Observer West.

While the onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic has forced many of our public beaches

out of operation, the executive director pointed out that during the foundation's ICC activities,

there was a noticeable increase in the number of waste materials found in the ocean,

compared to the last two years.

Plastic bottles, bags and Styrofoam boxes topped the list of waste materials retrieved during

the two-day clean-up, Broughton-Jackson stated. This she attributes to the continued

improper disposal of domestic waste.

“We have seen a small increase, and this is largely a combination of microfiber, plastic bags

and plastic cups coming into our ocean. This is caused simply by us not disposing of our

plastic waste correctly, so what happens is that the trash finds its way into the ocean...and

settles on the seabed. It can [also] be a combination of the improper disposal of waste on

land, as well as just throwing the waste into the ocean intentionally,” she stated.

The domestic waste retrieved were recycled and disposed of correctly after the two-day

activity, she told the Observer West.

Broughton-Jackson, a third-year logistics and supply chain management student at the

Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), shared that the SPL's Eco Initiative was established
in 2019 in a bid to encourage more environmentally-friendly activities based on the United

Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“The eco-initiative is the heart and soul of our foundation. Our main mission is to raise

awareness on climate change and plastic pollution, this was inspired by [two of] the United

Nations Sustainable Development Goals — climate action as well as life below water. So,

that is the reason we said let us just become more environmentally-friendly and aware of

what is really going on,” Broughton-Jackson explained.

She further noted that while the SPL Foundation hosts regular beach clean-ups, she is hoping

that more Jamaicans recognise a need for this type of initiative across the island as we face a

major water pollution problem.

“If we start with just one beach and 10 volunteers, we hope that other individuals across

Jamaica will jump on board in keeping our beaches clean by recycling and reducing our

plastic consumption,” she said.

“Approximately 70 per cent of the earth's oxygen is provided by the ocean, so if we as

citizens don't come together and do initiatives like this, then ultimately, the main source of

life which is oxygen is going to be depleted, so we are trying to save humanity as well, as we

are trying to save the planet.”

The executive director is urging all Jamaicans to properly dispose of their waste to ensure

that they do not end up on the country's shorelines or in the ocean.

“Climate change begins with us and most of the pollution is caused by human contact,”

Broughton-Jackson stressed.
With their ICC activities completed, the executive director is now looking forward to SPL's

next underwater clean-up in October. One lesson she has learned since the onset of the novel

coronavirus pandemic, she said, is to do more community-based initiatives.

“The pandemic has really taught us to appreciate life more by doing more community

initiatives and doing good is an ongoing mission for us, pandemic or no pandemic,” she

stressed.

Appendix 2

SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

COVER SHEET FOR THE PORTFOLIO
ENGLISH A
Name of Centre: GREENPOND HIGH INSTITUTE
Centre Code: 100106
Name of Candidate: Dwayne Codlyn
Candidate’s Registration #:
Teacher: Mr. Rupert Shaw
Theme of Portfolio: The Environment
Topic: The Impact of Solid Waste on Marine Life

MARKS

Maximum Obtained

A. PLAN OF INVESTIGATION (P.O.I) 10

-Theme, topic and reason for selection 3
-Expected benefits as student of English 3
-Proposal for collection 2
-Proposal for use & use of English 2

B. INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION 5

C. QUALITY OF WITHIN-GROUP ACTIVITIES 10

-Communication 2
-Collaboration 2
-Reflection 3
-Interaction 3

D. WRITTEN REPORT 10
-Content 4
-Evidence of Investigation 3
-Language use and vocabulary 3

E. ORAL PRESENTATION 10
-Fluency of delivery 3
-Structure, comprehensibility and development of topic 4
-Language and vocabulary 3

F. REFLECTIONS 5
-Themes, Language and process factors
TOTAL 45