Man Swimming Across The Pacific. Awareness, Plastics, Animal Cruelty And Dogfighting

     It is in the news regarding a man that intends on swimming across the Pacific Ocean from Japan to San Francisco. According to news reports, he started his journey several days ago. He intends on swimming approximately 8 hours a day. The reports added that at least one boat is following him, and that part of the reason he is undertaking this swim is to raise awareness about plastic in the oceans. Samples of water will be tested for plastic as he goes along.
      It is not our intention to criticize the man for undertaking such a difficult swim. Even if he swims 8 hours a day for months, and rests on a boat during other times, this is a very difficult journey.
      It is commendable that he wants to bring awareness to the problem of ocean plastic. But as having discovered only too well, raising awareness is utterly meaningless in and of itself. We raised awareness regarding animal cruelty and dogfighting, only to see awareness be the means by which a number of nonprofits and individuals capitalized on sentiment to raise money for themselves and further their own careers and interests. Awareness is a money maker that in and of itself does not result in a change of behavior, direction, or in a reduction of harm. Awareness is often exploited by nonprofits and other so called well meaning people and corporations, and becomes the means by which vast amounts of money can be made in the form of contributions, documentaries, other media events, and so forth.
        Concrete action regarding plastics, which has been discussed in detail in previous blogs, is sorely lacking. Millions of pounds of plastics, styrofoam and other oil based contaminants pour into the oceans daily. Only a small amount of it collects at the great ocean garbage patches. Most breaks down into smaller particles and disperses, contaminating marine life, oceans, and people. We are unleashing trillions of plastic fibers and plastic particles through our synthetic clothing and their washing, through our single use products, and from many other sources. Little to nothing is being done to change any of this.
         A number of animal organizations and so called animal advocates have profited handsomely from animal cruelty and dog fighting. They capitalize on sentiment and awareness, and have, through their greed and exploitation, ensured that virtually nothing has been done about dog fighting and animal cruelty, which is discussed at length in previous blogs.
         In short, awareness brings attention and money to a greedy few, and does nothing to make serious problems any better.
         We wish this swimmer a safe journey. We wish that raising awareness meant more than what it has come to mean.