Applied Civics - Letters for Change

In our continuing series of submissions from students enrolled in Freshmen Seminar, we are excited to share two letters to officials calling for needed legislation to fight plastics in our oceans.

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Abby B
Weymouth High School
1 Wildcat Way
Weymouth, Ma 02190
 
January 14, 2020
Representative James Murphy
24 Beacon St.
Room 254
Boston, MA, 02133
 
Dear Representative Murphy
I am writing you this letter today to draw your attention to the dangers that discarded single use plastic bags have on our environment.
 
Did you know? During the 2011 International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers collected 120,450 pounds of bags in the United States. In Massachusetts alone, CLEANSWEEP volunteers collected 5,712 pounds of plastic bags, one of the most common forms of litter found.
 
In the ocean, plastics break down into small, plankton-sized particles that can outnumber plankton six to one. These pieces collect toxins like PCBs and DDT at levels up to 1,000,000 times the levels found in seawater.
 
Eighty-five percent of all sea turtles will be injured or killed by plastics in their lifetimes, including the endangered leatherback turtles that summer in Massachusetts Bay before migrating to the tropics to mate.
 
With a historic vote passing last November The Massachusetts Senate approved a statewide ban on retail businesses offering single-use plastic bags. The students of Weymouth High School would like to know we can count on your support when the bill comes to The House this year.
 
Sincerely,
 
Abby B

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​Alex B
Weymouth High School
1 Wildcat Way
Weymouth, Ma 02190
 
January 14, 2020
Mayor Robert L. Hedlund
Town of Weymouth
75 Middle Street
Weymouth, MA 02189
 
Dear Mayor Hedlund
I am writing you this letter today to draw your attention to the dangers that discarded single use plastic bags have on our environment. I also seek your assistance in solving the problem.
Did you know?
 
In the ocean, plastics break down into small, plankton-sized particles that can outnumber plankton six to one. These pieces collect toxins like PCBs and DDT at levels up to 1,000,000 times the levels found in seawater.
 
Marine wildlife often mistake plastic bags for food, especially sea turtles hunting jellyfish. In fact, high amounts of plastic material, especially plastic bags, have been found blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles.
According to the Sierra Club, more than 130 cities and towns across the state have passed ordinances that ban single-use plastic shopping bags at stores. Those communities with bans represent more than half of the state's population.
 
After studying the issue at length in Freshman Seminar I believe that a town wide ban on single use plastic bags will be well supported by Weymouth’s voters and appreciated by students from preschool to high school. A ban of single use plastic bags will certainly reduce the suffering of marine animals as well as make our environment a cleaner and safer place for future generations.
 
Thank you for your consideration.
 
Sincerely,
Alex B