Plastic Island

Henderson's Northern Beach in 2009   (Public Domain)

South Pacific islands have long been the stuff that fantasy is made of. Such dreams, however, have not included “more than 37 million pieces of plastic debris.”

This is the unfortunate reality on remote Henderson Island, otherwise a tropical paradise.  Situated within the Pitcairn Islands, Henderson is right in the path of powerful ocean currents.  These currents deposit a “steady stream of plastic from around the world” on heretofore pristine beaches.

These days, Robinson Crusoe might fare better in a New York City dumpster than on a deserted island.  Henderson Island currently has “the highest density of debris reported in the world.”

Resources

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/15/528470657/millions-of-pieces-of-plastic-are-piling-up-on-otherwise-pristine-pacific-island 

Copyright May 16, 2017 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved