by Pam Uher

Created on: December 11, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2009

I recently flew over the huge watery "patch of plastic" and waste debris the modern world has created by dumping their disposable trash into the sea. This huge "New Continent", as many environmentalists call it, is two times the size of Texas and growing larger daily. Writers, environmentalists and the media have given this plastic mass the popular name of "The Great Pacific Garbage Patch"(Curtis Ebbesmeyer). It is alarming that the projected estimates, by researchers, believe it will expand "tenfold in the next decade".

You may not have heard of this "New Continent", because it has very few visitors. In fact, the area of the Pacific Ocean it lies in, is not on any major shipping or travel pathway. You will find this large floating island of debris between California and Hawaii, in what is called the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. This area is where ocean currents meet and create a swirling vortex, known as the horse latitudes region. This is a relatively still area of ocean with few winds to offer commercial sailing vessels or vacation ships any expedient cruise speed. The winds that do blow in the region blow toward the vortex which traps the waste and debris suspended and floating in the Pacific waters.

The waste debris of modern technology and the lack of human stewardship have created this "New Continent", that has risen from the foamy froths of the Pacific Ocean and "something evil this way" smells and swells. Our American disposable, throw it away, use it once world of "ease" has created a toxic monster (almost like a science fiction movie plot) from mountains of trash we shed daily from our everyday life.

This "New Continent" is mostly made up of human manufactured waste; 80 percent being plastic. Literally thousand of disposable plastic "throw-away" items fill this ocean area. Things like toothbrushes, plastic shopping bags, plastic pens, plastic six-pack soda holders, plastic umbrella handles, plastic drink bottles, diapers and the list goes on and on. It has been estimated by scientists measuring the debris that 3 1/2 tons of human trash is floating, swirling, swimming and suspended in this ocean "landfill".

Historically the accumulation of flotsam was of biodegradable nature (such as shipwreck debris-wood,cloth,mostly organic in nature). Now plastic bags, bottles and numerous other manufactured plastic items that keep their original molecular structure are floating with sneakers, basketball, plastic toys and mounds of other plastic products creating

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