The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Sun, 18 Aug 2008 14:51:00 GMT

posted by dublinjames

"Who Needs the Pacific Anyways?"

Fri, 2 Aug 2008 04:04:58 GMT

posted by lrcc4b
REVIVE eZine http://www.gorevive.com/articles/whoneedspacific.html

    Some researchers say the eastern part alone is twice the size of Texas; others say in its entirety it is equivalent to twice the size of the continental United States; and still others say it is closer to the size of Africa. Whichever way, one thing is certain: it is big. Very big.
    These estimates refer to the size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, otherwise noted as the world’s largest trash dump. For years debris has been accumulating in a part of the Pacific Ocean called the North Pacific Gyre. The undercurrents there effectively trap the trash and keep it swirling about a vast circular region in the sea. Although it has been reported as a type of trash island or continent, the Garbage Patch is more of a floating soup of debris.
    According to oceanographers, this area contains 3.5 million tons of garbage. However, Charles Moore, founder of Algalita Marine Research Foundation, says it could be as much as 100 million tons. Moore also believes that if nothing is done, it could double in size over the next decade.
    Perhaps the worst part is about 80% of the trash is plastic, which does not easily biodegrade. Animals often die from mistaking the plastic for food. Recently, more than 1,000 pieces of plastic were found in the stomach and intestines of a dead leatherback turtle on a beach in Hawaii. The United Nations Environment Program says approximately a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed each year from the plastic waste. Approximately 46,000 pieces of floating plastic can be found in every square mile of the ocean as reported by the United Nations Environment Program. And as you probably guessed, toxins produced by the plastic eventually make their way into food consumed by humans. A main toxin under scrutiny is bisphenol A, which has many characteristics of estrogen.
    Considering our resources, the United States could lead an international effort to clean up the Garbage Patch, but based on our environmental policies in recent years this is a long shot. Nonetheless, San Francisco was recently the first US city to ban plastic shopping bags, in part as a response to the problem of ocean debris. It is this kind of policy-into-action that is necessary to solve a problem as big as the Garbage Patch.
    It is possible that a ban on plastic bags could be enacted on a nationwide scale in the US—countries such as Ireland, Bangladesh and China have already approved such a ban—but it would take a leader who is able to inspire in citizens a willingness to sacrifice personal comfort for the benefit of the planet’s wellbeing. Sacrifice is not something that has been asked of the American people much by our politicians over the past several years, but it is something that is desperately needed.
    In order for the government to enact large-scale solutions, however, people must clamor for action. I recently came across vexing evidence that some people do not fully realize what is at stake in our world today: in a recent online poll by Time.com that asked people to select the year’s most influential people, Shigeru Miyamoto was the clear winner with almost two million votes. That’s the guy who is partly responsible for the Nintendo Wii. Video games may be fun, but presently more important things should be on our minds.
    If you are concerned, there are many things to be done in order to reduce the amount of plastic you use, such as bringing your own bags when you go shopping. Of course, we need to also put pressure on our politicians for change. When it comes to environmental issues, it is oftentimes true that if the people lead, the leaders will follow.

Extra Content: University of Missouri professor Dr. Frederick vom Saal
goRevive.com

Pacific Ocean: Patch of garbage the size of Texas

Sun, 18 Aug 2008 19:30:09 GMT

posted by wingover

ABOUT GARBAGE ISLAND

VIDEO SOURCE

For years we’ve been reading about a patch of garbage the size of Texas floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, ingeniously dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Basically, any trash that gets dumped in the water rides the currents to this one spot and joins an ever-increasing flotilla of crap. For all the breathless accounts of the mess and its impact on the area’s sealife, however, no one seemed to have a picture of the buildup.

In order to sate our own curiosity, VBS joined the crew of a research vessel studying the trash and sailed out into one of the most remote spots of open water in the world, the North Pacific Gyre, in search of this mythical garbage island. What we discovered once we got there was an ecological disaster beyond any of our expectations and possibly the single worst thing human beings have done to the planet and ourselves. Hope you’re into cancer and sex-reversal!

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Tue, 23 Jul 2008 21:16:17 GMT

posted by owenlightly

Plastic Trash in Radnor Lake

Sun, 14 Jul 2008 23:42:17 GMT

posted by PlanetTrash

I’ve mentioned many times that Radnor Lake is my most favorite place in the world. We go there a lot to reconnect with nature and with God. We visited yesterday morning for our spiritual renewal.

After the heavy overnight rain, the lake was very refreshing. We saw a doe with her fawn grazing along the trail around the lake. Unfortunately on the roadside of the lake, my husband pointed out this sad sight, a plastic water bottle floating in the duckweed.

Not only is the plastic bottle detrimental to the life in the lake, eventually the plastic bottle will wash away to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch - Articles - Zimbio

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

"Who Needs the Pacific Anyways?"

Pacific Ocean: Patch of garbage the size of Texas

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Plastic Trash in Radnor Lake