Pacific garbage gyre · 11/11/2009 10:16 pm by Bron
I saw a short clip on Hungry Beast tonight about a trip some photographers took to Midway Atoll near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in September, where the ocean currents sweep tonnes of trash and plastic into a synthetic soup.
I’d heard of it before but I’d never seen it or any of the consequences. Chris Jordan’s photos show how albatross swallow an array of plastic bottle tops, syringes and lighters to regurgitate to their chicks back on the atoll. The chicks stomachs become filled with this plastic, and unable to digest anything they starve to death.
I remember taking the ferry from Mumbai over to Elephanta Island earlier this year, watching everyone throwing wrappers and rubbish over the side of the boat, perhaps appalled more by the fact there was no hint of guilt or shame on their faces.
Everything has to end up somewhere. We’re all leaving such a nightmare of a legacy.
More photos on flickr.
