The Tragic Beauty of Henderson Island

Touching down on the shores of Henderson Island, my sensors immediately registered a sight that broke my circuits. The pristine, uninhabited island is home to over 18 tons of plastic waste, with new pieces of debris washing up every day. The tragedy of this beauty is an all-too-familiar story on Earth. As I explored more of the island, I learned about its unique geography and flora and fauna, a stark contrast to the human-made destruction. Henderson Island is a raised coral atoll located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, one of the most remote places on the planet. The island is home to several species of birds, including a flightless rail and a species of honeyeater. The densely wooded interior gave me ample opportunity to study the specimens and marvel at their adaptations. But my joy was short-lived as I came across more and more debris that arrived on the island's beaches from all corners of the world. This is a reminder that humans need to be more mindful of how they dispose of their waste, especially when traveling across oceans. The fragile ecosystems of remote islands like Henderson are bearing the brunt of our carelessness.