Ever heard of ocean gyre’s?
They are areas in the middle of the oceans where the current goes round in circles.
Ever heard of an ocean garbage patch?
That is where all the billions of tons of plastic and rubbish we humans generate and throw into our rivers and seas ends up.
They are massive floating rafts of garbage, mainly plastics.
They are in every one of the world’s oceans and are larger in area than many countries.
They will NEVER go away!
We have to clean them up.
The problem is so massive in volume and surface area covered that only massive solutions will make a difference.
This proposal is massive.
We are taking clean garbage disposal technologies and putting them offshore.
These technologies take waste material in one end and deliver fresh water, biogas, electricity, pelletised plastics and building materials out the other, with no greenhouse gas emissions and no waste. 100% recyled!
Our proposal is to have a fleet of large bulk carriers. Big ships with huge capacity that can survive the ocean storms.
These ships will have massive booms out the sides of the ship to capture a wide swath of the flotsam and jetson.
That material will be conveyed on board where the massive holds will house technologies to separate materials and turn them into usable items.
We have the technologies, we can convert the ships, we just need your help to turn this into a fundable proposal.
The funding raised will be used to develop the proposal, produce a website, promotional video and documentation and help us source the millions in funding that this project will take.
There are six major garbage gyres, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, West Pacific, East Pacific and South Pacific.
It is our goal to have at least one ship removing garbage in each of the gyres. Each ship will need an operational base and supporting vessels.
We also want to see this as delivering benefits to third world countries, so we will choose as bases third world countries near each gyre. These bases will receive all the building materials and recyclable products produced.
The energy produced on board the ships will be used to run the operation along with on-board wind and solar energy.
But who pays? To implement this project will take millions, but this is a world wide problem and every country must bear a measure of responsibility for the clean-up.
Also, the producers of the plastics that become waste must also face a cost to clean up the aftermath of their packaging policies. So, we will also have systems to identify the source of the rubbish, the drinks company using the plastic bottles for example, and ensure they also contribute to the clean-up.
The gyres are unseen, out of sight and out of mind, but they severely affect our environment. They kill thousands of birds and maim or kill marine mammals and fish.
We put the rubbish there and we have to clean it up.
Every day more rubbish joins the gyres, we cannot delay any longer and must take action now.
Please help by supporting this project.
Acknowledgement.
This project is undertaken in honour of the late Professor George Knox MBE FRSNZ, Emeritus Professor of Zoology, Canterbury University, New Zealand.
Leading marine biologist and environmental scientist who pioneered environmental responsibility with regard to the oceans through his position and the books he authored.
Author of “The Biology of the Southern Oceans” and “The Ecology of Seashores”.
President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
Our Proposed Vessel
Large Commercial style vessel so as to weather ocean storms. In operation the booms cut a wide swathe through the floating rubbish. Conveyors move the waste up into the vessel where the hold contains a full processing plant. Processed and packaged material are transferred to a second vessel for transport to a shore facility for recycling.
The amazing banner image at the top of the page, which says it all, is by Ferdi Rizkiyanto and is titled “What Lies Under”.
It very succinctly demonstrates that what is perceived, a beautiful ocean view, hides the terrible truth underneath.
More of his work can be found at Ferdi Rizkiyanto