Disney Parks to Ban Straws

[Disney Irish]

I’ll never understand when people have the opinion that sure it might be inconvenient and probably won’t make a big difference, but let’s let them have this one and save our objections for something else.

No, way.

I’ll always reject anything that is worthless and a pitiful attempt at people creating meaning in their lives by concocting BS ideas that sound so great and wonderful, but usually when you look into it a bit do nothing to help, and often have negative consequences. You can’t give in to these people ever. They have no limits or boundaries to have far they are willing to go to make themselves feel valuable. It’s a really dangerous path to go down when you think about it.

Yep, you're right. We should do nothing because its someone else that causes the problem. So lets stick our head in the sand and pretend like we aren't part of the issue because its one planet while we point fingers at someone else, all while waiting for someone else to solve the problem.

We as a country have no moral authority to tell any other polluting country to stop if we aren't willing to do the same. If we want China or India or any other country to stop polluting the oceans, then we should lead by example. It doesn't matter if its only 0.0000001% of the overall problem, we should still lead by example. If we aren't willing to make a change in our own country but at the same time saying some other country has to change, well they have a word for that, hypocrite. And if that's the case, well then we as a country have to stop claiming we are the leaders of the free world.

 

[Curious Constance]

Yep, you're right. We should do nothing because its someone else that causes the problem. So lets stick our head in the sand and pretend like we aren't part of the issue because its one planet while we point fingers at someone else, all while waiting for someone else to solve the problem.

We as a country have no moral authority to tell any other polluting country to stop if we aren't willing to do the same. If we want China or India or any other country to stop polluting the oceans, then we should lead by example. It doesn't matter if its only 0.0000001% of the overall problem, we should still lead by example. If we aren't willing to make a change in our own country but at the same time saying some other country has to change, well they have a word for that, hypocrite. And if that's the case, well then we as a country have to stop claiming we are the leaders of the free world.

We shouldn’t do things that make zero difference. We could and should do things that make a difference.

Doing things like this that fool people into thinking they are doing their part in saving the is world isn’t going to do anything to address the actual problems that need addressed.

If we’re not courageous enough or willing to admit that the countries that are doing nearly all of the pollution need help to solve their issues, then it will never improve. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Disney Irish]

We shouldn’t do things that make zero difference. We could and should do things that make a difference.

Doing things like this that fool people into thinking they are doing their part in saving the is world isn’t going to do anything to address the actual problems that need addressed.

If we’re not courageous enough or willing to admit that the countries that are doing nearly all of the pollution need help to solve their issues, then it will never improve. It’s as simple as that.

You call it making no difference. But in fact any piece of plastic or other pollutant that doesn't land in the ocean makes a difference even if its small. Again it doesn't matter if its only 0.0000001% of the overall problem.

We as a country have to realize we can't call ourselves leaders of the free world if we aren't willing to lead by example. You can't tell China, hey you need to clean up your act on pollution if we aren't doing the same. Again that is hypocritical and actually pretty arrogant to think we can.

And I think we all understand and agree that other countries need help solving their issues. But we can't just take over their country and say do this or do this. They have to agree to it. And if they see we aren't "walking the walk", they are going to say "Why I should I listen to you. Your own citizens don't listen to you." So its political pressure that needs to occur for these countries to change and accept our help. But again if we aren't willing to do the hard work of changing our own country, they aren't going to listen.

 

[Curious Constance]

It’s not hypocritical to look at facts and statistics and come to the conclusion that ocean pollution is caused almost exclusively by other countries. Nor is it hypocritical to realize that by focusing on our country to address the problem and ignoring the true problems nothing will actually change.

We shouldn’t be leading by example by not using straws or Lids. That’s not what we need the other countries to stop doing. We need them to stop dumping garbage in the ocean. We already lead by example in that respect and nothing is happening. We need to try something else. That might actually change something.

 

[Disney Irish]

It’s not hypocritical to look at facts and statistics and come to the conclusion that ocean pollution is caused almost exclusively by other countries. Nor is it hypocritical to realize that by focusing on our country to address the problem and ignoring the true problems nothing will actually change.

We shouldn’t be leading by example by not using straws or Lids. That’s not what we need the other countries to stop doing. We need them to stop dumping garbage in the ocean. We already lead by example in that respect and nothing is happening. We need to try something else. That might actually change something.

This has been discussed in this thread earlier. But to bring it up again, the US used to export a lot of its recycling and garbage to other countries specifically to China. This is no longer possible as foreign countries are no longer accepting US refuse. So now most of that ends up landing in US landfills and then ends up in the US ground water and eventually the planets ocean.

So you think we are actually leading, but we don't. So we can no longer say its just its other countries, when its our own country too that is still polluting.

 

[Curious Constance]

Coming up with a solution to change another’s country pollution practices would be very hard. And I’m sure not very appealing to the people whose job it is to try and find solutions to the Earth’s problems.

So instead they distract and fool people by coming up with things that are much easier to do. Things that won’t make a big difference but sound really good on the surface and will at least get some pressure off of their shoulders. And people eat it up like it’s candy.

It’s too bad. But when you try and point this out to others, they label you as uncaring and a baby turtle murderer. So what are you going to do?

I for one am going to bow out of this conversation now. That’s what I’m going to do.

 

[Disney Irish]

Coming up with a solution to change another’s country pollution practices would be very hard. And I’m sure not very appealing to the people whose job it is to try and find solutions to the Earth’s problems.

So instead they distract and fool people by coming up with things that are much easier to do. Things that won’t make a big difference but sound really good on the surface and will at least get some pressure off of their shoulders. And people eat it up like it’s candy.

It’s too bad. But when you try and point this out to others, they label you as uncaring and a baby turtle murderer. So what are you going to do?

I for one am going to bow out of this conversation now. That’s what I’m going to do.

Just point of fact, I've never called you personally as uncaring.

I just think we as a country need to look within our own countries practices first before we start calling out other countries practices. Just because someone recycles at home doesn't mean it actually gets recycled when it gets picked up on trash day.

 

[Travel Junkie]

The plastic straw thing is designed to be a so called gateway plastic . Start small to build awareness and then tackle larger items that have a bigger impact.

I'm sure those who began pushing for this never thought it would be a big deal and some would be so attached to their plastic straws. I mean it's a plastic straw. Perhaps they underestimated people's attachment to them. Or perhaps some people are looking for any excuse to get ticked off.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Or you could support not enacting policies that people decided was a good idea because it made them feel good or made them seem like a caring, loving company, when in reality it makes basically zero difference in the real world, and instead try and support something that has an actual impact. Maybe try eliciting a change in the countries that contribute 99.999999999% of the plastic ocean waste.

Poor baby. The slightest change really upsets you, doesn’t it?

Don’t worry. People who think things through are here to explain why you are wrong.

We shouldn’t do things that make zero difference.

That’s not an accurate statement. It may be a small percentage of total waste, but it’s not zero; and total waste is enormous, so even a small percentage makes a difference.

Also, the specific size, shape, and nature of these particular items make them more likely to be casually tossed and/or disposed of, and harm wildlife in various ecosystems.

Finally, Disney doing something like this should not be underestimated. It is setting an example, getting the ball rolling, starting with baby steps that should make it easier for those resistant to (omg) change/progress, and inspiring/encouraging innovation - perhaps especially from those who create these or similar products - but also from other big companies with comparable consumption of even dissimilar (but still plastic) products.

It’s not hypocritical to look at facts and statistics and come to the conclusion that ocean pollution is caused almost exclusively by other countries.

(Speaking of saying things to make yourself feel better.)

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Just some quick math. It is not uncommon for there to be 100,000 people on property on a given day. If each person uses 3 straws a day, we are looking at 300,000 straws a day. Eliminating the bulk of that...will save Disney a boat load of money.

 

[Texas84]

Serious question: Are plastic straws against the law in Anaheim?

 

[Phroobar]

Serious question: Are plastic straws against the law in Anaheim?

I believe they are in San Francisco. Jail time up to three years and $50k fine.

 

[TROR]

I believe they are in San Francisco. Jail time up to three years and $50k fine.

Freedom is overrated

 

[John park hopper]

If you think Disney bannig plastic straws will save the planet or make you feel good I suggest you google Indonesian River of Plastic. This is only one of many third world countries who have similar plastic pollution problems which end up in the ocean. We in the USA are not the problem. I'll keep my plastic straws, lids and cups.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

New from ACME: Freedom Straws with Mel Gibson’s picture in extra plastic on one side, and Chuck Norris on the other. #alltheplastics

 

[Kram Sacul]

At this point I just want straws that are better than those crappy paper ones. And no, I’m not bringing my own straws, you clowns.

 

[Curious Constance]

It's really not about straws and lids being so vitally important to society that we can't go without them.

It's about another inconvenience conceived to fool people into thinking that issues such as ocean pollution are being addressed, when really its real purpose is to save some money and draw attention away from the fact that we don't have much power in this case to make a difference without getting involved with other countries who aren't very receptive to such things.

I, for one, get annoyed that people continue to be inconvenienced in these ways, meanwhile these inconveniences won't help the true issues.
If by giving up straws and lids, we really made a dent in ocean pollution, I would gladly give them up, but even if straws and lids were outlawed country wide, the ocean pollution would remain unchanged.

So please stop with the BS, and work on the actual issues please.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It's really not about straws and lids being so vitally important to society that we can't go without them.

It's about another inconvenience conceived to fool people into thinking that issues such as ocean pollution are being addressed, when really its real purpose is to save some money and draw attention away from the fact that we don't have much power in this case to make a difference without getting involved with other countries who aren't very receptive to such things.

I, for one, get annoyed that people continue to be inconvenienced in these ways, meanwhile these inconveniences won't help the true issues.
If by giving up straws and lids, we really made a dent in ocean pollution, I would gladly give them up, but even if straws and lids were outlawed country wide, the ocean pollution would remain unchanged.

So please stop with the BS, and work on the actual issues please.

 

[TROR]

The dude who thinks you should go to jail for being in possession of a plastic straw thinks he has the moral high ground

 

[Disney Irish]

The dude who thinks you should go to jail for being in possession of a plastic straw thinks he has the moral high ground

No one is going to jail for actually possessing or using a plastic straw, geez, stop being so melodramatic...

The ordinances in cities like Santa Barbara and San Fransisco regarding jail have to do with businesses that are selling plastic straws. And even then most of the cities have said its unlikely they would use the jail time provision. They would just levy heavier fines for repeat violators.