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Your Call

Marcus Eriksen's vision of a world free of plastic

Photo via Marcus Eriksen
Junk, a vessel researcher Marcus Eriksen constructed from waste to explore ocean pollution

On this edition of Your Call, scientist and environmental activist Marcus Eriksen discusses his book Junk Raft, his voyages exploring the impact of plastic on our oceans, and his vision of a world free of plastic.

The oceans are flooded with trash. Eriksen set out to study the impact of plastic pollution and find a solution by embarking on an unorthodox journey: He and his team built a vessel out of debris and set sail. Who should be held accountable for the explosion of plastic waste? How can we change our throw-away culture and save the oceans?

Guest:

Marcus Eriksen, environmental scientist, educator, founder of the 5 Gyres Institute and Leap Lab, with more than 20 ocean-crossing expeditions under his belt

Web Resources:

The Guardian: EU declares war on plastic waste

National Geographic: Plastic Garbage Patch Bigger Than Mexico Found in Pacific

Pando Populus: A Reflective Response to “Junk Raft”

Science: Critics say plan for drifting ocean trash collectors is unmoored

 

Rose Aguilar has been the host of Your Call since 2006. She became a regular media roundtable guest in 2001. In 2019, the San Francisco Press Club named Your Call the best public affairs program. In 2017, The Nation named it the most valuable local radio show.