This plastics thing is absolutely bonkers. You see on that program last night they were swanning around South East Asia feigning distress at the amount of plastic on an otherwise pristine beach. There's a reason they weren't off the coast of Skegness because there wouldn't have been any plastic to spill tears over. And that's the point. In Europe, by and large, this really isn't a problem. In the third world it is though; it's very much thanks to plastics that the third world has thrived.

So you can buy a Soda Stream, and use your bamboo straws, but it's not going to make the slightest bit of difference. The solution to ocean plastics is the same as the solution for global warming, deforrestation and the depletion of natural resources. And that's to exterminate three-quarters of the worlds population.

That might become a reality if all that deadly bacteria they found in the creases and cracks of ocean plastic gets into the food chain.

Yes! Lets debate this on EF so we can solve this world problem too, just like all the other world problems we've solved so far...oh wait..

Why the resistance to talk about it?

It's in the section "International affairs/politics" which as far as I can see doesn't carry the caveat "...only to be discussed if able to solve."

You could always put it on ignore.

Last night's programme was pretty shocking and, yes, it can be poo-pooed and the presenter mocked but I don't think the marine life with a belly full of plastic bits really gives a toss who is polluting their environment.

The bloke that developed a huge boom for collecting plastic from the oceans didn't develop the idea by taking the attitude "well, it's not in my back yard so sod them" did he? If it's not reported outside of the affected areas because here in Europe it's not really local news for local people then you're never going to find a solution are you?

Oh except Loz's idea to euthanise a couple of billion people.

Funny how when it's David Attenborough suggesting it, everybody thinks it's fine.

Sometimes I think Thanos had a point. I mean the Inifinity war method was lovely and neat but I can't see a way that wouldn't be leaving lot of organic matter around the place.

I have zero resistance to talk about it. I have a problem when people put a sign of equality between "talk" and "solving a problem".

But then again, this is what we tend to do in the 1st world right? Talk about it, intellectually masturbate for a while, make us arrogantly happy that we're sensitive and understanding and move on with a feeling that we've made the world a better place. As usual, we done jack shit.

Attenborough would probably talk them into agreeing that they really do have to die and thanking him for the opportunity.

Hey, can I share this on Facebook? I might start a petition to go with it too...

I didn't ask you to 'talk' - I suggested it would be a good idea to 'watch'?

Did you, did anyone?

And no, it is not 'just' about far reaches of the world- tons of nurdles pollute uk beaches and rivers- about a ton of white nurdles appeared suddenly on a beach in Southern UK just a couple of days ago.

So you don't want to talk- that is fine. But few who watched last night's programme would have been left unconcerned and stirred. Plastics are found all over the place, and inside millions of birds, killing coral and mammals of all sizes. You don't care about animals - fine - don't care about bees, ok -
I care about my grandchildren and their children... what a world they are inheriting. And this will affect poorer communities so much more too- no more fishing, etc.

Hey, what you get up to in your "me time" is nowt to do with us...

I disagree. I simply see way too much plastic stuff around me. That might not be the plastic that ends up in the ocean, but it is likely produced in one of the countries where the byproducts get dumped... I don't think I want to live in a world free of plastic, but I don't get why every sandwich needs to be wrapped three times... had breakfast with the wife at a Pret-a-Manger in the UK lately and was kind of amazed of the pile of packaging left on the tray in the end.

I am certainly not a tree hugger, but I think some aspects of our lifestyle are currently excessive and will be hard to explain to future generations. Yes, we Europeans aren't as bad as some others... most notoriously the Americans. But that does not mean we should not think of how to use resources efficiently.

Oh come on Sandgrounder - really. Anyone with half a brain knows that world population numbers are spinning out of control. No one, not even Attenborough, has ever talked about euthanasia - but trying to stop population growth.

At the end of the day, doing nothing tragically means that this will happen- and to the poorest communities, as in Bangladesh, or now in Indonesia - via 'natural' disasters caused by global warming.

Yes, but I want credit for all the likes you'll get! I will donate them to the anti plastic foundation, they can use them to solve the problem

Err... it was a joint Loz/Attenborough idea to kill off people. I think they're both as barmy as each other.

Link please, re Attenborough.

Ask DB - it was his post.

I honestly don't know... I believe that with modern technology it is easily feasible to feed way more humans than even the worst predictions show. We don't have a lack of anything, we have a problem with a fair distribution. And we use the limited resources in ways that are not targeted at being efficient but offering the rich people South American beef from places that used to be rainforest... or anything from cheap factory chocolate to cleaning liquid made with palm oil.


Simply put: I believe we have the technical means to make a great future for way more humans than you think... I am just afraid we will use these tools differently.

bring on the Carousel

Link please, DB.