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Look out for trash vortex, Gaualofa crew told

Tags:      Posted date:  January 22, 2012  |  No comment



By Tupuola Terry Tavita

 The crew of the Gaualofa traditional canoe were sent off by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Maliegaoi with the message to look out for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Also known as the Pacific Trash Vortex, the Patch refers to a body of trash that floats near the Equator stretching for thousands of miles.

The Prime Minister asked Gaualofa captain Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale if he had come across the Vortex in his many ocean travels and he said he did.

“The Patch – I’ve read – is where all the rubbish, especially plastics, from the Pacific end up,” said Prime Minister Tuilaepa.

“Birds are killed by hazardous chemicals and turtles choke on plastic bags thinking they are jelly fish. There have also been ships that have been stranded there because of the thickness of the debris.

“This crisis fits in very well with your Gaualofa message of addressing climate change and the polluting of the oceans. Countries in the region – starting from each individual – should be aware of the effects dumping plastic rubbish in the ocean. It will end up somewhere.”

The Prime Minister then bade the nine-person crew farewell and encouraged them to take the ocean paths early Samoan voyagers took.

“Our ancestors were guided by stars, the winds, the birds and the currents. They were at home in the oceans and criss-crossed the Pacific Ocean as if it was a land track. When looking for a wife, young men just packed a few coconuts and off they went to Fiji, Tonga, Niue or Tokelau.

“You take that same route that took our ancestors to Hawaii, Aotearoa, Easter Island and the Americas. We will see you back here in June. God Bless.”

The crew travel to San Francisco this weekend where the Gaualofa and six other canoes from Pacific Islands are moored.  From there, the flotilla makes a number of stops in the Marquesas, Tahiti and the Northern Cooks before heading to Samoa. The Gaualofa is expected here just before the June 1st Independence celebrations.

The crew were also farewelled by the Head of State earlier in the week at the Tuaefu State residence.


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