What do I stand for? I am not against plastic, I am for a responsible way to use plastic, one that doesn’t pass on any liability down to the next generation. Like many people, I am struggling with how I can reduce my use and limit my impact. My bad habits are still entrenched in my daily life and like any bad habits I find it difficult to change them. I have a tendency to resist change and feel more comfortable sticking with the status quo.
I know how to push my physical and mental limits and how to get out of my comfort zone but I found it very challenging to stop my relationship with plastic, stop following the easy path and more convenient way when using plastic.
For the past few years, I have made some changes in my life to reduce my use of plastic and try to single-use plastic, but I have more to do. I am very fortunate to see first hand how pervasive plastic is and how vast is the problem we have created. This is a very strong motivating force for me to make more changes.
I am very fortunate to be where I am and foster a unique relationship with the ocean. This has a profound impact on me, it is reshaping me as a person and redefining my role as a human being; I feel I have a responsibility to give a voice to the ocean.
Thank you to all you for following and supporting us. You inspire me to be a better steward of the ocean and I appreciate any feedback that would help me achieve it.
Ben
8 thoughts on “[DAY 65] What do I stand for?”-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cher Ben,
Je suis enseignante en CM1/CM2 dans le sud de la France, et je suis en train de préparer la rentrée. Ma classe vous suivra tous les jours, et nous vous enverrons des questions sur votre voyage sous forme de petites interviews. Je suis déjà en contact avec votre attaché de presse. J’espère que nous pourrons compter sur vous car à travers votre projet je souhaite sensibiliser mes élèves à la protection de la nature et les initier à l’engagement! Bravo pour votre courage, je suis admirative!
A bientôt
Sonia
Dear Ben, what you are doing is incredible, please keep going and keep documenting and logging the plastic you find, it is shocking to see the photos of the things you find along the way and it makes me think hard about the things that we use every day. The thought of bottles, plastic shoes and toys ending up floating around in the ocean is heartbreaking, this message hits home hard. Yesterday we visited a beach and instinctively I found myself picking up discarded bags and bottles, your swim is making me think more about it. Thank you for what you are doing. It is so admirable.
Thank you, great work! It’s great to hear my message is helping in any way. Keep up the good work, Ben
You are right that REDUCING is much more effective than recycling. – especially now with the China Ban on recyclables from the USA and Europe. 86% of the plastic pollution in the ocean is from 7 rivers in China, We must all rethink our addiction to convenience and to plastic especially single-use. I try to use glass and stainless steel. I don’t but a product if it comes in plastic. We can rather easily stop using plastic eating utensils, plastic bags, and water bottles. Let’s start there.I wash and reuse any plastic bags that i have but am trying to get away from it. It’s a big shift.It might be impossible but we can at least greatly reduce our usage. I think that it should only be used for essentials such as medical and safety equipment – wherever metal is not an option. In the 50s we were almost plastic free. That’s not so long ago. We need to go back to that mentality. Thank you for all that you are doing!
Great work! And thank you for such kind words. Ben
Ben not sure if I missed it but have you started your swim again? I see Seeker is still in Japan
Hello, still in Japan waiting for a safe window to leave again. Ben
Hey Ben! My friend, what you are doing boggles my mind every time I think about it. The Pacific is VAST. We get a good view of its enormity when flying over it and taking, I don’t know, 10 hours to cross it? Flying at nearly the speed of sound! I mean, that is a huge distance! It gives me the chills everytime, but in a good way, you know? You are swimming across the PACIFIC!! Sheesh…what next? Swim around the world?? ; ) Anyway, just know that you have a captive fan of your adventure in Mexico. I have a blog about personal developmetn through practice of extreme water sports. I would love to write an article for my readers about your amazing adventure. My blog also advocates for ocean conservancy, so plastic waste is a recurring theme. I would very much like to use some of your thoughts and insights about your experience. May I quote you on a couple of these? I would make certain to give you all the credit by referring my readers to your web site’s link. People need to know about your expedition and your conservancy efforts! P.S. which watch are you currently using for your crossing? I would love to get one just like it! Bon chance, cher ami!!