hi
so, first off, the world is burning and we're all doomed...
yep, climate change it's a doozy
and it's really important that we all do our bit to help the environment
including cutting down on single use straws, if we're able to.
However, whilst doing your bit personally is really important
we also need to be focusing our energies on big corporations
because they're the ones letting us down
we're being encouraged to turn the 'ban single-use plastics' narrative on each other!
to the extent that people leave me messages daily saying
oh well the world can do without disabled people
and disabled people people are a sacrifice worth
FYI that's called supporting genocide
and, Honey, that's never a good look
You need to be angry at the multinational corporations who are
supporting the straw ban for clout
and yet aren't actually investing in researching
alternatives that work for everyone
because the current reusable alternatives...
don't!
here's why...
[computer voice] metal
these seem like a great idea because you can keep them clean
but it can't be used with a hot liquid
ouch!
And if a person's on a liquid diet in hospital that's...
a lot of cold soup
and they're often coated which then falls apart
this used to be coated in a pink plastic
and I don't even want to think about how much of that's in my system now
they're held in one position
even the bent ones may curve but they don't flex
how is this useful
most importantly though they're in injury risk
you could just be drinking your drink... and then...
you have a seizure you're cracking your teeth and
sending it through your soft palate!
a woman recently died whilst drinking through a metal straw
when she slipped and fell and it went through her eye
[computer voice] Paper
environmentally friendly!
Except the ones that have an inner wax coating...
because then you can't actually recycle them
also but then the ones that don't disintegrate and become a choking hazard
plus you can't use them while you're lying down...
or with hot liquids
basically there are three to five times more expensive than plastic straws
and completely useless to many disabled people...
but please do use them if you can!
just don't judge other people for not being able to.
side note: just last year, in the UK
McDonald's axed its plastic straws (which could be recycled)
to replace them and paper straws which were too thick to be recycled
and had to go into general waste
[Computer Voice] Glass
do I really need to tell you why putting a gas straw
in the mouth of someone who shakes, has seizures,
or is mentally incapable of knowing you shouldn't bite down on it
is a bad idea...?
also again can't use them while lying down
And they're weirdly expensive for something so useless
[Computer Voice] Silicone
These seem so fun!
sadly they just don't bend properly...
And sometimes they float to the top of your drink
also they have a very strange mouthfeel
and I seem to never be able to suck liquids up them quickly...
am i doing this wrong?!?!
[Computer Voice] Acrylic
an allergy risk!
Who knew?!
also an injury risk.
yes, they can take teeth out too
and you can't use them with hot liquids or bend them.
They can also be pretty expensive!
[Computer Voice] Pasta
There's literally nothing good about these straws
Except they are not incredibly expensive.
they're an allergy risk, injury risk,
choking hazard, dissolvable, break down in hot water,
and an utter waste of your money!
[Computer Voice] Bamboo
oh my god I hate bamboo straws!
I have cut my lip three times now!
and I. Honestly. Just. Can. Not.
interestingly some people are actually really allergic to them
and they're not positionable
and they are either too wide or too narrow
and they're really expensive
[Computer Voice] Biodegradable
These are such a great idea!
I have loads of them and I'd use them all the time
I mean it doesn't make me want to not cry about the price though
or stop people from yelling at me on the internet...
Funny thing is, they do biodegrade within six months...
but you can't actually do that in a regular household composter
because it doesn't get hot enough
so you've got to put it into landfill like a regular plastic straw
but as I said it does take six months to break down
So at any point within that six months it could find its way into the ocean
and the nose of a poor little turtle! (please remember to chop your straws)
also, can I just point out: biodegrading releases methane anyway!
Oh god, I'm panicking internally!
please remember to dispose of your biodegradable straws safely
by cutting them in half lengthways
oh and these are also an allergen risk
look it's right that we reduce our plastic consumption- obviously!
But shouldn't we maybe focus on the ones that don't keep people alive?
do false nails keep anyone alive...?
no
do helium balloons...?
no
Do cigarette butts...?
no
let's get rid of those first
and then... and only then, once there is a proper alternative,
Get rid of plastic straws
and I mean genuinely only once there's an alternative
just go and fight some big businesses okay
make them invest in the environment
a recent study says just 100 companies are responsible for 71 percent of the world's emissions
you may say:
well if they're that essential disabled people should just bring their own straws
and we do
I carry at least five of the things with me in my handbag
but I also have memory problems
so I forget to remove them and clean them and put them back
so I tend to make myself ill a lot
by taking one of these disgusting things and the bottom of my bag
when a restaurant won't provide me with one
drinking from it and destroying my own compromised immune system
oh and everyone comments:
she looks fine to me
has just volunteered to come and look after me
on a day when I'm in so much pain I can't even scream
and all I want to do is vomit over the side of the bed
thanks guys that's actually really helpful
do I need to use a single-use plastic straw every day
no and I don't
but I will defend to the death the rights of people who do need them
it's not sharing the burden of being plastic free
when that burden is deeply unequal
you cannot say you care about the world without caring for those who are most helpless
also I assume you're not watching this on a mobile phone... right?
because of the environmental and societal issues...?
oh and:
"I'm a disabled person, and I don't need straws so no disabled person needs them"
Is not a valid argument!
I'm a redhead and I hate chocolate
Therefore, I know as an empirical fact, that all redheads hate chocolate
oh and it should be banned for them
actually I'm going to ban it for everyone
sorry chaps, chocolate is now burned