Oceans all over the world have a considerable amount of debris floating in them. Commercial ships continue to throw refuse of all kinds into the oceans. The flotsam and jetsam consist of fishing nets, cargo ship containers, plastics of all sizes and description. Sometimes sea life becomes entangled in this refuse and dies a slow terrible death.
After the tsunami hit Fukushima, Japan, a shipping container floated from there to Alaska. When it was opened, there was a rusting Harley Davidson motorcycle inside.
Oil slicks are visible in several parts of our oceans. Sometimes it is deliberately dumped by ships at sea. Offshore oil drilling has created ecological disasters all over the world. And, of course, there is the Exxon Valdez in Alaska that continues to damage the environment. In some parts of the Atlantic, huge clumps of crude oil float on the surface. Then there is the Sargasso Sea, which is so choked with debris and sea plants that you can almost walk on it.
There are two continents that have been rising in the Pacific Ocean for the past few decades. You can actually walk on much of them like the Sargasso Sea. They are called the eastern and western rubbish patches. They can be seen from outer space and are bigger than United States of America including Alaska.
These new continents have been created by ocean currents that carry refuse from all over the Pacific Rim. Most of the refuse is discarded plastic and polypropylene rope and fishing nets. As you can imagine, there is a noticeable stench arising from the water. Dead mammals and fish that have fallen prey to the refuse by entanglement is everywhere.
Nearby fisheries are beginning to die, thereby creating a cycle of death that will spread in time across the ocean. As the fisheries decline, so will the industries that depend on them for both food and jobs. The United States Congress has done nothing to break this cycle of environment mismanagement. Most of the refuse could even be recycled. Congressmen in Washington, D.C., can’t see beyond their upcoming election or the next campaign contribution and done nothing.
Quite recently some trash was retrieved from the Indian Ocean west of Australia. Several countries were looking for debris from Flight 370. I wouldn’t be surprised that out there in the ocean, there is debris from aircraft, but not from Flight 370.
I believe Flight 370 made a safe landing in Iran.
Dana L. Stern Sr.
