The Making of a Plastic Continent (School Lesson)

The Making of a Plastic Continent  
Dr Abe V Rotor

  

The main Plastic Vortex as big as the state of texas - and growing - lies north of Hawaii off the coast of Canada and the US. "Islands" of plastics coalese into the vortex. Dutch scientists propose to convert the floating debris into a livable environment.  Satellite photo below shows ocean currents and gyres responsible in creating the vortex.   Canada is directly affected as indicated in the North Pacific Gyre. 

 Another gyre in the North Atlantic is poised to form another Plastic Vortex along the east coast of the US and Canada. If this happens we might expect a graver consequence as plastic merges with seaweeds that comprise the huge Sargasso Sea. (See lowermost photos, from the Internet) 

NOTE: There are other gyres three in the south hemisphere, all potential spawning grounds of floating garbage.

 

 

 

Relate these events with the following: 

1. Pope Francis Laudato Si (Praise Be), a call to save the Earth

2. Canada exporting trash to the Philippines

3. Earth Summits - review and prospects

4. Culture of Consumerism

5. Waste management models 

6. Personal concern and action

7. Global Leadership challenge

8. Autotoxicity - myth of fact?

Study the following photos (Internet).  

Write the appropriate caption of each photo.  (Class assignment and reference for discussion in school.}