Obama’s Visit to Midway Island

Midway is a ring of coral reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about 1,300 miles from Honolulu. Aside from marking an important 1942 American victory over the Japanese in WWII, Midway is now the site of the world’s largest protected marine sanctuary. As part of Obama’s last Asian trip to China and Laos, he stopped at Midway for key climate change announcements. The Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument has now been expanded to four times the size of its original site. The area used to be 139,797 square miles, but is now 582,578 square miles, roughly the size of the Gulf of Mexico. Established under former President George W. Bush in 2006, it has become a UNESCO protected site.

For an island that only has 50 permanent inhabitants, it is home to almost 7,000 marine animals, including whales, sea lions, and turtles. However, the most compelling story revolves around the 1.5 million rare Laysan albatrosses. Obama has demonstrated the goal to make sweeping environmental protection policies a part of his legacy. Not only does this expansion provide safe waters for marine animals, but it also highlights the severe impact that pollution has had on the island. Tons of plastic in various forms has washed up on Midway’s shores, leaving the beautiful beaches to be warped with ugly trash. For many animals, the plastic is hazardous to their health. Dead albatrosses have been scattered around the island with plastic inside their bodies. The plastic has become part of the topographical landscape. Some experts say that it could possibly infect the food we eat, especially fish.

With global warming gaining significance in the way that it will shape the future, this act has created a safe haven for wildlife to continue to thrive. These changes might be the step in the right direction to reduce the metaphorical albatross around the world’s neck.