Los Angeles Times

September 17, 3014

Trash Takes Over North Shore

Hannah Clifton, Los Angeles, California

A native man of Kauai paddles through trash heap. Taken by George Johnson.

Hurricane causes trash island to surround Kauai

An island of trash that is commonly known as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has bombarded the island of Kauai. The current that has kept the trash island in one spot has been disrupted by a strong hurricane in the middle of the Pacific. The current has directed the giant island of trash to the Hawaiian Islands, Kauais North Shore getting hit first. Along with the bombardment of trash are harsh rainfalls and strong winds that are blowing some of the lightweight trash onto the land. Jim Smith, a marine biologist on Kauai states the trash island has taken over the North Shore and is estimated to surround the entire island by next week. According to scientists specializing in weather and environmental effects of human pollution, global warming has caused the increase of storms in the Pacific Oceans that normally wouldnt be happening. People dumping their trash into the ocean or storm drains and the current bringing it to the middle of the Pacific Ocean where currents meet in a circular motion cause the island of trash. We have seen how our destruction of our ocean is fighting back with what we put in it in the first place.

A sea turtle is tangled in a discarded fishing net. Taken by Sherri Tree.

Los Angeles Times

September 17, 3014

How can we help?

Today, scientists could no In longer keep track of the 1997, growing size of the island, Charles but the best estimate is the Moore discovered what island has more than actually happens when we tripled its size. This trash throw our garbage in the island also effects the street or throw our animals that call the ocean cigarettes out of the their home are also deeply windows instead of suffering the trash heap trashcans. The trash ends that is invading there home. up in the ocean, and makes When fish consume plankton and other its way to where the microorganisms, they are currents move around in a The trash from the island washed also ingesting smaller up onto the shore of Kauai. Taken circular motion, which particles of plastic, which by Ross Matthews. corrals all the trash are toxic. The humans that together. In 2013, this eat these toxic fish are now island of garbage consisted exposed to the poisoning of 3.5 million tons of trash and have actually become that ranged from light bulbs sick. Back when humans to plastic bottles and bags. ate fish as a large part of their diets, more and more people began falling ill to the toxic fish that were become so muchby deeper The logical reason that has being affected the trash. into debt that we had to cut been told to us for hundreds of all costs of environmental years in order to stop the improvement projects back growth of the trash island is to in 2070. I think that a more stop dumping in the ocean. I logical reason to this matter believe that if this idea hasnt is to not try and get rid of been able to work by 3014, then the trash island, but to use A depiction of what a manwe need to think of a more made island could look like. it to our advantage. We can Designed by Linda Long. reasonable solution. At first, we harness the trash to keep it were making more all together and build upon biodegradable materials that it, like a man-made island. It would dissolve faster so trash can also result in solving buildup happens slower. the crisis of running out of Unfortunately, the U.S. has land for our growing 2 population. The only drawback is what money do we have to accomplish this?

History of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch