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After being critical of @TheOceanCleanup for over a year, the CEO of finally replied. He referred to my concerns as fiction. So let's talk about this... [a thread] https://twitter.com/BoyanSlat/status/1301955027104411650
First: It's nice to finally meet you @BoyanSlat. I've been sharing my concerns for over a year and you have never reached out. A pleasure to finally speak. I'm glad this caught your attention. Now, let's talk....
First, let's talk about the fact that your organization didn't even mention the floating ecosystem in your impact assessment. This is where I first became concerned that you didn't know what you were doing... https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/01/ocean-cleanup-project-could-destroy-neuston/580693/
Let's talk about the fact that you caught hundreds of these animals in your nets, which were apparent--of all places--in your press release photograph! https://twitter.com/RebeccaRHelm/status/1179861389575245824
Let's talk about the fact that your organization does not have a SINGLE biologist on it's team. Not. One. And for as long as I've been following you I've never seen one. Yet you claim you want to "save the ocean"
Source: https://theoceancleanup.com/careers/
Source: https://theoceancleanup.com/careers/
Let's talk about the fact that @TheOceanCleanup partners with a deep-sea mining organization, called DeepGreen. Let's talk about why use their boat. And let's talk about why you photoshopped their logo of your social media.
Original Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheOceanCleanup/status/1052523760954179584
Original Tweet: https://twitter.com/TheOceanCleanup/status/1052523760954179584
And while we're at it, let's talk about some of your other partners, like AGRU: The Plastics Experts, Sabic (a Saudi petrochemical company), and Assuranceforeningen Gard (Provides insurance for oil and gas companies).
Source: https://theoceancleanup.com/partners/
Source: https://theoceancleanup.com/partners/
For nearly ten years, you've been saying you will clean up plastic in the open ocean, yet with tens of millions in public donations annually you've hardly collected any plastic. Meanwhile, beach cleanup ups, and even sailboats collecting plastic, have gathered literal tons.
And don't get me started on the number of journalists I've spoken to who felt bullied by your org. I've met several people from your org, and they were all very kind and thoughtful. But do you have a PR problem...
I'd love to talk about all this with you. You have my email. You've had it for over a year. I can walk you through all the reasons I'm skeptical. You can tell me all the reasons I shouldn't be. I'm ready to be wrong about you Boyan. But nothing I've seen has convinced me yet.
