TAKING ON THE PLASTIC VORTEX

Sitting in the North Pacific Ocean, just north east of Hawaii, lays a
veritable garbage patch, estimated to be twice the size of Texas. Its contents
are as varied as the people and nations from where the stuff has traveled,
including plastic bags, to fishing nets, to tires, to discarded kids toys,
unbelievable numbers of plastic bags, hundreds of odd flip flops, tennis shoes
and the list continues.

The area is known by several names - the Plastic Vortex, the Eighth Continent,
the Great Garbage Patch, yet it's surprising how little people know of the
issue and the devastating threat it poses to our oceans.

Mary Crowley, who has
owned the Sausalito-based business Ocean Ventures for 30 years, plans to take
on the Plastic Vortex this summer through Project Kaisei, a not-for-profit
group she has organized. -- Marin Independent Journal, read on:
http://www.marinij.com/sports/ci_12492451