...In Adam B. Summer’s Bag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment, Summers discusses the recent issue and movement to end the use of plastic bags. Creating an effective argument, Summers successfully uses logos, pathos, and ethos. These three writing techniques allow him to objectively evaluate the topic. He backs his ideas with evidence, strengthening his points. Also, he emotionally connects with the audience through his word choice and tone. Making the writing more personal, he involves himself into the article. And to further strengthen and explain his points, he looks to credible sources and provides strong points of reasoning. Through all of these methods Summers effectively draws his audience into the writing with a well-supported, scholarly article, explaining his views on the current government movement to ban plastic bags. To create a secure argument, Summers us logic and evidence. He quotes many universities, professors, and other respected organizations. After explaining a point or view, Summers then integrates his evidence, clearly explaining it. For example,...
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...environmentalists are trying to ban the use of plastic bags, writer Adan B. Summers argues that there are not so many benefits doing so, but in fact many disadvantages. In his article “Bag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment”, writer Summers efficiently builds his arguments by using an irony, authoritative statistics, and contracts. Writer Summers first started his article by satiring a recent bill. By saying “not content to tell us how much our toilets can flush or what type of light bulb to use to brighten our homes”, the writer reminds that us that the politicians and environmentalists have already imposed too many suggestions and rules about our private lives, made our lives less convenient than before...
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...The editorial, 'Ban the bags before it's too late' published in The Daily Chronicle on the 27th of May 2009 contends in a predominately, measured tone that the federal government needs to step up its actions and ban plastic bags in order to stop them from causing harm to our native animals and viciously damaging the environment. The editorial is targeted towards the general public, particularly those who have an interest in the environment and battling pollution. The editorial commences with the generalization that we must 'ban the bags before it's too late,' - a title that provides arguable evidence. Consequently, the audience may agree with the unsupported argument that it will be too late for the environment if we do not act on the issue right now and that the damage will be done. Furthermore, the use of the emotive dysphemisms 'destroy' and 'die' - words which imply an extreme sense of annihilation - emphasize the potentially calamitous outcomes which the sea life will succumb to if the bags aren't removed. This attempts to compound the nuances of the generalization the audience have been pre-positioned with and thus, attempts to pull at the heart strings of readers and forces them to think about the damage the bags are doing to the environment. By providing irrefutable evidence in the form of statistics, such as that at least "100,000 birds die each year to plastic bags" and that plastic bags last from "20 to a 1000 years", the author attempts to inform the audience...
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...The question of whether to use paper bags or plastic bags has its roots in environmental science but the underlying reasons are often overlooked. In "Bag Ban Bad for Freedom and Environment", author Adam B Summers puts forth a detailed argument for the use of plastic bags. In doing so, he employs a variety of rhetorical elements to persuade the reader, including appeal to identity, statistics and results from health research. Adam Summers's deft use of appeal to identity begins with this discussion of a bill that would ban the use of plastic bags in California. Summers expresses his contempt for "some politicians and environmentalists are now focused on deciding for us what kind of container we can use to carry our groceries". Summers uses...
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...The use of plastic bags has been a largely debated topic in areas both locally and nationally, as the cost of bans placed upon plastic bags is largely portrayed as an unnecessary evil. Although plastic bags may be seen as a simple disposable source for transport of goods, it is abundantly clear that bans on plastic bags, and even other types of bags, will not only improve the environment, but also the economy of the community. It may be argued that “plastic bags have a lighter environmental footprint than paper”(Source D) the opposite has been found true through Source C, where it displays plastic bags as number four on the main list of debris found on ocean fronts. Even paper, deemed more environmentally friendly than plastic, has its own difficulties if only used as a simple disposable bag. In Source F it states that paper “causes pollution...consumes energy...consumes water, [is] inefficient [in] recycling...produces waste [and has] biodegrading difficulties”, to which it expounds. When plastic, or even paper, is only used once, the drawbacks of both significantly outweigh the argument of one versus the other. Furthermore, Source D states that “paper, LDPE, non-woven PP and...
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...bagless beginning March 1, 2013. All consumers use plastic or paper bags on a regular basis, whether while retail shopping or grocery shopping. That’s all about to change, however; the passage of this new law means that those paper and plastic bags are on the way out. Single-use bag use will be diminished, re-usable bags are headed to the forefront, and shoppers will be getting used to a new experience when the head to their local grocery early next year. BACKGROUND According to a city report released this year, “Austinities use 263 million plastic bags a year – that’s more than 330 bags a year for every resident. It costs the city – meaning it costs us the taxpayers – about $850,000 a year to dispose of plastic bags.”(Lisheron, 2012) Consumers in Austin have already started to get a taste of what is to come. Companies, such as Walgreens, have implemented a trial test on stores to gauge the impact of the law being passed. Candace White, an avid shopper at the Slaughter and South Congress Walgreens, was quite confused when the cashier thanked her for coming but did not place her products in a plastic bag. The cashier informed her about Austin going bagless and she was given a free recycled bag. Like most Austinities, she was not informed of the new law which is soon to be enforced. This paper will reinforce the reasons why going bagless is good for all involved parties. To better understand the effect of this ban on our community, the views of the consumer, retailer, and the government...
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...States need to impose a ban and/or a fine on the distribution and use of plastic bags. Central Idea: The United States needs to impose a ban and/or a fine for the distribution and use of plastic bags on all states because of the devastation caused globally every year. Organizational Pattern: Problem Cause Solution Order Introduction: A. (Attention getter) When we throw something away, something as simple as a plastic bag, we often don’t think of where it will end up or the journey it takes to its permanent home. We don’t care what happens next; however, 86% of you stated, in my audience analysis, that we do need to be concerned with plastic pollution in Nebraska (Audience Analysis). (show plastic bag video) B....
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...Plastic Bag Jeff Blanchard COMM215 November 3, 2014 Gayle Thomas Plastic Bag I feel that the Senate Bill 270 has too many negative consequences to be of significant value to the citizens California. Because of the dramatic change in environmental resources used and the financial impact for fixed income citizens. The tax increase on California consumers are also an issue. This bill is a ban on the use of single use plastic bags at grocery stores. Which has been a controversial subject for a number of years. I think this is the worst decision that the Governor has ever made. On September 30, 2014. The California Governor signed a very controversial bill that bans the use of single use plastic bags in grocery stores in the State of California. “This bill, as of July 1, 2015, would prohibit stores that have a specified amount of sales in dollars or retail floor space from providing a single-use carryout bag to a customer, with specified exceptions.” (California SB270). First of all, I would like to state that there are two very opposing arguments that view this bill. To ban and not to ban. I would like to state my position as not to ban the use of plastic bags. This ban like some others will affect all the citizens of the State of California. In which, we will all either have to pay for the use of paper bags or buy reusable grocery ones. It requires all grocery stores to “charge a fee” for paper bags at no less than .10 cents a bag or, sell reusable bags. “Union representatives...
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...¬Disadvantages and Advantages of Plastic Bag’s Regulations Plastic bags, scientifically known as polyethene was first accidentally produced by a German scientist, Han von Pechhman as a waxy residue at the bottom of his test tube. Polyethene is made from crude oil and nowadays, it is made through a process called cracking. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), plastic bags are commonly used for food packaging and grocery carrier. Statistically, sixty millions of polyethene are produced worldwide every year; one million of plastic bags are used worldwide every minute; it takes 700 to 1000 years for a plastic bag to fully decompose and about 1 percent of the produced outcome is being recycled. This essay will discuss the disadvantages and advantages of the Governor’s plan to regulate the use of plastic bags in the National Capital District (NCD). What will be discussed are as follows: PNG is a developing nation; manufacturers and people living in NCD will be affected; plastic bags are durable and useful in the rain; there will be less threat to marine-life and sea birds; there will be less environmental damages to the composition of soil and the atmosphere; and it will reduce the level of increased pollution in NCD and PNG as one. First of all, the Governor’s plan to regulate the use of plastic bags in NCD is a disadvantage due to the fact that PNG is ranked in the third world country and that is to say that PNG is a developing nation. Comparing PNG to other countries like the United States...
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...IN CONSUMPTION Word count: 1160 Introduction This research essay aims to provide an insight and overview of the economic effects of a plastic bag tax. It is important that this issue is addressed because if it is left unaddressed, the consequences could be dire. The essay will discuss the impact that plastic bags are having on society and why the over consumption of such needs to be corrected. Furthermore, it will explain the economic models that are relevant to the issue along with analysing real world examples of similar policies; discussing the limitations and restrictions associated with such models. Setting the Context Australia’s consumption of plastic grocery bags was estimated to be approximately seven billion per year in 2002 (National Plastic Shopping Bags Working Group, 2002), so we can assume it is in excess of this figure currently. This consumption results in negative externalities, not only impacting the environment, but also reducing the efficiency of other sectors of the economy. As these plastic bags are composed of many non-renewable resources such as crude oil, coal and gases, there is an opportunity cost associated with not recycling them. The fuel consumed by driving a car one kilometre is equivalent to the petroleum content of 8.7 bags (Environment Australia, 2002). As these bags are used once, and disregarded, that means that Australia is wasting enough potential fuel to power a car for over 800 million kilometres annually. Moreover...
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...product and services, publicity and sales. Retail paper and plastic bags are common packaging tools in the market but due to environmental issues and the public’s awareness more people are decided to use retail paper bag instead of plastic. Paper bags are used for many things, to put up lunches for kids, to bring in the groceries, to take out the trash, to hold the things and help us stay organized. Many markets have switched from plastic bags to paper bags. Paper bags are less expensive. Cost Effectiveness is one of the reasons why they prefer paper bag other than plastic bag. Many vendors and consumers have complained about using plastic bags to put their goods. Some market and grocery stores now give a choice between paper bags or plastic bags. Some Smart shoppers choose to use paper bags instead of plastic assuming that it is an environmentally friendly and better alternative. Paper Bags are usually made up of plant fibers substance from fibrous cellulose materials as rags, woods, or barks. Paper bags were invented in the 1850’s. Paper bags are recyclable. Well known grocery stores, supermarkets, fast food chain, establishment and markets uses brown paper bags to hold their items since there are laws that are implemented to ban the usage of plastic bags in some provinces and cities in the Philippines. Paper bags can easily be disposed and not a harmful thing in the environment. They...
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...War on Plastic Bags The battle between individuals who are committed to saving environment and those who seem not to be as interested has become a bigger battle. Our environment is changing whether we see it or not, the ecological footprint that humans are leaving is becoming greater. More impactful to the wildlife causing noticeable changes that is harming rather than helping. These impacts revolve around trying to sustain a lifestyle that as Americans we have grown accustom to. Around the late 50’s the first “Baggies” for sandwiches were introduced. Slowly after that the use of plastic as bags began to increase and increase. Consumers took a liking to the use of plastic bags and the production and use of them increased. This increase of usage of plastic bags has already created irreversible damage to our environment therefore plastic bags should be banned on a national level. Although there are some positives to using plastic bags, the negatives of using the bags out way the positives. Landfills are becoming filled with plastic bags waste, according to the Clean Air Council, “30,000 tons of waste is created from plastic bags each year”. Not only does plastic bags accumulate trash in landfills, they are seen more and more in the ocean and other water sources. “Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating on the ocean’s surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile”. All this plastic is affecting the ecosystems of the wildlife and the basic natural...
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...Waste Plastic bags were very popular at one time but now they are creating a problem in the environment. As I was reading about the plastic bags I found out that a strand of hair is thicker than a grocery bag, weighing less than 5 grams, just one bag can hold 17 pounds a thousand times its own weight, they are very strong (Mangu-Ward, 2015). These plastic bags are amazing; they can be reusable because I sometimes use them to line my small garbage can. Two environmental problems caused by extensive plastic bag use would be the ocean because they cause harm to the marine wildlife when they are floating around in the water. The marine wildlife animals will eat them mistakenly for food or can choke on them. Turtles see them as jellyfish and will swallow them. Plastic bags is also an environmental problem for land animals when people throw them out with food in them or the scent of food the animals eat the plastic and sometimes get choked. Plastic bags are so light; they can blow all over the landscape and cause the streets drains to clog up. If I were in charge of getting rid of or reducing the use of plastic bags, I would implement bans on them. When customers are shopping, they would have to bring their bag or buy one from the store. All stores will be equipped with heavy duty bags to sell. Many states have banned plastic bags; Los Angeles became one of the largest cities to ban plastic bags; later the Big Island of Hawaii adopted a similar law to ban plastic bags (Bubar, 2014)...
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...UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA CRITICAL THINKING CBEB1108 PLASTIC BAG SHOULD BE BANNED WHAT IS PLASTIC BAG? Plastic bag is used to carry item especially from store to home. Most of the time plastic bag is used for storage and trash in common. Plastics are made from non-renewable natural resources such as crude oil, gas and coal. IMPACT The impact of plastic bags on the environment is enormous. As of August 2010, between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are being used each year worldwide. Approximately 100,000 sea turtles and other marine animals die every year because they either mistake the bags for food or get strangled in them, says Natural Environment. In Australia, 50 million garbage bags end up as litter yearly, and the "plastic soup" patch floating in the Pacific Ocean is twice the size of the continental United States. It is roughly 80 percent plastic, according to The Independent, a British newspaper. What exactly the impact of reusable bag usage in the U.S. is far from clear. Even though, according to the website Earth 911, reusing or recycling one ton of plastic means the equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved. ALTERNATIVE As we can see nowadays grocery chain carries cheap reusable grocery bags and more upscale bags are available in practically all chain stores. In addition, many people sew their own from leftover fabric or by converting old jeans or beach towels into personalized carry-on bags, which is fun and creative way to recycle. POTENTIAL ...
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...Plastic bags are distributed everywhere, from grocery to book stores. These bags have been used since the early 1850’s. One trillion plastic bags are produced each year, yet billions of these bags have ended up in landfills or on the streets and in the ocean. They are wasteful, destructive, and uneconomical. Plastic bags should be banned to protect ourselves and our environment. To begin, plastic bags are dangerous to children and wildlife. Every year, 25 children in America die due to suffocation from these bags. Likewise, many animals have died from plastic bags as well. Some bags float into the ocean and resemble jelly fish. Then, the bags enter the animal’s digestive system. In addition, the bags litter the streets and producing them pollutes the air. Many cities, including San Francisco and Seattle, have already banned plastic bags. However, plastic bags should be banned everywhere to help our children, animals, and environment. Furthermore, plastic bags waste numerous resources. They are made from a non-renewable source, petroleum. 12 million barrels of oil are used to produce these bags in the United States. In addition, fabric-made bags can be used numerous times, so factories do not have to produce as many. We are wasting many non-renewable sources by producing plastic bags instead of fabric bags. Banning plastic bags would save many of these sources for other products. Also, living without plastic bags would save numerous amounts of money. So why waste money...
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