The Great Pacific Garbage Patch was discovered only some 25 years ago and is rapidly growing. By now, it is three times the size of France. It is another global disaster that we have not been able to stop.
Yup . . . he is still crying and so am I. See 'The Crying Indian in New York City'. Crying since 1970 on this classic example video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0sxwGlTLWw
Thank you for this morning letter, about making(again) and keeping our planet beautiful. And healthy! We have the tools and consciousness for today and tomorrows clean-ups.
Plastic! It’s everywhere! It’s invaded our lives & world. Maybe the worst of all mankind’s inventions. It’s sickening to see wildlife, marine life & birds that have ingested a belly full of plastic debris or become trapped by discarded plastic. One of the most touching sights was a swan having made a nest from salvaged plastic. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an environmental nightmare. It’s encouraging to see innovators & environmentalists like Boyan Slat & the Ocean Cleanup trying to clean the ocean & Lilly of Lillys Plastic Pickup trying to stop plastic pollution in her part of the world. We need many more of these. Thanks for a great article furthering awareness.
We’ve banned plastic bags in my state, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Plastic is pervasive from caps on cardboard containers, blister packaging, toothbrushes, etc. Even as someone who is trying to limit using plastic is is nearly impossible. Until manufacturers use alternate materials and plastic recycling is really accomplished we will be battling this problem forever.
I like building on an issue. Makes sense - it is momentum for change. What I am often interested in regarding plastics is in harnessing the waste for new construction products. One issue there is that recycled plastic is often at the end of its life cycle and cannot be recycled again. I’m going to do a little more reading on this today. Thanks for the nudge!
I recall the message, from the '50s I believe, "better living through chemistry, but seems we are living with some, probably many, of its unintended consequences. Distancing ourselves from nature has been harmful to so much of life on the earth...very sad.
The size of the patch shocked me. Boyan Slat sure has taken on an enormous project.
I was always proud of my Grandfather who was an MIT trained chemist who helped develop the first plastics and synthetic rubber. He meant well, anyway.
We’ve got to innovate our way out of this mess. I love reading Peter Diamandis’ Futureloop, Abundance 360, and Singularity University, which all present insights into the many wonderful developments occurring. I also adore the material science advancements of Neri Oxman’s team at MIT. With the many innovations developing, along with decentralized finance, it is going to be an exciting next decade. I’m hopeful much will improve, if only we can stabilize the changing climate.
Good morning Alexander 🌻
Yup . . . he is still crying and so am I. See 'The Crying Indian in New York City'. Crying since 1970 on this classic example video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0sxwGlTLWw
Thank you for this morning letter, about making(again) and keeping our planet beautiful. And healthy! We have the tools and consciousness for today and tomorrows clean-ups.
Plastic! It’s everywhere! It’s invaded our lives & world. Maybe the worst of all mankind’s inventions. It’s sickening to see wildlife, marine life & birds that have ingested a belly full of plastic debris or become trapped by discarded plastic. One of the most touching sights was a swan having made a nest from salvaged plastic. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an environmental nightmare. It’s encouraging to see innovators & environmentalists like Boyan Slat & the Ocean Cleanup trying to clean the ocean & Lilly of Lillys Plastic Pickup trying to stop plastic pollution in her part of the world. We need many more of these. Thanks for a great article furthering awareness.
We’ve banned plastic bags in my state, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Plastic is pervasive from caps on cardboard containers, blister packaging, toothbrushes, etc. Even as someone who is trying to limit using plastic is is nearly impossible. Until manufacturers use alternate materials and plastic recycling is really accomplished we will be battling this problem forever.
I like building on an issue. Makes sense - it is momentum for change. What I am often interested in regarding plastics is in harnessing the waste for new construction products. One issue there is that recycled plastic is often at the end of its life cycle and cannot be recycled again. I’m going to do a little more reading on this today. Thanks for the nudge!
I recall the message, from the '50s I believe, "better living through chemistry, but seems we are living with some, probably many, of its unintended consequences. Distancing ourselves from nature has been harmful to so much of life on the earth...very sad.
The size of the patch shocked me. Boyan Slat sure has taken on an enormous project.
I was always proud of my Grandfather who was an MIT trained chemist who helped develop the first plastics and synthetic rubber. He meant well, anyway.
We’ve got to innovate our way out of this mess. I love reading Peter Diamandis’ Futureloop, Abundance 360, and Singularity University, which all present insights into the many wonderful developments occurring. I also adore the material science advancements of Neri Oxman’s team at MIT. With the many innovations developing, along with decentralized finance, it is going to be an exciting next decade. I’m hopeful much will improve, if only we can stabilize the changing climate.
Dramatic examples and real dramatic change in oceans, mountains or rivers. We are responsible and have to definitely change our way and around us !