I came across an article by John Abraham, The Guardian1, about carbon pollution and its effects on our oceans. The article was both enlightening, yet frightening, at the same time, and while we wonder about our fate as mere mortals, the wheels of big business keep turning, much to our detriment.

The Problem



Despite the age of technology enabling man to conquer new heights like never before, it still takes us weeks to cross these behemoth bodies of water, and yet, somehow, we have managed to escalate the destruction of our oceans in the last 50 years.



From our ever-consuming need to strip the ocean floor of everything but the naked sand itself, to our building fake lakes and ocean resorts in bone-dry areas like Dubai, ordinary citizens now find ourselves having to deal with badly-made decisions by greedy governments and corporations alike that care only about lining their pockets as fast as they can.



The one step forward, two steps back rhetoric has been mangled until it’s unrecognizable, and one wonders if moving off planet will be the only choice one has in the near future. Considering U.S. President Donald Trump’s main plan was to push forward business interests, we find ourselves on the cusp of irreparable damage, particularly when it comes to our oceans.

While many people protest about ocean pollution, how much does the average person know about this toxic topic? Who are the biggest polluters? How do they keep getting away with it?

Yes, we know about the plastic issues and have seen physical evidence regarding all manner of sea life being threatened in a multitude of ways, but plastic is one major contributor and the one that seems to receive all the flack. Unfortunately, it is the behind the scenes operators that need a round of applause in their contribution to our dying oceans.

The Science

According to the American Chemical Society (ACS)2 the oceans absorb ⅓ of all Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions. Hold the applause though. Since the Industrial Revolution, greenhouse gases have increased by a minimum of 40 %, and the key contributor towards these gases are, you guessed it, big business.

We have heard numerous speeches, read a number of informational packs and seen ads from environmental groups like Greenpeace that give us the basic run down.

We know hazardous dumping of waste and oil spills are some of the largest culprits. We forget that after expressing initial outrage, most of us go back to our lives without a second thought. Issues like the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef are a huge cause for concern, not just for Australia but for the world. It means these toxic elements have literally poisoned everything within range, and it’s spreading to our backyards.

The Duplicity

Business Insider3 reports that it’s not merely food and energy companies that are wreaking environmental havoc, but funds that invest in these shadowy entities. Would it shock you to know that your pension and various investment funds are making money by investing in companies that are regarded as some of the biggest polluters on the planet?

Corporate and Social Responsibility programs have become a punchline, Fortune 500 companies throw these words around like there’s no tomorrow — they want a better public image despite doing nothing meaningful to attain it.

Multinational oil companies like Chevron, Exxon and others claim4 they’re doing their best to control their impact on the oceans but, what we have seen so far, is by and large, disheartening. A report5 by the Royal Society in Britain states that these oil companies have not only contributed to the decline of our oceans and ecology, but actively fund campaigns that aim to discredit climate change altogether. Yes, we have seen their CEOs make heartfelt apologies that mean nothing, we have read press releases about their deep commitment using alternative energy sources, we’re just tired of the lies…but what do we do? How do we make a change that can counteract the damage caused?

“WATER AND AIR, THE TWO ESSENTIAL FLUIDS ON WHICH ALL LIFE DEPENDS, HAVE BECOME GLOBAL GARBAGE CANS.” — JACQUES COUSTEAU

The Solution

It has been said that everyone has the ability to make a difference. Judging by popular culture today, our superhero movies are based on the difference one soul can make and that impact lasting a lifetime. Not everyone can be an international Captain Planet, but everyone can make an impressionable change if you bother to assume that mantle of responsibility.

Perhaps you’re not the type to stand up against a logger or volunteer aboard the Greenpeace’ Rainbow Warrior. Perhaps you make a difference within your own home, via your lifestyle and investing choices. Maybe you’re going to turn to veganism or support local, organic and free-range industries. Maybe you’re one of those that invests in Solar Technology, Elon Musk’s Tesla or eco-friendly blockchain offerings like NERA.

All in all, mankind does not have the time nor the resources to squander. Whether you’re a captain of industry or a kid in high school, every individual can leave a cleaner footprint. The choice is yours.

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