Junk Raft coming to Hawaii by end of August- calling attention to trash in the ocean
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chrisdamitio
Aug 15, 2008, 10:46:35 PM8/15/08
to Hawaii Hikers
I don't know if you guys have been following this story or not, but
pretty important. I've been coordinating with them to set up a
barbecue, some talks, etc. If anyone wants to help put something
together let me know or just contact Anna. They need help in lots of
different departments. Please pass this on to your various
environmentally friendly friends and networks.
Mahalo,
Chris
dam...@hawaii.edu
JUNK RAFT ON HOME STRETCH TO HAWAII – DUE BY END OF MONTH!
AUGUST 1, 2008 (Los Angeles, Ca.) Two months and 1700 miles after
departing from the Long Beach Aquarium in California, the JUNK RAFT
and it’s two eco-mariners Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal are in
the final stretch of their voyage to Hawaii. If the trade winds stay
steady they should arrive at Ala Wai Harbor on Oahu around August
27th.
“We set out to call attention to the problem of plastic trash in the
ocean,” says Dr. Marcus Eriksen, “and unfortunately we’ve seen it
along our journey – even out here, a thousand miles from the coast.”
The historic venture is part of Algalita Marine Research Foundation’s
ongoing mission to alert the world to the growing problem of plastics
fouling our oceans.
Sailing a raft made entirely of discarded “junk” and built on pontoons
holding 15,000 plastic bottles, the purpose of the journey is to help
call attention to the unacceptable level of plastic trash now
littering the world’s oceans. Their blog, www.junkraft.com,
maintained by JUNK’s third partner and land support Anna Cummins,
includes a series of rapid fire public service announcements
describing the extent of the problems. These range from toxins
leaching out of plastics to disruption of feeding in wildlife such as
seabirds choking on plastic lighters and toothbrushes, to plankton
ingesting the small particles that result from breakdown of the
plastics.
Feasting on Mahi Mahi and squid, they have had a safe and relatively
smooth journey. JUNK has four sails and is capable of speeds up to 3
knots. The first month of the expedition they were pushed south by
the coastal current, but halfway down Baja Mexico they caught the
westward winds and currents and have been on a beeline to Hawaii ever
since.
Plans are now coming together for a welcoming event on Oahu to
celebrate the successful completion of the three-month voyage and to
further call attention to the issue of plastics in the sea. JUNK will
then be transported back to California where a similar event will be
staged back at their point of origin at the Long Beach Aquarium. The
raft will then become part of a traveling exhibit on plastics in the
oceans.
The project gained initial support from the Sky Scrape Foundation and
the Burbank Recycling Center, which provided most of the 15,000
bottles. Patagonia also gave over 1000 Nalgene bottles that are being
phased out of their product line due to concerns over chemicals in the
plastics. One of the sponsors, Ecousables has developed a stainless
steel safe alternative to plastic water bottles. Students from Santa
Monica High School and the Environmental Charter High School helped
stuff the bottles into the pontoons, and MUSE Elementary provided
support. Additional sponsors include Kashi Cereal, Patagonia,
Shifting Baselines, Solar Design Associates, Long Beach Marine
Electronics, OCENS Inc, Explorer Satellite, Trek Me, and numerous
others listed on junkraft.com.
For additional information, contact: Anna Cummins, 310-998-8616,
annac...@gmail.com
And follow the journey at: http://www.junkraft.com
pretty important. I've been coordinating with them to set up a
barbecue, some talks, etc. If anyone wants to help put something
together let me know or just contact Anna. They need help in lots of
different departments. Please pass this on to your various
environmentally friendly friends and networks.
Mahalo,
Chris
dam...@hawaii.edu
JUNK RAFT ON HOME STRETCH TO HAWAII – DUE BY END OF MONTH!
AUGUST 1, 2008 (Los Angeles, Ca.) Two months and 1700 miles after
departing from the Long Beach Aquarium in California, the JUNK RAFT
and it’s two eco-mariners Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal are in
the final stretch of their voyage to Hawaii. If the trade winds stay
steady they should arrive at Ala Wai Harbor on Oahu around August
27th.
“We set out to call attention to the problem of plastic trash in the
ocean,” says Dr. Marcus Eriksen, “and unfortunately we’ve seen it
along our journey – even out here, a thousand miles from the coast.”
The historic venture is part of Algalita Marine Research Foundation’s
ongoing mission to alert the world to the growing problem of plastics
fouling our oceans.
Sailing a raft made entirely of discarded “junk” and built on pontoons
holding 15,000 plastic bottles, the purpose of the journey is to help
call attention to the unacceptable level of plastic trash now
littering the world’s oceans. Their blog, www.junkraft.com,
maintained by JUNK’s third partner and land support Anna Cummins,
includes a series of rapid fire public service announcements
describing the extent of the problems. These range from toxins
leaching out of plastics to disruption of feeding in wildlife such as
seabirds choking on plastic lighters and toothbrushes, to plankton
ingesting the small particles that result from breakdown of the
plastics.
Feasting on Mahi Mahi and squid, they have had a safe and relatively
smooth journey. JUNK has four sails and is capable of speeds up to 3
knots. The first month of the expedition they were pushed south by
the coastal current, but halfway down Baja Mexico they caught the
westward winds and currents and have been on a beeline to Hawaii ever
since.
Plans are now coming together for a welcoming event on Oahu to
celebrate the successful completion of the three-month voyage and to
further call attention to the issue of plastics in the sea. JUNK will
then be transported back to California where a similar event will be
staged back at their point of origin at the Long Beach Aquarium. The
raft will then become part of a traveling exhibit on plastics in the
oceans.
The project gained initial support from the Sky Scrape Foundation and
the Burbank Recycling Center, which provided most of the 15,000
bottles. Patagonia also gave over 1000 Nalgene bottles that are being
phased out of their product line due to concerns over chemicals in the
plastics. One of the sponsors, Ecousables has developed a stainless
steel safe alternative to plastic water bottles. Students from Santa
Monica High School and the Environmental Charter High School helped
stuff the bottles into the pontoons, and MUSE Elementary provided
support. Additional sponsors include Kashi Cereal, Patagonia,
Shifting Baselines, Solar Design Associates, Long Beach Marine
Electronics, OCENS Inc, Explorer Satellite, Trek Me, and numerous
others listed on junkraft.com.
For additional information, contact: Anna Cummins, 310-998-8616,
annac...@gmail.com
And follow the journey at: http://www.junkraft.com
chrisdamitio
Aug 27, 2008, 1:08:07 AM8/27/08
to Hawaii Hikers
the Junk Raft arrives tomorrow at the Ala Wai yacht club around 10 am.
I'll be leading a hiking tour on diamond head, but for those of you
that can make it there...right on. We'll try to set some sort of bbq/
meet and greet up if possible. Anyone want to help on this? Say on
Monday?
cheers!
Chris
On Aug 15, 4:46 pm, chrisdamitio <fukn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't know if you guys have been following this story or not, but
> pretty important. I've been coordinating with them to set up a
> barbecue, some talks, etc. If anyone wants to help put something
> together let me know or just contact Anna. They need help in lots of
> different departments. Please pass this on to your various
> environmentally friendly friends and networks.
>
> Mahalo,
>
> Chris
> dami...@hawaii.edu
> annacumm...@gmail.com
I'll be leading a hiking tour on diamond head, but for those of you
that can make it there...right on. We'll try to set some sort of bbq/
meet and greet up if possible. Anyone want to help on this? Say on
Monday?
cheers!
Chris
On Aug 15, 4:46 pm, chrisdamitio <fukn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't know if you guys have been following this story or not, but
> pretty important. I've been coordinating with them to set up a
> barbecue, some talks, etc. If anyone wants to help put something
> together let me know or just contact Anna. They need help in lots of
> different departments. Please pass this on to your various
> environmentally friendly friends and networks.
>
> Mahalo,
>
> Chris
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