ocean trash

So what did we learn from the recent Air France disaster? And this is in no means meant to be disrespectful towards the victims and their families. But it appears the biggest story is missing from the popular press. I.e. the oceans are very polluted.

If search planes mistake simple ocean trash for the remains of a broken-up airliner there is something very wrong with the oceans. A broken-up airliner leaves a lot of debris. Note that the patch identified by Brazilian authorities was complete with pallets, passenger seats, and an oil slick large enough to be credible. Yet it turned out to be nothing more than "ordinary" ocean trash. That is how polluted our seas really are.

According to some reports there are trash "patches" the size of Texas filled with junk, leftovers, oil and other pollutants. It is apparently not that rare to find old refrigerators or washing machines floating around in the middle of the Atlantic. Trash collects preferentially in areas where currents meet and where seas are more or less calm.

Clearly this is not going to keep going without having some effect on human populations. Sure, it could go on for another 50-60 years, but sooner or later we will pay the price for our unsustainable life-styles.