In the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 we have found oil slicks and debris everywhere - none of it connected to the missing plane, writes Paul Mobbs. The seas are littered with human trash, and it's killing the oceanic ecosystem.
… What MH370 told us - the oceans are awash with trash Paul Mobbs | 5th April 2014 Comment Waste Oceans Transport ocean-rubbish-2.png In the search for Malaysia …
One of the biggest threats facing marine life is the 'microplastic' particles found in ocean ecosystems from bottom to top of food chains. Just back from a voyage of environmental exploration in the tropical Atlantic sampling the waters to build up a global picture of this ubiquitous pollutant, Ana Stanič writes of the joys and trials of life on the waves, and the need to keep our oceans clean.
… unseen: an investigation into plastics in our oceans Ana Stanič | 21st February 2016 Ethical Living Oceans Pollution Waste Science 360-kmq.jpg One … life is the 'microplastic' particles found in ocean ecosystems from bottom to top of food …
Oxygen levels in our oceans are falling, writes Lee Bryant, producing growing 'dead zones' where only the hardiest organisms can survive. The causes are simple: pollution with nutrient-rich wastes, and global warming. But the only solution is to stop it happening - or wait for 1,000 years.
… Ocean 'dead zones' are spreading - and that … for fish Lee Bryant | 9th April 2015 News Oceans Pollution Farming Waste … Oxygen levels in our oceans are falling, writes Lee Bryant, … happening - or wait for 1,000 years. Falling ocean oxygen levels due to rising temperatures …
Three scientific expeditions into the Atlantic ocean will take place this summer, writes outdoor philosopher Kate Rawles. But as well as gathering data about plastic pollution and over-fishing, they will give participants the chance to think deeply about our society, its values, the often false narratives it tells; and our place, as humans, in the natural world.
… Sea Dragon - exploring the oceans, exploring ourselves Dr Kate Rawles | 16th June 2015 Ethical Living Oceans Pollution Natural World Society Waste … scientific expeditions into the Atlantic ocean will take place this summer, writes …
Eighty percent of marine rubbish originates on land - via storm drains, overflowing landfills, and uncontrolled dumping in rivers. And once it's in the sea, no one is responsible for it, writes Alistair McIlgorm. It's high time for governments to clean up their act.
… Oceans of rubbish - governments must act … Alistair McIlgorm | 27th April 2014 Comment Oceans Waste ocean-rubbish.jpg Eighty percent of marine …
An unimaginably large volume of plastic debris is reaching the world's oceans every year, write Britta Denise Hardesty & Chris Wilcox - and it's set for a ten-fold increase over the next decade, adding to the already terrible toll on marine life from turtles to seals, sea birds and fish. The solution must be to give waste plastic value - if we can find a way.
… million tonnes of plastic are going into the ocean each year Britta Denise Hardesty Chris Wilcox | 4th April 2015 News Oceans Waste Natural World Pollution Toxics seal-ocean-plastic-cut.jpg An unimaginably large …
Already 60% of seabird species have plastic in their guts, often as much as 8% of their body weight. And with ocean plastic increasing exponentially, that figure will rise to 99% by 2050, threatening some birds' survival. Unless we act.
… Ocean plastic plague threatens seabirds Chris … Erik van Sebille | 1st September 2015 News Oceans Birds Waste Science … as much as 8% of their body weight. And with ocean plastic increasing exponentially, that …
Even creatures at the bottom of the ocean aren't sheltered from the detritus of human civilization, writes Sarah Zielinski. Everywhere they have looked, scientists have found plastic, glass and other trash littering the seafloor and collecting in canyons.
… Our garbage is polluting the remotest, deepest ocean Sarah Zielinski | 1st July 2014 Comment Oceans Waste sea_plastic-cut.jpg Even creatures at the bottom of the ocean aren't sheltered from the detritus of …
Countries at the UN have agreed to start formal negotiations on a new 'legally binding instrument' to conserve the biological riches of the high seas that cover 45% of planet Earth, and ensure their sustainable use for the benefit of all mankind.
… UN talks begin on a new law to save our oceans The Ecologist | 30th January 2015 News Oceans UK Law Fishing Mining Biodiversity … could lead to new laws to address many of the oceans most severe problems, including …
On current trends the world will contain 33 billion tonnes of plastic by 20150, writes Mae Wan Ho, and much of it will litter the oceans, concentrating toxins and damaging marine life throughout the food chain. The alternative is to classify the most toxic plastics as 'hazardous waste', and for all plastics to be reused and recycled in 'closed loop' systems.
… Fighting the plastic plague in our oceans Dr Mae-Wan Ho | 13th February 2015 News Oceans Waste Toxics Recycling … Mae Wan Ho, and much of it will litter the oceans, concentrating toxins and damaging …
For 25 years, a group of eco-aware surfers have been campaigning for cleaner waves, writes Summer Brooks. SAS was founded in 1990 to tackle sewage discharges into UK coastal waters, and now, bigger and stronger than ever, they are turning their focus to the global problem of ocean plastic - both picking it up on our beaches, and pushing for long term, global solutions.
… Surfers Against Sewage turns its fight to ocean plastic Summer Brooks | 2nd September 2015 Activism Oceans Waste Health surfer-cut.jpg For 25 … turning their focus to the global problem of ocean plastic - both picking it up on our …
Plastic is ubiquitous around the world's oceans, writes Lesley Henderson, but although it's visible from space, it can be surprisingly elusive in the water - as she heard from Jo Ruxton, producer of the investigative documentary 'A Plastic Ocean'. Solutions to this growing hazard have also proved elusive to date, hence the film's strong focus on action: educational, cultural and legal.
… Plastic Ocean - why the world should declare plastic … University London | 8th June 2016 Comment Oceans Waste Pollution Ecology Health Culture … Plastic is ubiquitous around the world's oceans, writes Lesley Henderson, but although …
A legal principle dating from Roman times is ripe for use in protecting our waste-filled and over-exploited seas and oceans, writes Deb Wright. Under the 'Public Trust Doctrine' governments are entrusted to protect shared natural resources from abuse, and can be held accountable for neglect of their duties.
… Doctrine requires governments to protect our oceans! Deb Wright | 9th March 2016 Comment Oceans Law Commons Climate Change Fishing … our waste-filled and over-exploited seas and oceans, writes Deb Wright. Under the 'Public …
The oceans are awash with plastic, write Magnus Johnson & Melanie Coull, with dire effects on marine wildlife mistaking it for food. But it's not just big animals like basking sharks, turtles and albatrosses that suffer. The very worst damage may be caused by particles too small for the eye to see, and the toxic chemicals that cling to them.
… Over 268,000 tonnes of ocean plastic - neglect it at our peril Magnus … Melanie Coull | 11th December 2014 Comment Oceans Waste Toxics Natural World … garbage-laden-beach-of-anchado-cut.jpg The oceans are awash with plastic, write Magnus …
Lewis Pugh has completed long-distance swims in the 'seven seas' to promote his dream of a peaceful world of well-managed Marine Protected Areas, abundant oceans teeming with fish, turtles, whales, sea-birds and sharks. His shocking experiences in the water make that dream more urgent and compelling than ever.
… seas! Lewis Pugh | 30th August 2014 Comment Oceans Fishing Natural World Waste Peace … well-managed Marine Protected Areas, abundant oceans teeming with fish, turtles, whales, … That's exactly what does worry me. A healthy ocean is an ocean with sharks. Suddenly, the …
Long after we go extinct the human presence on Earth will be marked by a geological stratum rich in plastic garbage, according to a new study. Long-lived plastics are already widespread over the ocean floor, and there's a lot more on its way. Forget the 'Anthropocene' - the human era should rightly be called the Plasticene.
… 2016 News Geology Science Waste Pollution Oceans plastic-beach-cut.jpg Long after we go … plastics are already widespread over the ocean floor, and there's a lot more on its … into rocky sediments from land and oceans that we are subjecting to a constant …
Out in the Atlantic off the coast of West Africa, the Cape Verde islands should be pristine, writes Simon Ager, a haven for sea turtles and other wildlife. But the beach where loggerhead turtles have nested for millions of years is buried under a deadly morass of plastic garbage.
… Shepherd | 6th October 2014 Activism Reptiles Oceans Waste Cape Verde … is nothing but the mountains rising from the ocean floor, black sand blending into dirty … disorientated turtles, returning them to the ocean. Some are not so lucky, succumbing to …
The 2011 Fukushima catastrophe is an ongoing disaster whose end only gets more remote as time passes. The government is desperate to get evacuees back into their homes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but the problems on the ground, and in the breached reactor vessels, are only getting more serious and costly, as unbelievable volumes of radiation contaminate land, air and ocean.
… of radiation contaminate land, air and ocean. Six years after the catastrophe at … still leaking continuously into the Pacific ocean, and partially decontaminated water is being dumped into the ocean. All available information and figures …
Two and a half years on from the tsunami that caused several reactors to meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant north of Tokyo and we are still in the dark about the true extent of the danger to human life and ecosystems writes Lynn Batten......
… into groundwater, rivers, and the Pacific Ocean. Two and a half years on from the … and has been finding its way into the Pacific Ocean. This is an unquantifiable ecological … the contaminated water was leaking into the ocean, public confidence in the edicts of the …
A voyage around the South Pacific is on a mission to change how we think about plastics.
… Marine Conservation Plastics Pollution Waste Oceans Thought Leaders copy_of_dsc03509.jpg A … bits of commercial convenience have made the ocean sick. New insights When our six-month … from New Zealand, Somerville said that the ocean is “life force”. The thought that his …
Brazil has suffered its biggest ever industrial disaster, write Ana Luisa Naghettini & Geraldo Lopes. Breached and overflowing dams have released a massive slug of toxic muds and tailings from iron mining into the country's fifth largest river system that provides drinking water for downstream cities, destroying ecosystems in rivers and vast areas of biologically fragile ocean.
… rivers and vast areas of biologically fragile ocean. Exactly two weeks ago, on 5th November, … of the Doce river, which reaches the Atlantic ocean in the coastal region of Espírito Santo … half of the Southern portion of the Atlantic Ocean is compromised and will function poorly …
Koide Hiroaki has spent his entire career as a nuclear engineer, and has become a central figure in Japan's movement for the abolition of nuclear power plants. He met with Katsuya Hirano and Hirotaka Kasai to discuss the catastrophic nuclear meltdowns at Fukushima Daaichi in March 2011, and the crimes and cover-ups committed both before and after the event.
… cesium-137 [Cs-137 or 137Cs]. The ocean is largely contaminated with … amount of Cs-137 released in the air and the ocean together, we get an estimate several … has been leaking from Fukushima into the ocean, so it will eventually reach the United …
'If you could mine salt from their grief and tears, Slovyansk would be a leader of salt-making.'
… for breath like fish beached by a powerful ocean wave. It is hard to tell if this is … and imagined himself roaming the bottom of an ocean that used to exist “an astronomical … present-day Donetsk region, but a sea, not an ocean. It was this sea that left behind salt …
Modern industrial capitalism is based on a simple premise, writes Derrick Jensen: our mother Earth is a great store of raw materials for us to pillage, and a vast trashcan for our endless volumes of waste, no matter how long-lived and deadly. How can this be changed? First we must regain our own sanity.
… from greenhouse gases to pesticides to ocean microplastics? Can the capitalists clean … When people ask how we can stop polluting the oceans with plastic, they don't really mean, "How can we stop polluting the oceans with plastic?" They mean, "How can we …