Win a Trip to Tahiti - Eco Art Contest

The ocean conservation organization 5 Gyres, with support from the shoe company Chaco, has sponsored an art contest called “Waves for Change.” The winner will join a 10-day 5 Gyres discovery voyage from Tahiti to the Cook Islands. Art submissions should convey the severe impact plastic has upon the world’s oceans.

The contest began January 3rd and ends March 28th of 2011. People who want to submit their media to enter the art contest can do so by photographing it first, and then uploading the photo or photos with an online form. The artwork can be in any media, including sculpture, photography, painting, handcraft, video and writing. Weekly winners will also be chosen, in addition to the grand prize winner.

The grand prize includes airfare from the U.S. to Tahiti, with a return flight from Rarotonga back to the United States. Accommodations and meals on the sailboat Sea Dragon are included. The retail value of the grand prize has been appraised at $5,750.

Rarotonga is one of most popular of the Cook Islands, and it is considered a very delightful tourist destination with tropical weather, clear water, large beaches, and relatively undeveloped tourist experiences.

The Sea Dragon is actually currently sailing the world’s oceans in order to help survey the amount of plastic trash. A recent blog entry from the vessel said, “What have we seen? Well, in every sample, some 41 already, we’ve found fragmented plastic particles over a 4,000 mile transect, every time. We’ve also watched bleach bottles, refrigerator trays, fish chewed plastic sheeting, buckets, bottle caps, water bottles, and countless other unrecognizable plastic trash. We’ve also collected fish samples to look at how plastic which concentrates persistent organic pollutants in the ambient sea water and biomagnifies up the food chain and ultimately may affect human health.”

Image Credit: Marcus Gleinig (Suwarrow)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Robert O.

12:44AM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Thanks Jake.

send a green star

Sandra C.

7:24PM PDT on Apr 10, 2011

YOU ARE 100% CORRECT KAY L.

Noreen k.

1:55PM PST on Feb 25, 2011

Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of plastic in the sea, scuba diving. Very sad indeed! I'm trying for Tahiti! ......never been able to get there.......Kind of a bad way to get there......Maybe I could get a shot to educate folks.........

jane r.

11:14PM PST on Jan 13, 2011

No talent here. Good luck

gerlinde p.

10:38PM PST on Jan 10, 2011

pity it`s only for americans

8:32AM PST on Jan 10, 2011

Thanks for the article!

Manuela C.

2:47PM PST on Jan 9, 2011

Only USA? Not fair...

Sundeep S.