Objectives

In this globalization era nowadays, people tend to put the environmental issue aside as it does not affect them directly. This includes the ocean dumping case that are facing by oceans in some countries. I'm Huzaifah bin Baharuddin feels like being called upon to talk about this matter and create a blog as a medium to stand up my point of view. Besides, this blog is created for Digital and Mobile Communication subject which is taught by Madam Hawinda binti Karmon.

The objectives of the blog is:-

• To identify the disadvantages of ocean dumping and the effects to living things and human being
• To create awareness and sensitivity to people about the ocean dumping that rarely being exposed to public
• To help the society feel concern for the environment and motivate them to actively participate in environmental improvement and protection
• To determine the solutions on how to reduce the problem of ocean dumping
• To influence other people to involve in the environmental preservation activities

I hope that this blog can give a lot of information to people out there about the environment problem in the world. We as an adult should know how to protect the earth, and even kids nowadays concern about the problem when they voiced out by doing a puppet show. If kids care, how about us?

Ocean Dumping Puppet Show

Source:-

• http://www.hitech-dolphin.com/ocean-picture.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smfCvVdCvwc

Definition

Ocean dumping or marine litter is defined as any deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platforms, or other man-made structure at sea (Joe F, 2010)

How Can Living Things Live in Here?

It is considered as water pollution because it makes the sea dirty and affect the living things under the water. Ocean dumping usually cause from ship that leaves port. The waste substances that being thrown will fall to the bottom of the ocean and harm the living things there. Besides,  it can be categorized as a serious problem because until now, the ocean dumping cases have reported to increase.  Currently, ocean dumping is banned worldwide as it give huge impacts to environment. 




Source:- 

• "Joe F. Article Writing 'Ocean Dumping' 10 May 2010. Accessed: 8 March 2013 <http://www.bookrags.com/research/ocean-dumping-enve-02/>".
• http://kristinsibleyblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/dumping.html

Causes

The contributors of Ocean Dumping Problem

Ocean dumping will not occur without a reason. There are many causes that contribute to this problem. One of them is cargo activity. Ocean dumping usually comes during cargo sweeping from ships that leaves port. This activity involves removing from the deck such wastes like coal, limestone, slag and others. Though this activity cannot be stopped, but it can be minimized in order to control the amount of waste substances that falls to the deep ocean.

Oil Being Dumped into the Ocean

Uncontrollable Shipping Activities

Illegal Dumping

Secondly is carelessness. Carelessness involves sewage from many places. The carelessness part of it is that the sewage is not cleaned before it is transferred to the ocean.  Some sewage pipes run directly to the ocean with all the contaminants. This activity mostly comes from factories and ships.

Direct pipe into the Ocean

Carelessness lead to Dirty Environment

Uncleaned Sewage Affect the Ocean

Thirdly is no observation and strict act to control the problem. For instance, the people who are responsible about the ocean preservation do not observe and monitor the place that may be affected. Besides, the laws are not being executed and that is why some people do not afraid to commit the water pollution. 

Ocean Protection by Law

Observation needed to be Done  

Jail and fine should be given to the ocean destroyer

Source:

• http://www.oceansoffun.org/index.php/147
• http://www.safety4sea.com/page/14120/9/uani-calls-on-tanzania-to-stop-the-reflagging-of-iranian-vessels
• http://www.kimointernational.org/MaritimeSafetyandPollution.aspx
• http://arabiangazette.com/big-oil-tanker-groups-vulnerable-warn-bosses/
• http://chemistrythatisgreen.blogspot.com/2007/12/sewage.html
• http://vwordpress.stmarys-ca.edu/mjalbertoni/about/
• http://www.wkni.net/web/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3792:houston-county-jail-docket-12/26/11&Itemid=18

Impacts

Everyone knows that ocean dumping can cause negative effects towards the environment, and also living things in the ocean. There are several effects that clearly can be seen. Let's take a look at the video first.

Living Things in Ocean are Dying Video

One of the impacts is marine life extinction. Oil spills are dangerous for marine life and can affect coral reefs. In fact they can greatly affect the life cycle. The gills of fish can be clogged by spilled oil which can block off respiration. If sunlight is blocked, marine plants will die because it affects photosynthesis and its process.

Extinction of Marine Life

Flora is Getting Dead

Secondly is towards human. If the living things in marine are affected such as fish, it may cause people food poisoning if they eat it. The toxic from waste substances will stick to the fish and we cannot identify if the fish are being affected or not. This included other marine life such as shrimp, cuttlefish, crabs, and others.

Unidentified toxic in fish

Foods that we eat might be affected

Thirdly is contaminated sea. This situation will affect the scenery and make the ocean looks dirty and disgusting. If it has been affected, the sea colour might change to black. Besides, the ocean which is used to be a vacation place will not be as attractive as before. In the end, it will affect the country’s economy and image.

Polluted sea in Auckland

Ocean full with waste substances and oil

Source:  

• http://www.environment911.org/144.The_Effects_of_Ocean_Dumping/>
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RwEMece2QI
• http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/fighting-ocean-acidification-....-with-limewater
• http://www.thepanamadigest.com/2011/07/panama-bay-fish-too-dirty-to-eat/
• http://electronicintifada.net/content/long-term-environmental-challenges-ahead/3120

Solutions

   Ocean dumping problems have increased day by day. However, there are a few ways to prevent this thing from getting worst. Firstly is by limit the amount of waste substances that being dumped from ships to the ocean. Cargo sweeping activity which leads to the removal of iron ore pellets, coal, slag and others can be controlled so that it will reduce the possibilities of ocean dumping to occur.

   Secondly is by preventing the sewage from outsourced to ocean. Everyone knows that the sewage will make the ocean water contaminated. This activity is effective since the sewage contribute the highest source of ocean dumping. Thirdly is by stricter government regulations. Even there are laws to convict the people who commit this pollution, it still not enough to help the ocean dumping problem cases decrease. It is because the responsible party may not look this thing seriously and assume that this is just one of the common problems.

   Last but not least, organize a “Stop Marine Dumping” campaign to create awareness to public about this problem. Some of them might not notice this marine dumping because it is not being exposed in media network.

An Animation Video to Help People Stop Ocean Dumping

Souce:

• http://oceana.org/en/our-work/climate-energy/shipping-emissions/overview
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuL--_TYBE8

Recent Case

Online Newspaper About the Case

   Ocean dumping case is still new in Asia but in other countries, the cases are growing. The recent case is in Newark, New Jersey. Newark is one of the nation's major airs, shipping, and rail hubs. The case had been reported worldwide on 22^nd of March 2013. Two international shipping firms from Germany and Cyprus were found guilty for dumping the engine sludge and oil-contaminated waste into the ocean. For more information about the case, please click here.

Two Ships Dumped Illegally in Newark

   As an environment protector, I agree when the ships have to pay a penalty of 10.4 million dollar and 2.6 million from the money will be used to clean up the place that has been affected. The prompt action that has been taken is a prove that the party responsible is still manage to control this illegal activity.

The offenders were being brought to court immediately

Source: 

• http://www.onenewspage.us/n/US/74vr1tqf6/Germany-Cyprus-Based-Shipping-Companies-Admit-Dumping-Off.htm
• http://dawn.com/2013/03/22/two-shipping-firms-admit-to-illegal-ocean-dumping/

Conclusion

Generally, ocean dumping problem has affected a few countries. However, it is not an excuse to keep one eye close as it still does not affect our countries because if there is no prevention, 50% of the sea in the earth might get infection. Imagine what will happen to the future generations when they find out beaches are not a place to be proud of anymore?

Next generation will suffer with tonnes of trashes if ocean dumping is not being prevented

People nowadays are so lucky having and being gifted with earth beauty and they are so lucky to even destroy the cleanliness and beauties of environment. I’m so proud of what U.S. has do to preserve the ocean by strict the laws of marine. The regulation involves restriction of any materials use for ocean dumping to be transported into the ocean water. For further information about the U.S. laws and regulations, click here.

U.S. authority is doing observation to preserve ocean

As one of the environment protector, I feel responsible to make a report if I seen a case involving ocean dumping. Even though I am not the authorities, but I think we as a public community must help to preserve the environment, not particularly for this case but for all the cases that involve the environment detriment. I hope that ocean can be a safe place for the marine life, and for us, human being.

Earth still has people who concern about its beauty

"PREVENT NUCLEAR EMISSION, 

PRESERVE THE OCEAN"

Source: 

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_debris
• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/us/whistle-blowers-help-us-fight-ocean-dumping.html?_r=0
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngrZ7r0XA7M