Garbage Island of the Pacific Ocean

By Alex in Everything Else on Apr 14, 2008 at 5:54 pm

We previously posted about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and San Francisco that is infested with floating trash.

Because there isn’t much in terms of video footage of this phenomenon, VBS.tv decided to investigate. Rory Ahearn of VBS.tv wrote:

At VBS.tv we had read all the articles about this environmental problem but didn’t see much in the way of video. So curiosity and the challenge compelled us west to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to show what other people had only been writing about. We go all the way out ( 2 straight days on a sail boat) expecting to see a floating dump, looking for our money shot that will make us famous.

Here’s the bad news, there is no money shot. What people don’t get is that it’s not really a patch and it’s not really an island, both of which you might be able to contain and control. No, what we found is much worse. It’s like a gigantic toxic stew and it’s a big big problem that we need to pay attention to now.

Here’s part 1 of 12 of TOXIC- Garbage Island: Link (Flash video, warning: um, strong language) – Thanks Rory!

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Ola Amigo
Apr 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I understand it’s a real problem but they need a better metaphor than Island.

When I hear there’s a Texas sized island of trash in the Pacific the first thing I think is, ‘No way! Let me see the pictures!’

Then they tell me there is no picture, and it’s not exactly and island but it’s a big problem so I should be seriously interested blah blah blah.

Go back to calling this stuff pollution or garbage or something.
sparge
Apr 14th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
That has got to be the the lowest fulfillment to potential ratio I have ever seen. It’s half an hour with a bunch of self-righteous hipsters on a boat in the middle of the ocean. Maybe the second half will actually show something, but I’m not holding my breath.

It’s especially a shame since I really enjoyed the VBS.tv documentary about North Korea you guys posted recently.
tnsred
Apr 14th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I just couldn’t get through it, especially right after they applied the PLASTIC patch to alleviate motion sickness.
Nastia
Apr 14th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I always wondered why there were never any pictures of this. Glad some people finally investigated this.
mark
Apr 14th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I wouldn’t say their self-righteous, they really don’t necessarily point the blame. They say that everybody, including them, is at fault. I thought it was pretty neat, and I usually get really tired of hearing about how were ruining the environment.
sparge
Apr 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
You’re right, mark. I meant something more like “full of themselves”. More often than not, those adjectives readily apply to the same people, but here that was not necessarily the case. My error.

It was still boring, though. Interesting that I (who usually take an interest in things environmental) didn’t enjoy the videos, while you (who are “tired of hearing about” such things) did.
Alannah
Apr 14th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
This movie should have been one episode long, not freaking twelve.
Barbwire
Apr 14th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
They lost me when they went back to “three weeks earlier”. It’s a shame, because the problem is so serious. We need something spectacular to wake people up. I gave everyone–family and friends–a reusable grocery bag for Christmas.
ted
Apr 15th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I heard a bit of it playing on someone else’s computer, and I was put off by the foul language in the “documentary”. Maybe they should do something about the garbage coming out of their mouths first, if only to appear a little professional.
homebrewhokie
Apr 15th, 2008 at 11:47 am
yeah I clicked on this the other day and a portion of the video started playing automatically. and it was the dude talking about how horny he was haha. wasnt expecting that. not sure if that is what you meant by the strong language. anyway, i agree that the 12 part thing is annoying. all i wanna so is see the meat of it.
Kevin
Apr 19th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I’m usually not one to be bothered by follow language, but it’s difficult to take someone seriously when they’re dropping f-bombs like crazy. Not my cup of tea. Get Morgan Spurlock on the case. He at least entertains me.
jackiechan
Jul 16th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
As a young hip/cool/elitist kid, I think this series is great. There’s already plenty of documentaries and reports all over from leading scientists, educators, and politicians about this issue; but something like this speaks to the younger generation who grew up on rap music and MTV’s Jackass. To say that the quality of this documentary could be improved if so-and-so redid it is completely missing the point. Its going to be today’s youth who’s responsible for cleaning up this mess y’all left and so something like this is what gets them talking. It’s not just Al Gore or that dude from Super Size Me who’s concerned, it’s that fucking kid you saw at the party last night!
Salohcin
Feb 27th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Okay this “”ISLAND”" of Garabage is about to get disbursted by the Chile Earth Quake Tsunami ; isn`t it ? Why into the cat hair isn`t someone / anyone sending “WE THE PEOPLE” some video footage of the Pacific Ocean between Chile and Hawaii ; Yes it`s a Big Ocean BUTT ; Get someone in the Airplanes and tape some Footage ; this is about to be a disaster and they really need to film the Build up before the Wave hits / Makes Land Fall ! Get off their Duffs and film the Ocean NOW !
kristen
Apr 14th, 2010 at 10:31 am
omg….
kristen
Apr 14th, 2010 at 10:32 am
look this a really BIG problem that needs 2 be fixed who cares if theres NO pics yall need 2 get over yall selves ok so… fuck off!!!
cassie
Apr 14th, 2010 at 10:34 am
omg yall are fuckin stupid its a big problem ok!!!

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