I'm going sneak in here with a short WATWB post. I saw this article (also available as a video on the same page) on Tuesday, and I knew I had to share it.

I am a general fan of technology, but I'm often of the opinion that technology has gone too far. Sometimes, we seem to do things because we can, without ever asking if we should. Then there is BeBot the Beach-cleaning Robot mentioned in this article.

The first thing I have to tell you about BeBot is that it looks like a cross between Wall-E and Eva. It's a solar/battery powered, track-driven, sand sifting crawler that removes microplastics that sit beneath the top layer of otherwise clean looking sand.

According to one of the companies involved in the project,

"Unlike existing beach trash removal methods like sifting, the BeBot focuses on beaches that look relatively clean on the surface but may have a lot of microplastics sitting below the top layer. While the mechanical device sifts under the clean sand, it does so in a way that's minimally disruptive to the landscape, unlike its bulkier counterparts."

ThomasNet

It also pollutes less than its bulkier counterparts.

"Besides protecting the delicate ecosystems near the shoreline, BeBot is unique in that it runs on cleaner power like solar and batteries, compared to the diesel-powered tractors it intends to replace. And by trawling 4 inches below the top layer of sand, the device is able to grab and sift out tinier, settled items like cigarette butts or bottle caps."

ThomasNet

The makers of BeBot have partnered with a company called 4ocean that creates bracelets using recycled plastics. The proceeds from those sales go to ocean trash removal projects. 4ocean is also a bit optimistic,

"According to 4ocean CEO Alex Schulze, hopefully seeing BeBot out there tirelessly sifting will remind people to live a more sustainable lifestyle and cut down on the amount of single-use plastic that they're consuming."  Well…maybe.

ThomasNet

The "We are the World" Blogfest continues, well into its third year. This blogfest's goal is to spread the message of light, hope and love in today's world. We are challenging all participants to share the positive side of humanity. We hope to share the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope, overcoming challenges and in general, the impressive resilience of the human spirit. Click HERE for more information, guidelines. Click HERE to visit the #WATWB Community Facebook page. Mary J. Giese, Belinda Witzenhausen are co-hosting this month.

  • Beach! There aren't many places along the path where you can access the river.
  • "This looks like a nice beach."
  • On the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 2nd highest number of views.
  • Beach
    Right now, this is the most popular photo I have on Flickr.
We need to keep beaches clean for everybody, not just humans