Chapter 737: Brushing the Hippo's Teeth

Tang Xiaoxin, filled with curiosity, looked at another display board nearby!

It featured cartoon characters, each expressing different viewpoints.

"Nature is very powerful; don't be too sentimental. We can't have much impact on nature."

"Technology will eventually invent something new to solve this problem! Even if we reduce plastic use by 20% or 30%, will whales and dolphins in the sea stop dying?"

"We ordinary people don't need to worry about this issue. It's something the government, businesses, and research institutions should consider. If others don't do their part, it's not my responsibility."

"As long as we recycle plastic, everything will be fine."

Dealing with this issue isn't easy, so we often bury our heads in the sand, pretending the problem doesn't exist, even coming up with various lame excuses to fool ourselves.

Nature's adaptability is indeed strong, but it has its limits, and human actions have long exceeded these limits.

Technological development can't solve all problems and may even create new ones, like plastic. Technology can't regulate the global climate or prevent millions of tons of plastic from being eaten by animals in the sea, releasing toxic substances.

Even if scientists issue warnings, how seriously are these warnings taken? Many people still think global warming is a conspiracy... Governments also have priorities, such as construction, development, and education. Where does the environment rank? Environmental issues are not a top priority.

As for recycling, globally, only about 10% of plastic is actually recycled. Around 40% of plastic is difficult to recycle. Collecting, sorting, processing, and reusing waste requires significant investment. Recycling isn't magic; putting plastic in a recycling bin doesn't automatically turn it into a new plastic package without any cost. It still consumes water and energy and can't be reused indefinitely.

Even with recycling systems, many plastic items still end up in the environment, blown away by the wind and eventually entering the ocean.

What we can do:

Think: When shopping, we usually only consider the product itself. Now, we can think about whether we really need it and if there are more environmentally friendly alternatives. Companies will only make changes when they sense consumer demand.Refuse unnecessary items and reduce plastic use. Various disposable items, like straws—can we not drink beverages without them? Bring a water bottle when going out, prepare a tote bag for supermarket shopping, or reuse plastic bags from previous shopping trips.

Eat in at restaurants instead of ordering takeout, or at least bring your own utensils and mark that you don't need cutlery. Your own utensils are cleaner and more hygienic than disposable ones.

Toothbrushes are also common garbage on beaches, breaking into countless small pieces over time. Next time you buy a toothbrush, consider biodegradable bamboo brushes or toothbrushes with replaceable heads to reduce plastic.

These are small actions that ordinary people can take, and if everyone has this awareness, it can significantly reduce plastic waste.

Repair: Consider repairing torn clothes, broken toys, or damaged phones to extend their lifespan instead of immediately buying new ones. In the past, clothes were worn for three years when new, three years when old, and three more years with patches. However, with today's abundance of materials, finding a shop to mend clothes might be difficult. As environmental issues become more severe, this trend might slowly return.Reuse: Many second-hand websites, like the second-hand book trading platform Duozhuayu, offer books at a fraction of the original price. After reading, you can sell them to recoup some money.

As for recycling, the most important steps are actually the first few, reducing plastic waste at the source. Recycling is the last resort, and as mentioned earlier, it has many challenges.

Our behavior towards the environment will change as our awareness grows. In the past, people didn't think twice about running red lights, relieving themselves in public, or pressuring others to drink. While these behaviors haven't disappeared, they have significantly diminished.

The display board provided many specific examples, all of which ordinary people can do.

After reading the board, everyone appeared thoughtful.

Maybe we can try these in our daily lives?

Plastic pollution is a constant topic, but we didn't realize the situation was this severe.

We enjoy the convenience of plastic, but no one wants to live on a planet filled with non-degradable waste.

There's a saying, "Do not do evil because it is small; do not neglect good because it is small." This applies here too.

Reducing the use of plastic products in small ways in our daily lives can greatly improve the environment over time. If everyone is indifferent and finds excuses not to act, waiting until the problem is urgent and unavoidable, then there's no hope.

...

Tang Xiaoxin and her friends had lunch at the animal restaurant and continued to explore the zoo in the afternoon.

The Hippo Exhibit!

Upon arriving, Tang Xiaoxin couldn't help but fan her hand, "Oh, this smell is really strong!"

Qian Keke laughed, "It's supposed to smell!"

The hippo exhibit changes the water frequently, and the water looks quite clear. However, given the hippos' ability to produce waste, it doesn't take long for the entire area to be filled with their scent.

This is a unique experience you can only get at the zoo.

At first glance, they didn't see the hippos, but following the gaze of other visitors, they spotted a dark shadow in the water near the shore.

The hippo's head emerged, looking like an inconspicuous gray stone on the water's surface, with its round eyes observing the surroundings.

At this moment, a keeper in uniform arrived!

Seeing the keeper, the hippo stood up in the water, revealing its massive body, and another hippo surfaced, causing ripples in the calm water.

"Wow~"

"Amazing! So big!"

The visitors exclaimed in amazement at the sight!

It was like a submarine suddenly surfacing, equally impactful and even more awe-inspiring than a beauty emerging from the water.

The keeper regularly uses a large brush to clean the hippos' mouths thoroughly.

Seeing the keeper with the brush, the two hippos eagerly opened their mouths, revealing their thick, large teeth, ready for their cleaning service.

The keeper started with the first hippo, examining its mouth and checking its oral health.