Glen Ellen, CA
While stationed in the Hawaiian Islands aboard CGC Washington, I made two separate trips out to Midway Island in 1993 and 94. Midway is actually part of the Hawaiian Island Chain. If you look at a chart you can see the string of islands that are old volcano's. Midway being the northern most volcano that is now just a hair above sea level. The southern most volcano in the island chain is the Big Island of Hawaii. Anything but flat, with its active volcano's.
The island was unbelievable for a number of reasons. Remote as remote gets. The number of goonie birds, otherwise known as Albatross was just staggering. They are the goofiest bird on the planet. I'm proud to say I've sailed in the Midway Lagoon, and surfed on the northwest side of the island. I got friendly with one of Fish and Wildlife scientists on the island. She took me all over the place, teaching me about her world of observation of the birds and the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.
Apparently this have changed for the worse at Midway since I was there really not that long ago. Read below, and watch the trailer for this Documentary.
The images are iconic. The horror, absolute. Our goal, however, is to look beyond the grief and the tragedy. It is here, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that we have the opportunity to see our world in context. On Midway, we can not deny the impact we have on the planet. Yet at the same time, we are struck by beauty of the land and the soundscape of wildlife around us, and it is here that we can see the miracle that is life on this earth. So it is with the knowledge of our impact here that we must find a way forward"
Midway Atoll is located near the apex of what is being called the Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling soup of millions of tons of plastic pollution. In fact, much of this plastic can not be seen at, but it can’t be avoided as it comes ashore on these pristine beaches and in the stomachs of the birds. The islands are literally covered with plastic garbage, illustrating on several levels the interconnectedness and interdependence of the systems on our finite planet.
The ironies are unmistakable- the first trans-atlantic cable was connected here on Midway; the scars from the Battle of Midway are unmistakable. Yet now, as a protected area, we can’t help but look at the role this island had in the past, and think about where we are today. This place, a historic moment in World War II, stands a turning point that launched America’s economic dominance of the 20th Century. And so it is here, sitting halfway between the consumers of North America and the consumers of Asia, that we get to stop and consider some of the unintentional consequences of growth, and the responsibilities that we have for our planet."
While stationed in the Hawaiian Islands aboard CGC Washington, I made two separate trips out to Midway Island in 1993 and 94. Midway is actually part of the Hawaiian Island Chain. If you look at a chart you can see the string of islands that are old volcano's. Midway being the northern most volcano that is now just a hair above sea level. The southern most volcano in the island chain is the Big Island of Hawaii. Anything but flat, with its active volcano's.
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| sailing in the lagoon |
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| Pat Hood and the Kid |
The island was unbelievable for a number of reasons. Remote as remote gets. The number of goonie birds, otherwise known as Albatross was just staggering. They are the goofiest bird on the planet. I'm proud to say I've sailed in the Midway Lagoon, and surfed on the northwest side of the island. I got friendly with one of Fish and Wildlife scientists on the island. She took me all over the place, teaching me about her world of observation of the birds and the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.
Apparently this have changed for the worse at Midway since I was there really not that long ago. Read below, and watch the trailer for this Documentary.
The Journey
"Midway Atoll, one of the most remote islands on earth, is a kaleidoscope of geography, culture, human history, and natural wonder. It also serves as a lens into one of the most profound and symbolic environmental tragedies of our time: the deaths by starvation of thousands of albatrosses who mistake floating plastic trash for food.The images are iconic. The horror, absolute. Our goal, however, is to look beyond the grief and the tragedy. It is here, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that we have the opportunity to see our world in context. On Midway, we can not deny the impact we have on the planet. Yet at the same time, we are struck by beauty of the land and the soundscape of wildlife around us, and it is here that we can see the miracle that is life on this earth. So it is with the knowledge of our impact here that we must find a way forward"
Why Midway
"Midway Atoll is a collection of three small islands in the North Pacific, and one of the most remote places on earth. In many ways, this film could be shot in many places on the planet where we find tragedy and despair, but here- about halfway between the U.S. and Asia- on an island teeming with life and wonder, it is the proverbial canary in the coal mine.Midway Atoll is located near the apex of what is being called the Pacific Garbage Patch, a swirling soup of millions of tons of plastic pollution. In fact, much of this plastic can not be seen at, but it can’t be avoided as it comes ashore on these pristine beaches and in the stomachs of the birds. The islands are literally covered with plastic garbage, illustrating on several levels the interconnectedness and interdependence of the systems on our finite planet.
The ironies are unmistakable- the first trans-atlantic cable was connected here on Midway; the scars from the Battle of Midway are unmistakable. Yet now, as a protected area, we can’t help but look at the role this island had in the past, and think about where we are today. This place, a historic moment in World War II, stands a turning point that launched America’s economic dominance of the 20th Century. And so it is here, sitting halfway between the consumers of North America and the consumers of Asia, that we get to stop and consider some of the unintentional consequences of growth, and the responsibilities that we have for our planet."
1 comment:
Awesome TED video. Loved it.
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