Pacific Trash Vortex! Wow! I had no idea it was this bad!

[emoreira]

There is a group in Facebook that follows this matter.
Algalita Marine Research Foundation - Marine Research, Education and Restoration

 

[j_spot]

the issue might be getting more airtime. I saw a commercial for an Oprah piece on plastic in the oceans for earth day.
I didnt see the bit, but hopefully it was informative and sparked some change in the millions of women she commands control over.

 

[drbill]

I feel so guilty about this... I still use plastic bags (out of laziness since I know the issues). I could carry my cloth bags and don't. If someone conversant about the problems isn't "able" to change, how will others? At least I gather all my plastic bags and deposit them at the recycling center, but I should do MUCH better. Will it really take legislation to force me to change?

 

[ScubaSteve]

I feel so guilty about this... I still use plastic bags (out of laziness since I know the issues). I could carry my cloth bags and don't. If someone conversant about the problems isn't "able" to change, how will others? At least I gather all my plastic bags and deposit them at the recycling center, but I should do MUCH better. Will it really take legislation to force me to change?

We are not orginal here but the grocery stores are now charging for each bag you take. I have a dozen "almost cloth " bags and am not quite in the habit of bringing them every time. I get it right about 50% of the time now and always improving. I have however stopped buying water bottles altoegther for my house and purchase according to packaging when possible.....this is near impossible at this point. It is on a little for one person, but if everybody out there handled themselves the same way, I bet the earth would be in better shape. AND, if we all continually improve our habits, then there may be hope for this little chunk of space dust we call home.

 

[Teamcasa]

Doug, I want to thank you for keeping this topic alive.

We all have room in our lives to slow the flow of trash down, we just need to decide to actualy do it.

 

[Teamcasa]

More Info on Drew's efforts to help
Help SCUBA DREW get evidence of the Pacific Trash Vortex

 

[scubadrewvideo]

Wow...I step away for 2 days and look what I miss.

Interesting points raised by PsychoCabbage, but I would agree that they are selfish. Its the "out of site out of mind" mentality that got us here to start with.

The Landfills wouldn't need overhauling if they didn't have to deal with all this plastic..
They wouldn't have to deal with plastic if we didn't throw it away...
We wouldn't need to throw it away if we didn't buy it..
We wouldn't buy if they didn't make it...
They wouldn't make it if it wasn't all about profit...
...so where does the blame rest.....Free market unregulated capitalism..and we are all part of that!
So we have come full circle to discover that it IS our problem.

PsychoCabbage, you don't have to donate anything to this, but many of us here believe our kids and grandkids future health is worth a little time, money and effort...to at least try to solve some of the issues that will directly affect them. This issue will however directly effect us before we pass on.
Thanks for keeping the discussion alive!!!
Drew
To learn more about my upcoming voyage.....www.trashvoyage.com

...I will not be looking for your support for my "Journey to the Center of the Trash"

 

[Plumb bob]

hmmm there are always other sides of the fence here.. You can get every single person in the US to not discard things but will it do any good?
NO.

psychocabbage, you must be taking the piss surely? The country I'm from is almost as bad as you guys in the US for waste production per capita. You seem from your statement to be thinking that the US is the only country that has folk concerned with this problem...

"Those who say it can't be done shouldn't get in the way of those doing it"..

There are people in other countries with real problems. Like eating that day. Do you think they worry about where their trash goes?

Most folk in those countries that have worries about where the next meal is coming from are nowhere near the prolific trash generators that we are, more often than not they are in the poverty situation as a result of our material greed.

I am one of those realistic people that just dont care. You can say its going to affect us left and right but in the grand scheme of things, I wont be affected. My kids MAY be affected but thats not for certain either.

If you don't care, why are you posting here? I think you do care but that caring only extends to appearing "controversial", you want attention but have nothing to offer in return.

Its like blaming cars for global warming when its cows that make most of our pollutants. The planet will do just fine without us interfering.. Eventually, it will remove us and all of our "stuff" and start over.

So to your mind we have no responsibility for all the other "collateral" damage (you know that pesky wild stuff "out there" in the "wilderness")..

Don't worry Psychocabbage, others are trying to make a difference so you don't have to...

"uncaring people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because caring people stand ready to do clean up on their behalf".-- My apologies to Mr Orwell..

 

[Shaka Doug]

Hey Drew, how's the fund rasing going? Your boat leaves soon, yeah?

 

[scubadrewvideo]

Leave out in 40 days...
Plastic in Ocean | Pacific Garbage Patch | Ocean Pollution
things are getting crazy