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Collected Item: “Mask Trash”

Give your story a title.

Mask Trash

What sort of object is this: text story, photograph, video, audio interview, screenshot, drawing, meme, etc.?

photograph

Tell us a story; share your experience. Describe what the object or story you've uploaded says about the pandemic, and/or why what you've submitted is important to you.

This is a photograph of a mask discarded on the side of my yard, in the desert where many animals such as coyotes, quail, javelinas, and rabbits make their homes. I have seen much pandemic-related trash discarded on the sides of the road, on sidewalks, and in people’s yards during this pandemic: hand sanitizer bottles, masks, wipes, etc. With the pandemic has come an increase in the use of disposable materials such as these, adding to environmental degradation and displaying a disregard both for people and for animals. This photo of mask trash shows a toxic side effect of the pandemic and a reminder that people need to use non-disposable items whenever possible and show respect for our natural environment by not throwing things away in this manner.

Use one-word hashtags (separated by commas) to describe your story. For example: Where did it originate? How does this object make you feel? How does this object relate to the pandemic?

HST580, Arizona State University, mask, trash, environment, disrespect, nature

Who originally created this object? (If you created this object, such as photo, then put "self" here.)

Sharon E Hunt

Give this story a date.

2021-02-07T18:36
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