THE Pacific is a busy place these days, which is a good or bad thing depending on your point of view. In the interest of leaving you on a positive note, let’s take them in the order of bad news/good news.
The bad news is:
• Korea. Once again, the Korean peninsula is arming for a showdown. North Korea has long possessed nuclear weapons and occasionally threatens to use them. A worried South Korea is anxious to acquire nuclear weapons to ward of an attack by their neighbor. So far, the United States has assured leaders in Seoul that they are safe under the American defense umbrella, but how much longer will that promise pay the bills?
• China. We are closer to a Chinese attempt to invade Taiwan than ever before. Chess pieces are being moved by both sides and when Peking believes they have a strategic advantage, they will make their final move. For a while, it looked as though the Chinese might take advantage of the war in Ukraine, but two things have prevented it so far. One is that the war has bogged down into a stalemate. The second is that the West has shown resolve and staying power, two traits Peking was hoping not to see. When will China strike?
• The Alaskan catch. Where have all the crabs gone? Drastically plummeting crab populations resulted in the complete cancelation of this year’s crabbing season. That translates into millions of lost dollars for thousands of working families and higher prices for the rest of us, and no end in sight, because we don’t yet know what led to the disaster. Of course, everyone has their pet theory. Some say climate change, some say pollution, others accuse fishermen of over-harvesting while some are blaming the whales. The fact is, we don’t know at this point, although a lot of qualified people are working on it. Will other fish stocks go the way of the crab, or was it a temporary hiccup?
The good news is:
• Mapping. Mapping of the ocean floor continues at an accelerated pace. We know more about the mountains, valleys, and debris of the bottom of the sea than ever before and each day results in more astounding finds. Researchers near Hawaii are using 3-D sonar technology to chart the underwater world, shedding light on new aquatic species, finding shipwrecks, and completing the map. Others are doing the same elsewhere with fantastic results. Soon, the map of the ocean floor will be as detailed as terrestrial maps. Who knows, we may even find Malaysian Airlines flight 370.
• MIA list continues to shrink. Thanks to organizations such as Sealark Exploration, Project Recover and Lost 52 Project quietly going about their business, nations are recovering their missing soldiers and sailors. The lists of those not accounted for get smaller every day, bringing closure to thousands of families around the world.
• Pollution is under attack. Dramatic news for those anxiously following the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The problem of pollution is under assault from many fronts. Interested parties from scientists to elementary school children are coming up with ways to clean up the mess, and many of the innovative solutions show great promise. On the supply side, plastic-producing industries such as soft drinks and diapers are coming up with ways to keep their products out of the water. Most importantly, attitudes are changing. We no longer see the ocean as mankind’s garbage can.
Some good, some bad. Never a dull moment in the Pacific.
BC Cook, PhD lived on Saipan and has taught history for 20 years. He currently resides on the mainland U.S.
BC Cook
