David de Rothschild's Plastiki was inspired by Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki
71The Plastiki is raising awareness about plastic pollution
Inspired by the late Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl and his raft the Kon-Tiki, adventurer and environmentalist David de Rothschild came up with the idea for the Plastiki, a 60 ft katamaran made up entirely from 13,000 recycled plastic water and soft drink bottles.
In true pioneering spirit, Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific Ocean from South America to Polynesia in 1947 to prove that such a journey on a raft was possible, and now De Rothschild is crossing the same ocean to raise awareness of recycling and the ongoing problem of the pollution of the ocean by plastic rubbish.
The course of the Plastiki is going past the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a gyre that has accumulated so much plastic that it is said to be the size of Texas. Most of the plastic that ends up in the oceans is thrown away on the land and more is disgarded at sea, but wherever it comes from, it ends up in this disgusting mess, which bears testament to what a terrible state the natural environments have become because of human activities and our lack of care.
The Plastiki
Plastic is killing marine life and goes into the food chain
Did you know that plastic rubbish floating about in the ocean kills all sorts of marine life from turtles to seabirds like the endangered albatross species? The animals mistake plastic bags and plastic objects for food such as jellyfish but when they swallow this rubbish in error it cannot be digested nor passed through them and many die.
Parent birds such as seagulls and albatrosses will try feeding plastic items they have found to their hungry chicks. Imagine what it does to a baby bird that swallows this junk!
And plastic doesn't break down either. It is simply not biodegradeable and consequently even if it is broken into miniscule pieces by the action of the ocean's currents and the process of time, it is still present. Plastic is now ending up as a component of sand. Plastic particles are getting swallowed by marine animals and so this artifical substance is entering the food chain.
David de Rothschild is very concerned about the extremely serious matter of plastic pollution and is also aiming to illustrate what can be done with recycled materials. Plastic, of course, being the example he will be demonstrating with the Plastiki.
With a handpicked crew he intends sailing over the period of three months across10,000 nautical miles on an ocean course that will lead from San Francisco all the way to Sydney.
David thinks that the time is over for debate and that action is needed now. He is hoping to inspire individuals, communities and businesses to do something about creating a sustainable use of our shared resources for the future.
I agree with him. If we all do our part it will go a long way to curbing the problems we face from pollution and the destruction of natural habitats and the environment. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could turn this ecological disaster around?
UPDATE: Whilst David de Rothschild was really hoping to begin the Plastiki expedition last year there have been delays that have prevented this, however, the latest news is that it is now likely to be launched in the near future. Please see David's Twitter page for updates and other news that he posts: http://twitter.com/DRexplore
Copyright © 2010 Steve Andrews. All Rights Reserved.
Plastiki links
- http://www.tenerifenews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13128:david-de-roth
Tenerife News story - The Plastiki Expedition
In 2009, adventurer and environmental storyteller David de Rothschild, along with a handpicked crew of leading scientists, sailors, adventurers, thought leaders and creatives will embark on an ocean adventure of unrivalled proportions - David de Rothschild\'s Plastiki Voyage - National Geographic Adventure Magazine
- Plastiki on Facebook
Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. - The voyage of the Plastiki | Environment | The Observer
David de Rothschild is about to sail a 60ft plastic catamaran, kept afloat with 12,500 empty bottles, across the Pacific. Here, the eco-adventurer tells Tim Adams why
David de Rothschild to Cross the Pacific... on Plastic
The Plastiki Expedition
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When I watch this I cannot divorce this from everything I have researched about the de Rochchilde's and their control over our world. He would have been trained from birth for his place in the control saga. I would imagine this is about them making a show of the disclosure that is happening and has been planned over the last few decades.
I heard him interviewed recently and he is a master at controlling the interview and avoiding every issue placed in front of him.
Lovely mission for a treasured grandchild of the old master I reckon. Think of the really hard work put in through the
dedication of those who began the recycling movement years ago, they are not in the public eye sailing the boat across the pacific with all the funds of the world at their disposal!!! They are supplying the funds.
Contact me David, I would love to interview you and ask some of the questions that really need to be answered.
Namaste
Thank you for your feedback, someonewhoknows and Universal Laws!
It is a good job David is good at controlling interviews when he has to deal with outbursts like he was subjected to by Alex Jones! lol
Great hub Bard of Ely! I think David is to be commended for bringing attention to the plastic issue in a creative and innovative way, especially when as a de Rothschild he could sit on his bottom all day long and do nothing.
Thank you, LRobbins! I totally agree with you that David should be commended for what he is doing! You are right about it being "creative and innovative" too. This is something that the public will be interested in and that is what is important - to spark people's enthusiasm to do something themselves that will help the world!
To really help the world right now the most important thing is to deprogramme yourselves from what you think is happening. We are not responsible for global warming it is part of a much larger galactic event which the Rothschild's and the rest of the shadow world government know about as do they reckon only 10,000 other people. You are not meant to know because it will break their control and the agenda they are playing out. www.projectcamelot.org is the best source of all the hundreds of whistle blowers coming forward, start to watch the interviews one at a time and let the information raise your knowledge, consciousness and safety for the future. We have a future but only if we see the illusion for what it is and take back control.
Namaste
If that was addressed to me, Universal Laws, first of all let me say that I am well aware of the fact that Global Warming is not being caused by people but by the sun! In fact, I said so on Jon King's Conscious Ape Radio Show only the other night. As for Project Camelot, you will find that I am one of their supporters. I have watched most of the videos on their site and have a few posted in hubs of mine.
I am not sure where you got the 10,000 people figure from but there must be millions that are aware of this.
It is not relevant to my support for David whether he believes people are causing Global Warming or not. That it is happening is what is important, as is the very real destruction of the environment caused by people, as is the very real wastage of resources. I support him because I agree with the majority of points he raises in his book and elsewhere. I support him because he is taking action and as a public figure is raising awareness of the very real problem of pollution of the environment, in this case the ocean. I support him for encouraging people to take responsibility and to take recycling seriously.
And finally I support him because I follow synchronicities in my life and several weeks back I was talking to a friend about how I intended trying to contact him and then when I put my PC on I got an alert to say David de Rothschild was following me at Twitter! For me that was a sign confirming that it is right for me to be supporting him.
Whatever one thinks about global warming and whose fault it is or isn't, you can argue with the fact that we are dumping way too much plastic all over the place. The plastic island in the Pacific Ocean is a disgusting illustration of how we are ruining our home. And if David's family are a bunch of plutocrats, that really doesn't matter either if his heart is in the right place and his project gets lots of attention for a serious cause. Plus, it just sounds really cool.
I totally agree with you, Dolores! Thank you for posting!
It is no secret the damage Plastic bottles are doing to our planet. Not only because of the decay of the oceans which is bad enough but also because of the oil that is needed to make them. The oil that is used on plastic bottles could be better used. What is really needed here is not boats but re useable bottles. Just like in the good old days when we used to re use glass bottles. Maybe if people were offered money or money off for their plastic bottles then we could do the planet a favour and save some money at the same time.
I remember the days of the money-back bottles too, Debbie! It is a great shame we can't go back to them! There were glass pop bottles and beer bottles then with a deposit on them and we used to take them back to shops and get money for them. It was a system that worked and was not causing pollution of the oceans and planet.
We used to have rubbish bins not plastic rubbish bags too! It was a happier and healthier world then! In the words of the song:"If I could turn back time..."
Bring back glass... it is recyclable & non toxic... unlike plastic!
great hub bard, i understand Universal Laws concerns, but i also agree that irrespective of the debate about what the real causes of climate change are, it is important that we all learn to live in ways that are sympathetic to the planet that sustains our lives.
Typical. Create the problem then provide the solution.
Thank you for your posts, Loubeelou and Lisa!
In this case it would be bring back the solution! The world used to run fine without all this plastic so why not again?
He's pretty nifty! I admire his idea!
I am glad to hear it!
i am an avid supporter of a sustainable planet and have been for over 30 years but, and this is a big but when the De Rothschild's have played out their end game with the rest of the bunch and have drained all the money out of the economy Remember this David De Rothschild will use his 36% of their banking empire, which he shares with his two siblings to run back to his huge organic farm in New Zealand or his safe destination in one of the underground facilities. The money in his accounts have been stolen from the people.
You cannot be committed some of the time........
Namaste
Linda
David is an avid supporter of a sustainable planet too!
Isn't the focus here on respect for the environment and nature and recycling as the way forward? I can view the Plastiki mission in that way.
Committed to what exactly are you referring?
This bug is very inspiring, and I totally agree with what David said, we should act instead of just saying. If everyone of us take the responsibility to do something, the world will be clean and beautiful :)
Thanks for being in agreement, Joe!
I suppose It is easy to view David as a pioneer and the Plastiki as a great project to raise awareness of all the plastic rubbish in the ocean blah blah blah, but I sense a hidden agenda here.
The fact is, environmentally responsible people and nations around the world are already well aware the scale of this pollution as well as its harmful effects on the environment and marine life and are already actively taking measures to do something about it. How helpful is it really going to be for Dave to sail by and take a few happy snaps of the rubbish, as opposed to scooping up as much of it as possible en-route and arriving to port with a full load for alternative disposal which I'm sure would impress people more.
I see that plastic bottles have been donated for the project but It would be interesting to find out the total cost to build the boat in comparison with a similar sized production catamaran and what percentage of the project has been directly funded by David or his family?
My guess is that the primary purpose of the project is research and development into alternative eco-friendly boat design and manufacture which is certainly not a bad thing, but don't p*ss on us and tell us it's raining.
Thank you for your opinion on this, Dan, but as it happened due to weather conditions the Plastiki was forced on a course that didn't go as near as planned. David's expedition was sponsored by Hewlett Packard.
The voyage of the Plastiki did achieve its goals of raising global awareness as I can personally testify having been told this by people who didn't know anything about the reality of the pollution problem.
someonewhoknows Level 5 Commenter 2 years ago
Well he has found a productive use for waste plastic in the short term at least.