Comments on: The Red Herrings of Greenpeace http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/ Kicking ass in the name of science! Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:23:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: trashman http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-56157 trashman Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:09:46 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-56157 I've participated in many clean-ups in the Pacific and I'm personally tired of being asked by friends what am I doing to clean-up the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch". There is a big enough problem in the nearshore waters; perhaps even larger than what Greenpeace and Algalita would have you believe when comparing the Garbage Patch to other areas. The representation is poor, yes it is a problem because birds and fish eat it but no you can't see it from a satellite or a plane because the bits are so small. So small the only way to collect/remove it is with a net that gathers the plankton as well. When you look at the density of the mountains of debris that have accumulated on the South Point of Hawaii, or Kanapou Bay of Kahoolawe or the beaches of Laysan Island and the TONS of debris that have been removed from these places; the Garbage Patch is nothing. What Greenpeace and Algalita should do is focus on raising awareness of the danger of the toxins in the plastics that are being introduced into the food web by the ingestion of these tiny plastic particles. Because thats where the real danger lies, not the horror of another Texas forming in the Pacific. I’ve participated in many clean-ups in the Pacific and I’m personally tired of being asked by friends what am I doing to clean-up the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. There is a big enough problem in the nearshore waters; perhaps even larger than what Greenpeace and Algalita would have you believe when comparing the Garbage Patch to other areas. The representation is poor, yes it is a problem because birds and fish eat it but no you can’t see it from a satellite or a plane because the bits are so small. So small the only way to collect/remove it is with a net that gathers the plankton as well. When you look at the density of the mountains of debris that have accumulated on the South Point of Hawaii, or Kanapou Bay of Kahoolawe or the beaches of Laysan Island and the TONS of debris that have been removed from these places; the Garbage Patch is nothing.
What Greenpeace and Algalita should do is focus on raising awareness of the danger of the toxins in the plastics that are being introduced into the food web by the ingestion of these tiny plastic particles. Because thats where the real danger lies, not the horror of another Texas forming in the Pacific.

]]> By: Ross Donaldson http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-45192 Ross Donaldson Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:42:15 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-45192 A well done analysis, sir. I like your blog more and more. I'm mystified by the flak you've caught; many folk just dont seem to be paying all that much attention to what you've actually <b>said</b>. A pity, but a common syndrome on the internet. A well done analysis, sir. I like your blog more and more. I’m mystified by the flak you’ve caught; many folk just dont seem to be paying all that much attention to what you’ve actually said. A pity, but a common syndrome on the internet.

]]> By: Natasha http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-38302 Natasha Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:20:46 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-38302 The problem seems to be the way Greenpeace (or anyone else) tries to represent the "vortex" as a solid mass of plastic as well as their shoddy research tactics. I, for one, enjoyed your analysis as well as reading the often over-emotional responses. The problem seems to be the way Greenpeace (or anyone else) tries to represent the “vortex” as a solid mass of plastic as well as their shoddy research tactics.

I, for one, enjoyed your analysis as well as reading the often over-emotional responses.

]]> By: Nancy Nadel v. Sean Sullivan: LWV Voter Forum recap : Our Dirty Dishes http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-24880 Nancy Nadel v. Sean Sullivan: LWV Voter Forum recap : Our Dirty Dishes Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:31:54 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-24880 [...] glut of plastic floating in the sea that is now the size of Texas.” (Note: this is actually not true.) Plastic water bottles get used once and thrown away! There’s these things called reusable [...] [...] glut of plastic floating in the sea that is now the size of Texas.” (Note: this is actually not true.) Plastic water bottles get used once and thrown away! There’s these things called reusable [...]

]]> By: Bob http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-17659 Bob Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:35:30 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-17659 Glad you posted this article Frank as we have spent the morning looking for information on this plastic island the size of Texas and yours is the only believeable one out there. Where are the pictures of this island then? As usual Green Peace are just scaring people into giving them their hard earned cash, we especially laughed at the one of the dead bird that was meant to have died from eating plastic. Firstly you could tell the plastic they had placed over the poor birds body was new - if it had been in the water and then eaten by bird it would not be clean and brand new looking. Second this greedy bird had eaten more than it's body weight in the stuff, after a couple of bottle tops this bird would not have wanted to eat anything let alone more plastic, only wish we made a note of the link but it's on thier web site shouldn't be hard to find! Your figures do not add up Green Peace and as a result i trust you even less, stop ruining your own reputation before we give up believing you completely! Glad you posted this article Frank as we have spent the morning looking for information on this plastic island the size of Texas and yours is the only believeable one out there.

Where are the pictures of this island then?

As usual Green Peace are just scaring people into giving them their hard earned cash, we especially laughed at the one of the dead bird that was meant to have died from eating plastic. Firstly you could tell the plastic they had placed over the poor birds body was new – if it had been in the water and then eaten by bird it would not be clean and brand new looking. Second this greedy bird had eaten more than it’s body weight in the stuff, after a couple of bottle tops this bird would not have wanted to eat anything let alone more plastic, only wish we made a note of the link but it’s on thier web site shouldn’t be hard to find!

Your figures do not add up Green Peace and as a result i trust you even less, stop ruining your own reputation before we give up believing you completely!

]]> By: mauifrankie http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-15716 mauifrankie Sun, 04 May 2008 09:17:08 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-15716 I know you wrote this garbage in 2006. By now there is enough additional information that even hard nosed "scientific minds" like yours should be convinced of the existence of the patch of garbage. But I also know that people like you never change their minds about the threats to the environment. Oh, how I would love to really call you by your name, but i will refrain. Just keep polluting you obviously don't believe it's real any way. I know you wrote this garbage in 2006. By now there is enough additional information that even hard nosed “scientific minds” like yours should be convinced of the existence of the patch of garbage. But I also know that people like you never change their minds about the threats to the environment. Oh, how I would love to really call you by your name, but i will refrain. Just keep polluting you obviously don’t believe it’s real any way.

]]> By: John Forrest http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-13620 John Forrest Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:41:18 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-13620 Yeah...I'm sure there's absolutely nothing to worry your smart little heads about. Everyone just relax and go back to your TVs... Yeah…I’m sure there’s absolutely nothing to worry your smart little heads about. Everyone just relax and go back to your TVs…

]]> By: Nancy Nadel v. Sean Sullivan: LWV Voter Forum recap | A Better Oakland http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-13424 Nancy Nadel v. Sean Sullivan: LWV Voter Forum recap | A Better Oakland Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:36:29 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-13424 [...] of plastic floating in the sea that is now the size of Texas”/a>. (Note: this is actually not true.) Plastic water bottles get used once and thrown away. There’s these things called reusable [...] [...] of plastic floating in the sea that is now the size of Texas”/a>. (Note: this is actually not true.) Plastic water bottles get used once and thrown away. There’s these things called reusable [...]

]]> By: Coremeat http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-12481 Coremeat Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:22:46 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-12481 This is the least of our problems. Chemtrails are poisoning us and the world and greenpeace wont acknoledge or investigate them. greenpeace is a fraud. This is the least of our problems. Chemtrails are poisoning us and the world and greenpeace wont acknoledge or investigate them. greenpeace is a fraud.

]]> By: Seminole http://www.sciencepunk.com/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/comment-page-1/#comment-11302 Seminole Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:00:22 +0000 http://www.sciencepunk.com/v5/2006/11/the-red-herrings-of-greenpeace/#comment-11302 I agree with Frank. If you cant support your numbers, you decimate the credibility of real, accountable non profits that are using their donated funds in a positive and responsible way. I am sure that the Gyre exists, but dont inflate it to attract more money I agree with Frank. If you cant support your numbers, you decimate the credibility of real, accountable non profits that are using their donated funds in a positive and responsible way. I am sure that the Gyre exists, but dont inflate it to attract more money

]]>