Tales from the ocean's garbage patch | Matt Rutherford | TEDxJacksonville

Matt Rutherford wishes that there was an island of garbage in the middle of Atlantic ocean. If there was, he could simply go out to the island and clean it up. The issue is far more insidious. Tiny fragments of plastic, the size of your fingernail or smaller, scattered over thousands of miles of ocean. Matt's talk focuses on the one and only solution to a growing problem.
Matt Rutherford is the first person in history to complete a non-stop, singlehanded voyage around North and South America. Rutherford left Annapolis, MD on June 2011 and traversed some of the most dangerous seas on earth. During the first leg of his trek, Rutherford broke a record by singlehandedly sailing the smallest boat in history through the Northwest Passage. Once through this northern passage, Rutherford sailed around the entire state of Alaska, then south through the Pacific Ocean from North to South America to make his left-hand turn at storm-tossed Cape Horn. He completed his record-breaking journey in 309 days after sailing 27,077 miles at sea. www.solotheamericas.org
Once Matt returned from his circumnavigation, he immediately started work on building a non-profit organization that would help scientists better understand the problems facing our oceans. Matt believes that no one person can do everything but everyone can do something. By creating Ocean Research Project, Matt plans to educate people about marine issues and give back to our earth's oceans.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@krafthaus8378]

Very strong message Matt. The stat of % bags recycled compared to % bags that end up in the ocean is very sad. We see single use plastic in the sea when sailing all the time. The world needs to solve this problem. Many of the Eastern Caribbean countries are now moving to paper only grocery bags and that is great to see. Slowly the message is getting through. Kudos to you for heping get that message out there!!

[@TheLeagueofNotions1]

Inspiring lecture from Matt...certainly witnessing this on a micro level every season I actually sail and it's not just the oceans but the lakes and rivers where we all live. makes me more conscientious in promoting less single use plastics .

[@murrat]

Great speech. You have opened my eyes on single use plastics. I read somewhere that modern plastics can take up to a million years to biodegrade. Thanks.

[@aaronfisher1559]

Pretty cool

[@kimosabi860]

Consider me on board Matt.

[@duggydugg3937]

boyan slat is cleaning large plastic.. how the heck do we clean micro particles

[@johnsherman7289]

Stop wearing plastic, washing plastic.

[@duggydugg3937]

@@johnsherman7289 all clothing is plastic

[@643manning]

I'm a big fan of yours Matt, You are partly responsible for my purchasing a Albin Vega. I Agree with you about ocean plastic's 100%. But I have to tell you Matt. You need help with your presentation. Your speaking to fast. Matt you have a great & important message. But like you said people are lazy and they want to be entertained. You need to make people come away from you speaking and say "I am changing my life TODAY!! "I'm going to do my part to save the oceans!" I'm just not getting this from this video. You need some public speaking help Matt. I found this video because you are someone I admire and envy. You are one of my hero's in sailing. But your public speaking needs help. Just my opinion, and you know what people say about opinions. Keep up the good fight shipmate!

[@fatcatattack]

Watching this for GES 120

[@duggydugg3937]

datta or dayta ? you say both arm waving ! jeez ever since Mel Robbins burst on the scene, presenters windmill their arms like crazy.. Mel does it right... all the rest of you do it wildly.. even Tony Robbins picted it up... yes Plastic will frangulate us if not stopped... second only to the TRILLIONS of national debt...if not stopped.

[@daffyduck9901]

Maybe the Earth wants plastic it just couldn't figure out how to make it itself so it created man to make plastic.