Chapter 6

In this chapter Humes explains to his audience how this plastic situation has increase over the years. We are introduces to the Scripps researchers which was form by Miriam Goldstein. Their main priority is to accurately estimate the true size and concentration of the debris in the Pacific Garbage Patch and, more to the point, whether or not it is growing over time (Humes 133).  These researchers are trying to find the accurate numbers of trash that is in our oceans. The United Nation states, "That a minimum of 7 million tons of trash ends up in the ocean each year, 5.6 million tons of which is plastic." The ocean has gone through so much over the years, in 2011 the British Petroleum Gulf of Mexico oil spill was the largest man-made disaster in history. Plastic was invented in 1905 by an Belgian American chemist. He revolutionized the way we use things and opened new doors for new inventions. Plastic has been called the "Miracle Material." It has surpass other materials such as aluminum and steel. Plastic has become one of the materials that we use every day. It is everywhere and in everything; it is hard to believe how this new material has taken over our daily lives. Even though this material is an outstanding thing, it is causing more harm than good. Our oceans have turn to plastic soup and we have no idea how to clean it. Goldstein says "We made it. We own it." We have created this major epidemic; it is our responsibility to solve it. It is our destiny to solve and fulfill what our ancestors have created over the years.