Our oceans are turning into plastic... Are we?

[Naffa]

I've just read through this article..

http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/p..._oceans_are_turning_into_plastic_are_we.shtml

"The area's reputation didn't deter Moore. He had grown up in Long Beach, 40 miles south of LA, with the Pacific nearly in his front yard, and possesed an impressive aqautic résumé: deckhand, able seaman, sailor, scuba diver, surfer and finally captain. Moore had spent countless hours in the ocean, fascinated by it's vast trove of secrets and terrors. He'd seen a lot of things out there, things that were glorious and grand; things that were ferocious and humbling. But he had never seen anything nearly as chilling as what lay ahead for him in the gyre."


And I found it absolutely disgusting. I'm not sure about how much it would effect obesity, but it makes pretty grim reading all the same.

 

[kibblerok]

What a fascinating yet sad article

 

[Kreeeee]

What a fascinating yet sad article

Aye, we always destroy our own environment.

 

[Indy500]

According to the references in that article, what I've been hearing about plastics recently is correct, notably the estrogen connection and general toxicity.

 

[Glaucus]

what happens to plastic when it's broken down by uv light?

would it be a good way of getting rid of it.

 

[Indy500]

what happens to plastic when it's broken down by uv light?

would it be a good way of getting rid of it.

Just breaks into smaller pieces, AFAIK.

 

[Glaucus]

Just breaks into smaller pieces, AFAIK.

Well we should just recycle it. companies should be forced to put some sort of dye or other factor in different types, so it can be easily separated at a recycling plant. Manufactures should also by law or heavily taxed make packaging where possible out of only one type of material.

 

[Indy500]

Well we should just recycle it. companies should be forced to put some sort of dye or other factor in different types, so it can be easily separated at a recycling plant. Manufactures should also by law or heavily taxed make packaging where possible out of only one type of material.

Or, we should avoid buying the stuff to put pressure on the manufacturers.

 

[Glaucus]

Or, we should avoid buying the stuff to put pressure on the manufacturers.

so you going to starve then? pretty much everything has plastic containers/wrappings.

 

[Indy500]

so you going to starve then? pretty much everything has plastic containers/wrappings.

HDPE

 

[Vibez]

Why not just set fire to it all?

Back when I was a mischevious early teen I always used to grab plenty of plastic bags to start a fire going at the park, they burn very easily and quickly

 

[Indy500]

Why not just set fire to it all?

Back when I was a mischevious early teen I always used to grab plenty of plastic bags to start a fire going at the park, they burn very easily and quickly

The problem is 95% of the fumes would be toxic. For example, chlorine gas from PVC.

 

[Ren.182]

Poor turtle.

Good article.

 

[Amp34]

Another reason to question why the west uses plastic bottles instead of reusable glass bottles like most of the rest of the world.

Glass bottles are inert and tougher than plastic, they don't taint foods and drinks like plastic and can just be washed and reused or melted down and reused. Glass is pretty much just rock anyway and sort of occurs naturally.

 

[T16]

How depressing.

We really are rather thick.

When people first started manufacturing plastic bags and wrappings, did NO ONE wonder how it was going to be disposed of ?

I wonder if the same thought process occurred with nuclear power.

"so what are we going to do with all the plutonium?"

"er, yes good point, er lets bury it in the ground in rusty canisters, no one will notice"

I cant belive how much we are wrecking the planet. Wtf is wrong with us?

Also we have FAR FAR too many of us, we dont need to breed like rabbits anymore.

 

[clv101]

Or, we should avoid buying the stuff to put pressure on the manufacturers.

so you going to starve then? pretty much everything has plastic containers/wrappings.

Our Government should legislate to prevent/limit the use in packaging. Can't expect supermarkets/manufactures to do it because they are (rightly) market driven and also aren't allowed to collude, can't expect people to just 'choose' since the majority won't bother.

We legislated against CFCs, against asbestos, for seatbelts etc, it's about time we had legislation against wasteful and damaging packaging.

 

[Meridian]

HDPE

Er - High Density PolyEthylene. It is plastic.


And many plastics can't be recycled. But this problem will solve itself in about thirty years, when the oil runs out.


M

 

[knowledge123]

 

[Solari]

Another reason to question why the west uses plastic bottles instead of reusable glass bottles like most of the rest of the world.

Yeah, I don't understand why we can't go back to using glass bottles for drinks etc - I remember when I was younger we had the Bilco drinks and the guy came around for the returns. I'd rather pay a few pence more for my Ketchup, milk etc for a glass bottle that is easily recyclable.

It makes the shopping a bit heavier but a small price to pay

 

[SgtTupac]

Size 0 Hits the Turtle world now