Oceanic Garbage Patch

Trapped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by a vortex of converging currents, there is an area larger than the state of Texas that’s filled with garbage. Oceanographer Charles Moore discovered the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch,” a mass of coat hangers, plastic bottles, truck tires, and other debris 10 years ago when sailing off the coast of Hawaii. Deeply moved by this dreadful discovery, British environmentalist and billionaire David de Rothschild has made publicizing its existence his primary goal. In a few weeks, de Rothschild will set out in a catamaran—called the Plastiki—constructed from 12,000 plastic bottles. As he attempts to sail from San Francisco to Sydney, he’ll be blogging about his voyage and uploading video footage. Here’s hoping his efforts show what kind of impact—both positive and negative—plastic has on our world.