Posts Tagged ‘ ocean plastic ’

Here’s A Video That’ll Break Your Heart

January 7, 2010
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I’m in Seattle for conference called, “Journalism That Matters.” It’s aimed at helping the press and public figure out a way forward in this new media world.

One of the speakers tonight is a photographer, Chris Jordan, who offered an interesting view on why so many environmental problems still haunt us. Jordan believes that many of us are unwilling to make the necessary changes to save the planet, because we’re not able to face the problems at an emotional level. If we remain detached, Jordan says, we won’t find the political will to do what’s right.

To move us in that direction, Jordan has produced a video called, Message From The Gyre. It’s one of the most gut-wrenching stories I’ve seen in a long time.

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JUNKride Arrives In Oregon For Earth Day Events

April 16, 2009
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Remember those stories about the “plastic soup” forming in the Pacific Ocean? Members of the group that brought worldwide attention to the problem are in Oregon for a series of events around Earth Day.

junkridelogoIt’s called JUNKride. Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins from the Algalita Marine Research Foundation are traveling on bicycle from British Columbia to Mexico with new evidence that the plastic soup is worsening and getting into our food supply.

We spoke with Cummins by telephone during a stopover in Olympia, Wash. She says that on their last trip to the ocean, they found that the density of plastic gathering in the North Pacific had doubled since 1999.

But it can be difficult to convince people about the seriousness of the issue.

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