This was an article focused on species destruction do to
human influence (a form of environmental destruction) in this case, birds. According to the article, a large number of
birds have been washing up dead or struggling to live on the south west shores of
England. The cause of this has been
according to scientist almost certainly because of the chemical polyisobutene
(PIB). PIB is a chemical commonly used
to make the engines of ships run more effectively. So far the chemical has supposedly caused
the death of around 350 seabirds consisting mainly of guillemots although
razorbills, puffins, gannets and cormorants have also been found among the
harmed. This chemical is believed to be
the same one that killed many birds earlier this year. According to the article up until now the
chemical could be legally released under certain conditions into the ocean but
due to the rise in seabird mortality there have been many calls for it to b
abandoned.
This article was a good example of how humans are unknowingly
causing environmental destruction as all those birds would not have died so
soon had it not been for the influx of that chemical into the region. It also does a pretty good job of expressing
the problem on a more human level as it describes people’s horrified reactions
to the numerous dead birds on the beach as well as more personal impacts on such
as no longer being allowed to walk the dogs on the beach and a hit to the
tourist industry. What it sort of failed
at was saying more as to what is going to be done if anything about this
problem which besides just trying to clean the birds up.
4/19/13 12:58 PM
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