The Butterfly Effect

Every Action Has a Reaction. Taking Your Consciousness To A New Level.

We’ve all heard of the butterfly effect: a theory that even the most minute action can spur a chain of events that creates a large impact elsewhere- a butterfly flaps its wings and creates a hurricane and on the other side of the globe. 

In today’s society, the same is true. The most insignificant of actions in our culture are causing catastrophic impacts on our oceans and faraway nations. From the way we eat, the brands we support, the products we use, even down to the jeans we purchase- each and every little thing has an impact in some form or another. 

For example, consider your plastic intake. When you put your plastics in the recycling bin, what happens next? Many believe that plastic is then taken to recycling facilities to be manufactured into a new product. Unfortunately, this fantasy is very far from the truth. As we know, only 9% of plastic has ever been recycled. Much of it rots in landfills or makes its way to the ocean. The situation got a lot worse in 2018 when China stopped accepting foreign trash. For decades, China was the biggest importer of foreign plastics and other waste. Developed countries like the US, Canada, and Australia shipped their trash to China to be recycled and manufactured into new plastic products. When China stopped allowing imports, it left nations scrambling to figure out what to do with all their waste. Today, recycling is nearly dead entirely. Most of American “recyclables” are now imported to buyers in South East Asian countries like Malaysia. These countries lack the funding and facilities to process the hundreds of thousands of pounds of plastic waste they receive, much less turn it into something new. Much of the trash sits in a heap, blanketing villages and seeping into waterways. Despite this, plastic production in the US is set to triple by 2050. Malaysia is now drowning in our plastic and will continue to for years to come. 

The way we eat is also negatively shaping ecosystems. Some of America’s favorite snacks, like Oreos, Goldfish, and practically all products produced by Nestle contain palm oil, which is no biggie if it is sustainably sourced. However big name brands don’t usually opt for the sustainable route. Palm oil manufacturers are responsible for the deforestation of hundreds of thousands of acres of rainforest in South East Asia. In Indonesia, palm oil production is the largest cause of deforestation, causing already endangered orangutan numbers to dwindle- all for the sake of an Oreo.

The problem today is that, as a society, we have forgotten that we are not separate from this planet. For a moment, imagine if all trash collection in your country suddenly stopped, if all landfills and recycling centers closed their doors. Would you let your trash pile up in a heap in your backyard? Chances are good you would work pretty quickly to reduce your consumption. Our privilege allows us to mask the idea that pollution is not our problem, deforestation is not our problem, simply because it is not happening in our backyards. 

It is important to keep in mind that every day we have the chance to vote with our dollar. Being mindful of what you purchase is one of the best ways to lower your impact- without demand, there will no longer be any cause for supply. Until we begin to take responsibility for our actions, our culture will continue to be the butterfly that creates hurricanes across the globe. 

Words: Serene Gunnison

Photography: Serene Gunnison

You can read more of Serene’s awe-inspiring work on ocean conservation and living a more eco-friendly lifestyle at Environmentality Hawaii.