Clarissa+Herman+-+Homework+1

Waste products from a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, spill into a stagnant pond. Zed Nelson/Panos Pictures ||
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Pollution in the Fashion Industry People want to be accepted; this is a basic human need (McLeod). Throughout the ages, people have bonded with each other through various facets of culture and social celebration. One such facet is contained within the realm of aestheticism. Wearing clothing, accessories or other dress is not only important for practical function; it is also part of cultural identity. As technology shaped our modern culture to want and expect the best services quicker and cheaper, our image of self-worth became shaped by what we consume and how much we consume. Thriftiness as a cultural value was replaced by trendiness; frugality, by opulence. With this shift, new industries arose that previously had no place. One such industry is that of ready-to-wear, mass-produced style. Fast fashion, the industry that provides people (predominantly young women) with clothing and accessories that cater to ever-changing style trends perpetuated by the media (fashion blogs, television, beauty magazines), is a force that negatively affects communities across the globe through environmental and occupational exploitation. Companies that produce clothing also support industries with high pollution, such as synthetic fibers made from petroleum, or cotton grown with pesticides. Waste products from clothing factories are often under-regulated in other countries where companies outsource labor to keep prices low and production high (Claudio). There is hope, however; sustainable and environment-friendly alternatives to cheap and trendy clothing. Ethical clothing companies have been highlighted in top beauty magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, and clothing companies such as H&M and Mango have taken steps to minimize or eliminate their use of toxic chemicals in the life cycles of the clothing they manufacture. Ethical consumerism arose through retailer response to compassionate consumer choices and consumer awareness, incentivizing companies to introduce or extend clothing lines that give consumers a chance to declare their care for the world and its people (Lee). That empathetic expenditure is the new cultural response to the old mindset of blind consumerism and misinformation. We are at a crossroads in more than just a fashion sense, torn between what is cheap and easy and exploitative on one hand; on the other, what is right and wholesome and compassionate. It is my personal belief that we as consumers will continue to hear the plight of the underpaid workers, see the pollution in the environment, and spend our money- the only voice we have in a capitalist society- in ways that will lead to the betterment of our world and a sustainable future.

References McLeod, S. (2008). Asch Experiment - Simply Psychology. Retrieved February 03, 2014, from [] Claudio, L. (n.d.). Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry - ProQuest Research Library - ProQuest. Retrieved February 02, 2014, from [] Lee, M. (n.d.). The A to Z of eco fashion - ProQuest Research Library - ProQuest. The Ecologist. Retrieved February 03, 2014, from [] Big Fashion Brands Hide Toxic Pollution Scandal in China - ProQuest Research Library - ProQuest. (n.d.). Targeted News Service. Retrieved February 03, 2014, from []

Not people food, not animal food. ||
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Oceans are a vital part of our ecosystem. They cover most of the earth, and are home to many things. Here is a list of some things that **should** go in an ocean: Here is a list of things that definitely should **not** go in an ocean: Plastic in the oceans is a problem because tiny particles of plastic often packed with toxins such as PCBs and DDE (an oxidized form of DDT) are eaten by filter feeders and other animals low on the food chain, which work their way up the food chain to us (Hayden). Scientists estimate that some areas of the ocean hold as many as 20,000 bits of floating plastic per sq. kilometer, and are finding increasing levels of plastic in oceans. Much of the plastic is tiny, and often clustered in several large areas where current is slack (Perkins).
 * Plastic in Oceans**
 * 1) Salt water. Oceans historically are made of primarily water, and about 3.5% salt (Oceanography).
 * 2) Fishes. Oceans are the natural habitat of much marine life, and without the ocean many fishes and sea turtles would either have to learn how to live on land or die.
 * 3) Plants. Plants help keep oxygen levels in the ocean at optimal levels and are helpful for maintaining life, except when seaweed grazes against your leg and makes you think you’re going to die in the dark unknown lair of Cthulu.
 * 1) Plastic.

References: Oceanography. (n.d.). Office of Naval Research. Retrieved February 03, 2014, from [] Hayden, T. (n.d.). Trashing the Oceans. . U.S. News & World Report. 11/4/2002, 133(17), 58. 3p. 3 Color Photographs. Perkins, S. (n.d.). Oceans yield huge haul of plastic - ProQuest. Retrieved February 03, 2014, from []