English for Purposive Communication

MODULE 6-Communication for Various Purposes

ANSWER SHEET

ENABLING COLLABORATIVE ASSESSMENT:

Drafting your MAC-Proposal.

Course/Year/Section: BSA11 and BOM12 Date: April 14, 2023

Leader: Lawas, Kenzel

Members: Constantino, Anna Beatriz (BSA11)

Lawas, Kenzel (BSA11)

Quindara, David (BOM12)

Plastic: Such an Ick

“Life in Plastic, it is Not Fantastic”

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MODULE 6-Communication for Various Purposes

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1

Background..................................................................................................................................1

Rationale......................................................................................................................................2

DISCUSSION..................................................................................................................................3

Multimodality...............................................................................................................................3

Advocacy.....................................................................................................................................4

Campaign.....................................................................................................................................5

CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION

Background

Plastic pollution is one of the major environmental-related problems that the Philippines

is currently facing. Moore (2023) defined plastic pollution as a buildup of synthetic plastic

products in the environment that negatively affects both human populations and wildlife and

their habitats. United Nations Environment Programme (2022) stated that one of the global

issues relating to the environment is plastic pollution. It is also stated in the article that one

garbage truck that is worth of plastic is dumped into our ocean every minute. Based on

Environmental Impact (2021), there are 5 harmful consequences of plastic pollution in the

environment: it destroys marine life, it shuts down terrestrial wildlife, it occupies space, it creates

chemical pollution, and it develops microplastic.

According to Sarmiento (2018), a 2015 study published in the journal Science states that

the Philippines produces a tremendous volume of trash and is considered the third worst polluter

of ocean plastic in the world, after China and Indonesia. So much trash is scattered on the land,

clogging the seashore, and splattered in the rivers and seas. Guevarra (2022) stated that big

corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestle, and Universal Robina have been named as some of the

worst plastic polluters in the Philippines. In addition, a study released by the Organization for

Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that only 9% of plastic is recycled

globally, with the remainder being burned, thrown in landfills, or disposed of erroneously. The

study added that only 2% of this 9% are recycled successfully; hence, the remainder is

downcycled and eventually becomes plastic waste.

There were several laws that were enacted to reduce plastic pollution in the Philippines.

One of these is the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, also known as Republic
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Act 9003, which was passed by the Philippines in 2001. According to Alegado (2020), this law's

decentralized and community-focused approach to waste and resource management systems has

earned its recognition as a model law. In conjunction with Republic Act 8679, also known as the

Clean Air Act, R.A. 9003 prohibits the burning or combustion of waste. Nevertheless, despite

being recognized as one of the most progressive environmental laws in the world, the 19 years of

implementation of this law had been hampered by a lack of political will and divergent policies

from governmental organizations in charge of waste and resource management. The prohibition

on waste-to-energy incineration set forth in these two laws has, in fact, consistently been

threatened with repeal almost every year.

Thus, this MAC proposal intends to address the unwanted plastic wastes that are

improperly disposed of and scattered everywhere in the country. This campaign will encourage

everyone to contribute to lessening the amount of trash in the environment to make the country

clean and safe.

Rationale

Due to the severe problem in the Philippines regarding plastic pollution, there is a need

for immediate action to lessen the plastic waste in the country. So that is why this campaign can

be a useful tool to encourage each and every one of us to help save Mother Earth from too much-

unwanted plastic waste that is dispersed anywhere, especially in the seashores and rivers. The

benefits that can be derived from conducting this campaign are promoting public awareness

regarding the harmful effects of plastic pollution, influencing the public to stop plastic pollution,

and educating the public on how to contribute to reducing the plastic pollution in the country.

The beneficiaries of this campaign are those people who are residing in the Philippines.
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DISCUSSION

Multimodality

This advocacy can be multimodal by utilizing different social media platforms such as

social media pages, personal accounts, posters, infographics, pictures, and videos for visuals.

1. Social Media Pages. By creating social media pages in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and

TikTok, people can follow and receive updates on the latest news and events relating to

the topic. The page will be used to provide information, post updates, and interact with

the audience.

2. Personal Accounts. By using personal accounts in the above-mentioned social media

platforms to share the advocacy with friends and family, as well as to share posts from

the Facebook page, post pictures and videos, and encourage others to become involved,

we are able to make a difference.

3. Posters. Posters that can be shared on social media or printed and disseminated online

should be visually appealing and deliver the advocacy message in a clear and concise

manner.

4. Infographics. Infographics are a great way to make complex information easy to grasp

and visually appealing by presenting data and statistics related to the advocacy.

5. Pictures. By using images to tell a story and elicit emotions, as well as through providing

images of people affected by the issue or events relevant to the advocacy.

6. Educational Videos. The purpose of educational videos is to raise awareness and educate

the public about the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment and human

health. By providing engaging and informative content, educational videos can help to

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promote a culture of sustainability and encourage people to take responsibility for their

impact on the environment.

By using different social media platforms and visual aids, this advocacy can reach a

wider audience and have a greater impact on society. With the use of the aforementioned social

media platforms and visual aids, this advocacy will be able to employ the three multimodal texts

that can be written (via FB page captions), photos (that will be posted on our social media), and

finally verbal where sounds may be heard (through our videos that will be posted also in our FB

page).

Advocacy

“Plastic: Such an Ick” is what this advocacy is entitled to. The tagline, "Life in Plastic, it

is Not Fantastic", which was inspired by the lyrics of the song, Barbie Girl, is a fun but realistic

twist from the popular original lyrics, which has the purpose of garnering attention from people.

In addition, it also serves as a wake-up call that people are not living in a Barbie World and that

plastic is not a desirable thing to engross the environment.

Because of humans’ improper actions toward the environment, this caused the

environment to suffer from plastic pollution for far too long; thus, there is a need to take

immediate action before it reaches a height that is too immense to handle. The Philippines is one

of the leading plastic polluters in the world, so that is why all people in this country should

become responsible for thinking of effective ways to eradicate this before it will arrive at a point

where the negative effects of plastic pollution are irreversible.

For those reasons, this advocacy is centered on informing and raising awareness among

Filipinos about the status of the Philippines regarding plastic pollution, as well as the possible

laws, progress, and methods of resolving the dangers of mismanaged plastic waste. It aims to
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induce realizations about incorrect plastic usage and those establishments that are largely

contributing to the country’s plastic problem. The advocacy also has a goal to inculcate the

reality in Filipinos’ minds that the environment can live without people, but people cannot live

without the environment. In addition, it aims to utilize social media platforms, which most

Filipinos are using, to easily reach numerous people, and broader audiences, and impart

knowledge to them. Moreover, the advocacy intends to encourage Filipinos to actively take part

in using better alternatives for plastic and resolving plastic pollution and its undesirable effects.

Multimodality shall be employed in the published materials that will be used to efficiently bring

forth data and information.

Plastic: Such an Ick also plans to unite with the many existing advocacies which are

trying to open the Filipinos' eyes about how one plastic, little as it may seem, if collaged into

other multiple plastics, can cause massive destruction and many problems to the environment. It

is anticipated that 12 billion tons of plastic waste will be in the natural environment by 2050

(National Geographic, 2018). With that said, this advocacy is influenced and inspired by

Greenpeace's ongoing "Break Free From Plastic" advocacy. The advocates plan to direct people

to reach them, to add to the awareness of their advocacy, and sign petitions concerning the

Philippines’ plastic dilemmas. They are trusted and have the means to create a bigger impact on

Philippine society when it comes to halting irresponsible plastic usage and disposal. Other than

this, Greenpeace also has other advocacies that are beneficial for everyone.

Campaign

The campaign will be conducted using the various social media sites indicated in the

multimodality section, which have a big user base, allowing the message to reach a large

audience quickly and easily. Another advantage of selecting this platform is that it enables the
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development of interactive and interesting content such as photos, videos, and infographics that

can help educate and inform people about the issue. Finally, it encourages community building.

Social media can assist in the formation of a community of like-minded people who are

passionate about the issue, which can lead to greater impact and change.

The campaign will be held online, with several activities:

1. Creating and sharing informative content. Creating and sharing informative content such

as infographics, videos, and images that educate people about the cause and its

importance.

2. Engaging with the audience. Engaging with the audience by responding to their

comments and messages and encouraging them to share the content.

3. Using hashtags. Using relevant hashtags to make the content more discoverable and to

reach a wider audience.

#BreakFreeFromPlastic #PlasticFreeFuture #BeatPlasticPollution

#LifeInPlasticIsNotFantastic #PlasticSuchAnIck

4. Signing a petition. Encouraging the audience to sign a petition and sharing them on social

media to gather support and create a call to action.

➢ Promotion of recycling and waste management. The petition can call for increased

investment in recycling and waste management infrastructure. This can include

the establishment of recycling facilities and the implementation of waste

segregation programs to ensure that plastic waste is effectively managed.

➢ Ban on single-use plastic products. The petition can call for a ban on single-use

plastic products such as plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and bottles. These products

are major contributors to plastic waste and banning them can significantly reduce

the amount of plastic waste generated.

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➢ Education and awareness campaigns. The petition can call for education and

awareness campaigns to inform the public about the impact of plastic waste on the

environment and the steps they can take to reduce their plastic consumption. This

can include campaigns to promote reusable products and alternatives to single-use

plastics.

5. Running social media ads. Running targeted social media ads to reach a specific audience

and raise awareness about the cause.

6. Creating a social media challenge. Creating a social media challenge that encourages

people to participate and share their experiences on social media.

Ex. #PlasticFreeChallenge, which challenges people to avoid single-use plastic for a

certain period and share their experience on social media.

7. Online surveys. Conducting online surveys will help in gathering data and feedback from

people about the advocacy. Using the data will help improve and enhance the advocacy.

8. Use the S.M.A.R.T Method. It is important to use in a campaign as it helps to ensure that

the campaign goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound. This

method provides a framework for setting realistic and achievable goals, which can help to

keep the campaign on track and ensure that resources are used effectively. This can help

to increase the effectiveness of the campaign and improve overall outcomes.

Greenpeace promotes plastic-free living by advocating for change, educating people

about the issue, running campaigns, and partnering with others to promote sustainable solutions.

As Lasallians, this campaign will contribute to increasing awareness about plastic pollution and

promoting plastic-free alternatives by advocating for the ban of single-use plastics, the

promotion of reusable bags and bottles, and the reduction of plastic packaging.

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CONCLUSION

Plastic pollution is a very hazardous problem for the environment and can produce very

bad effects on all of the inhabitants of this world. In addition, it is one of the major problems that

the Philippines is experiencing at present time, as this country is also the third worst polluter of

ocean plastic in the world. This kind of pollution brings about harmful effects such as the

destruction of marine life, shutting down terrestrial wildlife, occupying environmental space,

creating chemical pollution, and developing microplastics. Fortunately, the Republic Act 9003

(Ecological Solid Waste Management of 2001) partnered with Republic Act 8679(Clean Air Act)

of the Philippines is aiding in preventing plastic pollution from worsening. Dismally, these laws

are being hindered by insufficient political will and divergent policies from governmental

organizations.

With these mentioned, this MAC proposal encases an advocacy entitled “Plastic: Such an

Ick” that essentially aims to address plastic pollution by informing Filipinos about its negative

effects on the environment and erroneous ways of plastic usage and disposal. Potentially, this can

result in a coordinated response that is highly advantageous to the Philippines' plastic crisis.

Campaigns will be implemented to encourage, invigorate, and motivate people to actively

indulge in the mission of resolving plastic pollution and using sustainable ways to deal with it. In

addition, this advocacy has a goal to firmly make Filipinos aware of the fact that while the

environment can survive without us, we cannot survive without it.

Social media pages and personal accounts on various social media platforms will be used

to reach wider audiences for the advocacy campaigns. In these, this advocacy plans to post

posters, infographics, pictures, and videos to exhibit vital data and information about plastic

pollution, methods on how to prevent worsening it, what people who see these publication

materials can do to help the situation, and many more. Multimodality shall be exercised and
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utilized to effectively and efficiently impart necessary knowledge that is crucial in rectifying and

putting a stop to plastic pollution. Methods such as social media ads, social media challenges,

online surveys, and petitions will also be used.

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REFERENCES

Alegado, J. (2020, January 20). Philippines: Banning single-use plastics at the

national level and strengthening existing laws needed to curb plastic pollution crisis |

Heinrich boll Foundation | Southeast Asia regional office. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.

https://th.boell.org/en/2020/01/20/philippines-banning-single-use-plastics-national-level-

and-strengthening-existing-laws#:~:text=In%202001%2C%20the%20Philippines

%20enacted,Waste%20Manage

Environmental Impact. (2021, February 23). 5 ways plastic harms the

environment. Twice the Ice. https://www.twicetheice.com/blog/5-ways-plastic-harms-the-

environment/

Guevarra, S. (2022, July 18). The face of plastic. Ateneo de Manila University.

https://www.ateneo.edu/news/2022/07/18/face-plastic

Moore, C. (2023, March 22). Plastic pollution. Encyclopedia Britannica.

https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution

National Geographic. (2018, December 20). A whopping 91 percent of plastic isn't

recycled. National Geographic - Education.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/whopping-91-percent-plastic-isnt-

recycled/

Sarmiento, B. (2018, October 9). Plastic trash from the ‘sachet economy’ chokes

the

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Philippines’ seas. Mongabay Environmental News.

https://news.mongabay.com/2018/10/plastic-trash-from-the-sachet-economy-chokes-the-

philippines-seas/

United Nations Environment Programme. (2022, February 8). Plastic pollution.

UNEP - UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/plastic-pollution

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