India is choking to death - why isnt Greta over there?

[TitoFan]

Hey guys. Speaking of young people who care about our environment..... how about this guy?


https://grist.org/article/the-ocean-...-some-plastic/

"The Ocean Cleanup project finally cleaned up some plastic"


So Ocean Cleanup's founder was an 18-year old Dutch man, now 25. It's a non-profit that seeks to rid the world's oceans from plastic pollution. Here is a young man who actually went out and did something concrete. (Not throwing a jab at Greta here, as again... if nothing else she's got people talking/fighting about the environment). But Boyan (the CEO) saw there was a problem, and to his colossal credit actually went out and is attempting to do something about it. And it's about ocean pollution, something a lot more pressing to me than the other aspects of the environment.

I raised an eyebrow at this (from the article):

"The project has drawn criticism over the years from scientists who argue it provides false hope and is disruptive to marine life. All that money and effort would be better spent diverting the 8 million tons of plastic that enter the oceans every year, the thinking goes."

Shame on those scientists. Is it better to sit on your hands and do nothing? Diverting plastic garbage from entering the oceans is a wonderful ideal.... but does nothing to solve the problem of the plastics in the oceans now. Instead of criticizing someone who is actually DOING something, maybe they should get off their collective asses and help Boyan perfect his methods, so more garbage can be effectively removed. Meanwhile, diverting technology on rivers can go on in parallel. Why does it have to be one or the other? Narrow minds, I tell ya.

[TitoFan]

Here's another naysayer.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...stic-pollution


Shooting down Boyan's efforts before they have a chance to come to fruition. It's easy to second guess players from up in the rafters.

A couple of tidbits from the article:

"No matter how well-intentioned and noble Ocean Cleanup’s pursuit may be, it’s time to listen to people who devote their lives to understanding these issues."

Yeah? Who are doing what, exactly? At some point, taking action is better than "devoting your life to understanding these issues." The guy should be applauded and supported, not torn down.

"It might encourage people to throw away more plastic than they already do because Ocean Cleanup might pick it up later on."

This here has to be one of the stupidest things I've seen in print.... and I've seen some doozies (remember... I've been here almost 15 years ).

"Even more important is supporting and enacting legislation that limits plastic production and waste. Recently, two bills failed in California’s Legislature that would have imposed the stiffest regulations on plastic waste in the country. These solutions might not seem as sexy as launching expensive gadgets at sea, but they work and for absolutely no cost whatsoever."

Uhh.... yeah, lady. Two bills FAILED. More sitting on our hands, but yet you can all criticize a young man who is actually trying to DO something about the problem. It may seem "quixotic" to you... but IMO, it beats talking the problem to death.

[Spicoli]

How in the world could a Brock ever come back. He was voted to be perma banned I thought I read it on a bathroom stall in a San Antonio truck stop so it has to be true .

On the whole 16 yr old activist thingy. Anyone see the mural painted in San Francisco? I swear they intentionally tried to make her look mid 30's or something.

[Beanz]

Hey guys. Speaking of young people who care about our environment..... how about this guy?


https://grist.org/article/the-ocean-...-some-plastic/

"The Ocean Cleanup project finally cleaned up some plastic"


So Ocean Cleanup's founder was an 18-year old Dutch man, now 25. It's a non-profit that seeks to rid the world's oceans from plastic pollution. Here is a young man who actually went out and did something concrete. (Not throwing a jab at Greta here, as again... if nothing else she's got people talking/fighting about the environment). But Boyan (the CEO) saw there was a problem, and to his colossal credit actually went out and is attempting to do something about it. And it's about ocean pollution, something a lot more pressing to me than the other aspects of the environment.

I raised an eyebrow at this (from the article):

"The project has drawn criticism over the years from scientists who argue it provides false hope and is disruptive to marine life. All that money and effort would be better spent diverting the 8 million tons of plastic that enter the oceans every year, the thinking goes."

Shame on those scientists. Is it better to sit on your hands and do nothing? Diverting plastic garbage from entering the oceans is a wonderful ideal.... but does nothing to solve the problem of the plastics in the oceans now. Instead of criticizing someone who is actually DOING something, maybe they should get off their collective asses and help Boyan perfect his methods, so more garbage can be effectively removed. Meanwhile, diverting technology on rivers can go on in parallel. Why does it have to be one or the other? Narrow minds, I tell ya.

It is a brilliant project and yes of course one thing or the other is just a classic cop out. Life is complex and there is no one answer to anything. That is the entire point of international things like the climate change conferences in America but also something that can be done on a macro level with things like the commons or community led approaches. It may sound hippy dippy to people but actually doing something as simple as planting a tree makes a big impact and often across generations. It is not always the parents that have to lead by example either. I have learned a lot from working with kids and young people, things that have had a massive effect on my career because they are not burdened by preconceptions and cynicism. It doesn't mean you have to pretend they are experts in everything, but like anyone else they really are unique and are capable of insights that may pass others by. That is the tragedy of the snowflake rhetoric, it misses the point entirely and just ends up being a resignation into defending the cop out of never changing oneself in response to an environment which is not even static in death.