Thread: Oceans of rubbish

It just shows how short sighted the human race can be. Chuck rubbish in the sea, and it disappears. No longer my problem.

There are a number of countries that do care, and have legislation to suit, but that's not going to be that effective when a couple of the most populous countries in the world still think it's ok to heave old Uncle Bernard in their waterway when he pops his clogs.

Why would the ocean be any different?

When you see how much rubbish so called "responsible" campers leave in the bush, it's no wonder the ocean has its share. My view these days is it's the majority who are dirty, filthy, couldn't care less.

More joyous facts about our species:

Each Minute

• At least 51 acres of tropical forests are destroyed.
• We consume almost 35,000 barrels of oil.
• 50 tons of fertile soil are washed or blown off cropland.
• We add 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

Each Hour

• 1,692 acres of productive dry land become desert.
• 1,800 children die of malnutrition and hunger (that makes a total of 15 million each year).
• 120 million dollars are spent for military expenditures (making a total of one trillion each year).
• 55 people are poisoned by the pesticides they use; 5 die.
• 60 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States alone (that makes a total of 500,000 each year with 20,000 leading to death).

Each Day

• Over 230,000 babies are born.
• 25,000 people die of water shortage or contamination.
• 10 tons of nuclear waste are being generated by the 350 existing nuclear plants.
• 250,000 tons of sulfuric acid fall as acid rain in the Northern Hemisphere.
• 60 tons of plastic packaging and 372 tons of fishing net are dumped into the sea by commercial fishermen.
• Almost 5 species of life become extinct.

During a lot of ocean racing I have done on numerous yachts nearly all of them had a rule if you want to save the environment then put all the rubbish in your little storage hole. If not chuck it over the side.
One yacht I raced on the owner would only allow you on with the clothing you had on and your dry suit nothing else. All food was in vac sealed bags and when they opened them for consumption it went straight over the side.
Then they introduced the system that you had to show your rubbish to the race organisers at the end to be able to be classified as finisher. (not all the rubbish just some). It is a disgrace what I have seen go over the side. Glass bottles get smashed with a winch handle so they don't float.
And we wonder why there is a mess in the oceans.

Little wonder our environment gets littered, after 40+ years of Australian parents and teachers telling their children that the world revolves around them, and they have little or no responsibilty for their actions

Manners, respect, and responsibility,all gone by the way,sad really

Originally Posted by olbod

This beautiful planet Earth does not deserve us.

The big question i have in life is why are we here? Ancient human's and race's only took what they needed where modern humans take everything with no regard for the future. Why did we survive the ice age when we are clearly the reason why this planet will die. We survived the ice age for what reason i don't know while other species of humans died out was it because we were smarter? It might seem i am getting a bit deep with this but if the human race died out all i can see is the planet and animals being better off. So why are we here?