LA Times, "A Paradise Lost to Plastic"
2012-01-28 07:56:36



  This is from the cover of today's LA Times, a report on a once idyllic stretch of white sand beaches along the southern Yucatan Peninsula that has now become an eyesore of plastic garbage - from bottles to shampoo containers to untold millions of fragments.

We've certainly seen this in other areas one might call paradise were it not for the unwelcome plastic waste - Hawaii, Bermuda, the Azores, Mauritius, Easter Island, and we've been hearing horrific reports on Bali, a place we're planning to target for a "hot spot cleanup" in 2013.

As long as we use a material that has no value at the end of its life cycle - no redemption value - we will continue to see this on beaches and islands far from development. And no amount of education will prevent 7 billion people from accidentally or intentionally littering, especially in places where economic survival is a more pressing issue.

The solutions here must come in the form of better policies for dealing with waste, like Extended Producer Responsibility - requiring producers to deal with waste from their products instead of placing the burden on everyday people. Or smarter design - designing products to be recycled, and by this we mean truly recycled. Not partially downcycled, or simply exported overseas. Or better redemption programs - like bottle bills that encourage people to cash in on waste, and result in huge increases in recycling rates.

This is where we're going to be focusing more of our efforts with 5 Gyres - promoting real solutions to plastic pollution. We've seen enough to know that this problem can't be solved at sea, and that reusable bags alone aren't enough. We need your help here! Become a member, join our efforts, and learn how you can be a part of the solution.

Ambassador Profile: Jess Cramp saving sharks in the Cooks
2011-12-23 07:58:27


One of the best parts of our expeditions are the people that join us on board, from all walks of life – artists, scientists, musicians, surfers, journalists, filmmakers, and the occasional bag pipe player from Scotland. We invite people to see plastic marine pollution first hand, working side by side with us to collect data, and document the issue, so that they will take the experiences back to their communities. And continue kicking plASStic in their respective ways.

So it’s a joy to hear what people are up to back on land, a variety of projects that reflect the diversity of talents we’ve met, and we’ll be sharing these updates in the coming months. Starting with Jess Cramp, currently working on what could be the world’s largest Shark Sanctuary, in the Cook Islands. Jess is a rare breed – a competitive surfer and global activist with sun kissed charm and an infectious laugh, she is also a trained scientist, a licensed pilot, and an acrobat.

After sailing across the South Pacific Gyre with us this past Spring, Jess headed onto the Cook Islands, looking to see where she could bring her unique combination of skills to a local project in need of support. She soon found the Pacific Island Conservation Initiative, a small, grassroots organization working to engage the local community in science-based conservation and species/habitat protection. Jess quickly became an integral player, and immediately set to work organizing a series of “rubbish roundups” that served two functions: helping remove mounds of waste from the island’s sensitive shorelines, and engaging the local community in learning more about PICI.

“This is one of the biggest things we do”, Jess explained via skype, “become a part of the community, rather than trying to make changes as outsiders, which rarely works. It takes time for people to get to know you, and trust you. This is why I wanted to live in the community, and commit from the outset to staying at least 6 months.”

Working on a shoestring, and slowly building local momentum for PICI's projects, Jess’s commitment and sacrifices are starting to pay off. PICI’s bigger goal of creating a Shark Sanctuary in the Cook Islands is gaining momentum, and media attention. Hopefully, these will attract much needed funds towards the effort, and sustain Jess’s work long enough to see this landmark initiative through. If successful, the Cook Island Shark Sanctuary will be the biggest of its kind, providing key habitat to numerous shark species, critically endangered around the world by habitat loss and unsustainable fishing practices, most notably the gruesome practice of shark finning. 

The work ahead for Jess and PICI is challenging, to say the least, and will need support. You can help by spreading the word: if you know a journalist, donor, or NGO that can get involved, put them in touch with PICI, like them on Facebook, repost this, and stay informed. We’re tremendously inspired by Jess’s work, and will keeping close tabs on the future of PICI and the  Sanctuary. Thank you Jess! We're all rooting for you. (Especially the sharks.)