Listen.
As we peruse pictures of the president's dog, as we read the latest celebrity gossip, as we whine about how much we want this, that or the other, as people starve, as people make war, as people discuss the ramifications of global warming, as we chew our nails over swine flu....even as we write for children and hope for publication...
While all of that is going on and a million other things...
Listen.
In one place in the northern Pacific (and other places in the Pacific and in the Atlantic too) there is a floating island of plastic debris. It is twice the size of Texas. It is growing.
Listen.
I don't know what to do. I am ashamed to have only just learned of this horror. I am ashamed of humanity. I am ashamed.
Listen.
This is the sound of one heart breaking.
She is weeping because she doesn't know what to do and she is ashamed.
http://www.mauitime.com/Articles-i-2009-01-29-68584.113117_The_great_garbage_swirl.html#123
http://www.deepfried.tv/news/default.cfm?ID=1516
http://dannycoleman.blogspot.com/2008/07/great-pacific-garbage-swirl.html
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com/2009/04/garbage-swirl-in-pacific-twice-size-of.html
Listen.
This is the sound of one heart breaking.
It is Earth's heart.
Listen.
Listen as she breaks.
Bish, I think you should write about this for kids ... because the future belongs to them.
ReplyDeleteIt is very, very sad, but I'm glad to know of this disgrace.
Wow! I never knew about this. I'm absolutely horrified!
ReplyDeleteI know. . . it's horrible but if we all do a little - it will do a lot - to change the world.
ReplyDeleteBish - I heard a story about this on NPR! What a travesty. Someone asked why it wasn't cleaned up. It seemed to be a cost issue. Isn't that always the way?
ReplyDeleteThis really is awful, but it is a world-wide problem. There's an island off the coast of Japan -- Yume-no-shima, literally (and ironically) 'dream island' -- built entirely from trash.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I was reviewing two new English writing books for our university. One of them had a picture of the top of Mt Everest and it broke MY heart: it is covered with the accumulated garbage of all the people who have climbed it -- old oxygen tanks, hypodermic needles, plastic containers. We have sacrificed so much for temporary convenience.
Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteAnother voice is exactly what is needed. Still doing my best through the various groups here to protect what little of nature we have left.
Man has done some terrible things to our wonderful planet: in the case of consumers, it's been out of simple thoughlessness; in the case of producers, it's been out of greed.
I'm saddened by this, too...
ReplyDeletewow! I had no idea. Astonishing! I'm so glad that this current generation is more "green friendly" than those who have gone before. ~sigh~ that gives a small twinge of hope. Excpet . . . The size of TEXAS?!?! Yikes!!!!!! That's no small thing to correct. :(
ReplyDeleteWow! I've read about the garbage barges that take trash from the US to Asia and I've read about cruise ships dumping (I will never have such a vacation).But I didn't know the details about this floating plastic enormity.
ReplyDeleteI hear your passion in this post and I agree with Kim. Bish, this is a nf kids project calling out to you.
Thanks every one. I'm still very upset about this. I feel like someone in mourning. I don't think I will ever be the same.
ReplyDeleteAs for writing an article about it for kids...I'm slowing heading in that direction.
I agree with what Angela says: write a non-fiction article about this for kids. You might start with Yume-no-shima; it's pretty weird, but I've been told that it isn't such a terrible place. I'm still dubious about what might happen in the event of an earthquake, but an island made of trash certainly ought to appeal to MG readers! And kids SHOULD know about this -- we all should.
ReplyDeleteI've seen pictures of Mt. Everest like Mary mentioned and the place looks AWFUL! I couldn't believe all the trash, but the graffiti was the worst!
ReplyDelete