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    There are [5] photos and [1] story tagged with "environmental degradation".

    We subconsciously link terms such as ‘pristine’ to our imaginings of Australia’s world famous coast and deny – or are simply oblivious to – the devastating reality of our own poor waste disposal procedures. What I'd hoped to capture was not the crystal seas and golden sands that we depart to when we daydream, but the actuality of its true, current state. The Kurnell Oil Refinery provides a backdrop against La Perouse, a popular family beach which also harbours local native bird species such as gulls, herons and pelicans of whose typical diet derives from the sea. Not only does the refinery release a range of pollutants into the air including Sulphur Dioxide, but it also releases waste to ocean drains in the surrounding waters. In heavy rain, oily substances can be seen flowing into Botany Bay, creating a temporary ‘slick’ on the surface. by: zoeaarcher Views[1818] I am often bewildered by the things that can be found having been flushed out of the drains from the gutters of streets surrounding. In a troubling way their assortment can sometimes create a colourful, abstract sight of which is, perhaps, part of the reason we subconsciously turn our heads to the concern at hand. I barely turn an eye towards the fragments of glass that have been weathered by the sea for so long that they, as the waste seen here, eventually become a part of the natural landscape. In the near future will our children be building castles of sand or of our generation’s garbage? by: zoeaarcher Views[919] As I gaze out along the entire surface of the sea where the waves crash in on the shore, countless plastic bottles, cans and other trash create a black sludge-like body of debris that churns and toils in the chaos caused by a large storm. by: zoeaarcher Views[971] A Silver Gull fruitlessly paces the shoreline in search of something edible, finding nothing but cigarette butts, weathered segments of Styrofoam packaging and whatever other plastic and processed remnants of garbage are flushed out of the storm water drains into the sea. Each piece of which it first tastes before determining, hopefully, that it will not be able to and should not attempt to digest. I fear greatly for those organisms who are unable to differentiate between what should and should not be eaten, or those whose hunger has precedence over their decision making. by: zoeaarcher Views[972]
     

    Photos: My photo scholarship 2013 entry

    AUSTRALIA | Tue, 2 Jul 2013 | By zoeaarcher | Flickr Photo Gallery

    It is reasonable to say that, just like the other thousands of entrants vying for this unbelievable opportunity, I spend just about every waking moment envisioning future journeys, reminiscing on those past and busily planning the next. How could ... Read more >
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    Tags: australia, beaches, coast, environment, environmental degradation, ocean, pollution, sea, sydney, zoe archer

     

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