Gyre Clean Up Project » Uncategorized

Kids Will Save the Planet

Sundance — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 06:37:52 +0000

How hypocritical that we should teach our children to play nice with each other and we have a war on every continent. We teach our children to share, yet we as a species we withhold food, water and shelter from our own kind. We teach our children to be kind to animals and the atrocities we do are unspeakable. Cleanup after your self and yet we pollute like we have another place to go, or someone else will clean it up. Do as I say not as I do, does not fly. Extinction, toxic oceans and air, cancer and war, these are things that worry our children, what where our concerns as children?

What will be our Legacy ?

We say we care about our planet, animals and others, make your actions reflect your words.

Solutions to Plastic Pollution, Cont;

Sundance — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 02:39:24 +0000

Plastic Pollution affects all life on Earth, as it is detrimental to the life in which it comes in contact with !

I did some international travel, in 2005 spent a month traveling around Thailand. Amazing people, scenery, temples and the oceans teaming with marine life, and of course I went SCUBA Diving. The beauty and wonder had a bit of a shadow, Plastic Pollution everywhere, in the tree, streets, beaches and the oceans. As I toured the country I noticed that they were plenty of USA products in plastic bottles, bags and wrappers, but there are no recycling receptacles, or even facilities.

I walked the beaches, the more I did the more Plastic Pollution I saw. I witnessed some employees of a major hotel cleaning the beach, and was very excited until I saw that they where burying the trash just behind the lounge chairs they had neatly arranged that morning.

Living on Maui at the time, I went home from the experience in awe of nature and the wonders of Thailand. And also a bit dismayed at the human race’s seemingly disregard for nature. Something inside me was calling, it felt like I wanted to contribute to a cause or something that really matters. There are many ocean related organizations doing great work on Maui, signing petitions, new legislation, new beach trash receptacles, guarding baby turtles as they hatch and race to the sea, etc., its all good. I always pick up trash at the beach and under water and more seemed needed.

And I will end for today with;

Everyone ” Can Do” something about Plastic Pollution. 1. Pick it up when you see it, 2. Refuse single use plastic at every opportunity, 3. Share with others this Noble Cause,

Plastic Independence Day

Sundance — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 07:08:42 +0000

Today is Plastic Independence Day, our 2 annual event. Can you not use or purchase plastic today ? We had some amazing story’s from last years event. Please share yours here or on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/EnvironmentalCleanupCoalition?hc_location=timeline

Cleanup of Plastic Pollution in our Oceans

Sundance — Sat, 25 May 2013 15:56:15 +0000

The Cleanup of Plastic Pollution in our Oceans is getting closer. With young men ( and women ) like this, seeing the need to do something. Governments and corporations continue to do nothing, and the situation gets worse. For all of us who care deeply about the health of our Oceans, there is much that we “Can Do”.

http://inhabitat.com/19-year-old-student-develops-ocean-cleanup-array-that-could-remove-7250000-tons-of-plastic-from-the-worlds-oceans/

See Chair / Sea Chair

Sundance — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:46:58 +0000

Hooray for Artists,

Scientists are bizy saying it’s impossible,

And then there are those who just do it !!!

http://www.designformankind.com/2013/01/the-chair-that-might-solve-the-oceans-biggest-pollution-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-120666

Once-abundant West Coast Oysters Near Extinction

drigoli — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:07:58 +0000

A disturbing nationwide decline in oysters and the life-giving reefs that they build is particularly dramatic in California, where the once-abundant native species has been virtually wiped out, according to a recent scientific study.

The report, published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, said Olympia oysters, once an integral part of the Native American diet and a staple during the San Francisco Gold Rush, are functionally extinct.

“Essentially, today, the number of oyster reefs is zero,” said Rob Brumbaugh, restoration director for the Nature Conservancy and co-author of the study. “It’s the complete elimination of a key species and habitat on the West Coast.”

The loss of native oysters – not to be confused with the farm-raised Japanese Pacific oysters – is a serious issue, he said, because oysters clean the water by filter feeding. A single oyster can filter up to 30 gallons of water a day, removing nitrogen and other pollutants, Brumbaugh said. The oyster beds, or reefs, they create provide habitat for myriad fish, crabs and other creatures.

“What they do for us is filter water and help remove nitrogen pollution while increasing the growth and survival of other fish,” Brumbaugh said. “Oysters and the reefs that they create are great pollution scrubbers.”

Excerpted from an article by: Peter Fimrite, a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Read the whole story at: sfgate.com

Why we should clean up the Tsunami debris from the N. Pacific.

Sundance — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:16:32 +0000

Why we should clean up the Tsunami debris from the N. Pacific.

It is nearly a one year since Japan suffered the 9.0 earthquake that caused the tsunami that claimed nearly 16,000 lives, injuring many more, and damaging or destroyihg countless buildings. The threat from the tsunami may not be over. There is a very real possibility that debris dragged back into the sea by the receding tsunami could arrive on shores in Alaska, Hawaii, the West Coast and Canada over the next few years. The full impact the tsunami debris could have is unknown but it is important to be prepared.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it predicts debris from the Japanese earthquake-driven tsunami will start washing up on the Oregon coast some time in 2013. The announcement also came with a request for the public to report such standings of objects to keep an eye out on the oceans when that time comes. Scientists can’t say with 100 percent certainty that Japan tsunami debris will in fact wash ashore in Oregon. It is likely that if there is tsunami generated debris out here that it will eventually make its way to the coast of Oregon and likely will wash ashore with other non-tsunami-generated debris in areas that you typically see debris on shores in Oregon.

So far, all the predictions are being created by computer modeling, and scientists agree they are in uncharted territory. In the announcement by NOAA, the organization said independent computer modeling by NOAA and the University of Hawaii seem to be coming up with the same results. If the models are correct, debris could pass near or wash ashore in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in spring 2012, approach the West Coast of the United States in 2013, and circle back to Hawaii in 2014 to 2016,

Among other things, they are looking into the possibility these objects could be colonized by marine life or even transporting invasive species. There are far more unknowns about this upcoming event than what is known.

While people on the US West Coast states are very concerned about the likely arrival of the debris in 2013, it ís the Hawaiian Islands that are going to bear the brunt of the impact. This is terrible for Hawaii’s fragile ecosystem, which already has a huge marine debris problem, but at least we know it is coming and can prepare.

While it is impossible to tell exactly what will make it across, it will likely be items that float easily: buoys and other fishing gear, plastics and cans, barrels and drums, lumber, or even appliances. Boats are also a possibility. These items can impact navigation, ensnare animals, damage precious reefs, and litter the beaches.

Endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, and humpback whales can become entangled in and injured from this debris. From entanglement and ingestion to vessel damage and alien species transport, marine debris in many forms is a problem that we cannot afford to ignore. If items from the tsunami do wash ashore, small items of debris can be picked up and examined. Items that have no identifying markers should be disposed of properly, but if it belongs to someone, alert a local authority. You can also report large volumes of debris or items that clearly came from Japan to [email protected]. There are other easy ways to help: join a beach cleanup & recommit yourself to recycling. Refuse single use plastic, Reduce plastic packaging !

Some items should be left to the authorities. Do not to touch anything that appears hazardous or too large to move safely. Report it, and it will likely be dealt with by local emergency responders.